General parts washer

An apparatus for washing articles with a solvent comprising:

• a cabinet including an upper portion defining a wash basin and a lower portion including a base and side walls disposed in surrounding relation to a cabinet interior,
• said wash basin including at least a partially surrounding wall structure defining a splash guard, and a floor having a drain means therein to drain the solvent from within said wash basin,
• a holding tank within said cabinet interior structured and disposed to contain a predetermined charge of the solvent therein,
• return means interconnecting between said drain means and said holding tank for directing the solvent from said drain means into said holding tank,
• a spout for discharging the solvent into said wash basin,
• a pump structured and disposed to circulate the solvent from said holding tank to said spout for discharge into said wash basin,
• a distillation pot disposed within said cabinet interior and including an insulated side wall structure and bottom and a removable insulated lid structured for sealed, air tight engagement with said side wall structure in covering relation to an open top of said distillation pot,
• a transfer canal connecting between said holding tank and said distillation pot for selectively transferring contaminated solvent from said holding tank to said distillation pot, solvent containment valve means selectively operable between an open position to release the contaminated solvent into said distillation pot and a closed position preventing the solvent from entering said distillation pot,
• a vacuum pump interconnected to said holding tank and structured and disposed to create a vacuum within said holding tank and said distillation pot,
• heating means within said distillation pot structured and disposed for boiling the contaminated solvent contained therein so as to produce a solvent vapor,
• a condenser including a condensing tube having a first end connected to said distillation pot for receiving the solvent vapor therein, a mid-portion disposed in a cooling zone within said cabinet interior and a second opposite end connecting with said holding tank for directing purified, condensed liquid solvent into said holding tank, and
• a blower disposed within said cooling zone for directing an air current therethrough to cool said mid-portion of said condensing tube, and thereby causing the solvent vapor to condense to a liquid state so as to produce the purified, solvent.