Apparatus for drying and cleaning objects using controlled aerosols and gases
US6270584A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S134/902
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Method and apparatus for cleaning and/or drying objects that may have been wetted or contaminated in a manufacturing process. The objects are submerged in a rinse liquid in an enclosed chamber, and aerosol particles from a selected liquid are introduced into the chamber above the rinse liquid surface, forming a thin film on this surface. As the rinse liquid is slowly drained, some aerosol particles settle onto the exposed surfaces of the objects, and displace and remove rinse liquid residues from the exposed surfaces by a "chemical squeegeeing" effect. Surface contaminants are also removed by this process. Chamber pressure is maintained at or near the external environment pressure as the rinse liquid is drained from the chamber. Inert gas flow is employed to provide aerosol particles of smaller size and/or with greater dispersion within the chamber. Continuous filtering and shunt filtering are employed to remove most contaminants from the selected liquid. A flow deflector redirects initial flow of the selected liquid to a supplementary filter, to remove most of the contaminant particle "spike" that appears when a system is first (re)activated. An improved surface for aerosol partic…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.