Method of cleaning workpieces with a potentially flammable or explosive liquid and drying in the tunnel
AssigneeElectrovert Ltd.
InventorJohn Gileta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dryer system for a liquid cleaning apparatus has a dehumidifier to remove vapors, droplets of liquid cleaning agent and recirculate dry gas onto workpieces moving on a conveyor. The dryer is particularly useful for removing solvents and restricts solvents escaping from the cleaning apparatus. The dryer has an enclosed tunnel from an enclosed liquid containing tank, a conveyor passes from the tank through the tunnel towards an exit. A dehumidifier is associated with the tunnel to remove vapor and liquid particles from atmosphere above the tank and in the tunnel, and supplies dry gas to assist in drying workpieces leaving the tank and passing through the tunnel.
Claims17
In a method of cleaning workpieces with a potentially flammable or explosive liquid cleaning solvent, wherein workpieces are conveyed on a conveyor in an enclosure through a solvent tank followed by a hot water tank, and then conveyed through an enclosed tunnel to dry the workpieces, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- withdrawing vapor and gas from at least above the hot water tank,
- dehumidifying the withdrawn vapor and gas,
- recirculating the dehumidified gas through the tunnel only in a direction opposite to movement of the workpieces on the conveyor, and
- heating the workpieces on the conveyor to assist in drying while in the tunnel.
In a method of cleaning workpieces with a potentially flammable or explosive liquid, comprising the steps of:
- conveying workpieces on a conveyor into an enclosure having a solvent tank therein,
- immersing the workpieces in the solvent tank,
- passing the workpieces under a first liquid seal divider while in the solvent tank,
- spraying the workpieces with solvent under immersion in the solvent tank,
- subjecting the workpieces to at least one hot water spray after leaving the solvent tank in an enclosed area between two liquid seal dividers,
- immersing the workpieces in a hot water tank,
- passing the workpieces under a second liquid seal divider while in the hot water tank,
- conveying the workpieces through a drying tunnel,
- withdrawing vapor and gas from at least above the hot water tank,
- dehumidifying the withdrawn vapor and gas,
- passing the dehumidified gas through the drying tunnel in a direction opposite to movement of the workpieces on the conveyor, and
- heating the workpieces to assist in drying while in the drying tunnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.