Device for removing vapours in a machine for washing mechanical parts

Abstract

 Device (10) for emptying vapours in a machine (1) for hot washing mechanical parts, and comprising: a suction fan (11), associated to the cover (3) of the machine (1), from the side facing inside the washing space; an union (13), connected to said fan (11), going out of said cover (3) and intended to engage an emptying pipe (14); motor members (15) associated to the outer side of the same cover (3); transmission members (16) apt to connect said motor members (15) and fan (11) by means of a through hole made in said cover (3); a compensating valve (20), allowing outer air in said space to re-establish the atmospheric pressure removed by the action of said suction fan (11). The last one reaches high temperatures, but, as it is arranged inside the cover (3), it is in a protected position with respect to the operator, and is also more efficient.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of washing systems for mechanical parts, particularly referring to washing tanks, in which hot detergent solutions are used.

[0002] Said tanks substantially comprise a lower insulated casing with a jointed cover, which has preferably a box shape and which is insulated as well, which is opened to introduce and remove parts, and which is closed during the washing cycle.

[0003] The lower casing is apt to contain one or more baskets containing the parts to be washed by means of said hot detergent solutions, supplied under pressure by a series of nozzles arranged to the purpose.

[0004] As a consequence of the washing liquid temperature (from 40 to 80°), vapours are generated inside the tank, which have to be emptied at the end of the washing cycle, before the opening of the cover, by means of suitable suction devices. For temperatures above 60°, these systems have to be compulsory insulated according to safety regulations.

[0005] According to a known embodiment of said systems, a hole is made in the upper portion of the cover and a motor fan assembly apt to suck vapour and to channel it in a suitable downflow pipe, is applied directly outside.

[0006] The prolonged contact between the fan members and the high vapours temperatures produce heating such that a direct contact with the body of an operator imprudently touching them, becomes dangerous.

[0007] For this reason it is necessary to use protection cases and/or suitable insulating panels at least lining the hottest portions of the motor fan assembly.

[0008] In order to limit heating of said assembly and to exclude it from the operator's reach, it is possible to arrange it at a distance from the cover, connecting it to the emptying hole by means of a suitable insulated pipe; the efficiency of the sucking action can result however disadvantaged due to the distance of the fan.

[0009] The usage of said solutions, in order to provide thermo-insulating barriers, implies costs, which inevitably affect the total ones for implementing the washing tank.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for emptying vapours in a machine for washing mechanical parts, so designed not to require superstructures for its thermal isolation and, at the same time, to increase the sucking efficiency.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a device, which is simply conceived and realized, allowing to really save production costs with respect to the known solutions.

[0012] The above objects are obtained by means of a device for emptying vapours in a machine for washing mechanical parts, the machine being of the type comprising: a lower casing in which are placed the mechanical parts to be washed, nozzles for supplying hot detergent liquid and a cover for closing said casing during the operative cycle of said machine, said device being characterized in that it comprises: at least a suction fan, associated to said cover, from the side facing inside said casing; an union, connected to the blowing channel of said fan, going out from said cover and intended to engage an emptying pipe which extends moving away from said machine ; motor members associated to the outer side of the same cover; transmission members, keyed on the exit shaft of said motor members, apt to pass through a corresponding through hole made in said cover and intended to be connected to said suction fan; at least a compensating valve, allowing outer air to enter the space defined between said casing and cover, to re-establish the atmospheric pressure removed by the action of said suction fan.

[0013] The features of the invention will be better highlighted in the following, by reference to one preferred embodiment of the device, according to the claims and by means of the appended drawings, in which:

• fig. 1 shows a schematic axonometric rear view of a washing tank provided with the inventive device,
• fig. 2 shows only the cover, according to the same view of fig. 1, a wall being removed to better highlight the device;
• fig. 3 shows another axonometric view of the cover, a wall being removed to highlight the device, from another point of view.

[0014] Referring to said figures, the reference number 1 indicates a known machine for washing mechanical parts, for example of tank type, as mentioned in the introduction.

[0015] The washing tank 1 comprises a lower casing 2 with a jointed cover 3, which has preferably a box shape, (in case the machine is used at high temperatures, the machine is insulated) which is opened to introduce and to remove parts, and which is closed during the washing cycle.

[0016] The mechanical parts to be washed are placed in one or more baskets, not shown, having a net structure and arranged in the lower casing 2, in which nozzles are provided in order to supply under pressure, in said washing cycle, a hot detergent solution which hits the parts and then flows in the lower portion of the same casing 1, together with removed dirt.

[0017] The inventive device 10 is apt to empty vapours generated inside the washing tank 1, in the space defined between the lower casing 2 and the cover 3, at the end of said washing cycle, before the opening of the same cover 3.

[0018] The device 10 comprises at least a suction fan 11, associated to a wall 30, for example a lateral wall, of said cover 3, from the side facing the interior of the tank 1.

[0019] The fan 11 is, for example, of the type provided with central suction and tangential blowing channel 12 (see in particular fig. 3), to which an union 13 crossing the rear wall 31 of the cover 3 and going out of this is connected in order to engage an insulated pipe 14, shown in dotted lines, which extends moving away from the washing tank 1.

[0020] Outside said lateral wall 30 of the cover 3 motor members 15 are fixed (fig. 1 and fig. 2), whose exit shaft is connected to transmission members 16 (see fig.3 again) which pass through a corresponding through hole (not shown in detail) made in the same wall 30, and intended to be connected to said suction fan 11.

[0021] The device 10 further comprises a compensating valve 20, associated to a wall of the cover 3, for example the rear one 31, which allows the automatic outer air inlet in said space inside the tank 1, in order to re-establish the atmospheric pressure removed by the action of said suction fan 11.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the compensating valve 20 is of unidirectional type and is made up of a plurality of slits 21, made in the wall 31, closed inside by a flexible little door 22, for example of elastomeric material (fig. 1 and fig. 3).

[0023] When, under the sucking action of the fan 11, the space inside the tank 1 is affected by depression, the outer atmospheric pressure can flex the little door 22, allowing air to enter inside the tank 1, until it is reached a balanced condition between outside and inside again.

[0024] The device 10 can empty vapours in a more efficient way than the known devices, thanks to the original arrangement of the suction fan 11, which is "immersed" in the atmosphere, saturated with vapour, therefore providing more efficiency.

[0025] Moreover, the same constructive characteristic turns out to be advantageous in order to make the fan 11 practically inaccessible, therefore protecting the operator from accidental contact with the same.

[0026] The motor members, which remain outside, are not directly hit by vapours and so their operation temperature remains below the dangerous threshold.

[0027] The described technical solution allows to spare costs concerning insulating barriers required for the motor fan assemblies, used in the suction devices of known type, without other costs, consequently containing the total production costs of the washing tank to which the inventive device is associated.

[0028] The device 10 can also be advantageously used in case it is mounted in machines for washing mechanical parts as the above described one, which do not work at very high temperatures (above 60°C and up to 80° and more), which need to be compulsory totally insulated. For the above described reason, the same device is useful even if it is mounted in machines working at temperatures below 60°.

[0029] When the machine works at lower temperatures, the above mentioned valve 20 can also be replaced with a common bidirectional valve.

[0030] It is however intended that the preceding description is purely exemplary and not limiting, therefore possible variations of the described elements are intended to fall in the same protective scope, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for emptying vapours in a machine for washing mechanical parts, the machine being of the type comprising: a lower casing (2) in which are placed the mechanical parts to be washed, nozzles for supplying hot detergent liquid and a cover (3) for closing said casing during the operative cycle of said machine (1), said device (10) being characterized in that it comprises: at least a suction fan (11), associated to said cover (3), from the side facing inside said casing (2); an union (13), connected to the blowing channel (12) of said fan (11), going out from said cover (3) and intended to engage an emptying pipe (14) which extends moving away from said machine (1); motor members (15) associated to the outer side of the same cover (3); transmission members (16), keyed on the exit shaft of said motor members (15), apt to pass through a corresponding through hole made in said cover (3) and intended to be connected to said suction fan (11); at least a compensating valve (20), allowing outer air to enter the space defined between said casing (2) and cover (3), to re-establish the atmospheric pressure removed by the action of said suction fan (11).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said compensating valve (20) is of unidirectional type.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said compensating valve (20) is of bidirectional type.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said compensating valve (20) is made up of a plurality of slits (21) made in a wall (31) of said cover (3), closed inside by a flexible little door (22) which flexes automatically inwards, when said space is under depression.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said little door is made by elastomeric material.

Drawing