Parts washer and filter assembly therefor

A cleaning fluid recirculating and filtering parts washer including:

• a cabinet;
• a parts washing sink in an upper part of the cabinet;
• a tank in a lower part of the cabinet for containing a supply of fluid;
• and a pump having an inlet communicating with said tank and outlet means communicating with said sink for circulating fluid from the tank to the parts washing sink;
• cleaning fluid filtration means surrounding the pump and extending from a bottom of the tank to a level above a predetermined level of cleaning fluid in the tank comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged screening means spaced apart with respect to one another and defining an open bottom therewithin and therebetween whereby contaminated cleaning fluid flowing therethrough to said pump will be slowed in velocity whereupon contaminant particles settle under the influence of gravity to said filtration means open bottom, said concentrically arranged screening means including at least two generally cylindrical sheet metal screen casings of different sizes having apertures therethrough and spacers therebetween securing said casings in spaced apart substantial concentricity;
• and means within the interior of said sheet metal screen casings providing a support for said pump and mounting said pump substantially above the filtration means open bottom.

A cleaning fluid recirculating and filtering parts washer comprising:

• a generally rectangular cabinet structure including front, rear and side walls and a bottom;
• a sink for washing parts forming an upper portion of said cabinet, a drain in said sink located adjacent one of said cabinet walls;
• a tank forming a lower portion of said cabinet and communicating with said drain;
• pump means for circulating cleaning fluid to said sink located in said tank adjacent another of said cabinet walls opposite the disposition of said sink drain and said one cabinet wall;
• and cleaning fluid filtration means surrounding said pump means and extending from said cabinet bottom to a level above a predetermined level of cleaning fluid therein;
• whereby cleaning fluid contaminated by a parts washing operation in said sink and entering said tank from said sink drain must travel substantially across said tank, from said drain to said pump means, thus allowing a substantial portion of waste particles and other contaminants to settle by gravity to the bottom of said tank prior to passing through said filtration means and pump for circulation back to said sink;
• said washer further comprising perforated tube means substantially across the bottom of and in said sink;
• fluid communication means from said sink through a cabinet wall for connection to a source of compressed gas whereby during a parts washing operation, gas is bubbled through cleaning fluid in said sink from said perforated tube means to agitate the cleaning fluid and thereby assist the parts washing operation, said fluid communication means including a normally open valve having a fusible link operator for closing said valve and terminating the supply of gas to said perforated tube means in said sink in the event of fire.