Curtis Assemble and Test Ltd, (CAT), manufacture high-pressure wash modules for cleaning machined components. They consist of an electrical control panel, a service unit and either one or two wash fixtures. For convenience, the wash fixtures and control panel can be installed up to 5 metres away from the service unit. The wash fixture has been redesigned for easier integration with automated production processes. Most noticeably, the external hoses that feed wash fluid and air, and handle debris removal, have been replaced with an internal porting system. Additionally, the new fixture has 10% extra capacity to accommodate larger components.

In operation, the cleaning cycle starts with a component being loaded into the fixture, either manually or automatically. It is cleaned with jets of oil (ISO 4113), pumped at 100 bar pressure from an array of nozzles located at both ends of the wash fixtures. The flow is pulsed from each end alternately at a rate of 50 Hz. ‘Used’ oil is drawn into a centrifuge where ‘heavy’ debris is removed. The oil is then passed through a two-stage filtration system and re-circulated. Controlled by a PLC, CAT wash modules normally have a wash time of 10 seconds followed by a 5 second air blast. Production may be increased by using two wash fixtures with each service unit.

     

             Original Fixture

New fixture- no external hoses or pipes