Pneumatic Tool Cleaner

Abstract

A device for cleaning pneumatic tools such as, paving breakers and jackhammers, comprising a cabinet structure provided with a shock absorbing mount to receive the tool and having its lower end divided into a main reservoir and a drain tank. A source of compressed air communicates with a hose connection to the air inlet of the tool, with the main reservoir, and with the drain tank, and includes suitable valving to direct the airflow into the reservoir where it pressurizes a cleaning solvent, causing it to flow through a conduit, into the hose connection through the tool and into the drain tank; or, to direct the airflow to the hose connection and through the tool to flush the dirt therefrom and to dry the interior thereof; or, to direct the airflow to the drain tank where it pressurizes the dirty solvent, causing it to flow through a filter and back into the main reservoir.

Description

In recent years, the construction industry, in this country, has experienced a rapid growth which has brought into more widespread use such pneumatic tools as paving breakers, jackhammers, etc. These tools, by the very nature of their work, absorb a lot of dust, dirt and sand that becomes lodged on their inner parts thereby impairing their efficiency. This necessitates frequent cleaning of the tools in order to preserve their life and maintain their efficiency.

Prior to this invention, one method of cleaning these tools required their disassembly and the manual washing of the components in a cleaning solvent. This method is time consuming, and therefore, extremely costly.

This invention provides a device that cleans pneumatic tools in a fast and efficient manner by washing the components with a pressurized solvent and flushing them with pressurized air during their normal operating cycle. Since the tool is cleaned during its normal operating cycle, it is not necessary to disassemble it, thereby resulting in an extremely economical procedure.

Several prior art devices are known that clean pneumatic tools by treating them with a solvent and pressurized air, but they generally require the use of pumps and electric motors to pressurize and circulate the solvent. These known devices are expensive to build and maintain, because pumps and motors are costly to install and due to their relative delicacy, are expensive to maintain. This invention provides for greater economy in both its initial and maintenance costs because the air is utilized to circulate the solvent, thereby doing away with the need for pumps and motors. Since there are no moving parts, the equipment is not only easy to maintain but also very rugged.

Briefly described, this invention comprises a cabinet structure having a shock-absorbing mount therein and being divided, at its lower end, into a main reservoir for holding cleaning solvent and a drain tank for holding used solvent. A source of air under pressure is provided and because of suitable circuit means, air can be directed through the tool and back into the drain tank, or, directly through the tool in order to flush and dry the interior thereof. The solvent can be reused because the air can be directed through another conduit and into the drain tank, thereby forcing the dirty solvent through a filter and back into the main reservoir in a clean condition.

An exemplary embodiment of this invention is disclosed in the following specification taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the front of the device;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the back device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic circuit with the filter shown out of position for the sake of clarity.

As seen in the drawings, a housing structure, shown generally at 10, receives a pneumatic tool 8 therein and comprises a base structure 12 supporting a cabinet 14 having a top door 16 and a front door 18 providing access to the interior thereof. The base member 12 has a top wall 20 which supports the cabinet 14 and cooperates with a partition wall 21 to divide the base into a main reservoir 22 and a drain tank 24. The area immediately above the top wall 20 and enclosed by the cabinet 14 forms a sump tank 26 into which the cleaning solvent collects as it flows into the drain tank 24.

A shock-absorbing apparatus which receives the tool during the cleaning operation, is mounted on the top wall 20 and comprises a cylindrical sleeve 28 secured thereto, and in which is mounted a compression spring 30 and a piston member 32 with a suitable recess therein for receiving the tool bit. Since the tool is cleaned during its operating cycle, this shock absorber absorbs the impact created by the reciprocating bit. It is to be understood, however, that the type of support can vary depending on the tool being cleaned.

A suitable ball check valve 34 is carried in a cage 35 mounted on the bottom face of top wall 20. The purpose of this valve will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Mounted on the sidewall of the cabinet 14 is a fitting member 40, see FIGS. 2 and 3, that carries a suitable control valve 36 and is connected to a hose 42. The other end of the hose carries a suitable coupler for connecting it to the pneumatic tool 8. The valve 36 controls the flow of air or solvent into the tool and may be any suitable three way type.

A suitable coupler member 38 is adapted to be connected to a source of high pressure air and carries a T member 43. A conduit 44 extends from the perpendicular leg of the T-member, runs along the side of the cabinet, and is connected to one of the ports of the control valve 36 for directing air from the inlet to the hose and into the tool. Extending from the base leg of the T-member is another conduit 46, which is connected to a main reservoir valve 48, for directing air thereto. The main reservoir valve 48 controls the flow of air to the reservoir 22 or to the drain tank 24 and may be any suitable three-way type.

The conduit 50 extends from the reservoir valve 48, along the back of the cabinet, and downwardly to an aperture in the top plate 20 and communicates with the main reservoir 22, for directing the air thereto and applying a pressure against the cleaning solvent contained therein. A suitable bleed valve 54 is located in the line 50 for relieving the air pressure in the reservoir. The conduit 58 extends upwardly from another aperture in the top plate 20, along the back of the housing and then along the side thereof to the control valve 36. When the control valve 36 is set in a downwardly position, opposite to that shown in FIG. 1, and when the main reservoir valve 48 has been properly set, pressurized air flows through the reservoir valve 48, the conduit 50 and into the reservoir, thereby pressurizing the cleaning solvent, forcing it upwardly through the conduit 58, the main control valve and hose 42, and into the interior of the tool. After the solvent leaves the tool it passes through the sump tank 26 and then collects in the drain tank 24.

The conduit 52 extends from the reservoir valve 48, in a direction opposite to that of conduit 50, and extends downwardly to an aperture in the top plate 20 and communicates with the drain tank 24. A suitable bleed valve 56 is located in the conduit 52 for relieving the air pressure in the drain tank. The conduit 60 extends upwardly from the drain tank to a filter 62 that is connected to a conduit 64 leading back to the main reservoir 22. When the reservoir valve 48 has been properly set, pressurized air will flow through the conduit 52 and into the drain tank, thereby pressurizing the dirty solvent therein, holding the ball check valve 34 in the closed position, and forcing the solvent through the line 60, the filter 62, the conduit 64 and back into the main reservoir 24 in a condition to be reused.

For a clearer understanding of how the above described components coact, specific reference is made to the schematic diagram shown in Figure 4. The tool 8 is first inserted into the shock absorbing support and the hose 42 is connected to its inlet port; the reservoir valve 48 and the bleed valve 54 are set to allow airflow through the conduit 50; and the bleed valve 56 is set as shown in FIG. 4, to exhaust air from the drain tank. The main control valve 36 is set to allow airflow through the conduit 46; and, an airhose from a compressor is connected to the fitting 38. At this point, the tool is actuated and pressurized air will flow through the conduits 46 and 50 and into the reservoir 22, thereby pressurizing the cleaning solvent and circulating it through conduit 58, the hose 42 and the tool, from which it is exhausted into the sump tank 26. At this time, since the ball check valve is open, the solvent flows into the drain tank 24. The main control valve 36 is then set to close the conduit 58, thereby directing the air flow through the conduit 44, the hose 42 and through the tool 8, while it is in operation. By this procedure, all the dirt, dust and sand is flushed from the inner parts of the tool.

When the main reservoir is empty, the main control valve 36 is set to direct air through the conduit 46; the bleed valve 54 in the line 50 is set to exhaust the air from the main reservoir 22; and the bleed valve 56 in the conduit 52 is set to allow the passage of air to the drain tank 24. The main reservoir valve 48 is then set to allow airflow through the conduit 52 and into the drain tank 24, thereby pressurizing the dirty solvent, and closing the ball check valve 34 to seal the tank. The pressurized solvent is circulated through the conduit 60, the filter 62, the conduit 64 and into the main reservoir 22 in a clean and ready to use condition.

While in the foregoing there has been described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates. The invention is invented to encompass all such modifications as come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A device for cleaning a pneumatic tool comprising a source of compressed air, a main reservoir for storing a cleaning fluid when clean, a drain tank for storing the cleaning fluid when dirty, piping and valve means connecting said source of compressed air alternately to said main reservoir or said drain tank and connecting a tool to be cleaned alternately to said source of compressed air or said main reservoir, and additional piping and filter means connecting said drain tank and said main reservoir, whereby the compressed air can first force cleaning fluid from the main reservoir through the tool to initiate cleaning of the tool, the dirty cleaning fluid being collected in the drain tank, can then flow through the tool to operate the tool and complete the cleaning and drying thereof, and can then force the dirty cleaning fluid through the filter to restore the cleaning fluid substantially to its original condition and into the main reservoir.

2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a spring-mounted support means for the tool to absorb vibration of the tool during operation thereof.

3. A device according to claim 1 further comprising check valve means permitting cleaning fluid flowing from the tool to enter the drain tank and preventing air from escaping therethrough when the drain tank is placed under pressure by the compressed air for forcing the cleaning fluid through the filter and into the main reservoir.