Parts washer

Claim 1

A parts washer comprising a washbasin in the form of a shallow receptacle defined by a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall, a base frame supporting said washbasin in elevated position above a support surface, a solvent dispensing tube having a discharge nozzle thereon supported on said washbasin to enable parts placed in the washbasin to be washed by directing the discharge nozzle toward the parts, a drain in the bottom of the washbasin to drain solvent and entrained material therefrom, a tank disposed below the washbasin and in vertical spaced relation to the bottom thereof, said tank including a quantity of liquid solvent and a cover having an inlet opening aligned with said drain, a generally cylindrical holder supported below the inlet opening, a filter cartridge positioned within the holder for filtering solvent passing therethrough by gravity flow, the lower end of the holder being open and the upper end flaring outwardly to form a funnel shaped guide for solvent discharged from the drain, said cartridge being disposed above the liquid level in the tank, means within said tank communicated with said tube and discharge nozzle for discharging pressurized solvent from the nozzle, and control means exteriorly of the tank for manually controlling operation of said solvent discharge means, said solvent discharge means including a container disposed in the bottom of said tank and including a top disposed below the level of liquid solvent in the tank, a solvent inlet opening in the container for gravity flow of solvent into the container, valve means closing said inlet opening, a discharge conduit extending from the bottom portion of the container to the solvent dispensing tube, and an air pressure line communicated with said container for pressurizing the container for pressure discharge of solvent and air through the discharge tube, said control means including an air valve in said air line selectively pressurizing and venting said container, said valve means in the container being automatically opened by the head of liquid solvent in the tank when the container is vented and at least partially empty and being closed when the container is filled and pressurized, said valve means including a plate disposed interiorly of the container, an upwardly extending and laterally extending lever attached to said plate, means pivotally supporting said lever from the exterior of the top of the container, a counterweight mounted on said lever on the opposite side of the pivot from the plate to normally retain the plate in closed position until the head of liquid solvent in the tank above the plate is greater than the combined force exerted by the counterweight and any pressure in the container, said air valve including a foot-operated pedal positioned adjacent the front lower end of the base frame for access by a person manipulating parts and nozzle in the washbasin.