CA1298759C

CA1298759C - Solvent recirculating type spray gun cleaner

Info

Publication number: CA1298759C
Application number: CA000532127A
Authority: CA
Inventors: John P. Kusz; John C. Justice
Original assignee: Safety Kleen Systems Inc
Current assignee: Safety Kleen Systems Inc
Priority date: 1986-03-20
Filing date: 1987-03-16
Publication date: 1992-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-14
Also published as: US5318056A; GB2188118A; GB8706306D0; US5213119A; GB2188118B

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An apparatus for cleaning spray guns or the like comprises a cabinet supporting a sink, the sink including a drain inlet and a drain outlet. First and second solvent receptacles are positioned within the cabinet, the first solvent receptacle being adapted for receiving and recir-culating used solvent between itself and said sink, and the second solvent receptacle being adapted to receive fresh, unused solvent for direction to said sink. Solvent may be withdrawn from said first receptacle and directed to the interior of the sink by means of a first solvent receptacle dip tube, a first pump, a first conduit extending between Raid first pump and the sink interior, and a first discharge nozzle forming the end of said first conduit and being directed to said sink interior. Solvent may also be with-drawn from second container and directed to the interior of said sink, by means of a second solvent receptacle dip tube, a second pump and a second conduit extending between the second pump and the sink interior, a second discharge nozzle forming the end of said second conduit and being di-rected to said sink interior. The pumps may be actuated to recirculate solvent between the sink and the first recep-tacle, or to transport solvent from said second receptacle to the sink interior and thence to said first solvent recep-tacle, so that an operator may choose between cleaning with the use of recirculated solvent or previously uncirculated solvent, and contamination of clean solvent may be avoided.

Description

i~
~Z9~'753 . 319 p 274 SOLVENT RECIRCULATING TYPE SPRAY GUN CLEANER
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for industrial cleaning, and more particularly, to a cleaning apparatus adapted for use in cleaning spray guns used in the application of paints, resins, and other hardenable coating materials whose residues must be periodically removed from the spray gun with the aid of _ solvent during use.
While the most familiar form of such apparatus is a 1~ simple paint spray gun, it is understood that other forms of apparatus may be cleaned with the use of the present invention, and that such uses are comprehended within the scope of the present invention.
As is known to those skilled in the art, application of coatings by ~praying involves the use of a gun which has a body which further includes at least one inlet for pressurized air, an outlet nozzle, and a paint reservoir in the form of a detachable can or ~cup~. Where complex material such as catalyzed paints are used, or two component system~ are involved, there may be plural inlets to the gun body, and a more complex passage system therein.
In any case, after use of an apparatus of the type in question, it is required that the unit be cleaned thoroughly before being taken out of service for a greater or less length of time. Customarily, the spray painter pours any paint remaining in the cup back into a container for retention and re-u6e~ or disposal, and rin~es the spra cup with solvent. Thereafter, the cup may be ,~~ ~
Il lZ9~759 completely or partially filled with 601vent, and the gun, while still attached to the air connection, i8 operated intermittently so as to loosen paint residue remaining in the interior of the gun body and the paint spray nozzle.
Thereafter, the gun may be partially disassembled for ¦ further cleaning; however, if the gun is to be used again ¦ soon, it i8 merely re-rinsed one or more times with solvent, and after clear solvent passes therethrough, the gun is considered ready for further operation. Sometimes, final clean-up involves the use of clea~ solvent, while initial cleaning is done with old solvent.
One drawback in cleaning paint and like coating guns i8 that the use of solvent is both expensive and hazardous. While lacquer thinner or similar solvents are effective for their intended purpose, they are relatively expensive. Where, as in most cases, the solvents serve as thinners for the paint, they are highly volatile and inhalation of solvent vapors is detrimental to the health of ~he user. Use of solvent for gun cleaning is therefore advantageously controlled carefully, both as a matter of complying with existing environmental and employee æafety regulations, as well as in general pursuit of on the job safety.
Referring to the matter of cost, it is known that the use of excessive solvent in cleanup operations is simply wa6teful and expensive, whereas the use of insufficient solvent creates problems of ineffective cleanup.
The common practice of using ~olvent which has already been dirtied or contaminated, especially when working with different colors, is a facet of the same Il .

l ~, Z~8'759 problemS in other words, to avoid the expense of clean ~olvent, certain amounts of previously used 601vent may be employed in the clean up operation. This in turn creates difficulty in determining the point at which the solvent in question is too contaminated for further use.
In view of the expense of solvents and thinners used for this purpose, and the requirement for complying with safety and related regulations in the work place, there has existed a significant need for a cleaning appartus which would be particularly directed to cleaning spray coating guns, and which would provide a number of advantages in use.
These include the ability to use both "dirty" or used solvent as well as clean solvent, to control the flow of such solvent 80 as to minimize use of new solvent, to obtain the most effective use of the existing solvent, to protect the user against generation of undue vapors presenting an inhalation hazard, and in another important aspect, to provide a spray gun cleaner apparatus which i~
capable of being serviced by an outside agency.
In this last connection, it has been realized that there are many economic benefits to be gained by the provision of serviceable parts washers. A parts washer of the type described and claimed in U.S. Patent No.
3,522,814 has proved exteemely successful in commercial and industrial use, as being the first parts washer which was capable of being readily and simply serviced on the premises of the user. When the economics of periodic parts washer service, combined with safety, good 30 ¦ pe formance, and very importantly, the potential for . '.
, Il 3 l ~ '759 effective solvent recycling, became known to the indu6try, demand increased sharply for parts washers of this type, and it is no exaggeration to say that a whole new $ndustry was founded, based on this concept. According to the present invention, it is de6ired to provide a serviceable solvent type gun cleaner which will make the economie6 of an out6ide gun cleaning service, including the potential for economic savings through recycling, available to the commercial and industrial user of equipment of this type.
In view of the failure of the prior art to provide an apparatus for cleaning spray guns having the advantage~
and characteristics referred to herein, it i6 an object of the present invention to provide an improved spray gun cleaning apparatus.
Another object of the invention i8 to provide a spray gun cleaner which employs separate reservoirs of solvent, one for previously unused solvent and another for previously employed or ~used~ solvent.
A further object of the invention i~ to provide a spray gun cleaner unit which uses separate solvent circulat~ng 6ystems, and which maintains two separate reservoirs of solvent in a storage position in place within the cabinet of the unit.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a spray gun cleaner unit which is especially adapted to be readily serviced by a single man in a matter of a few minutes or less, which makes recycling potential available to the user, and which does not require great mechanical skill in carrying out the service operation.

` i29~'7~i9 Yet another object of the invention iB to provide a method of cleaning spray gun6 which involve~ providing two solvent containers of preferably equal capacity, with solvent from the ~dirty~ solvent container being recirculated a6 desired, and with solvent from the new solvent containee being used for final cleaning in its first use, and for recirculation thereafter.
Another object of the invention i6 to provide a spray gun cleaning system which includes a cabinet supporting a ~ink, a safety cover over the sink, a cabinet area for positioning two solvent receptacles, and a pair of air operated motors and associated foot controls for circulating the solvent to outlets within the sink, and wherein all solvent directed to the sink is returned to a single receptacle.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of servicing a spray gun cleaning apparatus on a period$c basis, and a method of operating the appratus in use. ' The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention are carried lnto practice by providing an apparatu8 which include8 a sink, a cabinet, at least two solvent receptacles, a pump and control system for each receptacle, and an arrangement whereby all solvent is returned to a single container, regardless of the receptacle from which it is taken.
The manner in which the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained in practice will become more clearly apparent when reference 30 ~ 1- made to the ~ccompanyi-g detailed de~criptlon of the I . I
~, I
, preferred embodiment:s of t:he invention set forth by way of example, and shown in accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-Fig. l is a perspective view of the spray gun cleaner apparatus of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, and showing major elements of the spray gun cleaner apparatus of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with portions broken away, and taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing parts of the fluid flow control valve assemblies of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an upper, portion of the cabinet, showing the releasable attachment of the safety cover to the cover holder by means of a fusible link.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Wh~le the gun cleaner apparatus of the invention may be embodied in different forms, a preferred form of apparatus will be described wherein t:he apparatus uses a single cabinet supporting a sink, with plural solvent containers received in the cabinet, and wherein the pump controls are foot-operated and serve to control the flow of air to pumps and motors which provide the circulating action.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, Fig. l shows the gun cleaning apparatus of the invention to be X

, ` ~298759 embodied in an assembly generally designated 10 and to include, among other things, a cabinet generally designated 12 and having disposed within the upper portion thereof, a sink assembly generally designated 14. The cabinet also preferably includes a front access door 13, and a safety cover 16, and left and right side pump control units 18,20. The cabinet 12 i6 shown to include upstanding sidewall portions such as the left hand sidewall 22, a front 6ink cover 24, and a lower recessed plate 26. Pedal units 28,30 are provided as portions of the pump control units 18,20. In the preferred form, fir6t and second solvent discharge nozzle6 32,34 are affixed respectively to the ends of spigot6 36,38 each of which is attached to an associated fluid conduit 40,42, as will appear. A fitting 44 is provided to permit the entry of compressed "shop~ air for actuating the unit. Hinge means shown at 46 in phantom lines, provide a pivotable connection between the fire 6afety cover 16 and the upper portion of the sink rear wall 48.
Referring now to Pig. 2, it is shown that the interior of the cabinet 12 is shown to include a 6helf 50 supporting left and right solvent receptacles 52,54. Fig.

2 also shows that the sink assembly 14 includes tapered sidewalls 56, flat upper and outer marginal æurfaceæ 58, a lower, solvent collection surface 60 and a drain assembly generally designated 62 and shown to include an inlet area 64, an outlet area 66. A fitting 68 provides connection for a drain outlet tube 70, the lowermost portion of which 72 is di~sposed within the interior of the used solvent receptacle 52.
~ .

Il 7 ~298759 ~

Fig. 2 also 6how~ that the cabinet rear wall 74 mounts a pair of identical air operated pump and motor a6semblie~ 76,78, respectively. Since the6e units are substantially identical, only one will be described.
Referring to the first or left hand pump and motor unit 76, thi6 unit i8 of a well known air operated type and is a combination air operated pump and motor of a commercially available kind. The unit operates in response to being ~upplied with a volume of compressed "shop~ air, normally running at 20 to 40 p.s.i. The rotation of a driven element serves simply to actuate a diaphragm which draws solvent into the pump body 80 through a dip tube 82 and discharge the solvent under slight pressure into a conduit 84 which extendæ from the pump body 80 to a fitting 86. From here, the fluid passes throùgh a flexible conduit 40, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end portion of the conduit 40 passes through a slot 88 in the upper surface of the rear sink wall 48. A
fitting 90 secures this conduit 40 to the spout 36 which, as pointed out above, terminates in the nozzle 32.
A feature of the invention which is advantageous in use is that the lower end 92 of the solvent dip tùbe 82 extends downwardly into the solvent container 80 that it is spaced just apart from the bottom of the used solvent container 52.
Referring again to the air supply for driving the motor, air passing through the inlet fitting 44 is preferably passed through a pressure regulator-filter assembly generally designated 94, and shown (Fig. 3), to include a collection chamber 96, an inlet tube 98, a iZ98 7~9`

pressure dial indicator and regulator assembly 100, and an air flow control tube 102, extending downwardly to the pedal control generally designated 18.
Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the dip tube 104 from the right hand or second pump and motor assembly 78, has its lowermost end portion 106 terminating well above the bottom surface of the second solvent container 54.
Referring now to Fig. 4, another feature of the invention is shown; this includes the provision of a fire safety means in the form of a cover 16 and its attachment being a connection generally designated 110 to a cover support unit generally designated 112. As appears, the cover support stand 114 extends upwardly from a rigid mounting at the rear of the sink unit 14. At the upper end of the cover support 114, a chain or the like 116 i8 provided, with this chain connection 116 terminating in a generally rivit shape fusible link having its head portion 118 extending through and appearing on the front or operator side of the cover unit. When the link head 118 melts, support for the cover is lost and the cover closes by gravity over the sink top, containing or extinguishing any ire which may be present therein.
Referring now to the operation of the unit in the preferred form, it will be assumed that the unit is to be used for the first time.
In this case, the left hand or used solvent receptable 52 may be filled to one-half its capacity with solvent as indicated by the broken line L-l in Fig. 2.
The new solvent receptacle 54 may be filled entirely to ~L~9~'759 its full or upper level L-2 a6 likewise 6hown in FIg. 2.
Assuming that a spray gun i6 to be cleaned, the operator manipulates the left hand or first motor control assembly by depressing the pedal portion 28 with his foot to secure desired circulating action of the 601vent in the fir6t or left hand receptacle S2. This causes the pump and motor to be actuated, withdrawing solvent from the lower end 92 of the dip tube 82 and circulating it to the 6ink interior where it i8 discharged from the nozzle 32. The spray gun or other parts to be cleaned are rinsed wit-h this solvent, which collects on the sink surface 60 and drains through the drain as~embly 62 into the conduit 70 into the used solvent container. The operation continues until the 6pray gun appears visually to be substantially cleaned, at least to the point where the use of additional rec$rculated 601vent will not perform further effective cleaning. Thereupon, the new or fresh ~olvent from the receptacle 54 i8 circulated and discharged through the nozzle 34 by manipulating the right hand control 20. Thi6 withdraws 601vent from the lower portion 106 of the tube 104 and circulates it as de6cribed. This fresh solvent, used in a much 6maller quantity, performs the ~final~ or la6t rinse cleaning of the inside and outside of the cup.
When the inlet tube of the gun body is sealed against the di6charge nozzle 34, and the pump and motor are actuated, 601vent i6 forced under pressure through the internal port6 of the gun body to clean it as well. The final rinse or rinse~ are performed with clean 601vent after the unit i6 initially rinsed with used solvent. When 601vent ~ f 101 the f re-h olvent receptacle S4 i- collected, it i-1~ 10 also returned to the fir6t or u6ed ~olvent container 52.
After a number of cleaning operation6 have been carried out, the solvent ~upply in the right hand or new solvent container 54 is depleted sufficiently that it falls to level L-3, that is, at or below the bottom of the dip tube 106. Further actuation of the pedal 28 will not result in circulation of further new solvent.
At this point, the used solvent container having been half filled initially, and half the solvent from the -second container having been circulated through the 6ink and collected in the first container, the first container is filled with used solvent and the second receptacle contains half it6 capacity of still fresh solvent.
At this point, a service call is indicated.
Performing the servicing operation on the machine is the utmost in simplicity. The access door 13 is opened and the used solvent receptscle, being substantially full and containing 5 gallons of solvent, for example, is removed from the machine. The former new solvent receptacle 54 is then neatly positioned on the left side of the shelf 50 and the dip tube and drain connections 82 and 70 are placed in association with it. The old receptacle filled with used solvent i8 removed from the premises and a new, entirely filled container i8 placed in the right hand side of the machine to serve as the new solvent receptacle 54.
At this point, both receptacles include new solvent, but the half filled container 52 has its solvent recirculated periodically for rough cleanup as described above, being supplemented periodically with additions of new solvent taken from the receptacle 54. This again continues as described above.
.

Il 11 Il - lZ~3~3759 ~ hu~, each 6ervice call merely involves movlng the new solvent container from one side of the machine to the other, and replenishing one full receptacle of dirty solvent with a full receptacle of clean solvent. ~ecause the used or dirty 601vent receptacle 52 always starts ~clean~ undue buildup of contaminance i8 unlikely.
While this mode of operation and 6ervice i8 not strictly required, it is an advantageous feature of the invention. Accordingly, the concommitant feature is the provision of the single sink drai-n emptying into the used receptacle which is provided with a true recirculating action, while the other receptacle provides a final rinse action only and is not adapted to receive recycled solvent. The foregoing arrangement provides good operator control.
As pointed out, these systems enable the user to take advantage of the recycling potential which is inherent in the outside ~urface concept. This extends not only to environmentally desirable treatment of solvent, but also to the economies of scale achieved by central recycling.
Referring again briefly to Fig. 4, the fire safety system is believed self-explanatory in that the fire in the sink interior melts the fusible link and permits the fire safety cover 16 to be closed over the top of the sink. A desirable feature consists of providing flexible upper conduits extending between the pump outlets and the spigot and nozzle provided for solvent direction. This permits the spigots to be mounted on the cover while the flexible conduit connection permits the cover to be closed any number of times without resistance and without damage ~1 12~ 59'`

to the apparatus. De6irably, the cover may be clo6ed to impede 601vent evaporation when the unit i~ not in actlve It will thus be 6een that the present invention provide6 an apparatu6 having a number of advantages and characteri6tic~ including those herein pointed out and oel~er ~hi~h ar- erent in be ll~ven-io-.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A readily serviceable apparatus for solvent cleaning spray guns or the like, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a cabinet adapted to support a sink unit, a sink unit which includes a bottom wall with a drain opening therein, said sink unit being supported by a portion of said cabinet, first and second solvent receptacles positioned within said cabinet for ready removal by a service person, with said first solvent receptacle having an inlet opening in an upper portion thereof, a single drain conduit having one of its ends communicating with said drain opening in said sink bottom wall and its other end being arranged so as to communicate in use with the interior of said first receptacle through said inlet opening without impeding the ready removability of said first receptacle, means for withdrawing solvent from said first receptacle and for directing said solvent to the interior of said sink unit, said first withdrawing and directing means including a first solvent receptacle dip tube, a first pump, a first conduit extending between said first pump and said sink interior, a first discharge nozzle forming the end of said first conduit and being directed to said sink interior, and means adapted to actuate said first pump in response to the command of an operator, means for withdrawing solvent from said second container and for directing said solvent to the interior of said sink unit, said second withdrawing and directing means including a second solvent receptacle dip tube, a second pump and a second conduit extending between said second pump and said sink interior, a second discharge nozzle forming the end of said second conduit and being directed to said sink interior, and means adapted to actuate said second pump in response to the command of an operator, whereby actuation of said first pump acts to circulate solvent directly from said first receptacle to said sink unit and back to said first receptacle, whereby actuation of said second pump serves to direct solvent from said second container to said sink interior and then directly to said first solvent receptacle only, whereby all solvent from both receptacles is collected only by said first receptacle, regardless of whether said operator actuates said first or second pumps.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a fire safety cover having a portion pivotally affixed to a margin of said sink unit, wherein said cabinet includes a rigid cover support unit extending upwardly therefrom, with connecting means including a fusible link extending between a portion of said cover support and a portion of said fire safety cover, whereby said cover will fall to a position covering said sink upon melting of said fusible link.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet includes a transversely extending interior shelf for positioning said receptacle for ready removal.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cabinet includes at least one door which, when open, provides ready service access to said solvent receptacles, and when closed, prevents access to said receptacles.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second solvent receptacle dip tube has its lower end spaced substantially apart from the lower wall of said second solvent receptacle to limit the amount of solvent able to be withdrawn from said second container.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said apparatus further including a cover unit hingedly mounted to said cabinet or said sink for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, with said first and second conduits being flexible conduits having portions thereof secured to said cover unit, whereby movement of said cover unit will not damage said conduits.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating means for said first and second pumps comprise, respectively, first and second, pedal-operated pump controls.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said pump controls is adapted for incrementally varying the rate at which said pumps operate, whereby said flow rates of solvent circulation may be controlled.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second pump comprise air operated pumps.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, said apparatus further including means for directing compressed air from a source of compressed air to each of said pumps.