WO1996001157A1

WO1996001157A1 - Washing and cleaning unit

Info

Publication number: WO1996001157A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000400
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney Just
Original assignee: R. Just Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1994-07-01
Filing date: 1995-07-03
Publication date: 1996-01-18

Abstract

A washing and cleaning unit (1) for the removal of oils, greases and grime from machines and automobile parts. The parts are steam cleaned in the unit, the removed materials passing through a mesh floor (3) to a settlement tray (13) on which the solids settle. The water, oil and greases then pass to an absorbent pad (17) where the oils and greases are absorbed. The water is then filtered for reuse in the steam cleaner.

Description

WASHING AND CLEANING UNIT

This invention relates to a washing and cleaning unit, more particularly for a unit which is more environmentally acceptable in that no or at least a minimum of polluting materials are allowed to pass to waste through storm water, sewerage or other waste disposal systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many industries where dirty or greasy machines, or parts of machines have to be cleaned, it is usual practice to either steam clean or use high pressure water jets, with or without the addition of detergents and or solvents to clean these machines or parts of machines. The waste from such cleaning operations is usually allowed to run to waste, usually through a stormwater entry point, or gully or yard trap. This waste material contains the oils, greases and other solid materials and thus flows to the storm water disposal area. Often this is the sea, a lake or stream such as a river and so this waste form such cleaning operations is one of the causes of pollution in those areas.

Thus in the automotive industry where it is necessary to clean soiled and oil and grease covered parts or portions of motor vehicles, it can be seen that there is a problem in the disposal of the waste from such cleaning operations. On vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses it is often necessary to clean the engines and front suspension and other running gear. Where the maintenance is required on truck and bus front wheels and the rear dual wheels, these are often cleaned after removal from the vehicle, by being rolled to an outside area where the waste from such a cleaning operation is allowed to enter a storm water drain.

Various patent specifications disclose methods and apparatus for the separation of oils, greases, and dirt from water, a selection of these being US 5225073, DE 4320980 and DE 4137445. However neither of these disclose an apparatus which show features which overcome some or all of the problems presented by the present situation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a washing and/or cleaning unit which will eliminate or substantially prevent the entry of polluting material into the environment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a washing and/or cleaning unit which is self contained and where much of the cleaning material is recycled or returned for reuse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing and cleaning unit wherein items to be cleaned are placed in the unit and means for collecting oils and greases and solids removed during the cleaning operation and means for reusing said cleaning fluid.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

There is provided according to the invention a washing and/or cleaning unit comprising a self contained unit containing means for washing articles of equipment placed on a floor of the unit with a washing and cleaning fluid, means for filtering said fluid, means for collecting the oils and greases and solids removed during the cleaning operation and means for reusing said cleaning fluid.

Preferably the means for collecting the oils and greases and the cleaning fluid comprise a trough removably positioned beneath the floor of the unit, the trough having an absorbent pad to absorb the removed oils and greases.

In a preferred form of the invention the unit has a floor formed of open mesh like material, a sloping drainage apron beneath the mesh to direct the cleaning fluid and removed material into a first filter comprising one or more removable baskets positioned beneath the open mesh floor, the floor having one or more removable sections to provide access to the baskets.

Preferably also the cleaning fluid is water or steam with the water and removed material passing downwardly through the grating of the floor into a collection sump, and wherein provision is made for the water to be pumped from the sump into a settlement and filtering tank so that the trough can be easily removed from the unit for the cleaning of sediments therefrom and the removal of the absorbent pad for cleaning.

In a still further form of the invention the absorbent pad or mat is positioned to float on the surface of the water thus absorbing the oils and greases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully describe the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a general view of the unit,

Figure 2 is an exploded view and end view of the trough,

Figure 3 is a view of a further form of the invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a collection chamber in the unit, and

Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are views of the pan and tube for the absorbent pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The unit as shown in Figure 1 has a base 2 supporting a mesh floor 3. The base also supports side and rear end walls 4, the walls being either of metal or metal at the lower portion and flexible durable plastics material at the upper portion. The walls also support a roof 5. The front of the unit is closed by a flexible curtain 6 slidable on a wire or rod 7. The base 2 supports the mesh floor above the surface on which the unit rests, thus providing a space beneath the floor for the collection of the cleaning water and the removed debris.

Beneath the mesh floor there is provided a drainage apron which slopes from the ends and sides of the unit to a central longitudinal opening 9 above a removable trough 10 mounted on caster wheels 11. Above the trough 10 and supported by the opening 9 there are removable filter baskets 12 which act as a primary filter.

The removable trough 10 can be removed from underneath the central opening 9 for cleaning as and when desired. The trough supports at its upper end a settling tray 13 having raised ends 14 and lower side edges 15. Inwardly of the side edges there is provided a small weir 16 extending the length of the settling tray. In use the baskets will filter out all of the larger debris removed from the parts being cleaned, and the water, oils and greases and other removed material will_. pass through the baskets onto the settling tray. It will be realised that during the cleaning, preferably by steam, that there will not be a large water flow passing through the central opening 9 and through the baskets. Thus the water and collected debris will fall onto the settling tray and the material of greater density will settle on the tray 13 while there is time for the oils and greases to rise to the surface of the water. The water will slowly accumulate and pass over the weir 16 into the area between the weir 16 and the side edge 15. Further settling of the heavier material can then occur in this area before the water passes over the side edges 15 carrying with it the oils and greases floating on the surface of the water into the bottom of the trough to run down the specially constructed sloping sides of the trough.

Beneath the settling tray the trough has supports to support an oil absorbent pad 17 on a grid 18, this grid being positioned above the bottom of the trough. The water collects in the bottom of the trough with the oils and greases floating thereon, so that when the level reaches the absorbent pad 17 the oils and greases will be collected thereon.

It is to be noted that the settling tray does not extend to one end of the trough. At the end of the settling tray the trough has a wall 19 extending down to but spaced from the bottom of the trough. Spaced from the wall 18 there is are spaced walls 19(a) and 20 each leaving a space between the bottom of each wall and the bottom of the trough. Further oil absorbent pads are provided between the respective walls 19 and 19(a), and 19(a) and 20 to further absorb and collect the oils and greases passing through with the water.

The water then passes under wall 20 into the pumping chamber 21. A float controlled motor-pump unit 22 positioned in the pumping chamber to pump the water out of the pumping chamber through outlet 23 for further treatment. This water would be virtually oil and grease free.

The water passes from outlet 23 to a series of filters 24 to remove the finer particles remaining in the water and if desired through a carbon filter to remove the traces of oil and pollutants remaining in the water. The water then is stored in a container 25 and passes again to the steam generator for reuse.

The unit is provided with a light and an exhaust fan to remove the steam from the interior to make the environment inside acceptable to the operator cleaning the parts. The unit can be installed in a building or be positioned outside. This can be a permanent or semi permanent installation, and also the unit can be transportable. Provision is made in the base for the acceptance of the forks of a fork lift truck, the base having dimensions so that it can be legally transported on a vehicle. The walls of the transportable unit are preferably hinged to the base so that they can be folded down for transport purposes.

A hydraulically operated ramp can be provided at the entrance of the unit to allow larger objects such as truck wheels to be rolled onto the ramp and then jacked to a level situation with the floor so wheels can be rolled into the unit for cleaning and removed by reversing the process. Also it is easier to walk up a ramp than steps when carrying other large parts to be cleaned. Also ramps can be provided so that the front of a vehicle can be driven up into the unit for steam cleaning of the engine and front suspension.

The unit can also be installed in a permanent position in existing wash bays, in which case the sump is provided in the wash bay to collect the water and removed debris, the water passing though a metal grating and if desired filter baskets. A motor-pump unit is provided in the sump, which pumps water through under floor pipes to a waste separator and filters for the water to be recycled.

In a further embodiment of the invention, beneath the mesh floor 3 there is a collecting floor 30 which extends from the sides of the unit and slopes to the centre thereof to a central opening 31. In the central opening there is formed a sump 32. The sump 32 can be a separate construction and then inserted into or attached from underneath to the opening 31 in the floor 30. In a preferred form of the invention the collecting floor 30 and the sump 32 can be as a single unit from fibreglass.

Adjacent the opening 31 the floor is formed with a flattened area 33, and beneath the opening on the upper portion of the walls of the sump there is formed a peripheral support 34 to support a hinged pan 35 having a peripheral flange 36, the flange being shaped to snugly and preferably seal on the support 34. The pan is preferably hinged at one end to the floor so that the pan can be lifted and swung upwardly to provide access to the interior of the sump for cleaning purposes. Although not shown in the drawings, a basket or a plurality of filtering baskets are positioned in the pan, these baskets being supported on the flattened area 33. The basket or baskets are similar and have the same purpose as the baskets described above in respect of the previous embodiment, and thus collect the larger particles of debris removed from the articles being cleaned. The water and other removed debris together with the oils and greases fall onto the pan, the larger proportion of the sediments and heavier particles settling onto the bottom of the pan.

The pan 35 at one end has an opening 37 to allow the water and removed material to flow from the pan through a member, preferably a tubular member 38 into the sump. In the tubular member 38 there is provided an absorbent pad, preferably a woollen pad, which is adapted float on the water in the member 38 to absorb and collect the oils and greases floating on the surface of the water. Around the opening 37 there is a ledge 39 forming a weir over which the water must flow. This ledge thus ensures that there is a quantity of water on the pan so that there is time for a large proportion of the solids to settle out of the water onto the pan. The opening can be covered with a lid 40 having a plurality of openings 41 around its periphery, and the lid can be located by stops 42. Around the member 20 there is provided a concentric tube 43 having air relief holes 44 at its upper end.

The sump 32 is provided on its bottom surface with a series of baffles over which the water must flow thus trapping further solids in the water as the water flows through connecting tubes and wall 46 forming a pumping chamber 47 at the end of the sump 32. This pumping chamber is preferably sealed by a lid 48 fitting on an upstanding flange 49 so that water cannot enter the pumping without first passing through the sump. An electric motor pump unit is positioned in the chamber controlled by a float switch , the pump having an outlet 48.

In use of the invention, the float switch of the pump is so adjusted that the water level is at or above the bottom of the tubular member 38 so that the absorbent pad floats on the water. The water and oils and greases with the suspended solids which are not deposited on the pan flows into the tubular member 38 and the oils and greases are collected on or in the absorbent pad floating on the water.

The supply drum for the steam cleaner is fitted with a ball and cock valve and connected to normal mains water so as automatic topping up of water is available.

Thus cleaning and maintenance of the unit is simplified. In this embodiment it is not necessary for the sump to be removed for cleaning it is merely necessary to remove the pan, and clean the collected residue thereon, remove and clean the absorbent pad, and pump out the sump by using the suction hose of a pump to pump out the water therefrom and at the same time use the suction hose as a vacuum hose to clear the bottom of the sump of matter collected thereon. This is pumped to settlement tank, and filter system to purify the water in a manner as above described. The absorbent pad can easily be cleaned by squeezing the collected oil and grease therefrom, this preferably being done on site. The removed oil and grease can then be subjected to further treatment.

In all of the above described embodiments, it is preferred that the trough or sump be filled to the desired level with water so that when cleaning is commenced, the so produced water with its oils and greases is added to the water within the sump or trough with the oils and greases floating thereon in direct contact with the absorbent pads. In this way there is minimal chance of oils and greases passing direct to the pumping chamber.

Where the washing and cleaning unit is provided in a car washing bay or the like, the water and removed oils and greases is pumped from the sump beneath the vehicle to a collection and settlement tank which contains an absorbent pad to absorb the oils and greases floating on the surface of the water. The water can then be filtered and reused through the steam generator.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided according to the invention a method and an apparatus for the cleaning of grease and oil laden parts and other grime from parts and components. It is preferred that the parts be cleaned by steam cleaning and the method and apparatus treat the water and removed materials so that the water is recycled and reused through the steam generating plant, and which ensures that no polluting materials such as oils and greases pollute the environment by entry through normal waste or storm water outlets or the like. The water and the lighter factions such as oils and greases are separated without the use of chemicals, by allowing the oils and greases floating on the water to be absorbed in an absorbent pad. On removal from the pad these oils and greases can then be further treated for either recycling or for safe disposal.

Although various form of the invention have been described in some detail, the invention is not to be limited thereto but can include variations and modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A washing and/or cleaning unit comprising a self contained unit containing means for washing articles of equipment placed on a floor of the unit with a washing and cleaning fluid, means for filtering said fluid, means for collecting the oils and greases and solids removed during the cleaning operation and means for reusing said cleaning fluid.

2. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting the oils and greases and the cleaning fluid comprise a trough removably positioned beneath the floor of the unit, the trough having an absorbent pad to absorb the removed oils and greases.

3. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the unit has a floor formed of open mesh like material, a sloping drainage apron beneath the mesh to direct the cleaning fluid and removed material into a first filter comprising one or more removable baskets positioned beneath the open mesh floor, the floor having one or more removable sections to provide access to the baskets.

4. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the washing and cleaning fluid is water or steam with the water and removed material passing downwardly through the grating of the floor into a collection sump, and wherein provision is made for the water to be pumped from the sump into a settlement and filtering tank so that the trough can be easily removed from the unit for the cleaning of sediments therefrom and the removal of the absorbent pad for cleaning.

5. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 2 wherein the absorbent pad is supported on an open mesh support in the removable trough, the water level being maintained at the level of the absorbent pad or mat.

6. A washing or cleaning unit as defined in claim 2 wherein the absorbent pad or mat is positioned to float on the surface of the water thus absorbing the oils and greases.

7. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the trough supports a settlement tray beneath the removable filter baskets, the tray upstanding opposite ends to retain the water thereon, the side edges of the tray being of lesser height than the ends so that water passes over the side edges to the bottom of the trough, supports on the trough to support a grid on which the absorbent mat is positioned beneath the settlement tray.

8 A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 7 wherein the trough at one end is provided with a series of compartments through which the water passes, each compartment containing an absorbent pad, and a pumping chamber adjacent the compartments, said pumping chamber containing a float operated motor pump unit to pump the water to water filtration units for recycling.

9. A washing and cleaning unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the water and removed material passes through the removable baskets onto a tray having a discharge opening therein, said tray having upstanding walls to retain the water thereon so that materials may settle onto the tray, the discharge opening being surrounded by a lip over which the water must pass, the discharge opening passing the water to a tubular member extending to but spaced from the bottom of the sump, said tubular member containing an absorbent pad floating on the water in the tubular member, said water passing over a series of baffles to a chamber, and a pump for pumping the water from the chamber.

10. A washing and cleaning unit substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.