Automatic solution concentration monitoring system

An automatic solution concentration monitoring system for maintaining relative concentrations of at least two components of said solution, said system comprising:

• conduit means through which said solution is caused to flow, said conduit means including a J-shaped portion
• central control means;
• sensing means associated with said conduit means and comprising a load cell operative to sense the mass of said solution within said J-shaped portion and to provide a signal responsive thereto to said control means;
• a supply of each of said components;
• and
• metering means for selectively controlling the flow of each of said components into said solution,
• said central control means being operative to control said metering means in response to said signal from said sensing means whereby said metering means may operate to replenish said components in said solution to thereby maintain the relative concentrations thereof within desired ranges.

An automatic solution concentration level monitoring system for use with solution treating apparatus, said solution comprising first and second depletable components, said treating apparatus comprising a reservoir tank containing a supply of said solution and treating means for applying said solution to workpieces, said system comprising:

• return conduit means for returning said solution from said treating means to said reservoir;
• pump means for circulating said solution through supply conduit means from said reservoir to said treating means;
• central control means;
• sensing means associated with one of said supply and return conduit means operative to periodically sense a condition indicative of the relative concentrations of said depletable components of said solution and to provide a signal responsive thereto to said central control means;
• a supply of said first component;
• a supply of said second component;
• and
• metering means connecting between each of said supplies of said first and second components and said reservoir, said metering means being operative to control replenishing flow of said first and second components to said reservoir;
• said central control means being operative to compare said sensed condition with a predetermined value and to control actuation of said metering means in response thereto whereby the concentration level of said solution may be maintained within desired limits.

An automatic coating solution concentration level monitoring and recirculation system for an immersion coating apparatus, said coating solution comprising first and second depletable components, said coating apparatus comprising a tank containing a supply of said coating solution through which workpieces are processed, said system comprising:

• a secondary reservoir;
• return conduit means for returning said coating solution from said tank to said reservoir;
• pump means for circulating said coating solution from said reservoir to said tank;
• central control means;
• sensing means associated with said return conduit means operative to periodically sense a condition of said coating solution being returned to said reservoir and to provide a signal responsive thereto to said central control means, said condition being indicative of the relative concentrations of said components of said solution;
• a supply of said first component;
• a supply of said second component;
• and
• metering means connected between each of said supplies of said first and second components and said reservoir, said metering means being operative to control replenishing flow of said first and second components to said reservoir;
• said central control means being operative to compare said sensed condition with a predetermined value and to control actuation of said metering means in response thereto whereby the concentration level of said coating solution may be maintained within the desired limits.