Cleaning method and apparatus
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsDarryl D. Jackson, Robert M. Hollen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new automatable cleaning apparatus which makes use of a method of very thoroughly and quickly cleaning a gauze electrode used in chemical analyses is given. The method generates very little waste solution, and this is very important in analyzing radioactive materials, especially in aqueous solutions. The cleaning apparatus can be used in a larger, fully automated controlled potential coulometric apparatus. About 99.98% of a 5 mg. plutonium sample was removed in less than 3 minutes, using only about 60 ml. of rinse solution and two main rinse steps.
Claims9
An apparatus for cleaning by suction with the aid of capillary action and gravity a structure to be cleaned which is located within a container for containing liquid, comprising in combination:
- (a) a flexible tube having a first end and a second end wherein a suction means is to be operably connected to said second end;
- and
- (b) an automatable first positioning means
- (1) for inserting said first end of said tube to a precise position so that said first end simultaneously touches (i) the structure to be cleaned at its bottom extremity and (ii) the bottom of the container and removes by suction with the aid of capillary action and gravity substantially all liquid located on the structure to be cleaned and substantially all other liquid located within the liquid container, and
- (2) for holding said first end at said precise position during suctioning.
Apparatus for very thoroughly cleaning a container and a gauze electrode located within and at the bottom of the container, using only a small amount of wash liquid, said apparatus comprising in operable communication:
- (a) means for withdrawing an analysis solution from the container and from the gauze electrode, said means for withdrawing comprising a flexible tune having a tip which is positionable at a precise position at the junction of the lowest extremity of the gauze electrode and the bottom of the container;
- (b) means for positioning and holding said tip at said precise position;
- (c) means for retracting said tip from said precise position during additions of wash liquid to the container;
- (d) a tube for adding wash liquid to the container while the gauze electrode remains at its stationary position on the bottom of the container;
- (e) means for stirring said wash liquid in the presence of the gauze electrode;
- (f) means for reinserting said tip to said precise position;
- (g) means for aspirating said wash liquid while said tip is located at said precise position, thus removing all visible liquid from the bottom of the container and from the gauze electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.