METHOD FOR REMOVING OIL IN CLEANING LIQUID
20230294018 · 2023-09-21
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
Y02P70/10
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
B01D29/11
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01D39/16
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01D17/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
A method for removing oil in cleaning liquid, by which fine oil in cleaning liquid can be removed efficiently with a filter element for a general-purpose filter element for separating foreign substance. As a plurality of annular protrusions 22d are formed on an outer circumferential surface 22a of the filter element 22 along substantially whole length of the filter element 22 in axis line direction thereof, innumerable small eddies 40 are created in annular grooves 22e between the neighboring annular protrusions 22d. Such eddies 40 are created by Coanda effect in a situation where cleaning liquid having viscosity flows along the annular protrusions 22e. As such eddies 40 are of a negative pressure, fine oil 41 lighter than water is separated from water and captured by filament of the lipophilic filter element 22.
Claims
1. A method for removing oil in cleaning liquid in a cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus equipped with: a cleaning liquid reservoir tank as a container for storing cleaning liquid to be fed to a cleaning portion for performing a definite cleaning operation, a feeding pump provided in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank for pumping up the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank and discharging it through a discharge port to feed it to the cleaning portion, a filter equipment provided neighboring to the cleaning liquid reservoir tank, and a filter element contained in the filter equipment for filtrating the cleaning liquid that has a cylindrical shape communicating with a cavity thereof; wherein the cleaning liquid fed from the feeding pump is caused to flow in a direction parallel to an axis line of the cylindrical filter element and only along the cylindrical outer circumferential surface thereof, thus causing the filter element to capture oil in the cleaning liquid.
2. The method for removing oil in cleaning liquid according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is made of non-woven fabric having an inclination of fiber density in which percentage voids becomes lower from an outer circumferential surface of the filter element towards an inner circumferential surface of the filter element.
3. The method for removing oil in cleaning liquid according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of annular protrusions are formed on a circumferential surface of the filter element.
4. The method for removing oil in cleaning liquid according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus causes the cleaning liquid to flow only along the outer circumferential surface of the filter element only when the cleaning operation is suspended.
5. The method for removing oil in cleaning liquid according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus comprises: a first communicating flow path (24) for causing the discharge port of the feeding pump to communicate with an inlet port of the filter equipment (20), a second communicating flow path (25) for feeding cleaning liquid having been subjected to a secondary filtration from an outlet port of the filter equipment (20) to the cleaning portion, a first open/close valve (26) provided in the second communicating flow path (25) for opening-closing of the second communicating flow path (25), a drain port (21d) provided in the filter equipment (20) for discharging the cleaning liquid within the filter equipment (20) out of the filter equipment (20), a drain flow path (27) for causing the cleaning liquid to flow back from the drain port (21d) of the filter equipment (20) to the cleaning liquid reservoir tank, and a second open/close valve (28) provided in the drain flow path (27) for opening-closing of the drain flow path (27); and wherein the capturing of the oil with the filter element is performed with lipophilic fiber of the filter element in such a manner that, with the first open/close valve (26) being in a closed state and the second open/close valve in an open state, the cleaning liquid is caused to flow through a space between the inner circumferential portion of the filter equipment (20) and the outer circumferential surface of the filter element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF EMBODIMENTS
(Cleaning Liquid Reservoir Apparatus in a First Embodiment)
[0041] A cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained referring drawings below.
[0042] As shown in
[0043] A filter bucket 13 is disposed on the upper side of the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. The basket-shaped filter element 14 is disposed within the filter bucket 13. This basket-shaped filter element 14 consists of a mesh basket made of nylon, etc., a basket made of paper filter or the like. This basket-shaped filter element 14 is one for receiving dirty cleaning liquid and primarily filtrating it removing dust, etc., when the dirty cleaning liquid has returned to the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 after cleaning operation of mechanical parts, etc., in a cleaning apparatus. It is also one for receiving dirty cleaning liquid and primarily filtrating it after cleaning operation of the filter element 22 in the filter equipment 20 as explained later. This primary filtration allows cleaning liquid to be filtrated to a level enabling it to be sucked with a feeding pump 11. Further, foreign substance collected in the basket-shaped filter element 14 is taken out when it is found that foreign substance has been accumulated over a decided amount or for each time that a decided period has lapsed, and an operator conducts operation of disposal.
[0044] The feeding pump 11 is provided on the lid 31. The feeding pump 11 sucks cleaning liquid stored within the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 through a sucking port and discharges cleaning liquid through a discharge port. The filter equipment 20 is provided at a position neighboring to the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 on the upper side of the oil pan 30. Further, a stirring pump 12 for stirring cleaning liquid within the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 is provided on the lid 31. By stirring cleaning liquid with this stirring pump 12, temperature of cleaning liquid becomes uniform as well as foreign substance mixed in cleaning liquid within the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 becomes not easily depositing, so that it becomes easy to collect foreign substance with the basket-shaped filter element 14 when the filter element 22 is cleaned.
[0045] The filter equipment 20 shown in
[0046] A first communicating flow path 24 for communicating of cleaning liquid is provided between the feeding pump 11 and the filter equipment 20 for causing the outlet port of the feeding pump 11 to communicate with the inlet port 21b of the filter equipment 20 and causing cleaning liquid discharged from the feeding pump 11 to flow into the filter equipment 20 (see
[0047] As shown in
[0048] With the filter element 22, cleaning liquid is filtrated usually (during cleaning) by allowing only clean liquid constituent to pass through the filter element 22 and inhibiting foreign substance contained in the cleaning liquid from passing through it when cleaning liquid having been subjected to a primary filtration passes from the side of the outer circumferential surface 22a of the filter element 22 to the side of the inner circumferential surface 22c (in a radial direction). Cleaning liquid having been subjected to a secondary filtration (through filtration) with the filter element 22 flows into the second room 20B through an end 22b of the filter element 22 provided so as to protrude to the side of the second room 20B (see
[0049] A second communicating flow path 25 is provided between the outlet port 21c of the filter equipment body 21 and the cleaning portion Wa of a cleaning apparatus (not shown). A first open/close valve 26 is provided in a midway of the second communicating flow path 25. The first open/close valve 26 in this embodiment is an electromagnetic valve and the second communicating flow path 25 becomes closed state by exciting one solenoid 26a and degaussing the other solenoid 26b. In other words, the second communicating flow path 25 becomes closed state at the position of the first open/close valve 26 so that cleaning liquid does not flow out to the side of the cleaning apparatus. Further, the second communicating flow path 25 becomes open state by exciting the other solenoid 26b and degaussing the one solenoid 26a. In other words, the first open/close valve in the midway of the second communicating flow path 25 becomes communicating state so that cleaned cleaning liquid flows out to the side of the cleaning apparatus and injected through a cleaning nozzle (not shown).
[0050] With the filter equipment 20, while foreign substance in the cleaning liquid can be removed when cleaning liquid is caused to pass through the filter element 22 from the side of the outer circumferential surface 22a to the side of the inner circumferential surface 22c, fine oil contained in the cleaning liquid cannot be fully removed. When fine oil contained in the cleaning liquid increases and attaches to lipophilic material to be cleaned and fine foreign substance is contained in the oil, cleaning efficiency is lowered. Due to this, this cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus is provided with function of cleaning the filter element 22 and removing fine oil. That is, when the filter equipment 20 performs a secondary filtration (thorough filtration) for a definite time, foreign substance attaches to the outer circumferential surface 22a of the filter element 22 so that clogging is created in the filter element 22. Clogging in the filter element 22 inhibits passing or flowing of the cleaning liquid from the side of outer circumferential surface 22a to the side of the inner circumferential surface 22c, so that cleaning liquid is not supplied to the cleaning apparatus by a sufficient amount, thus resulting in lowering cleaning performance. For avoiding this, a drain flow path 27 is provided between the drain port 21d a in the upper lid 21e in the filter equipment 20 and the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. A second open/close valve 28 is provided in the midway of the drain flow path 27.
[0051] The second open/close valve 28 in this embodiment is an electromagnetic valve, and the drain flow path 27 becomes closed state by exciting one solenoid 28a and degaussing the other solenoid 28b. In other words, the drain flow path 27 becomes blocked state so that cleaning liquid within the filter equipment body 21 does not flow back through the drain flow path 27 to the side of the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. Further, the drain flow path 27 becomes open state by exciting the other solenoid 28b and degaussing the one solenoid 28a. In other words, the drain flow path 27 becomes communicating state so that cleaning liquid within the filter equipment body 21 can flow back through the drain flow path 27 to the side of the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. Here, the first open/close valve 26 and the second open/close 28 are controlled by control equipment (not shown). For example, it may be such that a change-over switch for selecting “cleaning” and “removal of oil” is provided on an operation board (not shown) and the first open/close valve 26 and the second open/close valve 28 are controlled with the control equipment by selectively operating the change-over switch. Here, while it is explained as to this embodiment that the first open/close valve and the second open/close valve are electromagnetic valves, they may be manually operated valves.
[0052] A liquid level gauge 17 for indicating level of stored cleaning liquid is provided in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 (see
[0053] Further, a thermometer 19 is provided for measuring temperature of cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. Also, the cleaning liquid heater (liquid heater) 18 for heating cleaning liquid to be at a decided temperature in the cleaning liquid reservoir 10. The cleaning liquid heater 18 in this embodiment is a stainless heater with a function preventing empty heating. That is, cleaning liquid within the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 is one held to be within a definite temperature range with the cleaning liquid heater 18 being controlled by a controller (not shown) based on temperature data measured with the thermometer 19.
[0054] Further, an oil skimmer 15 as a floating substance removing equipment for removing substance having light specific gravity such as floating substance, oil, etc., is provided in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10. With this oil skimmer 15, floating substance on cleaning liquid within the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 is caused to attach to a metal belt 15a to be taken out onto the upper side of the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 10 and the floating substance, etc., attaching thereto is scraped to be collected into a floating substance collecting container 16.
[0055] Operation of the cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus 1 will be explained.
[0056] During cleaning of mechanical parts, etc., as shown in
[0057] In a case of performing cleaning the filter element 22 and removing fine oil (oil droplets), for example, the change-over switch on an operation board (not shown) is set to be “remove oil” and the switching push-button “start” is pushed. A controlling equipment (not shown) activates the feeding pump 11 with the first open/close valve 26 in a closed state and the second open/close valve 28 in an opened state. As shown in
[0058] That is, as shown in
[0059] Further, separation of foreign substance attaching to the outer circumferential occurs simultaneously and, while separated comparatively large foreign substance flows away along with flowing cleaning liquid, small foreign substance and tiny oil (oil droplets) are captured by fiber. Dirty cleaning liquid having gotten dirty that has performed cleaning of the filter element 22 flows through the drain flow path 27 shown in
(Cleaning Liquid Reservoir Apparatus in a Second Embodiment)
[0060]
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0061] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been explained above, the present disclosure is not limited to these. For example, while the filter element was utilized in both ways of filtration of cleaning liquid in which cleaning liquid is caused to flow from the side of the outer circumferential surface 22a to the side of the inner circumferential surface 22c and removal of fine oil in which cleaning liquid is caused to flow only in a direction parallel to the axis line of the filter element along the cylindrical outer circumferential surface thereof, it may be utilized only for removing tiny oil. Further, the filter element as shown in FIG . . . 7 utilizes one consisting of three layers having thickness of fiber different each other so as to reduce percentage voids from the outer circumferential surface towards the inner circumferential surface. However, for the purpose of removing fine oil in cleaning liquid as an object of the present disclosure, filament forming the filter filament needs not necessarily be layered one, but may be non-woven or woven fabric having continuously changing density as long as it creates eddies efficiently. Further, fiber having uniform density or same thickness may be utilized as long as it creates eddies efficiently.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENTIAL NUMBERS
[0062] 1 cleaning liquid reservoir apparatus [0063] 10 cleaning liquid reservoir tank [0064] 11 feeding pump [0065] 12 stirring pump [0066] 13 filter bucket [0067] 14 basket-shaped filter element [0068] 15 floating substance removing equipment (oil skimmer) [0069] 15a metal belt [0070] 16 floating substance collecting container [0071] 17 liquid level gauge [0072] 17a float [0073] 18 liquid heater (cleaning liquid heater) [0074] 19 thermometer [0075] 20 filter equipment [0076] 20A first room [0077] 20B second room [0078] 21 filter equipment body [0079] 21a inner circumferential portion [0080] 21b inlet port [0081] 21c outlet port [0082] 21d drain port [0083] 21e upper lid [0084] 22, 220 filter element [0085] 22a, 220a outer circumferential surface [0086] 22b end [0087] 22c, 220c inner circumferential surface [0088] 22d annular protrusion [0089] 22e annular groove [0090] 22f void [0091] 23 partition wall [0092] 24 first communicating flow path [0093] 25 second communicating flow path [0094] 26 first open/close valve [0095] 26a, 26b solenoid [0096] 27 drain flow path [0097] 28 second open/close valve [0098] 28a, 28b solenoid [0099] 30 oil pan [0100] 31 lid [0101] 40, 400 vortex flow [0102] 41, 410 oil [0103] Wa cleaning portion