US 4,358,204 AGranted

Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus

OwnerSidney Ellnerinventor

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Abstract

An ultrasonic cleaning assembly for cleaning large objects immersed in liquid within a chamber, such as an array of elongated ultraviolet lamps within an ultraviolet purification tank. The cleaning assembly includes an elongated ultrasonic transducer extending across the width of the chamber and having a width appreciably smaller than the length of the chamber and the objects therein to be cleaned. Motor-driven apparatus is provided for moving the transducer within the chamber in such a manner as to direct the ultrasonic waves emitted by the transducer to all interior portions of the chamber, thereby applying the ultrasonic cleaning effect over the entire extent of all the objects within the chamber. In a first embodiment the transducer is moved linearly in a horizontal direction across the length of the chamber, and in a second embodiment, the transducer is centrally mounted within the chamber and is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An ultrasonic cleaning assembly for cleaning elongated tubular lamps emitting ultraviolet radiation and disposed in horizontal rows immersed in liquid within a tank of an ultraviolet purification system, said tank having side walls and end walls, said cleaning assembly comprising,

a single elongated ultrasonic transducer having a length substantially equal to the spacing between the side walls of said tank and a width appreciably less than the distance between the end walls of said tank,
mounting means for movably mounting said transducer in a horizontal position within said tank with said transducer extending longitudinally between the side walls of said tank and being in contact with the liquid therein,
means for energizing said transducer to cause the latter to emit a beam of ultrasonic vibrational waves through the liquid in said tank,
and drive means for moving said transducer in its energized state within said tank in a direction to cause said beam to sweep substantially the entire inner area of said tank and to traverse all of the lamps within said tank.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.