# US 12,179,240 B2 · Cleaning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,240 B2 - Document ID: US12179240B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/519,681 - Filed: 2021-11-05 - Published: 2022-02-24 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-08 - Assignees: Ecoclean GmbH - Applicants: Ecoclean GmbH - Inventors: Alexander Genze - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179240B2 ## CPC - B08B 5/00: Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow (cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00) - B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} - A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions} - A47L 9/165: {Construction of inlets} - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - B08B 5/04: Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action - B08B 7/02: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning, in particular, electrical components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space, wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space, and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space, wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a separating device for particles that are detached from the component and carried by the cleaning medium, and wherein formed in the wall arrangement is at least one outlet opening for particles, by way of which the inner space opens into a separation space for the particles, said separation space comprising a wall arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning chamber is of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical configuration, wherein the wall arrangement comprises a base wall, a top wall, and a circumferential side wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a wall arrangement of the cleaning chamber is made of at least one of an electrically conductive material and an abrasion-resistant material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receptacle is arranged on a wall of the cleaning chamber, the wall being opposite to a wall in which the at least one outlet is formed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pressurization device is or comprises at least one of the following: a suction assembly for acting upon the inner space with underpressure by way of the at least one outlet; an overpressure device for acting upon the inner space with overpressure by way of the at least one inlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet is arranged or formed on a side wall of the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein two or more inlets are provided, wherein a plurality of the two or more inlets are positioned at uniform angular distances from another in relation to an axis of the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet is of slit-shaped configuration, is at least one of adapted to be flowed through tangentially by the entering cleaning medium, in relation to an axis defined by the cleaning chamber, and extended axially in relation to the axis, and causes the flow of the cleaning medium in the inner space to run along the wall arrangement of at least one of the cleaning chamber and centrally around the axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet opening is arranged or formed on a side wall of the cleaning chamber and is of slit-shaped configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet opening is at least one of adapted to be flowed through tangentially by the particles, in relation to an axis defined by the cleaning chamber, and extended axially in relation to the axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separating device is of at least one of inertia-based and filterless configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separating device comprises a collection container for separated particles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one of an adjusting device for moving the component and a vibration device for vibrating the component indirectly or directly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the adjusting device and the vibration device is arranged on a base wall of the cleaning chamber, on which the receptacle is positioned, and/or wherein the base wall is rotatable by means of the adjusting device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a nozzle device with at least one nozzle element arranged in the inner space, which is adapted to be acted upon with a cleaning fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one nozzle element is directed or directable at the component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein an adjusting device for moving the nozzle device relative to the component is provided, wherein the adjusting device is configured for at least one of a translational and rotational movement of the nozzle device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one mechanical cleaning tool in the inner space for mechanically cleaning the component. ### Claim 19 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space, and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space; wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device; wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; wherein two or more inlets are provided; and wherein a plurality of the two or more inlets are positioned at uniform angular distances from another in relation to an axis of the cleaning chamber. ### Claim 20 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space; and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space; wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device; and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; wherein the at least one inlet is of slit-shaped configuration, is at least one of adapted to be flowed through tangentially by the entering cleaning medium, in relation to an axis defined by the cleaning chamber, and extended axially in relation to the axis, and causes the flow of the cleaning medium in the inner space to run along the wall arrangement of at least one of the cleaning chamber and centrally around the axis. ### Claim 21 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same; a receptacle for the component in the inner space; and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space; wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a separating device for particles that are detached from the component and carried by the cleaning medium; and wherein the separating device is of at least one of inertia-based and filterless configuration. ### Claim 22 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space, and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space; wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a separating device for particles that are detached from the component and carried by the cleaning medium; and wherein the separating device comprises a collection container for separated particles. ### Claim 23 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space, and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space; wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one of an adjusting device for moving the component and a vibration device for vibrating the component indirectly or directly. ### Claim 24 Cleaning apparatus for cleaning components by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber with an inner space and a wall arrangement enclosing same, a receptacle for the component in the inner space, and a flow device for the cleaning medium, which comprises a pressurization device and comprises or forms at least one inlet into the inner space and at least one outlet from the inner space, wherein a pressure difference between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet is providable by means of the flow device, and wherein the flow device is formed such that the cleaning medium forms a vortex flow at least in sections in the inner space from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a nozzle device with at least one nozzle element arranged in the inner space, which is adapted to be acted upon with a cleaning fluid.