Acid bottle washing apparatus and method
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
InventorsSteven Engelking, Robert R. Sanchez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to quickly and inexpensively rinse recyclable acid bottles which contain acid residues or decontaminate pieces of apparatus which are contaminated with acid, the interior of the bottles or apparatus is rinsed with an alkaline solution and then with water. The exterior of the bottles or apparatus is rinsed with water. The alkaline solution is stored in fiberglass canisters and is displaced to spray nozzles by the application of air under pressure. Valves which control the supply of water and alkaline solution are controlled by either solenoids or by air-activated devices. In the case of air-activated valves the air under pressure which is used to force the alkaline solution toward the spray nozzles can be used to operate the valves.
Claims6
A method of decontaminating articles which are contaminated with acid residue comprising the steps of:
- displacing an alkaline solution from a canister;
- directing the alkaline solution into a washing apparatus wherein the articles to be decontaminated are located, and to first nozzles;
- preventing the alkaline solution from flowing to second nozzles;
- spraying the alkaline solution with the first nozzles on a first predetermined portion of the articles to be decontaminated;
- directing water into the washing apparatus, and to the first and second nozzles;
- rinsing the predetermined portion of the article with water using the first nozzles;
- rinsing a second predetermined portion of the article with water using the second nozzles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.