Title: Level control for surface treatment baths

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Claims: We claim:

1. A level control device for pickling, degreasing, nickel-plating and similar process apparatus having at least two baths of different specific weight in which the bath level of the bath with the higher specific weight is below the bath level of the bath with the lower specific weight, comprising pipe means for connecting the two baths having a first vertical portion positioned in the bath with the lower specific weight and having an upper inlet end positioned directly below the bath level of the bath with the lower specific weight, a second horizontal portion forming an angle of 90.degree. with the first portion and being connected at one end to the lower end of the first portion, and a third portion positioned in the bath with the higher specific weight and forming an angle of 90.degree. with the second portion, said third portion having an outlet end positioned below the inlet end of the first portion and means for adjusting the height of the outlet end of the third portion of said pipe means in the bath with the higher specific weight without movement of said first and second portion so that flow occurs from the bath of lower specific weight to the bath of higher specific weight through said pipe means.

2. The level control device of claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises means for adjusting the difference in height between the bath level of the bath with the lower specific weight and the outlet end of said pipe means so that the height difference is equal to .DELTA. h + h.sub.2 in which .DELTA.h = h.sub.2 (.gamma..sub.2 - .gamma..sub.1)/.gamma..sub.1 ;

h.sub.2 is the difference between the bath level of the bath with the higher specific weight and the outlet end of the pipe means; .gamma..sub.1 is the specific weight of the bath with the lower specific weight; and .gamma..sub.2 is the specific weight of the bath with the higher specific weight.

3. The level control device of claim 1 in which said means for adjusting the height of the outlet end of the third portion of said pipe means comprises a rotary coupling between the third and second portions of said pipe means so that the third portion can be rotated relative to the second portion.

4. The level control device of claim 1 in which the third portion of said pipe means comprises a riser in which the end opposite to the outlet end is open and extends above the bath level of the bath with the higher specific weight so that air can escape from said pipe means.

5. The level control device of claim 1 and further comprising overflow means in combination with said bath with the lower specific weight, the inlet end of the first portion of said pipe means being placed in said overflow.

Other info:

Inventors: Kaup, Friedel (Gutersloh, DT)
Warnke, Heinrich (Marienfeld, DT)

Application Number: 403779
Filing Date: 1973-10-05
Publication_date: 1976-03-02
Assignee: Miele & Cie (Gutersloh, DT)
Primary Class(es): 137/453 137/577, 222/64
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

1225416	May, 1917	Khotinsky	137/577.
1626782	May, 1927	Brooks	137/577.
1668793	May, 1928	Wiggins	222/64.
1743966	Jan, 1930	Goudard	137/576.
1883139	Oct, 1932	Walter	222/64.
2059716	Nov, 1936	Swinburne	137/571.
2191019	Feb, 1940	Johnson	137/571.
2225498	Dec, 1940	Hollander	137/577.
2508170	May, 1950	Kaufmann	137/571.
2573468	Oct, 1951	Mackin	137/577.
3229518	Jan, 1966	Nilsson	137/571.
3425928	Feb, 1969	Emery et al.	137/579.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Schwadron, Martin P.
Assistant Examiner: Walton, George L.
Attorney: Fleit & Jacobson