Parts washer with improved temperature & pump control

A module for adjusting a temperature of a cleaning fluid in a reservoir of a parts washer and for circulating the cleaning liquid from the reservoir to a surmounted parts receiving receptacle, the module being removably operatively associated with the reservoir and cleaning liquid, said module comprising:

• a heating element, a sensor assembly and a pump assembly, each connected to and supported by a bracket extending and depending from an enclosure;
• the enclosure including a programmable temperature controller for receiving sensor assembly signals, generating heating element signals for periodically activating the heating element, wherein the sensor assembly is operatively coupled to the temperature controller such that the temperature controller may display the temperature of the cleaning liquid and a low liquid level condition, a bridge thermally linking the heating element to a thermowell of the sensor assembly in which is disposed a thermocouple such that the sensor assembly normally generates a signal representing the temperature of the cleaning liquid unless a level of the cleaning liquid is disposed below the sensor assembly, and wherein the temperature controller periodically deactivates the heating element in order to prevent over-temperature of the cleaning liquid.

In a parts washer including a receptacle positionable on a container forming a cleaning liquid reservoir, a drain opening in said receptacle, and a module including a pump and motor secured thereto, said pump including an inlet and an outlet and a tube extending between said outlet and an interior portion of said receptacle, whereby activation of said motor turns said pump to pick up the cleaning liquid and circulate the cleaning liquid through said tube to the interior portion of said parts receiving receptacle through said drain opening and into said reservoir, the improvement comprising the module including a programmable temperature controller operatively connected to a sensor assembly and a heating element, wherein a desired set-point may be inputted to the temperature controller such that periodic activation and deactivation of the heating element in cooperation with the sensor assembly results in the cleaning liquid disposed at a temperature with in one degree Fahrenheit of the desired set-point.

A sensor assembly for detecting a temperature and low liquid level condition of a cleaning liquid for use in connection with a parts washer positionable on a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, a drain opening formed in a part of the receptacle and a module, the sensor assembly comprising:

• a thermocouple operatively coupled to a temperature controller of the module and disposed within a thermowell which is adapted for immersion in the cleaning liquid;
• and
• a bridge connected at a first-end to the thermowell and at a second end to a heating element such that the bridge conducts heat directly from the heating element to the thermowell and the thermocouple disposed therein when the cleaning liquid is in a low liquid level condition.

A sensor assembly for detecting a temperature and low liquid level condition of a cleaning liquid for use in connection with a parts washer positionable atop a reservoir for the cleaning liquid, a drain opening formed in a part of the receptacle and a module, the sensor assembly comprising:

• a thermocouple operatively coupled to a temperature controller of the module and disposed within a thermowell which is adapted for immersion in the cleaning liquid;
• and
• the thermowell disposed closely proximate the heating element such that when the cleaning liquid is in a low-liquid level condition the thermocouple detects a temperature of the heating element rather than a temperature of the cleaning liquid.