Apparatus for cleaning surfaces substantially free of contaminants
AssigneeNano Clean Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPaul E. Lewis, Goodarz Ahmadi, Adel George Tannous, Khalid Makhamreh, Keith H. Compton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cryogenic cleaner for and a method of performing cleaning of a surface that must be substantially free of contaminants has a resiliently mounted nozzle for spraying a cryogenic cleaning medium on the surface. The nozzle is driven in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined amplitude and frequency so the nozzle spray is delivered in a manner to provide pulsing of the spray and to provide as “snow plow” effect on contaminants as the spray delivers the cleaning medium against the surface. The surface is transported past the nozzle, and the cleaning occurs in an enclosed controlled environment.
Claims22
An oscillatory nozzle assembly for use in cryogenic cleaning of a surface on an article that must be cleaned substantially free of contaminants, comprising:
- an assembly mounting block;
- a nozzle mounting block;
- means for resiliently connecting said nozzle mounting block to said assembly mounting block;
- an eccentric cam element;
- a driver connected to said eccentric cam element;
- means for mounting said eccentric and said driver between said nozzle mounting block and said assembly mounting block;
- at least one nozzle having a nozzle tip mounted on said nozzle mounting block, whereby said drive operates to move said nozzle tip in a cyclic motion when energized;
- and
- an additional nozzle having an additional nozzle tip mounted on said nozzle mounting block, said additional nozzle being configured to dispense a heated inert gas medium.
An oscillating nozzle assembly for dispensing a cleaning medium toward a surface on an article, comprising:
- a nozzle;
- a tip on said nozzle for dispensing the cleaning medium;
- means for mounting said nozzle;
- a nozzle assembly base;
- and
- means for controllably moving said means for mounting said nozzle relative to said nozzle assembly base in a cyclic pattern having a predetermined frequency and amplitude;
- wherein said means for controllably moving comprises:
- means for driving mounted on said nozzle assembly base;
- means for resiliently attaching said means for mounting to said nozzle assembly base;
- and
- offset means for connecting said means for driving to said means for mounting said nozzle;
- wherein said offset means comprises a ring bearing having an outer race and an inner race, said outer race attached to said means for mounting, and an eccentric cam element mounted within said inner race for accepting said means for driving.
An oscillatory nozzle assembly for use in cryogenic cleaning of a surface on an article that must be cleaned substantially free of contaminants, comprising:
- an assembly mounting block;
- a nozzle mounting block;
- means for resiliently connecting said nozzle mounting block to said assembly mounting block;
- an eccentric;
- a driver connected to said eccentric;
- means for mounting said eccentric and said driver between said nozzle mounting block and said assembly mounting block;
- and
- at least one nozzle having a nozzle tip mounted on said nozzle mounting block, whereby said drive operates to move said nozzle tip in a cyclic motion when energized;
- wherein said means for resiliently connecting comprises a plurality of springs connected between said nozzle mounting block and said assembly mounting block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.