Ultrasonic parts washer apparatus

An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, for use with a cleaning solution for cleaning items, said cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a cleaning tank for containing a quantity of the cleaning solution therein and in which the items to be cleaned can be placed therein, said cleaning tank having at least one upper drain and at least one lower drain;
• at least one ultrasonic device for ultrasonically exciting the cleaning solution contained within said cleaning tank;
• control means operable for drawing said cleaning solution from at least one filter for filtering said cleaning solution and said cleaning tank through said at least one upper drain and through said at least one lower drain;
• directing said cleaning solution through said at least one filter, and returning filtered cleaning solution to said cleaning tank.

An ultrasonic parts cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a tank for containing a quantity of a cleaning solution, the cleaning tank having a sloped bottom with a lower end, a first drain for drawing the solution and heavier debris from adjacent the lower end of the sloped bottom, and a second drain for drawing lighter debris from the tank after it has been skimmed from the solution;
• a filter for filtering the cleaning solution;
• a pump for recirculating the cleaning solution through the tank and the filter;
• an ultrasonic device for ultrasonically exciting the cleaning solution within the tank;
• and
• a control means operable for controlling the pump in a cleaning cycle wherein the cleaning solution is pumped through the filter and returned to the tank.

An ultrasonic parts cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a tank for containing a quantity of a cleaning solution, the tank having a sloped bottom and a trough located at the bottom of the tank to accumulate soils and debris;
• a filter for filtering the cleaning solution;
• a pump for continuously recirculating cleaning solution through the tank and the filter;
• a sump associated with the tank and pump for continuously adding additional cleaning solution to the tank to facilitate the drawing off of light greases and oils from the solution;
• a weir located within the tank, at least partially defining the sump, and adapted for skimming lighter debris from the solution in the cleaning tank;
• a first lower drain, a second lower drain with the weir disposed between the first drain and the second drain;
• an inlet located at the bottom of the tank for spraying filtered cleaning solution along the bottom of the tank toward the trough;
• an ultrasonic device for ultrasonically exciting the cleaning solution within the tank, wherein the ultrasonic device is positioned adjacent the sloped bottom of the tank;
• and
• a control means operable for controlling the pump in a continuous cleaning cycle wherein the cleaning solution is continuously pumped through the filter and returned to the tank.

An ultrasonic parts cleaning apparatus for use with a cleaning solution for cleaning items, the cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a cleaning tank for holding the cleaning solution and the items to be cleaned, the cleaning tank having a sloped interior surface;
• at least one ultrasonic device for ultrasonically exciting the cleaning solution held in the cleaning tank, the ultrasonic device disposed on the sloped interior surface of the tank so that debris cleaned from the items in the tank is encouraged to fall down the sloped interior surface instead of building up over the ultrasonic device;
• a filter for filtering the cleaning solution;
• and
• control means operable for drawing the cleaning solution from the tank, passing the cleaning solution through the filter, and returning the filtered cleaning solution to the tank.