EP0343779A1 - Cleaning apparatus and methods - Google Patents

Cleaning apparatus and methods Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0343779A1
EP0343779A1 EP89303548A EP89303548A EP0343779A1 EP 0343779 A1 EP0343779 A1 EP 0343779A1 EP 89303548 A EP89303548 A EP 89303548A EP 89303548 A EP89303548 A EP 89303548A EP 0343779 A1 EP0343779 A1 EP 0343779A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
fluid
cleaning solution
air
cleaned
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP89303548A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Juji Akiba
Kiroyuki Sugibuchi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Junkosha Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Junkosha Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Junkosha Co Ltd filed Critical Junkosha Co Ltd
Publication of EP0343779A1 publication Critical patent/EP0343779A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • B08B3/10—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
    • B08B3/12—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations

Definitions

  • the invention relates to cleaning apparatus and methods.
  • the fluid detecting element comprises a pair of conductors which are separated by continuously porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) containing a conducting substance which is sandwiched between the conductors.
  • EPTFE expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
  • This fluid detecting element is utilized, for example, as an oil leakage sensor.
  • the abovementioned substance exhibits an increase in insulation resistance when it is permeated by an oil, such as heavy oil or gasoline.
  • This electrical change is detected by a detector which is connected to the abovementioned conductors, so that the presence or absence of oil leakage is determined electronically.
  • a detector which is connected to the abovementioned conductors, so that the presence or absence of oil leakage is determined electronically.
  • Such an oil leakage sensor must be regenerated by cleaning after it has detected oil leakage, or periodically when the sensor has been used over a long period of time even if no oil leakage is detected.
  • an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of the type mentioned above has been used for such cleaning.
  • oil leakage sensors of the type mentioned are of various shapes and sizes. Accordingly, in cases where, for example, a long oil leakage sensor is to be ultrasonically cleaned, a large ultrasonic cleaning apparatus capable of accommodating this sensor is required. However, a conventional large ultrasonic cleaning apparatus is extremely expensive.
  • cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning tank for receiving a cleaning solution and an object to be cleaned, and fluid supply means for supplying a fluid comprising air which is injected as bubbles into said cleaning solution, said fluid striking the object to be cleaned, said fluid supply means supplying said fluid at a high velocity and with such force that said air bubbles burst upon striking said object, thereby producing shock waves, including ultrasonic waves, which provides thorough cleaning of said object.
  • a method of cleaning an object comprising the steps of placing the object in a cleaning solution, and injecting air as bubbles into the cleaning solution such that the velocity at which the bubbles strike the object causes them to burst thereby producing shock waves including ultrasonic waves which provide thorough cleaning of the object.
  • the cleaning apparatus to be described comprises a cleaning tank which accomodates a cleaning solution and an object to be cleaned, and fluid supply means for supplying a fluid containing air which is injected as bubbles into the cleaning solution, the fluid striking the object to be cleaned.
  • the fluid supply means supplies the fluid at a high velocity and with sufficient force that the air bubbles burst upon striking the object, thereby producing shock waves, including ultrasonic waves, which provides thorough cleaning of the object.
  • the fluid may be air or a cleaning solution.
  • the cleaning solution preferably is xylene or methyl ethyl ketone.
  • the cleaning apparatus to be described is characterized by the fact that it is equipped with (a) a cleaning tank which accomodates a cleaning solution and the object to be cleaned, and (b) a fluid supply means which supplies a fluid containing air that is released into the cleaning solution so that it strikes the object that is to be cleaned in the cleaning tank.
  • the air that is released into the cleaning solution forms air bubbles, which strike the object that is to be cleaned in the cleaning solution with sufficient force that they burst.
  • shock waves including ultrasonic waves, are generated, and these waves excite a vibration in the object that is to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning solution is thus agitated by the fluid containing air that is released into the cleaning solution, so that the cleaning solution is constantly in fluid motion.
  • the principal constituent elements of the cleaning apparatus 1 are a supporting cart 2, a cleaning tank 3 and a compressor including fluid supply means 4.
  • the supporting cart 2 consists of a base 2b which is equipped with wheels 2a so that it is free to move.
  • a pair of supports 2c are installed upright facing each other on the top surface of the base 2b in order to support the cleaning tank 3.
  • the cylindrical cleaning tank 3 is preferably made of stainless steel, is open at the top and is supported by the supports 2c so that the tank 3 is free to rotate about a diameter of the tank as the axis of rotation.
  • the axis of rotation is positioned at a point above the midpoint on the axial line of the cleaning tank 3, so that when the cleaning tank 3 is in a state of natural rest, the open end of the tank is positioned at the top as shown in the figure.
  • Xylene is a preferred cleaning solution 5 and is accomodated in the cleaning tank 3 as an oil solvent.
  • the compressor 4 is installed on the base 2b of the supporting cart 2.
  • Tube 4a which preferably is made of Teflon (trade mark) fluorocarbon resin and which is connected to the compressor 4, is inserted into the cleaning tank 3, and the tip of this tube 4a is fastened to the bottom of the interior of the cleaning tank 3 so that the tip points upwardly.
  • basket 6 preferably a mesh made of stainless steel, is used when an oil leakage sensor or other object 7 to be cleaned is inserted into the cleaning tank 3.
  • the oil leakage sensor 7 is accomodated inside the mesh basket 6, and is inserted into the cleaning tank 3 along with the mesh basket 6.
  • a flange 6a at the upper end of the mesh basket 6 catches on the upper edge of the cleaning tank 3, so that the oil leakage sensor 7 is suspended inside the cleaning tank 3, and so that the sensor 7 is submerged in the xylene cleaning solution 5.
  • the oil leakage sensor 7 may comprise a pair of conductors 7a,7b and a continuously porous EPTFE separator 7c containing a conductive substance interposed between the conductors.
  • the oil leakage sensor 7 is accomodated inside the cleaning tank 3 and submerged in xylene cleaning solution 5 as described above, and the compressor 4 is started.
  • Compressed air or other fluid containing air fed from the compressor 4 passes through the tube 4a and is continuously released into the xylene cleaning solution 5 as air bubbles from the tip of the tube inside the cleaning tank 3.
  • the xylene cleaning solution 5 inside the cleaning tank 3 is constantly in a state of highly agitated fluid motion.
  • the air bubbles released into the xylene cleaning solution 5 rise and strike the oil leakage sensor 7 with sufficient force that they burst. Shock waves, including ultrasonic waves, are generated at this point, and these waves excite a vibration in the oil leakage sensor 7.
  • the cleaning apparatus 1 described has an extremely simple structure, it has a cleaning efficiency and thoroughness which is appoximately the same as that of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus. Compared to an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus 1 is extremely inexpensive, and this reduced expense becomes more pronounced as the size of the apparatus required increases.
  • the invention is not limited to the above example.
  • the fluid containing air consisted only of air.
  • this fluid could also be a cleaning solution containing air bubbles.
  • the fluid supply means used would be a pump.
  • the cleaning apparatus could also be applied to various other objects besides oil leakage sensors, and the cleaning solution used could be a cleaning agent other than xylene, such as, for example, methyl ehtyl ketone.
  • the apparatus makes it possible to obtain a very inexpensive cleaning apparatus which has a simple structure, but which has a cleaning effect comparable to that of conventional ultrasonic cleaning apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
EP89303548A 1988-04-22 1989-04-11 Cleaning apparatus and methods Withdrawn EP0343779A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP5347288U JPH01156787U (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png) 1988-04-22 1988-04-22
JP53472/88 1988-04-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0343779A1 true EP0343779A1 (en) 1989-11-29

Family

ID=12943795

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89303548A Withdrawn EP0343779A1 (en) 1988-04-22 1989-04-11 Cleaning apparatus and methods

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0343779A1 (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png)
JP (1) JPH01156787U (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png)
AU (1) AU603949B2 (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png)
GB (1) GB2217806A (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998057762A1 (en) * 1997-06-17 1998-12-23 Peter David Young Washing process

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0618847B1 (de) * 1992-10-08 1996-03-27 Sofima Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum beschallen und zur übertragung von schwingungen auf eine teilchen enthaltende beschallungsflüssigkeit

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH311228A (de) * 1953-04-08 1955-11-30 Berger Friedrich Spültrog.
GB2042208A (en) * 1979-01-30 1980-09-17 Essilor Int Spectacle cleaning device for domestic use
JPH05262964A (ja) * 1992-03-19 1993-10-12 Kanebo Ltd 熱可塑性樹脂組成物

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4100926A (en) * 1976-09-22 1978-07-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Apparatus for ultrasonic cleaning with liquid solvent in a blanket of vapor
DE3047424A1 (de) * 1980-12-17 1982-07-08 Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh, 7500 Karlsruhe Verfahren zum erhoehen der fluiddynamischen stabilitaet und der effektivitaet der stoffuebertragung einer extraktionskolonne
US4401131A (en) * 1981-05-15 1983-08-30 Gca Corporation Apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers
GB2165330A (en) * 1984-10-04 1986-04-09 Remote Marine Systems Ltd Ultrasonic cleansing
GB8429312D0 (en) * 1984-11-20 1984-12-27 Gen Dispensing Syst Fluid flow control valve
US4727896A (en) * 1985-10-21 1988-03-01 Masao Kanazawa Ultrasonic washing machine for tableware
KR890700052A (ko) * 1986-12-18 1989-03-02 토마스 에프.키르코프 초음파 세정 방법 및 장치

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH311228A (de) * 1953-04-08 1955-11-30 Berger Friedrich Spültrog.
GB2042208A (en) * 1979-01-30 1980-09-17 Essilor Int Spectacle cleaning device for domestic use
JPH05262964A (ja) * 1992-03-19 1993-10-12 Kanebo Ltd 熱可塑性樹脂組成物

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998057762A1 (en) * 1997-06-17 1998-12-23 Peter David Young Washing process

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH01156787U (US08063081-20111122-C00102.png) 1989-10-27
GB2217806A (en) 1989-11-01
AU603949B2 (en) 1990-11-29
GB8908145D0 (en) 1989-05-24
AU3236589A (en) 1989-10-26

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