Bulk ultrasonic degreasing cleaning and drying apparatus and method of using same

Abstract

A system and method for removing a coating from an elongated metal part or a bundle of such parts is described. The disclosed system includes a soaking vessel that contains a solution suitable for degreasing the metal part and softening the coating thereon. An ultrasonic cleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning solution cleans the coating off of the metal part by ultrasonic agitation. The system further includes at least one rinsing vessel for rinsing the cleaning solution of the cleaned part, and a drying vessel for rapidly and thoroughly drying the part after it has been rinsed. In the disclosed process, the elongated metal part, or a bundle of such parts, is/are soaked in a solution that is maintained at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to soften the coating. The elongated metal part is then subjected to ultrasonic agitation in an aqueous cleaning solution bath at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to loosen and dislodge the coating from the elongated metal part. The elongated metal part is then rinsed to remove any residue and rapidly dried.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.