Abstract: A vapor generating device including a housing having an open top and closed bottom with a cleaning solvent therein. The housing is provided with first heat means in the bottom thereof to boil the solvent and cooling means in the top thereof to condense the solvent and prevent the solvent from escaping from the housing. A second heat means is provided in the bottom of the housing operable whenever a change in energy requirement within the housing is necessary. The vapor generating device is particularly useful as a cleaning device.

Abstract: A dirty or otherwise contaminated volatile solvent or other treatment fluid including relatively more volatile non-flammable and relatively less volatile flammable constituents is recovered or reclaimed by boiling it off from its impurities. As the remainder is concentrated, the evaporated vapor becomes increasingly flammable. In a work process, a treatment tank is used for chemically treating work pieces in a volatile treatment fluid which has a liquid phase and a relatively non-flammable heavier-than-air vapor phase. In this process, heat energy is added to the fluid to maintain the upper vapor phase surface at a substantial distance above the upper liquid phase surface in the tank. When the treatment fluid becomes sufficiently contaminated with dirt introduced by the work pieces or otherwise, it must be removed from the tank and replaced with clean treatment fluid.

Abstract: An azeotropic column has staged processing, separate dehydration load control, and integral flash desolventizing for greater capacity, efficiency, and control of conditions in a plural stacked fluidized bed column.

Abstract: A dirty or otherwise contaminated volatile solvent or other treatment fluid including relatively more volatile non-flammable and relatively less volatile flammable constituents is recovered or reclaimed by boiling it off from its impurities. As the remainder is concentrated, the evaporated vapor becomes increasingly flammable. In a work process, a treatment tank is used for chemically treating work pieces in a volatile treatment fluid which has a liquid phase and a relatively non-flammable heavier-than-air vapor phase. In this process, heat energy is added to the fluid to maintain the upper vapor phase surface at a substantial distance above the upper liquid phase surface in the tank. When the treatment fluid becomes sufficiently contaminated with dirt introduced by the work pieces or otherwise, it must be removed from the tank and replaced with clean treatment fluid.

Abstract: A degreasing apparatus comprises a container for liquid or gaseous solvent, a basket-holder arranged to receive open baskets containing the goods to be degreased, a lifting means to lower the basket-holder into and lift it out of the solvent, a rotary means to set the basket-holder in rotation, and a lid fitted in the basket-holder to close the basket during the degreasing operation. The basket-holder is provided with levers to open and close the basket automatically. One end of the levers engages the lid to lift it and to lower it. The other end of the levers are arranged to come into contact with a stationary stop as the basket-holder approaches its highest position. This contact makes the levers turn, thus lifting the lid.

Abstract: In a degreasing apparatus the articles to be degreased are placed in a holder fastened to two sprocket wheels. Each sprocket wheel is suspended in an endless chain. Movable sprocket wheels connected by a wire to a winding chain provided to form at least one loop on each endless chain, resulting in the holder being lifted from a lower position in a degreasing solvent to an upper position outside the solvent. A motor driving a sprocket wheel in turn drives a chain which is trained over a stationary sprocket wheel for rotating the stationary sprocket wheel engaging the endless chain, resulting in the holder being rotated irrespective of its position in the apparatus.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus including vapor condenser control means wherein one component is separated from a second component of a liquid solution by vaporization and then recovered by condensing including at least one chamber for vaporizing the first component from the liquid solution and a second chamber for recovering the vapor, the vapor generating chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering chamber being in heat abosrbing relation with a heat absorbing means, the heat absorbing means including a temperature sensing device at a preselected position within the second chamber to control the vapor level of the vaporized component, the sensing device actuating a cooling fluid which is included within the heat absorbing means whereby the vapor level in the apparatus is controlled by the temperature sensing device in combination with the heat absorbing control means.

Abstract: An apparatus for soldering an article which is placed within a first confined region in hot saturated vapors of a primary high temperature liquid. The vapors condense on the article to heat the article for such purpose. A second body of hot saturated vapors of a secondary liquid having a lower boiling point and density than the primary liquid provides a secondary vapor blanket in a second confined region of the apparatus which causes the primary vapors to condense and return to a primary liquid reservoir so that their escape from the apparatus is prevented. The temperature of the secondary liquid is controlled independently of the primary liquid.

Abstract: The environment of the invention comprises work degreasing apparatus wherein a tank contains liquid solvent to be vaporized by a heater for degreasing contact with work introduced into the tank, the vapor being subject to condensation, there also being a tank cover having open and closed positions. The inventive improvement comprises means responsive to closing of the cover to control the heater to reduce heat transfer to the liquid solvent, and also responsive to opening of the cover to control the heater to increase heat transfer to the liquid solvent.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus such as a degreaser tank is provided with a vapor zone divided into upper and lower portions by a wall and a closure member which cooperates with the wall so that the upper and lower portions of the vapor zone may be isolated from one another. During such isolation of the upper and lower portions of the vapor zone, vapors from the upper portion are removed to thereby facilitate introduction or removal of work pieces into the upper portion of the vapor zone while minimizing solvent losses to the atmosphere and minimizing exposure of workers to solvent vapors.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus for separating one component from a second component of a liquid solution and recovering the first component including at least one chamber for generating vapor from the liquid solution and recovering the vapor in a liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering portion chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heat to the vapor generating portion of the chamber and removing heat from the vapor recovering portion of the chamber is a refrigerating system which includes condensing coils and evaporating coils in heat transfer relation with the vapor generating and vapor recovery chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning articles in volatile solvent is provided wherein the article to be cleaned is situated in a solvent collector with siphon tube attached above a reservoir of solvent and below a water-cooled vapor condenser, the solvent being heated to boiling to generate solvent vapors to bathe the article in solvent vapors and condensate which forms on the condenser and drips into the collector below to wash impurities from the article, the condensed solvent also boiling and rising in the collector until the siphon height is reached, whereupon solvent and impurities siphon from the collector and the cleaning cycle recommences.

Abstract: Extraction container for solvent extraction of materials, having vapor inlet and outlet tubes, a condenser fitted on the extraction container and a stopcock fitted on the inlet tube causing distributing solvent vapors in desired proportions between those led to the said condenser and those led into the said container and also fitted with an improved syphon for discharging of extract from the container.

Abstract: A vapor generating and recovering apparatus for separating one component from a second component of a liquid solution and recovering the first component including at least one chamber for generating vapor from the liquid solution and recovering the vapor in a liquid form, the vapor generating portion of the chamber being in heat emitting relation with a heat emitting means and the vapor recovering portion chamber being in heat absorbing relation with a heat absorbing means. A preferred system for providing heat to the vapor generating portion of the chamber and removing heat from the vapor recovering portion of the chamber is a refrigerating system which includes condensing coils and evaporating coils in heat transfer relation with the vapor generating and vapor recovery chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus adapted for cleaning or degreasing work pieces by contacting with an organic degreasing agent such as a halogenated hydrocarbon. The work pieces are moved in and out of contact with the degreasing agent and are supported on an array of substantially parallel, spaced, elongate members, in fixed position. Means are included for moving the work pieces across the top surface of the array in the direction of elongation of the members.