An automated hoist is probably the most commonly used means of moving parts through the steps of an automated immersion cleaning process. These hoists come in almost unlimited variations but have in common that they can move a basket or rack of parts in two dimensions along the axis of a multi-station cleaning system. Although the hoist suspension can … Continued
As in nearly any decision making process, one must consider the options available and the pros and cons of each for industrial parts cleaning automation. The next few blogs will describe some of the automation options that are available for industrial parts cleaning along with their benefits and potential shortfalls. Walking beams and “pushers” have … Continued
In the preceding blog we looked at the expansion and contraction of liquids as a means of measuring temperature. The expansion and contraction of solids (usually metals) is another way to measure temperature. Most solids expand and contract in a relatively linear way in response to temperature changes. In most cases, solids expand as they … Continued
Meaningful temperature measurements depend on the selection of the proper sensors and controls and the proper placement of sensors to accurately measure the targeted temperature. For example, it was previously stated that bimetallic sensors, in most cases, ultimately sense the temperature of air around them. This makes bimetallic sensors a good choice for measuring air … Continued
How Much Heat? – It is common for the design engineer to calculate the heat requirement for the tanks of a cleaning system based on the tank volume, the target operating temperature and the desired heat-up time from ambient temperature to operating temperature taking into account, of course, heat losses through the tank walls and … Continued
Overflow weirs are common features of industrial cleaning systems. Simply, a weir is much like a dam that holds back a river to form a lake. In the case of a cleaning system, the “lake” is usually a tank of liquid. The “dam” is formed as a portion of the lip of the tank is … Continued
Previous blogs have discussed the importance of rinsing as part of the overall cleaning process. Because of its importance, many schemes have been devised to assure that parts are adequately rinsed after cleaning. Most of these schemes embrace the “more is better” concept which often leads to overkill as there is often no practical way … Continued
Overflow weirs have specific purposes as they are utilized in industrial cleaning equipment. Also, as one might expect, there are several manifestations of the overflow weir which perform various functions. A simple “standpipe” is a form of weir as is a fitting on the side of a tank located just below the desired liquid level. … Continued
The concept and purposes of an overflow weir are pretty simple but making them perform for maximum benefit can be a challenge. For the best performance of a weir used in a skimming application, liquid should overflow the entire width of the weir. An area of stagnation is formed behind an area where there is no … Continued
The final type of weir I’ll discuss in this series is the four-sided overflow weir in which liquid overflows all four sides of a process tank. This type of weir is normally found in equipment designed for “precision cleaning” applications and most commonly in rinses where efficient particle removal is a major consideration. The theory behind … Continued
