Parts cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A parts cleaning apparatus for use in cooperation with a fluid container at least partially filled with a solvent, comprising: a tray means disposed on top of said container and including a base portion provided with a drain hole, and four upwardly extending wall portions including a rear wall portion, a front wall portion and two side wall portions; screen means disposed over said base portion; a rear splash shield attached to said rear wall portion and extending upwardly from said base portion; pumping means including a substantially vertical sedimentation tube means having a first intake port and a first output port; a magnetic pump means having a second intake port coupled to said first output port, and having a second output port, whereby said pump draws solvent through said sedimentation tube and into said second intake port and ejects the solvent from said second output port; an output manifold disposed below said first intake port and above said second intake port and having a third intake port coupled to said second output port, and a third output port; drain pipe means having a first end disposed through the drain hole of said base portion and having a second end disposed proximate the bottom of said container; a U-shaped ridge means formed around said drain hole of said base portion for restricting fluid flow about said drain hole; a cover means having a rectangularly-shaped top portion and three downwardly depending side portions, said cover means being adapted to cover said U-shaped ridge means and said drain hole, whereby sediment is restricted from flowing out of said drain hole by the cooperation between said ridge means and said cover means; intake pipe means having a first end connected to said first intake port and having a second end disposed within the solvent of said fluid container, the second end of said intake pipe means being further from the bottom of said container than said second end of said drain pipe means; first flexible hose means connected at a first end to said third output port; and hollow brush means connected to a second end of said first flexible hose means, whereby solvent may be drawn from said container through said intake pipe, pumped through said flexible hose means and out of said hollow brush means by said pumping means to clean a part, after which the solvent drains through said screen means and down said drain pipe back into said container.

Claim 3

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a side splash screen attached to one of said side wall portions and extending upwardly from said base portion.

Claim 4

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: magnetic plug means extending into said first intake port of said sedimentation tube means, whereby ferromagnetic particles carried by said solvent as it enters said first intake port adhere to said magnetic plug means and thus are removed from the solvent.

Claim 5

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said sedimentation tube means is comprised of; an outer tube having said first output port disposed above the bottom thereof and forming a sedimentation chamber therebetween; and an inner tube extending into said outer tube and having an upper end defining said first intake port and a lower end coupled to said intake pipe means, said input end being adapted to receive said magnetic plug means in such manner that fluid flowing into said sedimentation tube means passes so close to said magnetic plug means that magnetic particles contained therein are attracted thereto and captured thereby.

Claim 6

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: interflow means for allowing said fluid to flow from said sedimentation tube into said output manifold, said interflow means being disposed below said first intake port and above said second intake port, whereby fluid is maintained within said sedimentation tube means at least to the level of said interflow means so that said magnetic pump means is primed.

Claim 7

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said output manifold further includes a fourth output port and further comprising: a second flexible hose means attached at a first end to said fourth output manifold; and a second hollow brush means attached to a second end of said second flexible hose means, whereby solvent fluid may be caused to flow through said second hollow brush means and onto a part to be cleaned.

Claim 8

A parts cleaning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said screen member comprises: a flat, planar member provided with a plurality of small holes; and tabs formed downwardly from said planar member to contact said base portion.

Claim 9

A parts cleaning apparatus for use in cooperation with a fluid container at least partially filled with a solvent, comprising: a tray means disposed on top of said container and including a base portion provided with a drain hole, and four upwardly extending wall portions including a rear wall portion, a front wall portion and two side wall portions; screen means disposed over said base portion; a rear splash shield attached to said rear wall portion and extending upwardly from said base portion; pumping means including a substantially vertical sedimentation tube means having a first intake port and a first output port, said sedimentation tube means including an outer tube having a bottom and a top with said output port being disposed in a wall thereof above said bottom so as to form a sedimentation chamber therebetween, and an inner tube means coupled to said intake pipe means and having an upper end extending into said outer tube and forming said first intake port proximate said top; magnetic plug means disposed to extend into said sedimentation tube means and be received within said upper end such that fluid flowing out of said upper end and into said sedimentation chamber is caused to flow proximate said magnetic plug means, said plug means being operative to attract and capture metalic particles carried by the fluid; a magnetic pump means having a second intake port coupled to said first output port, and having a second output port, whereby said pump draws solvent through said sedimentation tube and into said second intake port and ejects the solvent from said second output port; an output manifold disposed below said first intake port and above said second intake port and having a third intake port coupled to said second output port, and a third output port; drain pipe means having a first end disposed through the drain hole of said base portion and having a second end disposed proximate the bottom of said container; intake pipe means having a first end connected to said first intake port and having a second end disposed within the solvent of said fluid container, the second end of said intake pipe means being further from the bottom of said container than said second end of said drain pipe means; first flexible hose means connected at a first end to said third output port; and hollow brush means connected to a second end of said first flexible hose means, whereby solvent may be drawn from said container through said intake pipe, pumped through said flexible hose means and out of said hollow brush means by said pumping means to clean a part, after which the solvent drains through said screen means and down said drain pipe back into said container.

Claim 10

A parts cleaning apparatus for use in cooperation with a fluid container at least partially filled with a solvent, comprising: a tray means disposed on top of said container and including a base portion provided with a drain hole, and four upwardly extending wall portions including a rear wall portion, a front wall portion and two side wall portions; screen means disposed over said base portion; a rear splash shield attached to said rear wall portion and extending upwardly from said base portion; pumping means including a substantially vertical sedimentation tube means having a first intake port and a first output port, said sedimentation tube means including an outer tube having a bottom and a top with said output port being disposed in a wall thereof above said bottom so as to form a sedimentation chamber therebetween, and an inner tube means coupled to said intake pipe means and having an upper end extending into said outer tube and forming said first intake port proximate said top; magnetic plug means disposed to extend into said sedimentation tube means and be received within said upper end such that fluid flowing out of said upper end and into said sedimentation chamber is caused to flow proximate said magnetic plug means, said plug means being operative to attract and capture metalic particles carried by the fluid; a magnetic pump means having a second intake port coupled to said first output port, and having a second output port, whereby said pump draws solvent through said sedimentation tube and into said second intake port and ejects the solvent from said second output port; an output manifold disposed below said first intake port and above said second intake port and having a third intake port coupled to said second output port, and a third output port; drain pipe means having a first end disposed through the drain hole of said base portion and having a second end disposed proximate the bottom of said container; intake pipe means having a first end connected to said first intake port and having a second end disposed within the solvent of said fluid container, the second end of said intake pipe means being further from the bottom of said container than said second end of said drain pipe means; first flexible hose means connected at a first end to said third output port; and hollow brush means connected to a second end of said first flexible hose means, whereby solvent may be drawn from said container through said intake pipe, pumped through said flexible hose means and out of said hollow brush means by said pumping means to clean a part, after which the solvent drains through said screen means and down said drain pipe back into said container.