Method and apparatus for removing coatings and oxides from substrates

A material cleaning system comprising:

• a conveyor for moving a substrate in a first direction;
• at least one nozzle positioned away from said conveyor and positioned to direct a stream of fluid toward the conveyor;
• and
• a pressurized fluid supply in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the pressurized fluid supply is arranged to supply a pressurized fluid to exit the nozzle and direct the fluid at a high velocity of over 1,000 feet per second to a surface of the substrate for removing a liquid or solid film from the substrate.

A method for removing scale from a rolled metal product comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pressurized fluid to a stationary nozzle, wherein said fluid comprises water;
• (b) directing the pressurized fluid from the nozzle in a high velocity fluid stream toward a moving rolled metal having scale on a surface of the metal, wherein the velocity of the fluid is over 1,000 feet per second;
• and
• (c) contacting the fluid stream with the surface, of the metal whereby a force of the fluid removes the scale, wherein the fluid is pressurized to a pressure between 5,000 psi and 120,000 psi.

A method for removing secondary scale on rolled metal, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a high pressure fluid to a stationary nozzle wherein the high pressure fluid is provided in the range of 5,000 psi to 120,000 psi;
• (b) directing the high pressure fluid from the nozzle in a high velocity fluid stream toward moving rolled metal having secondary scale;
• and
• (c) contacting the fluid stream with the object, whereby a force of the fluid removes the secondary scale, wherein the velocity stream contacts the object at an angle of 0° to 15° as measured from a vertical axis normal to a surface of the rolled metal whereby the velocity stream contacts the rolled metal, and the volume of water passing through the nozzle is between one and twenty gpm.

A method for removing a coating on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pressurized fluid to a stationary nozzle;
• (b) directing the pressurized fluid from the nozzle in a high velocity fluid stream toward a moving object having a coating;
• and
• (c) contacting the fluid stream with the object, whereby a force of the fluid removes the coating, wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of ports and ocillates about an axis, wherein a high velocity fluid stream exits from each of the ports so that each of the fluid streams contact the object whereby the force of the fluid from each of the fluid streams removes the coating.

A method for removing a coating on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pressurized fluid to a stationary nozzle;
• (b) directing the pressurized fluid at a pressure of over 5,000 psi from the nozzle in a high velocity fluid stream toward a moving object having a coating;
• and
• (c) contacting the fluid stream with the object, whereby a force of the fluid removes the coating.

A material cleaning system comprising:

• a conveyor for moving a substrate in a first direction;
• at least one nozzle positioned away from said conveyor and positioned to direct a stream of fluid toward the conveyor;
• and
• a pressurized fluid supply in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the pressurized fluid supply is arranged to supply a pressurized fluid to exit the nozzle and direct the fluid at a high velocity to a surface of the substrate for removing a liquid or solid film from the substrate, wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of ports and ocillates about an axis, wherein a high velocity fluid stream exits from each of the ports so that each of the fluid streams contact the object whereby the force of the fluid from each of the fluid streams removes the coating.