[0023] In the figure, reference number 1 is a container having an open top 13 arranged to be closed with a lid 4. In the lower part la, the container contains the paddle wheel 2. The upper part lb of the container 1 is arranged to include means for securing the cleaned items, shown here as a removable threaded basket 3 designed to keep the brushes and other painting equipment standing upright. The driving device 5 is schematically shown here as an electric drill (drill bit) having a tool connector 51 (supporter) connected to a driving shaft 23 protruding from the container 1.
[0024] The paddle wheel 2 is arranged with a horizontal central axis supported in the recesses 15 of two opposite container side walls 11. The bottom 18 of the container is arranged to correspond to the groove of the paddle wheel 2, whereby the bottom 18 shows a prescribed gap with respect to the paddle wheel 2. The end of the paddle wheel 2 maintains a predetermined distance from the side wall 11. The drive shaft 23 is torsionally rigidly attached to one end of the central shaft 22 and extends through a drive shaft opening 14 in the container wall 11, in which a water-impermeable gasket 141 is arranged. In the opposite end of the central shaft 22, a protruding shaft extension portion extending into the corresponding recess 15 is provided.
[0025] The container 1 is provided with an internal, interrupted step 12, which is arranged in such a way that when the threaded basket 3 is put into the container 1, it stands up with the gap to the rotating periphery of the paddle wheel 2. The step 12 is shown here as an abutment of the peripheral portion 33 abutting the bottom of the threaded basket 3, and other ways of placing the threaded basket 3 may be used.
[0026] The threaded basket 3 is equipped with more partitioned walls 31, which provide vertical support for the items being cleaned and thereby keep them at a mutual distance. The threaded basket 3 is equipped with a handle 32. In the operable position, the handle 32 abuts the part 41 of the cover 4 and can thereby not be lifted from the step 12 when the cleaning process is initiated.
[0027] In the lower part la of the container 1, the fluid outlet 17 is arranged and equipped with a protruding pipe socket. Correspondingly, the upper container portion lb of the container is provided with a fluid inlet 16 having a protruding socket. The fluid inlet 16 and the fluid outlet 17 are arranged for connection to an external fluid system (not shown) for continuous or sequential circulation of cleaning liquid through the instrument. In its simplest form, such a fluid system can consist of two separate vessels with associated pipes and valves. In an embodiment not shown, the fluid inlet 16 can be omitted, and the cleaning liquid supplied to the container 1 through the top opening 13 of the container 1 is started before the cleaning process. The contaminated cleaning liquid can be discharged from the container 1 after the cleaning process has been completed, and the fluid outlet 17 is equipped with a (not shown) closing device, such as a manually operable isolation valve.
[0028] When items to be cleaned, such as brushes covered by paint, are to be processed, they are placed in the threaded basket 3, preferably standing upright, whereby they are supported by the partition wall 31, and the bristles are preferably facing downwards for the most effective Clean. The cleaning liquid enters the container 1 by pouring it directly through the top opening 13 before the cover 4 is placed in place, or by introducing a prescribed amount of cleaning liquid through the fluid inlet 16, and supplying the container 1 in a prescribed amount, or the cleaning liquid passing through the fluid inlet 16 is continuously supplied from an external fluid system (not shown) and discharged back to the fluid system through a fluid outlet 17, continuing to circulate through the container.
[0029] When the cleaning liquid is supplied to the container 1 and the lid 4 is closed, the paddle wheel 2 is in a rotating state with the connected driving device 5. The cleaning liquid is arranged in a flow motion upward toward the upper part lb of the container 1, wherein it flows at a high speed toward the article fixed and positioned by the threaded basket 3. After sufficient processing time, the paddle wheel 2 is stopped, and possibly the circulation of the cleaning fluid is stopped, and the cleaned items are removed from the container 1 and dried. The remaining cleaning liquid can possibly be discharged from the container 1 through the fluid outlet 17.
