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AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJohn M. Cotte, Matteo Flotta, Kenneth J. McCullough, Wayne M. Moreau, Keith R. Pope, John P. Simons, Charles J. Taft
Estimating the term…
A workpiece holder for processing a workpiece in a chamber of a liquified fluid. In one embodiment, the workpiece holder includes a cylindrically shaped rotator having an exterior wall and at least one fluid guide on the exterior wall. The rotator is adapted to rotate and provide fluid flow across a first end of the rotator, and is adapted to provide fluid flow and mixing perpendicular to a surface of the first end of the rotator. A fixture is coupled to the first end of the rotator for securing the workpiece to the first end of the rotator.
A workpiece holder for processing a workpiece in a chamber of a liquified fluid, comprising:
A system for processing a workpiece in a chamber of liquified fluid, comprising:
A method of processing a workpiece in a chamber of liquified fluid, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
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Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass: by liquid gases or supercritical fluids
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…
Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning
Cleaning in general
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to workpiece mounting devices and, more particularly, to a device for mounting workpieces that facilitates their treatment by a fluid mixture.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a workpiece holder incorporating features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a workpiece holder incorporating features of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a plan view of a system 10 incorporating features of the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 generally comprises a workpiece holder 11 for processing a workpiece 12 in a chamber 14 of liquified fluid 16. The workpiece holder 11 includes a rotator 18 having an exterior wall 20 with at least one fluid guide 22. The fluid guide 22 can comprise a turbine blade 22 machined from the exterior wall 20 of the workpiece holder 11. In one embodiment, the fluid guide can be formed by creating channels 24 in the exterior wall 20. A fixture 26 is coupled to the rotator 18 for securing the workpiece 12 to an end of the rotator 18, such as the top end 28.
As shown in FIG. 1, a drive motor 32 is located outside the chamber 14. The drive motor 32 is used to rotate the rotator 18. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the drive motor 32 can be magnetically coupled to the rotator 18. In alternate embodiments, the drive motor 32 can be coupled to the rotator 18 in any suitable fashion, such as for example, a drive shaft. The drive motor 32 includes a magnetic device (not shown) located outside of the chamber 14 that allows the drive shaft to be coupled to the magnetic characteristics of the workpiece holder 14 and rotate the rotator 18. The rotator 18 can be rotated at approximately 450 RPM (rotations per minute), although faster and slower rotation speeds can also mix the liquified fluid with the remaining fluid on the surface of the workpiece 12 for facilitating removal of the surface fluid.