With Movably Mounted Spray Or Jet Applying Conduits Or Nozzles Patents (Class 134/144)
  • Patent number: 5441063
    Abstract: A high-speed bottle washing machine provides concurrent rotational motion to a workpiece as it is conveyed through a washing treatment zone for internal and external spray treatments. The machine comprises a plurality of moving bottle receiving stations for sequentially receiving and rotating inverted bottles received from a bottle infeed conveyor, a plurality of reciprocating spray nozzles, with at least one spray nozzle moving with each bottle receiving station, wherein each of the spray nozzles reciprocates from a first position below the inverted bottles, to a second position within the bottles, and a manifold assembly for sequentially supplying a caustic wash fluid under pressure to each of the plurality of spray nozzles to clean the bottles by impingement of the wash fluid in a predetermined pattern within the bottles as the bottles are rotated. The washed bottles are finally discharged at a bottle outfeed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Fernandez, Attila Soti, Steve Miller
  • Patent number: 5437296
    Abstract: A mobile heat exchange tube bundle cleaning apparatus in which a truck trailer contains a tube bundle receiving reservoir that rotates and sprays partially submerged tube bundles with cleaning fluid from multiple fixed spray nozzles. The apparatus further comprises a trailer mounted cleaning fluid reservoir with pumps and filters to re-circulate cleaning fluid after it is sprayed onto the rotating tube bundles within the receiving reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Pure Oil Engineering & Consultants Company
    Inventor: Robert Citino
  • Patent number: 5419348
    Abstract: In an automatic bottle washing machine, a nozzle spray system for spraying an internal bottom surface of a bottle or container that is rotatable about its central vertical axis. The nozzle spray system includes a nozzle body having a centralized bore for receiving pressurized fluid, a plurality of discharge orifices located in a staggered, spaced apart pattern on the surface of the nozzle body, and a plurality of elongated microbores to connect a respective one of the plurality of discharge orifices to the centralized bore. When the nozzle body is positioned within an invertedly positioned bottle, cleaning fluid is discharged from the plurality of discharge orifices in well focused jets toward adjacent regions of the internal bottom surface of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Kuta
  • Patent number: 5402809
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cleaning industrial apparel such as wire mesh safety gloves used in processing meats such as chickens. The apparatus employs a containment chamber within which a conveyor carries the gloves which are mounted upon substantially elevated glove mounts. Within the chamber, high pressure nozzles are rotated to express hot chlorinated water upon the gloves over a residence interval of about one minute. The apparatus employs parallel inputs of hot and cold water, the latter being chlorinated within a range of about 150 to 200 ppm. Cleanability is enhanced through the utilization of facilely removed light weight flat front and side doors and a pivoting forward deck assembly. Bacteria-promoting pockets and the like are minimized through the utilization of sanitary welds and O-ring mounted polymeric bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Smith
  • Patent number: 5388602
    Abstract: Descaling device employing water to descale blooms, thin slabs, billets, etc., which cooperates with a mould and the zone immediately downstream therefrom, or with an induction furnace or rolling mill stands, the slabs or blooms (11-24) being fed in cooperation with the descaling device at a speed of feed of the order of 1.5-20 meters per minute, but advantageously between 4 and 10 meters per minute, the device consisting of at least one movable arm (12-13) bearing nozzle means (14) delivering descaling water, the movable arm (12-13) being associated with the face of the slab or bloom (11-24) to be descaled and having a working phase, in which the descaling water acts on the surface of the slab or bloom (11-24), and a shut-off phase, in which the descaling water does not act on the surface of the slab or bloom (11-24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Giovanni Coassin, Franco Driussi, Fausto De Marco, Gianni Rattierri
  • Patent number: 5337767
    Abstract: A web cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning the surface of a web (22), for example a photographic film. The apparatus has a rotatable particle transfer roller (10) for removing particulate contamination from the web and a rotatable renewal roller (30) having a cleaning surface (36) for contacting and cleaning the particle transfer roller. Wiping contact is established between the particle transfer roller and the renewal roller to effectuate cleaning of the transfer roller. An absorbent cleaning member (46) is positioned in a cleaning fluid reservoir (32) for wetting and cleaning the cleaning surface of the renewal roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gerard W. Ernst, Gregory P. Guyette
  • Patent number: 5329951
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning an internal combustion engine cylinder head uses a high-pressure water jet supplied by a pump driven by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine powered by a power pack and via a spinning spray nozzle head mounted on a vertically reciprocating traveller travelling the length of a cylinder head clamped by headstock and tailstock clamping assemblies each with six conical-headed, spring-loaded clamping members clamped together by a pneumatic ram and rotatable horizontally at varying speeds by a variable-speed electric motor and drive assembly in synchronization with another electric motor driving the traveller; a spinning spray jet swivel head assembly is rotated via an hydraulic motor from the power pack; clamping and spray head assemblies are mounted within in a framed cabinet and a removable wheeled waste water collection tank underneath has fixed, vertically-opposed, horizontally spaced baffles for separation and settling sludge and floating scum from water which is then recy
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Colin H. Jones
  • Patent number: 5169408
    Abstract: A wafer processing apparatus including a head defining an etching chamber, the sidewall of the head being slidable along the base so that the sidewall and base will normally define an etch chamber; and the sidewall may be moved upwardly to open a discharge passage for rinsing water, and a deflecting surface for deflecting the rinsing water downwardly and draining the rinsing water from the passage. The housing is separable above the deflector ring to provide access to the wafer for inserting the wafer and replacing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: FSI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex L. Biggerstaff, Charles W. Skinner, Daniel J. Syverson, Mark L. Jenson, James G. Kegley
  • Patent number: 5167720
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for treating jet engine components with high pressure water. The apparatus of the present invention broadly consists of a generally enclosed room-size chamber, a water delivery means, including a nozzle body having multiple water emitting orifices, a support frame and gantry for supporting the water delivery means whereby the water delivery means is movable along multiple axes, a workpiece supporting turntable and a computer or microprocessor for controlling the operational parameters of the apparatus. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for using the apparatus to blast jet engine components with high pressure water without added chemical or particulate abrasives, the operational parameters of the apparatus being selected from a range of such parameters. The water is directed against the component under very high pressure to remove coatings or deposits or to machine the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Diamond, David M. Free, Richard H. Keene
  • Patent number: 5156861
    Abstract: A washing apparatus of a screw for extruder including a casing, support rollers installed in the casing so as to support a screw rotatably, a drive motor for rotating the screw, a water jet assembly having a nozzle and nozzle rotation section, a nozzle inclination motor to incline the water jet assembly relative to the axis direction of the screw. A nozzle hole of the water jet assembly is inclined to face one way relative to the axis of the screw placed on support roller assemblies. The nozzle is rotated eccentrically about the nozzle hole and moved from one end to the other of the screw, changing the nozzle hole direction to the other way relative to the screw at the other end of the screw. The screw is rotated so that an unwashed part of the screw faces the nozzle and is washed. This cycle is repeated until the entire surface of the screw is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Trading & Manufacturing Co., Ltd., San-Ai Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Tsuchiya, Kinichi Kaneko, Hiroshi Kasahara, Hirokazu Ohnishi, Mitsuaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5133375
    Abstract: A washer for a conventional wheelchair has a washing chamber within an enclosure with fluid-driven rotatable washer arms having suitably angles nozzles for directing cleaning and rinsing fluids onto a wheelchair mounted on a slidable rack just above the slanted drain floor of the enclosure. The device also provides for rotating the large side support wheels during the washing cycles while keeping the chair from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventors: Walter W. Schinzing, Dallas W. Foster, Gale L. Brinkman, Michael M. Meissen
  • Patent number: 5116425
    Abstract: The invention is a cleaning method and associated apparatus that are particularly useful for cleaning surfaces formed of relatively hard materials such as grout or industrial rolls which are contaminated with relatively hard embedded deposits of undesirable materials that are difficult to remove by conventional washing or abrading cleaning methods, and while substantially reducing the effluent resulting from the cleaning step so that the cleaning method may be conveniently used in areas where effluent disposal may be a problem such as smaller indoor rooms, areas, or equipment. The invention comprises pressurizing a cleaning liquid with a gas driven hydraulic pump and directing a flow of the cleaning liquid from a nozzle at surfaces to be cleaned at a pressure of at least about 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) and at a volumetric flow rate of no more than about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Softblast, Inc.
    Inventor: Helmut Ruef
  • Patent number: 5106428
    Abstract: Reusable containers such as totes for paint, chemicals and the like are cleaned to exacting standards by apparatus which includes a spray booth and at least an internal spray head. The spray head is moved along a vertical axis to a plurality of different positions within the tote. In addition, the spray head is tiltable about a horizontal axis. In such manner, the spray head can be tilted so that its nozzles are brought very close to the side walls of the container to thereby concentrate the spray of solvent thereon to remove paint residue and the like. An external spray head is also provided for cleaning the external sides of the container while it is being rotated relative to both internal and external spray heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Automated Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Goerss, William J. Farrah
  • Patent number: 5078162
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and process for removing lube and other contaminants from the inside of a tube, the apparatus comprising a flexible hose having a nozzle at one end thereof which is conveyed by a pair of pinch rollers through the length of the tube to be cleaned. A high pressure cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle and the pressurized fluid removes the lube and other contaminants from the inside of the tube. The apparatus seals both ends of the tube to be cleaned and provides drainage of the cleaning fluid from the interior of the tube. The apparatus can be used for automatic cleaning of tubes manufactured from a pilger reduction mill or other similar manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry L. Moody
  • Patent number: 5032187
    Abstract: In a cleaning system for cleaning venetian blinds, the blinds are stretched with their slats extending vertically on a carrier belt that is mounted to rotate about longitudinally separated drive and idler assemblies. One run of the carrier belt forms a station for loading and unloading of the blinds, and the other run of the carrier belt passes through successively arranged chambers in which both sides of the blinds to be cleaned are sprayed with washing liquid followed by various rinse solutions, whereafter the blind is passed through a drying chamber in which hot air is blown to effect drying. The vertical arrangement of the slats of the blind enable the washing and rinse liquids to drain rapidly and substantially completely so that the energy required for drying is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Shirley A. Lawless
  • Patent number: 5018544
    Abstract: A mobile tube bundle cleaning apparatus comprised of a truck mounted fluid and hydraulic pressure sources including high pressure pumps and diesel engines. The apparatus further includes a trailer mounted tube bundle cleaning system including an articulable mobile crane, outriggers for stabilizing the trailer during cleaning operations and a system for supporting and rotating a tube bundle during cleaning operations. The apparatus further includes a remote control pedestal from which an operator may control the fluid pressurizing system, the crane and the operation of the tube bundle rotating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Ohmstede Mechanical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Boisture, Larry D. McGrew, James D. Jeffrey, Robert G. Wetzel, Gene P. Livingston, Robert A. Baten
  • Patent number: 5000206
    Abstract: In a floodwater and a process for floodwashing workpieces wherein the workpiece is immersed in a bath of washing liquid and a workpiece surface is acted upon by at least one jet of washing liquid issuing from a nozzle, in order to achieve optimum cleaning efficiency of the jets with as low pumping capacity as possible, it is proposed that a free jet be used as jet and that the nozzle be guided at a distance from the workpiece surface which at most is approximately twice the length of the jet core of the free jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Duerr GmbH
    Inventors: Carl Kramer, Karl-Eugen Metzger, Dieter Ahrens
  • Patent number: 4989392
    Abstract: A washing and cleaning system in a packing machine which manufactures filled packing containers from tubular container cases, wherein the packing machine includes a housing, a plurality of stations located in the housing, and a conveyor for conveying the cases from station to station. The washing and cleaning system includes a guide bar, a slider slidably mounted on the guide bar, a plurality of nozzles mounted on the slider and at least one vessel containing cleaning and washing fluid for supplying cleaning and washing fluid to the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Tetra Pak Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Christer Lindgren, Rolf Schildt
  • Patent number: 4967962
    Abstract: A high-pressure fluid processing device is provided, which is improved for application of impinging fluid jets to process an object, such as a woven fabric, to increase uniformity of application and processing of the object. Particularly, the present invention is useful for processing woven fabrics having small thicknesses and lower densities by compensation for overlapping regions that occur during high-pressure fluid processing. The high-pressure fluid processing device includes a header means that is translationally rotationally driven from a frame so as to move a plurality of nozzles thereon in circles to impinged the object conveyed thereunder with high-pressure fluid jets. Moreover, the device includes masking members that are positioned between the nozzles and the object to be processed so as to block at least some of the jet flow of fluid to increase uniformity of processing and to avoid unwanted bunching or shifting of fibers in a processed fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kawaguchi, Shin Kasai, Michio Konno
  • Patent number: 4953575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a washing device for cuvette sets. The cuvette set is placed into a holder (11) in a rotor (10). The washing liquid is removed from the cuvettes by rotating the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Labsystems Oy
    Inventor: Jukka Tervamaki
  • Patent number: 4952325
    Abstract: Cylindrical textile filters of the radially outward filtration flow type such as utilized in textile wet processing systems are cleaned of filtered accumulation in an inclined filter housing wherein the filter is continuously rotated while a spray nozzle travels axially along the length of the filter applying a high velocity spray of cleaning water radially inwardly with respect to the filter. Simultaneously, a shower-like water spray is applied axially through the filter interior to flush the filtered accumulation as it is dislodged by the high-pressure spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Gaston County Dyeing Machine Co.
    Inventor: Graham F. Clifford
  • Patent number: 4941489
    Abstract: A carrier cleaning and drying apparatus for cleaning and drying a wafer processing carrier has a cleaning tank for accommodating the carrier and a high-pressure injection nozzle disposed in an upper portion of the cleaning tank and for injecting a pressurized cleaning solution. This high-pressure injection nozzle is moved within a plane and the cleaning solution is injected at high pressure therefrom, thereby removing dust adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the carrier by means of the force of injection. A supporting and rotating mechanism portion is also provided which, during cleaning of the carrier, swings the carrier at a predetermined angle, and, after cleaning, effects drying by spinning the carrier at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignees: Dan Science Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Kamimura, Toshiaki Ohmori, Motonori Yanagi, Takaaki Fukumoto, Masaharu Hama
  • Patent number: 4941491
    Abstract: Reusable containers such as totes for paint, chemicals and the like are cleaned to exacting standards by apparatus which includes a spray booth and at least an internal spray head. The spray head is moved along a vertical axis to a plurality of different positions within the tote. In addition, the spray head is tiltable about a horizontal axis. In such manner, the spray head can be tilted so that its nozzles are brought very close to the side walls of the container to thereby concentrate the spray of solvent thereon to remove paint residue and the like. An external spray head is also provided for cleaning the external sides of the container while it is being rotated relative to both internal and external spray heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Automated Cleaning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Goerss, William J. Farrah
  • Patent number: 4893642
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning/deburring manufactured parts, each part having an established axis of rotation, includes a conveyor operable to convey the parts in succession in intermittent step-by-step movement to a cleaning/deburring station and a drying station. At each of the cleaning/deburring and drying stations the part is driven in high speed rotation about its axis by a part rotating device. At the cleaning/deburring station the rotating part is sprayed with high pressure fluid and at the drying station high velocity air is discharged tangentially against the rotating part to strip residual fluid from the part. The spray nozzle assembly can be stationary, or can take the form of a transversing assembly for reciprocating movement along the longitudinal length of the part. Additionally, the transversing assembly can include rotation of the nozzle assembly about an axis as the nozzles are reciprocated longitudinally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: GraPar Corporation
    Inventors: Harold W. Parslow, Jr., Timothy M. Parslow
  • Patent number: 4882049
    Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the separation of filter plates within a filter press for washing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide track having mounted thereon a slidably reciprocal carriage. The carriage includes multiple pivoted pawls having an abutment surface defined thereon for contacting a filter plate to be transported. The pawl is held in a raised orientation by a resilient spring means. The carriage is driven along the guide track by a pressure displaced piston in a rodless cylinder or tubular member. Positioned within the tubular member are two pressure chambers, one on each end of the piston. Pressurized fluid is controlledly introduced into one or the other of those chambers to effect a displacement of the piston. A pair of shifter carriages are provided at the top of and parallel to the filter stack. A plate washer includes a vertical pair of rodless cylinders connecting a pair of vertically movable cross-bars, each cross-bar mounting a series of wash spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven S. Davis
  • Patent number: 4852595
    Abstract: In a machine for etching objects, a nozzle assembly carries out an oscillating movement transverse to the conveying direction, in which the objects to be etched are guided through the machine. The device, which produces the oscillating movement, comprises a drive motor, whereof the rotary movement is converted by means of a cam disc into the oscillating movement of the nozzle assembly. The cam disc, on whose outer contour pressure engagement members of the nozzle assembly bear against two diametrically opposed points, has the contour of a cardioid. Due to this, a particularly linear displacement-time characteristic of the oscillation movement between the reversing points is achieved, which contributes to making the etching process more uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Hans Hollmuller Maschinenbau GmbH & Co
    Inventors: Dietfried Baier, Ivan Grasa, Rainer Haas
  • Patent number: 4836230
    Abstract: An improved water powered dishwasher uniquely adapted to be operated by a domestic water supply line of either high, low or medium pressure including a housing, a rack rotatably mounted within the housing, the rack being adapted to support articles to be washed and a water jet subassembly for directing jets of water in the direction of the rack to impart rotational movement thereto. The jet subassembly comprises a collimated jet for emitting a collimated stream of water in the direction of the lower periphery of the rack for initiating and assisting in sustaining the rotation thereof and a second spray jet for washing the articles and for urging forward rotation of the rack. The second spray jet includes a generally vertically extending spray conduit disposed proximate the periphery of the rack. This spray conduit can be controllably rotated about its vertical axis to precisely control the speed of rotation of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Hart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Janet Elliott
  • Patent number: 4834124
    Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning device comprises an ultrasonic pump having a hollow cover forming a spouting port in a narrow portion thereof, an ultrasonic vibrator in a wide portion thereof and a liquid supply port in a side portion thereof. An oscillator is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. One part of the ultrasonic wave from the vibrator is passed through the spouting portion straight and the other part of the ultrasonic wave is reflected on the inside of the cover and is passed through the spouting port. An object or objects are opposed to the spouting port of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Honda
  • Patent number: 4808234
    Abstract: As a preliminary step, the dirty filter is dried to remove substantially all moisture from the dust on the filter. The filter is then spun in a closed cabinet. Simultaneously, a jet of pressurized air is reciprocated in close proximity along the inner surface of the filter. Also at the same time, suction is maintained on the cabinet, to remove dust-laden air and assist in the dislodging of the dust from the filter paper. By the combined actions of spinning, close-coupled reverse air jetting, and suction, the dust can substantially all be removed from the dirty filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: McWinn Filter Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy D. McKay, Reid W. McKay, Daniel A. Winfield
  • Patent number: 4760857
    Abstract: A washing device is capable of carrying out washing work in a roller part of a machine unit automatically, continuously, concentrically and uniformly. The washing device employs a washing solvent storage tank, and a used washing solvent storage tank,. The device transfers washing solvent in a washing solvent storage tank to a machine unit with a roller to be washed, supplies washing solvent to the roller to be washed set at the end point of the transfer means, a used washing solvent collecting means collects used washing solvent from the proper position of a roller to be washed, and discharges collected used washing solvent to a used washing solvent storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushikigaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Noriyuki Shiba, Tomoshi Kawata
  • Patent number: 4741351
    Abstract: A parts washer and a method of washing parts. The parts washer has a cabinet having a rotatable turntable for carrying parts in a circular path and an oscillating spray manifold has spray nozzles directed toward the top, bottom and side of the parts and is caused to oscillate in an advancing movement counter to the direction of travel of the parts on the turntable and a return movement. The rate of travel of the spray nozzles varies in the two directions of movement with slower travel in the advancing movement and fast return movement to insure that successive sprays delivered by the spray nozzles in the advancing movement overlap on the parts to avoid any striping effect on the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: The Modern Auto Recycling Techniques Corporation
    Inventor: Gary E. Minkin
  • Patent number: 4723563
    Abstract: A wheel soaper for spraying soap on a wheel rim includes a conveyor for conveying wheels in a horizontal position in succession to a soaping station. A downwardly facing frictional drive disc is located above the conveyor at the soaping station clear of the path of movement of wheels and is mounted for rotation about a fixed vertical axis. A cone member is mounted beneath the disc in coaxial relationship with the disc for free rotation and is driven in vertical movement by a reciprocating air motor upwardly from and downwardly to a normally maintained rest position below the path of wheels on the conveyor. When a wheel is stopped on the conveyor at the soaping station, the cone is driven upwardly into the central opening of the wheel to lift the wheel from the conveyor until the upper rim of the wheel is firmly pressed against the drive disc which is then driven in rotation as soap is sprayed from a stationary nozzle onto the rotating wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Allied Automation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Kane
  • Patent number: 4672985
    Abstract: A belt cleaning apparatus for cleaning continuous wide sanding belts which includes a belt drive assembly. The belt drive has a tensioning roller or bar which applies tension to the belt to be cleaned. A cleaning head with a spray nozzle reciprocates on a tracking lead screw to direct the spray against a belt surface as the belt rotates. Adjustable belt width sensing block cooperates with proximity switches on the cleaning head to conform travel to the belt width. Cleaning fluid is returned to a tank where the clogging material is allowed to either settle to accumulate on the fluid surface. Clarified solution is recycled and directed to the nozzle or returned to the tank via a heat exchanger unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Inventor: Larry D. Mohr
  • Patent number: 4667690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a washing apparatus, especially to an apparatus for rinsing of glass bottles before first filling.The bottles to be rinsed are fed to the apparatus by means of a conveyor installation. The incoming bottles are picked up by a receiving means including a conveyor, the runway of which extending in a vertical plane. The bottles are transferred to a transportation device whereby the bottles are pivoted about 180 degrees. The transportation device includes a conveyor advancing said bottles to a rinsing station having a rinsing device and to a draining station. A removing device pick-up the clean bottles from the transportation device and transfers the bottles to a further conveying installation for discharging the bottles from the apparatus. During transferring the bottles are pivoted about 180 degrees such that upright bottles ready for filling are outputted from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Inmarco AG
    Inventor: Heinz Hartnig
  • Patent number: 4653518
    Abstract: A washing apparatus for containers used to hold urine wherein a retaining member for retaining a plurality of urine containers arranged laterally in parallel is supported inside a body rotatably in one step or in a plurality of steps and a cover capable of closing a top opening of each urine container is disposed so as to be opened and closed in synchronism with the rotation of the retaining member, the cover and the urine container are rotated by a required angle by rotation transfer means so the urine may be discharged from the opening at a position where the top opening of the urine container faces downward, simultaneously the urine containers are cleaned successively or all at once automatically by cleaning agent and water ejected from a cleaning agent nozzle and a washing water nozzle provided at the positions corresponding to the opening and returning to the original state after the completion of the cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Shiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 4594166
    Abstract: An improved desludging device for basket centrifuges facilitates the automatic withdrawal of hard sludge from the centrifuge. The device includes a sludge discharge tube and a sludge re-slurrying tube, the tubes being connected in a loop, so that fluid exiting the centrifuge through the discharge tube reenters the centrifuge through the re-slurrying tube. The re-slurrying tube terminates in one or more nozzles or slots, pointed in the general direction of the discharge tube. This continual recirculation of fluid causes the hard sludge in the centrifuge to return to the form of a slurry, and the slurry is periodically withdrawn from the centrifuge. The re-slurrying effect may be enhanced by the occasional introduction of some process liquid, or other liquid, into the centrifuge. The sludge discharge tube and re-slurrying tube are mechanically linked, and are programmed to move towards the rim of the centrifuge until substantially all the sludge is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: William D. Clinton
    Inventors: William D. Clinton, Donald J. Hess
  • Patent number: 4585019
    Abstract: A spray cleaning apparatus for tubular filter elements, comprises a spray chamber in which a filter element is mounted between opposed rotary turntable discs. The chamber is provided with liquid sprays for spraying both the inner and outer surfaces of the element as it is rotated by the turntable. The sprays are reciprocated vertically so as to traverse the height of the filter element. Particular features of the invention reside in the turntable construction; a control system for accurately reversing the up-and-down movement of the sprays dependent on the height of a filter being cleaned; and a particular form of spray nozzle structure useful for cleaning pleated filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Dwight W. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4564280
    Abstract: An apparatus for developing a resist film coated on a rotatable base plate, comprising means for supporting and rotating the base plate and nozzle means for feeding a developer onto the resist film. The nozzle means comprises a nozzle arm extending over the base plate and having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the length of the nozzle arm. Disclosed also is a method for developing a resist film coated on a rotatable base plate with a developer fed from a plurality of nozzles arranged on a nozzle arm along the length of the nozzle arm. The method comprises feeding the developer from th respective nozzles onto the resist film while rotating the base plate and while scanning the nozzle arm over the resist film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yuji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 4509544
    Abstract: Tube bundle cleaning apparatus is disclosed in which cleaning is effected by high pressure water jets impinging upon the tubes of the bundle. The tube bundle is supported on power rollers and a pair of carriages are disposed on opposite sides of the bundle. Each carriage supports a rotatable cleaning head and a non-rotatable cleaning head, both of which are adjustably positionable on the carriage for obtaining optimum location relative to different size tube bundles. The non-rotatable cleanig head includes plural sets of jet nozzles, each set being adjustable in the vertical direction to provide optimum spacing relative to different size tubes to be cleaned. The carriages are mounted on respective tracks for reversibly traversing the tube bundle in repeated cycles to clean a selected swath of the bundle. When the selected swath is cleaned, the tube bundle is rotated to another angular position by the power rollers for cleaning of another swath. The process is repeated until the entire tube bundle is cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: Gilbert L. Mains, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4408625
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Inventor: Henry Y. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 4299245
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning cylinrical filters includes a housing having an opening on one side thereof, a motor driven turntable for supporting a filter to be cleaned, a plurality of spray nozzles selected to provide spray at predetermined heights and at predetermined distances from the perimeter of the filter to be cleaned, a high pressure pump for supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning nozzles and first and second rinse nozzles, the first rinse nozzle being adjustable in both the vertical and horizontal directions relative to the filter to be cleaned, the second nozzle being horizontally adjustable to clean the bottom pan of the filter to be cleaned, the first and second rinse nozzles being connected to a water source at normal main pressure. Each of the external wash nozzles above a predetermined height from the bottom of the filter being individually controllable to provide a proper wash spray for optimum cleaning of a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Inventor: Millard F. Clapper
  • Patent number: 4266565
    Abstract: An upper spray arm is mounted to the underside of the upper dish rack of a dishwasher and rotates in response to a jet of water supplied through the lower spray arm. The upper spray arm mounting is provided with a self-aligning bearing which includes a stationary mounting platform attached to the upper dish rack and a flanged, cylindrical bearing connected to the spray arm. An enlarged bore in the mounting platform accommodates the bearing cylinder and permits radial movement of the bearing cylinder relative to the platform. The bearing flange transmits thrust forces to the stationary platform and slides radially relative to the platform to the extent the platform bore is larger than the bearing cylinder. Impetus for radial movement of the bearing and spray arm is produced by a bell shaped receiver located on the underside of the spray arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent P. Gurubatham
  • Patent number: 4178652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically cleaning the surface of a roller, such as a laminating roller, is disclosed herein. The method consists of rotating the roller at a predetermined fixed speed about its axis and simultaneously moving a nozzle which produces a small stream of steam along the axis of the roller at a fixed speed so that the stream of steam impinges the entire surface of the roller. The apparatus consists of a support for rotatably supporting a roller and supporting a nozzle for reciprocation with respect to the axis of the roller with either common or separate drive means for rotating the roller and reciprocating the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Arvey Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Adams, Edward Kooi
  • Patent number: 4174723
    Abstract: A dishwasher water distribution system with a lower wash arm assembly and an upper wash tower, the wash arm assembly including a rotatable wash arm releasably fastened to a unitary distributor structure, the entire wash arm assembly with its distributor being telescoped on a lower stationary water inlet component and rotated and lifted by water pressure to sealingly engage and rotate the wash tower, the wash arm assembly being guided in its vertical shift by a bearing rod about which the entire wash arm assembly, as well as the wash tower, rotates. The lower wash arm assembly can be lifted from the bearing pin and the wash arm can be removed from the distributor by releasing clips integral with the unitary distributor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Assignee: White-Westinghouse Corporation
    Inventor: Olan L. Long
  • Patent number: 4170240
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning heavy vehicle parts and the like in maintenance shops by spraying them with a detergent fluid or solvent. A parts tray with wheels may be rolled on tracks in and out of a heavy cabinet. The cabinet has a power-actuated door. Inside a cleaning chamber the parts tray is surrounded by a cage-like spray assembly of pipe equipped with spray nozzles directed inward at the parts. The spray assembly is mounted on a swinging parallel linkage, and is reciprocated back and forth by a motor. Below the spray or cleaning chamber is a tank or sump with an internal heater, which is normally full of fluid. A pump circulates heated fluid from this tank up to the spray nozzles; the fluid then runs back down into the sump for recirculation. A clean-out trap is provided for cleaning the sump. The operator's controls, including the door actuator control, are all located at the side of the machine for safety. An interlock switch prevents the pump from being started when the door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Inventor: Richard W. Gentry
  • Patent number: 4150512
    Abstract: An elongated cylindrical housing is arranged to be mounted adjacent to and parallel with the surface of a moving abrasive member and has a row of ports establishing communication between the interior of the housing and its exterior. An elongated cylindrical core member is rotatably supported in the housing and has a spiral groove in its surface of a selected width and pitch such that a small number of ports are exposed to the groove at a time to form a narrow jet. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the groove and upon rotation of the core member the jet of fluid travels across the surface of the moving abrasive member to clean it. A cam is provided in the present apparatus to reciprocate the housing in its longitudinal dimension through a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the ports so that the surface of the abrasive member between the ports is also cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Inventor: Walter M. Novak
  • Patent number: 4134414
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively modifying the vertical height of an upwardly extending tower structure for an automatic dishwashing appliance. The tower structure is provided with a bearing surface adapted to receive a collar having an upper end on which a rotatable spray arm may be mounted. As selected by the operator of the dishwashing appliance, the vertical height of the collar may be modified such that the upper spray arm is positioned in an upper or a lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Jarvis, Leslie Toth
  • Patent number: 4129137
    Abstract: A washing apparatus for a filter press comprises a spray pipe having a number of nozzles and disposed outside of the filter plates so as to extend parallel to one side of such filter plate, a movable unit in which one end of the spray pipe opposed to a lower corner of such filter plate is pivotally mounted and which is movable in a region outside of the filter plates parallelly to the latter, a carriage supporting the movable unit and movable in a region outside of the filter plates in the direction of movement of the latter, which carriage, each time a filter plate is transferred toward a movable end plate, serves to carry the movable unit in a direction opposite to the direction of such transfer so as to position the spray pipe between separated filter plates, a mechanism for moving the movable unit to and fro when the spray pipe is positioned between separated filter plates, and a second mechanism for raising and lowering the spray pipe synchronously with the to-and-fro movement of the movable unit, these
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Kurita Machinery Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kurita, Toshifumi Hara
  • Patent number: 4126485
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning pots and pans wherein the machine is provided with first and second side access doors for permitting flow through movement of a pan/rack system and, in addition, with a switch and alignment means for permitting alignment of unobstructed compartments of the pan/rack system with oscillating spray arms as the pan/rack system is moved between the access doors and for inhibiting oscillation of the spray arms until alignment is reached. In a further aspect of the invention, the machine is additionally provided with a common counterweight and a cable and pulley system for simultaneously operating the two side access doors and a front access door of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Industrial Washing Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Howard M. Sadwith
  • Patent number: 4064887
    Abstract: A rotating spray arm is supported by a removable and vertically adjustable upper rack of a dishwasher. The fluid coupling for the spray arm is not affected by changes in the upper rack vertical position. The spray arm is also protected by a guard which forms a stand for the rack when removed from the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Hobart Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Geiger, Ernst Grunewald, Ben J. Vallor