Randal Martin Brown

US Patent:

58508422, Dec 22, 1998

Filed:

Jun 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/878138

Inventors:

Thomas Michael Sweeney - Baltimore MD
Randal Monroe Brown - Hanover MD
Bryan Engle Patterson - Delta PA
Kenneth John Breece - Street MD
John Paul Brubaker - Catonsville MD

Assignee:

Better Engineering Mfg., Inc. - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134140

Abstract:

A tumbling-type parts washer includes an apparatus for automatically securing a basket in a rotor assembly of the parts washer and for securing a lid onto the basket during parts cleaning. The apparatus includes a cam plate mounted to a wall of the housing of the parts washer and one or more torsion bar assemblies mounted for rotation with the rotor assembly. Each torsion bar assembly is operable between an open position that permits removal of the basket from the rotor assembly and a closed position that prevents removal of the basket from the rotor assembly. The cam plate defines a substantially circular cam surface with an open portion. The torsion bar assembly includes a torsion bar pivotally mounted on the rotor assembly, one or more basket retainers mounted on the torsion bar, and a cam follower mounted on a crank arm portion of the torsion bar. The cam follower is configured to align with the open portion of the cam surface when the rotor assembly is in the loading/unloading position to permit the torsion bar to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position for removal of the basket, and to engage the cam surface of the cam plate during at least a portion of rotation of the rotor assembly from the loading/unloading position to secure the basket in the rotor assembly.