FLEXICLEAN® Vacuum Washing Machine

The essential components include a vacuum-tight cleaning chamber, isolated tanks for two (optionally: three) cleaning agents, vacuum pump, spray pump and heating for each cleaning media and an oil separation units.

Cleaning process

The cleaning cycle is dependent on the type and thickness of the soiling, the cleaning agent used and the desired degree of purity. A typical process could be undertaken as follows and is freely-programmable:

After pre-spraying the charge with the first cleaning agent, the container is filled with medium 1 and subsequently the low-pressure boiling process is started. After pressure is equalized, the chamber is emptied and the charge is sprayed again. 

This cycle can be repeated with additional cleaning or rinsing fluids.

Afterwards the vacuum drying process is undertaken and the container is ventilated to remove the charge.

LOW PRESSURE BOILING VACUPEARL

The patented Vacupearl system works by creating a vacuum above the bath level. This causes the cleaning fluid to start to boil and steam bubbles form predominately on the workpiece surface of the charge. Low pressure boiling helps in improved cleaning effect in inaccessible areas. This has two separate tanks with dual cleaning media (optionally: three) in individual tanks and drying.

This provides following advantages:

• Detergents are delivered directly to the work piece and do not have to be diffused by the liquid barrier.

• Steam collects predominantly where the enclosed liquid quantities are relatively small in comparison to the surrounding part surface, such as for example, in blind holes, grooves, empty spaces, or between tightly loaded parts.

• The flotation effect brought about by the addition of air is further strengthened by the expanding volume of steam.

Vacuum drying

In order to achieve a good cleaning effect, the operating temperature should generally be between 80 – 85° C. The charge will then have enough residual heat to be used to evaporate the water on the parts. Vacuum drying enable seven awkward areas, such as blind drill holes, thin lubrication holes and even suction chambers to be dried completely. Generally 0.1 – 0.3 % of the charge weight in water will stick to the work pieces. Vacuum drying allows up to 1 percent in weight of water to be dried off.

Absolutely dry components are required:

• Before vacuum heat treatments

• Before diffusion heat treatment processes

• Before low-temperature tempering processes

• Before work procedures where water residue is obstructive

• Before work procedures where water residue is obstructive

Oil separation

The agent tank is connected by means of cascades. The first agent tank has an overflow chamber, in which the demulsified oil-cleaner mixture flows, and is then pumped out with a separation pump to the coalescence separator.