Title of Invention

A CLEANING MACHINE FOR CLEANING VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL PARTS

Abstract An Universal cleaning machine, which can be used for cleaning variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance for removing hydrocarbon contaminates, oil, core sand residue and alike foreign particles from variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance (minimum Millipore value after completion of cleaning operation).
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT,1970 [39 OF 1970]
And
THE PATENT RULES 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13]
1 TITLE
AN UNIVERSAL INDUSTRIAL PARTS CLEANING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED CLEANING PERFORMANCE
2 APPLICANT
NAME MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD.
NATIONALITY INDIA
ADDRESS GATEWAY BUDLDING, APOLLLO BUNDER, MUMBAI
400001
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine to be used for cleaning and drying of industrial parts. More particularly, this invention relates to universal cleaning machine for removing hydrocarbon contaminates, oil, core sand residue and alike foreign particles from variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance (minimum Millipore value after completion of cleaning operation).
Background of the Invention
Industrial parts cleaning machine(s) have become very popular for cleaning industrial parts so that such parts can be accurately inspected, handled in a sanitary manner and more easily handled during the assembly and reinstallation of parts in different machines. These cleaning machine(s) has maximum cleaning effect of the industrial parts subjected to cleaning operation, which is measured in terms of Millipore
value (i.e. amount of foreign particles available in the industrial part after completion of both cleaning and drying process). The failure to remove debris/ foreign particles from the industrial parts results in poor performance and / or damage to the parts and/or the machines in which the parts are contained after assembly.
The term "Industrial part", means a metallic component that is a part of a machine [main machine] in which it is contained.
To improve cleaning performance (minimum Millipore value) against the conventional (general-purpose dunking type) cleaning machines, manufacturers have developed special-purpose cleaning machine (SPM). These SPM were restricted to the cleaning of specific industrial part design. However, in current scenario major and rapid
engineering changes are occurring in product design . Thus the product design change in short span requires new special purpose cleaning machine and scrapping of the existing machine or renovation. Apart from the above factor the performance delivered by these machines are not to the mark (resulting Millipore value reports more than 10 mg / industrial part) because of various problems like :-
2

1. Cleaning fluid supplied through high-pressure sprayers (nozzles / Jets) to industrial parts itself has Millipore value more that l0mg, which is because of poor filtration and oil skimming performance.
2. Non-uniform cleaning fluid pressure through high-pressure sprayers (nozzles /jets).
3. Mismatch between industrial part cleaning surfaces located on part holding fixture and high-pressure sprayers (nozzles / Jets).
4. Flow pattern of cleaning fluid passing through high-pressure sprayers (nozzles / Jets).
Some of the patent reference in the area of industrial parts cleaning apparatus or machine
are described as follows:
US patent 6,511,550 B1 - 28th June 2003 titled "METHOD FOR CLEANING AND DRYING AN INDUSTRIAL PART" talks about the three steps followed during the cleaning and drying process of cleaning machine. According to this invention industrial part cleaning process comprises of:
1. Washing the part in a cleaning fluid,
2. Spinning the part at a speed of 150 to 500 rpm and for 10 to 90 seconds,
3. Drying the part in a Vacuum, greater than 20 inches of mercury to flush out the possibility of iron based part oxidation due to long term drying of the industrial part and availability of water or cleaning fluid even after completion of cleaning cycle.
Hence the above invention dose not address the requirement of universal cleaning machine for cleaning variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance i.e. in terms of minimum Millipore value after completion of cleaning operation.
US patent 5,398,708 - 21st March 1995, titled "PARTS CLEANING MACHINE" talk about the common device both for the automatic and manual industrial part washing system. According to this invention a combination device having both types of part washers (Cabinet and Sink type) is develop which can function simultaneously, there by the requirement of the any one part washer in absence of each other is eliminated.
Hence the above invention dose not address the requirement of universal cleaning machine for cleaning different types of industrial parts with better cleaning performance i.e. in terms of minimum Millipore value.
3

Therefore, to overcome above mentioned problems pertaining to cleaning of industrial part and the requirement of the cleaning machine as per current product change scenario calls for the design of universal cleaning machine wherein variety of industrial parts can be cleaned with better cleaning performance.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide universal cleaning machine, which can be used for cleaning variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance without deviating from the cost factor.
Another further object of the present invention is to provide mechanism for locating various high pressure sprayer (nozzle / jet) manifold(s) and part locating fixtures designed to suit for specific part. The design of manifold(s) is unlike the special purpose cleaning machine, wherein the high pressure sprayer manifold is part of machine, whereas in present invention it is designed like machine fixture, which can be replaced while changeover from one part cleaning to another.
Another further object of the present invention is to provide baffle plates in the high pressure sprayer (nozzle / jet) manifold(s) in "V" or zigzag or alike structure to maintain uniform / constant fluid pressure throughout manifold(s) area.
Another further object of the present invention is to provide multi stage cleaning fluid processing system comprising of Nylon filter (disposal type), Magnetic dust separator, Filtering wire mesh with different sizes and alike, to ensure quality of the cleaning fluid (with minimum Millipore value) supplied through high pressure sprayers.
Another further object of the present invention is to provide disk or alike type oil skimmer in a silent compartment / zone of the dirty cleaning fluid tank for it's maximum oil filtration performance.
Another further object of the present invention to provide nozzles / jets having spiral structure for creating turbulence flow of cleaning fluid to be directed against the article (industrial parts), which gives additional cleaning effect over conventional sprayers used in the cleaning machine.
4

Another further object of the present invention is to provide controls for the heating and alike cleaning parameters so that the necessary setting according to different parts design can be carried out.
Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the following description taken in combination with the accompanied drawings and can be used individually or in combination of various systems depending upon their requirement and benefits.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation (top) view of the universal cleaning machine of this invention,
Figure 2 is plan (front) view of the universal cleaning machine of this invention,
Figure 3 is end (side) view of the universal cleaning machine of this invention,
Figure 4 is an enlarged view at "A" in figure 2 showing the arrangement of baffle plates
and sprayers in the sprayer manifold,
Figure 5 is an enlarged view at "B" in figure 4 showing details of sprayers inside area,
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
Referring to the drawings shown in figure 1, 2 and 3 an universal industrial part cleaning machine (1) comprising: cleaning chamber (2) wherein industrial part(s) are cleaned by spraying cleaning fluid with high pressure, drying chamber (3) wherein rotary cage (4) and air blower (5) are provided to remove cleaning fluid and dry the industrial part and the cleaning fluid processing system to achieve maximum cleaning performance.
The cleaning chamber (2) includes, cleaning fluid inlet pipe(s) (6) with its positioning dependant upon high-pressure sprayer manifold design, a high pressure sprayer ( nozzle / jet ) manifold (7), means of quick change coupling (8) for connecting the inlet pipe(s) (6) and high pressure sprayer manifold (7) enabling minimum idle time for set up change, movable rolling wheels (9), rails (10) for replacement of another high pressure sprayer ( nozzle /jet ) manifold and industrial part holding trolley (11) to suit specific industrial part design, industrial part holding trolley (11), part holding arrangement (12) with cam type or alike mechanism located on part holding trolley (11), selectable reciprocates oscillator (13) for internal cavity cleaning with rotary jets, Conveyers (14) for loading / unloading of the industrial parts (25) during part cleaning cycle.
5

The drying chamber (3) includes 90 ° Indexing table (27) at the entry portion of the drying compartment to change direction of industrial part (25) to be processed for drying operation, Spinning / rotary cage (4) rotating at a selectable revolution per minute (RPM) along with industrial part depending upon the part design to remove cleaning fluid residing on the part(s), air blowers (5) to dry cleaning fluid particles present on the part, positioning mechanism (40) to maintain proper position of spinning / rotary cage (4) in drying chamber. This positioning mechanism (40) is linked to the braking mechanism (44) comprising chains, motor located nearby cleaning machine (1).
Cleaning fluid processing system includes outlet pipe(s) (26) for carrying dirty cleaning fluid towards dirty tank (17) located at the rearwards of cleaning and drying chamber, dirty tank (17) is arrange nearby machine area to collect dirty cleaning fluid received from the cleaning and drying chamber, silent compartment (42) is provided in the dirty tank as a separate zone or a separate tank by means of plates (41) or alike, which improves oil skimming performance because of silent movement of the dirty cleaning fluid in this silent zone (42), disk or alike type oil skimmer (16) provided in the silent compartment (42) of dirty tank (17), transfer pump (28) to transfer dirty fluid after oil skimming from dirty tank (17) to magnetic dust separator (18), magnetic dust separator (18) where more than 80% of ferrous material gets separated from dirty fluid received after oil skimming, detachable tray type wire mesh filter with about 30 micron mesh (19) and 20 micron mesh (20) depending upon the quality of filtration required, clean tank (21) located below magnetic dust separator (18) and detachable tray type wire mesh filters (19, 20), high pressure pump (29) to supply cleaning fluid at high pressure from clean tank (21) to the industrial part through inlet pipe(s) (6) via cartridge filtering unit (22). Thus the above mentioned multistage cleaning fluid filtering system helps in maintaining cleaning fluid Millipore value, before spraying it on the industrial parts through high pressure sprayer manifold (7).
Referring to drawing as shown in figure 4 a detachable high pressure sprayer (nozzle / jet) manifold (7) having baffle plates or alike means (30) arranged in 'V or zigzag or alike pattern inside the manifold area (31) to distribute cleaning fluid uniformly throughout the manifold and also to maintain uniform pressure at each point of the
6

sprayers (32). Uniform distribution with uniform pressure of cleaning fluid through all sprayers (32) is because of cleaning fluid back-pressure developed in the entire manifold area (31). Sprayers (Nozzles / Jets) (32) located on the inside surface (35) of manifold according to the part design being process. These sprayers may have spiral grooves (33) at inside area to form the turbulence flow of the cleaning fluid to improve cleaning quality, same is shown in figure 5. Also as shown in figure 1 movable rolling wheels (9) are provided on the bottom side of detachable high pressure manifold and part holding trolleys (11) to slide / roll over the rails (10) during industrial part cleaning process or while changing over from one part design to another (new) one.
Baffle plates (30) shown in figure 4 of suitable material like stainless steel or alike material, which can sustain at cleaning fluid high-pressure and give better anti-corrosion performance. Gap of about 6 mm is maintained in between inner and / or outer face (35, 36) and edge of the baffle plates, which facilitate cleaning fluid back-pressure and it's turbulence flow. This gap can be varied depending up on the cleaning fluid volume and pressure supplied to the high-pressure manifold (7) and requirement of the industrial part. Also above arrangement helps in achieving more cleaning fluid pressure at all sprayers (32) with the same high-pressure pump (29) and eliminate necessity of higher capacity pump (29). Hence the design of high pressure manifold(s) (7) is unlike the special purpose machines in which the manifold is the part of cleaning machine, whereas in the
present invention it is designed to be a part of fixtures so that it can be replaced / adjusted depending upon industrial part design.
Quick change couplings (8) or alike arrangement is provided in between inlet pipe(s) (6) and high pressure sprayer manifold (7), which helps in immediate changeover from one cleaning part set up to another by disengaging / engaging manifold and inlet pipe(s) within shortest possible time.
Detachable tray type wire mesh filters) (19 and 20) mounted between magnetic dust separator (18) and clean fluid storage tank (21) in descending order of it's filtering capacity / performance. Positive locating and the filter indication arrangement is provided at the locating area to ensure original position of all these detachable tray type wire mesh filters to avoid incomplete filtering performance, filter choke-up or alike problems during replacement or cleaning of these paper filter in case of choke-up.
7

Both the chamber (2) and (3) are reinforced with stainless steel cubical or alike material to avoid any kind of chemical and corrosion reactions. Base of both the chambers are declined towards the outlet pipe(s) (26) for easy disposal of dirty fluid to the dirty fluid tank (17). Pneumatically operated stainless steel doors (15) are provided with open / close arrangement as per cleaning cycle requirement.
Detachable mesh filters (19) (20) and Cartridge filter(s) (22) are provided at various stages of filtering cycle to achieve required Millipore value and heaters (45) are provided in clean tank (21) to heat the cleaning solution which enables the removal of oiliness of industrial part.
With reference to above description of the part cleaning machine (1) a cleaning
cycle is explained as follows:
a) An industrial part(s) (25) is loaded on the part cleaning fixture (11),
b) Industrial part is then located with the help of locators (12),
c) Auto cycle switch is turn on, thereafter the trolley (11) along with the part (25) moves
inside the cleaning chamber (2) and door of the cleaning chamber closes,
d) High pressure cleaning fluid will be sprayed on the component through high-pressure sprayers (32) for the specific duration as per cleaning performance requirement i.e. Millipore value,
e) Door of the cleaning chamber opens and trolley (11) along with part (25) comes out of the cleaning chamber,
f) An industrial part is then moved manually through conveyers (14) provided over the tray (34),
g) Part is then directed towards rotary cage (4) by indexing rotary table (27),
h) Part is then located in rotary cage inside the drying chamber (3), and door of the
drying chamber (15) closes, i) The rotary cage then starts rotating, resulting in removal of cleaning fluid from the
component by centrifugal force, and simultaneously air is also blown through the
blower's (5), thus drying the component at the same time.
8

j) After completing drying cycle, door of the drying chamber gets open,
k) The part is then pulled from rotary cage to indexing table manually and thereafter transferred to the storage area.
During the changeover from one set up to another following steps are being carried out to avail the advantages of Universal cleaning machine (1) :-
a) High-pressure sprayer manifold (7) in the cleaning chamber (2) is dismantled from the inlet pipe (6) within few minutes by operating quick change coupling (8) provided between inlet pipe and manifold,
b) High-pressure sprayer manifold (7) is moved out side of the cleaning chamber with the help of rolling wheels (9) and rails (10) and replaced with another High-pressure sprayer manifold suitable for another (new) part design,
c) Part holding trolley (11) and spinning / rotary cage (4) can be adjusted or replaced according to the requirement of new set up,
d) Cleaning fluid temperature can also be adjusted as per the new set up via control switches (24) provided on the control panel (23).
Hence the cleaning for variety of industrial parts are being carried out with better cleaning performance (minimum Millipore value) by using this universal industrial part cleaning machine.
As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
9

We claim:
1. An universal cleaning machine (1) for cleaning a variety of industrial parts (25) with better cleaning performance having facility for quick changeover/replacement of parts to be cleaned.
2. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 comprising of:-
a Cleaning chamber (2),
- a Drying chamber (3),
a Cleaning fluid processing system,
Said cleaning chamber includes, cleaning fluid inlet pipe(s) (6), detachable high-pressure sprayer manifold(s) (7), quick change couplings (8), movable rolling wheels (9), rails (10), industrial part holding trolley (11), part holding arrangement (12) with cam type or alike mechanism, selectable reciprocate oscillator (13), conveyers (14);
- Said drying chamber includes, 90° indexing table (27), spinning / rotary cage (4) , air
blower(s) (5), positioning mechanism (40) and breaking mechanism (44);
Said cleaning fluid processing system includes, outlet pipe(s) (26), dirty fluid tank (17), silent compartment (42), disk or alike oil skimmer(s) (16), fluid transfer pump (28), magnetic dust separator (18), detachable tray type wire mesh filters (19,20), clean fluid tank (21), high pressure pump (29) and said inlet pipe(s).
3. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
detachable high pressure sprayer manifold(s) (7) comprising of:
- High pressure sprayers (32) (Nozzle / Jets) located on inner surface area (35) of the said high pressure sprayer manifold(s) (7) according to said industrial part design being processed,
- Baffle plates (30) or alike plates of suitable material are arranged in the inside area (31) of said high pressure sprayer manifold in 'V or zigzag or alike pattern, to facilitate cleaning fluid back-pressure and turbulence flow, which results in better cleaning performance,
10

- Arrangement for said quick change couplings (8) provided anywhere around the outer surface (36) of the said high pressure sprayer manifold, which helps in disengaging / engaging said manifold(s) with said inlet pipe within shortest possible time while changeover from one set up to another for another (new design) part cleaning,
- Movable rolling wheels (9) provided on the bottom side of said manifold(s) to slide / roll over said rails during cleaning process or while changeover from one set up to another,
- Said sprayer(s) having spiral grooves (33) at it's inside area, to form turbulence flow of the cleaning fluid to be sprayed on said industrial part.
4. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said part
holding trolley comprising :
Base plate for locating said industrial part(s) on the said trolley,
- Clamping mechanism (12) designed to suit industrial part being process,
- rolling wheels (9) provided on the bottom side of the said trolley to slide / roll over said rails.

5. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said silent compartment is a separate compartment / zone formed by baffle or alike plates (41) as a part of said dirty fluid tank or separately, wherein said oil skimmer(s) is located to achieve maximum oil skimming performance from dirty cleaning fluid.
6. Cleaning fluid processing system set forth in claim 2 wherein, said system members can be used with there different (various) types and sequence depending up on the quality of cleaning fluid required at said input pipe(s).
7. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said high pressure sprayer manifold(s), said industrial part holding trolley, said spinning / rotary cage are replaced with theirs other designs and / or adjusted while changeover from one setup to another, to make said universal cleaning machine suitable for another (new) industrial part.
11

8. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth in any of above claims
provided with auto door on / off with 'U' type sealing provision (15) operating inline with
cleaning cycle, tray (34) and base off both the chambers declined towards said outlet
pipe(s) for easy disposal of dirty cleaning fluid.
9. An universal industrial part cleaning machine as set forth claim 8 wherein, control
switches (24) could be provided on the control panel (23) for controlling cleaning fluid
heating temperature and alike parameters, varying depending upon various industrial part
designs to be processes.
10. An universal industrial part cleaning machine comprising said cleaning chamber,
drying chamber and cleaning fluid processing system as herein described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20TH day of MAY 2005
MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD. BY THEIR ADVOCATES-IP

SHYAM SUNDER IYER PATENT AGENT
TAS & CO.
TO
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, MUMBAI
12

ABSTRACT
An Universal cleaning machine, which can be used for cleaning variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance for removing hydrocarbon contaminates,
oil, core sand residue and alike foreign particles from variety of industrial parts with better cleaning performance (minimum Millipore value after completion of cleaning operation).


Dated this 20th day of MAY 2005

13

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD. BY THEIR ADVOCATES-IP
SHYANT3UNDER IYER PATENT AGENT
TAS d CO.

Documents:

608-MUM-2005-ABSTRACT(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-ABSTRACT(24-9-2012).pdf

608-mum-2005-abstract.doc

608-mum-2005-abstract.pdf

608-MUM-2005-ANNEXURE I(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(24-9-2012).pdf

608-mum-2005-claims.doc

608-mum-2005-claims.pdf

608-MUM-2005-CORRESPONDENCE(13-4-2009).pdf

608-mum-2005-correspondence(20-10-2007).pdf

608-MUM-2005-CORRESPONDENCE(24-9-2012).pdf

608-mum-2005-correspondence-received.pdf

608-mum-2005-description (complete).pdf

608-mum-2005-drawings.pdf

608-MUM-2005-FORM 1(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-FORM 13(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-FORM 18(13-4-2009).pdf

608-MUM-2005-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(24-9-2012).pdf

608-mum-2005-form 3(20-5-2005).pdf

608-mum-2005-form 5(20-5-2005).pdf

608-mum-2005-form-1.pdf

608-mum-2005-form-2.doc

608-mum-2005-form-2.pdf

608-mum-2005-form-26.pdf

608-MUM-2005-MARKED COPY(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-MARKED COPY(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-REPLY TO HEARING(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-SPCIFICATION(AMENDED)-(24-9-2012).pdf

608-MUM-2005-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(15-4-2014).pdf

608-MUM-2005-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(24-9-2012).pdf

abstract1.jpg


Patent Number 260418
Indian Patent Application Number 608/MUM/2005
PG Journal Number 18/2014
Publication Date 02-May-2014
Grant Date 29-Apr-2014
Date of Filing 20-May-2005
Name of Patentee MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD.
Applicant Address GATEWAY BUILDING, APOLLO BUNDER, MUMBAI 40001
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 Trimbak Dakshinamurthy Murthy No.1,Mani Villa,595 E, Dr.Ambedkar Road, Matunga,Mumbai 400019
2 Ravindra Kashinath Patil A/604,Ridhi Apartment Chikku Wadi, Shimpoli Village, Borivali (W), Mumbai 400092
3 Milind Maruti Gurav E/401,Prerana C.H.S. Shimpoli Village, Borivali(W), Mumbai 400092
4 Dattatray Yashwant Vartak B/305,Lalit C.H.S. Linking Road, Opp.Falcon tower, Borivali(W),Mumbai 400091
PCT International Classification Number B65G45/10 B65G45/22
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA