Patents Examined by Robert L. Bleutge
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Patent number: 4421131Abstract: A cleaning apparatus in which an item to be cleaned is lowered into a tank of cleaning solution by a basket having an imperforate floor, the floor and tank forming a relatively narrow opening therebetween. The floor forces the underlying solution to flow through the opening at a relatively high velocity to sweep with it any sludge or sediment which may have previously settled on the bottom of the tank. Such solution flows above the basket floor and washes against the item being cleaned. Any sediment entering the solution tends to settle on top of the floor. When the basket is raised, it enables a drainage passage to be opened, permitting a remaining portion of the solution as well as a rinsing liquid to flow along the floor and through the drainage passage, sweeping with it such sediment, etc., which had previously settled on the basket floor.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1982Date of Patent: December 20, 1983Inventor: Raymond G. Auvil, Jr.
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Patent number: 4420006Abstract: Frying apparatus including a fry pot and a filter system operable during a cleaning cycle for dislodging food particles which cling to the fry pot and for removing food particles suspended in the cooking oil is disclosed. The filter system includes a shower apparatus which discharges jets of cooking oil along the interior side surfaces of the fry pot to dislodge food particles clinging thereto. The cooking oil is drained into a drain pan, strained through a filter and means are provided for pumping the filtered cooking oil back to the fry pot where it is discharged through the shower apparatus. Food particles are continuously separated from the cooking oil as it is conveyed from the fry pot through the filter into the drain pot. In a preferred embodiment, a control circuit is provided for automatically turning off the fry pot heaters when the cooking oil is drained during the filter cycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1978Date of Patent: December 13, 1983Assignee: The Frymaster CorporationInventors: L. Frank Moore, George M. Price
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Patent number: 4420004Abstract: An apparatus for automatic cleaning of silk screen printing frames, comprising a chamber (1), a vertical nozzle holder (4) being adapted to move in a horizontal direction throughout the entire width of said chamber (1) and a plurality of nozzles (5) arranged in separate groups and serving to spray a variety of liquids, being pumped from reservoirs (6, 7, 8) associated with said chamber (1), successively onto said frame (2). The reservoirs 6 and 7 are provided with rotating lids 9, 10 repectively which can assume overlapping positions to prevent the flow of return fluid into the reservoirs or generally upright positions to direct the flow of return liquid into the respective reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1981Date of Patent: December 13, 1983Inventor: Sverre Jensen
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Patent number: 4420005Abstract: A unique water powered dishwasher having an improved rotatable spray arm and liquid detergent dispenser. The liquid detergent dispenser is located directly above the chamber which feeds water downwardly into the central hub of the spray arm. The rotatable spray arm is suspended from an axial shaft that also rotates and which is supported by the bottom of the liquid detergent dispenser, thus using liquid detergent as a lubricant to facilitate rotation of the spray arm. Water forced upwardly from the chamber leading to the spray arm lubricates the adjacent surfaces of the rotating hub and the stationary lower end of the chamber to further facilitate rotation of the spray arm. The top cover and base which contains the dishwasher have been designed for minimal storage space when not in use. The top cover, when inverted, will accept the bottom half of the dishwasher, thus requiring little storage space.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1982Date of Patent: December 13, 1983Inventor: Daniel Armstrong
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Patent number: 4420003Abstract: A glass washing machine which includes a circular glass rack supported for rotation and divided into three separate sections by partitions. The rack may be turned to successively move each section from a glass loading station to a wash compartment wherein the glasses are washed and rinsed, and finally to an unloading station which is accessible for removal of the clean glasses. The bottom and side edges of the partitions bounding the wash compartment are sealed to the housing of the machine by seal strips. Sealing curtains seal the top portions of the partitions on their surfaces which face into the wash compartment.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1981Date of Patent: December 13, 1983Assignee: T.C.A., Inc.Inventors: Quarterman Lee, Larry E. Watson, Glenn E. Montgomery
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Patent number: 4417596Abstract: A filter-cleaning apparatus comprises a hollow, elongate body provided with cleaning fluid inlet and exit means at respective ends thereof. The cleaning fluid inlet means comprises an annulus which extends peripherally around one end of the hollow body and which defines together with the outer wall of the hollow body a space for receiving cleansing fluid from a source of such fluid. The interior of the hollow body communicates with the space defined by the annulus through a series if holes formed in that part of the wall of the body located within the confines of the space. When cleaning a filter, the filter is inserted into the hollow body through the inlet means herefore and the source of cleaning fluid activated. The filter is then moved axially in the hollow body, past the series of holes, until all the filter has been cleaned. A closure means is provided at the cleaning fluid inlet, to prevent the escape of cleaning fluid during operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1981Date of Patent: November 29, 1983Inventor: Bo Pahlen
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Patent number: 4416300Abstract: An article washing apparatus is provided which has a washing chamber and a heating element spaced upwardly from the bottom wall thereof. Apparatus is also provided for distributing washing liquid within the washing chamber including a pump associated with the bottom wall of the washing chamber and a rotatable horizontally elongated thermoplastic wash arm in communication with the pump to effect washing of the articles by spraying liquid thereon. The thermoplastic wash arm is protected from heat radiated by the heating element by at least one generally U-shaped heat reflecting member supported on the rotatable thermoplastic wash arm. The heat reflecting member is positioned between the thermoplastic wash arm and the heating element with a wall portion of the heat reflecting member spaced from the thermoplastic wash arm and providing an air gap therebetween. The wall portion of the heat reflecting member effectively dissipates and reflects radiant heat from the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1981Date of Patent: November 22, 1983Assignee: The Maytag CompanyInventor: Lawrence J. Jordan
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Patent number: 4412551Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning hydraulic fluid residue from a system such as an automatic transmission cooling system of a vehicle includes a solvent dispensing reservoir, a solvent recovery reservoir, and a pneumatically controlled check valve coupling the solvent dispensing reservoir and solvent recovery reservoir. The check valve responds to pneumatic pressure to block flow from the solvent recovery reservoir into the solvent dispensing reservoir and to pressurize the solvent reservoir to propel solvent into the system to be cleaned. In the absence of pneumatic pressure, recycled solvent in the solvent recovery reservoir can flow into the solvent dispensing reservoir for reuse. The apparatus is preferably for cleaning automotive automatic transmission cooling systems of accumulated "varnish" and other debris.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1982Date of Patent: November 1, 1983Inventors: LeRoy W. Peters, Walter E. Moore
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Patent number: 4409999Abstract: Automatic ultrasonic cleaning apparatus in which a single ultrasonic cleaning tank is alternately filled and drained with cleaning solution and rinsing solution and is supplied with drying air in accordance with a programmed cycle of operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1981Date of Patent: October 18, 1983Inventor: Edward A. Pedziwiatr
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Patent number: 4408625Abstract: An article washing device is disclosed which includes movable spray heads for both washing and rinsing while the article is stationary or moving. The housing is defined with the washing compartment therein having a frame means suspended from the upper portion thereof. The frame means is powered to move to and fro within the washing compartment. A supply line for washing solution and a supply line for rinsing solution are secured to the frame means and are oriented peripherally about the washing compartment. Spray heads are located in each of the washing and rinsing solutions such that the washing or rinsing solution can be released from the respective conduit while the frame means and the conduits themselves are moving back and forth longitudinally within the washing station. In this manner complete washing and rinsing of an article having many difficult areas to clean such as a rack is achievable.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1982Date of Patent: October 11, 1983Inventor: Henry Y. Kuhl
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Patent number: 4408624Abstract: An arrangement for unscrambling ferromagnetic coil springs from a pile of coil springs, and conducting the coil springs to a work station. A cassette containing a disorganized pile of springs is provided with a first surface having openings, and discharge tubes associated therewith. A second surface which adjoins the first surface is provided with impact edges for controlling the upwardly vertical travel of the coil springs in response to a traveling electromagnetic field which, in one embodiment, is produced by a linear motor stator. The linear motor stator is arranged at an angle with respect to the second surface of the cassette, the apex of the acute angle being arranged at the junction between the first and second surfaces of the cassette. The traveling electromagnetic field attracts the springs to the second surface and causes them to travel upwardly until they encounter the impact edges.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1981Date of Patent: October 11, 1983Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Horst Friemert
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Patent number: 4407678Abstract: A machine (1) suitable for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank which comprises a central body (15) rotatable about which is a casing (2, 3) provided with two substantially diametric nozzles (4, 5) arranged so that liquid emerging therefrom sweeps substantially only in one plane, a turbine (12) rotating the casing about the central body (15) and means (18) ensuring that when the casing (2, 3) is continuously rotated, alternately one nozzle is closed for substantially 180.degree. rotation while the other nozzle is open. Such machines may be suspended above the floor of the tank adjacent to a wall thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1981Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Assignee: Butterworth Systems Inc.Inventors: John A. Furness, John Haggerty
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Patent number: 4407316Abstract: Installation for cleaning painted parts comprising a treatment chamber (1) in which the painted parts to be cleaned are exposed to jets of hot water-miscible, cleaning solvent. The installation also includes separating means (7, 8, 14, 18) for the light paint solvents, the cleaning solvent of the paint, the water cleaning solvent, and the gas cleaning solvent, with a view to recycling the cleaning solvent.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1981Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Inventor: Ernest Ihringer
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Patent number: 4407229Abstract: A hoist for dipping a package of lumber or other similar work product into a tank of liquid is fabricated basically as a weldment of readily available steel shapes and is of a rugged, reliable design. A vertically movable carriage with forwardly projecting prongs at its lower end receives a package of work product and clamps located above the prongs tightly clamp the package to the carriage during a dipping procedure. The hoist is designed to allow package delivery and removal, to and from the hoist, by a fork lift truck. After placing a package on the hoist the fork lift operator may push a single push button and a control system for the hoist thereafter causes the hoist to automatically go through a full cycle of operation including a immersion period the length of which may be manually adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1981Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Inventor: Dale Sanborn
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Patent number: 4407315Abstract: A permanently mounted tank cleaning apparatus cleans interior surfaces of a bulk milk storage tank using a plurality of cleaning cycles, each cycle characterized by a separate cleaning step. The tank includes a device for dispersing fluid against the interior surfaces of the tank and an outlet proximate its bottom interior surface. A pump is fixedly associated with the dispersing device by a conduit and pumps fluid to the dispersing device through the conduit. A three-way valve assembly is fixedly attached to the outlet of the tank and is positionable in a closed position, a milk removal position, and a tank cleaning position. A solenoid drain valve is positioned between the pump and the tank cleaning position of the three-way valve and below the bottom interior surface of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1981Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Inventor: Merle D. Haberer
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Patent number: 4406297Abstract: A self-contained pipet washer and dryer which utilizes a container assembly within which is located a quantity of the pipets that are to be washed and dryed. An acid storage tank is included which includes a volume of acid which is to supply acid into the container to soak the pipets for a period of time. Tap water is to be supplied into the container to initially rinse the pipets after the acid soaking. A second source of rinsing solution, in the form of deionized water, is provided to function as a final rinse for the pipets. Heated air is to then be blown across the pipets to dry the pipets.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1981Date of Patent: September 27, 1983Inventor: John R. Walton
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Patent number: 4406298Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning dye bottles uses an elongated tubular member having a first inlet end adapted to be coupled to a source of water and having an outlet end for discharging water. On the surface of the tubular member are groups of apertures with each group spaced a predetermined distance apart. The groups of apertures are surrounded by a coupling member having an inner threaded section for engaging the threaded neck of a bottle. In using the device a separate bottle is retained within each coupling member and water is directed to the inlet end and discharged from the outlet end. The apertures in the tubular member allow water to enter each bottle and to clean the same during operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1981Date of Patent: September 27, 1983Inventor: Jack Martin
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Patent number: 4404979Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the longitudinal bore in the barrel of a flintlock muzzleloading type rifle without removing the barrel from the stock and wherein the barrel has a touchhole formed in its breach end normally covered by the lock assembly. The apparatus includes a tubular drain member having a radial flange on which is mounted an annular seal adapted for sealing engagement with the barrel circumferentially of the touchhole opening after removal of the lock assembly. A mounting clip attached to the drain member facilitates releasable mounting of the apparatus on the barrel. In cleaning the bore, the lock assembly is removed from the stock to expose the touchhole, the drain member is mounted on the rifle by the mounting clip so as to seal about the touchhole opening, and a flushing liquid or solvent is poured down the barrel bore and discharged through the touchhole and drain member to a receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1981Date of Patent: September 20, 1983Inventor: Larry R. Hobbs
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Patent number: 4402104Abstract: Device for the surface cleaning of rotating machine elements such as the rotors of regenerative heat exchangers. A swinging cleaning arm is driven by an adjustable operating member to move across a rotor face through various angles, the extreme radially outer position of the cleaning arm being substantially constant, while its extreme inside positions, in various portions of its operating cycle, are variable. The operating member may be a fluid pressure motor; a control gear for the operating member contains a number of distribution sections arranged parallel in a distributing member. The distributing member is connected through connecting piping to a source of pressure fluid, and through further interconnecting piping is connected to the respective pressure spaces of respective operating members for swinging cleaning arms.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1981Date of Patent: September 6, 1983Assignee: Prvni brnenska strojirna, koncernovy podnikInventors: Jaroslav Olesovsky, Frantisek Hanik
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Patent number: 4402333Abstract: A device for cleaning a paint roller which includes a cylindrical cylinder in which the roller may be suspended while it is still attached to its operating handle, and a nozzle fixed to direct a stream of water against the roller in a non-radial direction to wash paint from the roller while at the same time causing it to rotate on its axis to expel water and paint centrifugally.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1982Date of Patent: September 6, 1983Inventors: Leon E. Frizzell, Joseph C. Frizzell