Apparatus for cleaning mechanical devices using terpene compounds

Claim 2

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; and means for preventing vapors associated with said first fluid substance from becoming ignited, said preventing means comprising: a temperature sensor disposed adjacent said first conveying means; a source of a non-flammable gas; and means repsonsive to said temperature sensor for releasing said gas when said temperature sensor detects a temperature above a predetermined value but below the temperature at which the vapors would ignite.

Claim 3

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a bath associated with said first conveying means for containing the first fluid substance used for washing of devices on said first conveying means; means for circulating the first fluid substance from said bath to said washing means; means for cooling said bath containing the first fluid substance; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of said bath; and means responsive to said temperature sensor for controlling said cooling means to maintain a temperature of said bath below a predetermined temperature.

Claim 4

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a bath associated with said first conveying means for containing the first fluid substance used for washing of devices on said first conveying means; means for circulating the first fluid substance from said bath to said washing means; means for cooling said bath containing the first fluid substance; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of said bath; and means responsive to said temperature sensor for controlling said cooling means to maintain a temperature of said bath below a predetermined temperature.

Claim 5

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; and means disposed above said first conveying means at said first end thereof and spaced from said washing means for detecting the presence of a flame on a device before the device is sprayed with the first fluid substance by said washing means, whereby no first fluid substance is sprayed on the device before the device is inspected by said detecting means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; and means disposed above said first conveying means at said first end thereof and spaced from said washing means for detecting the presence of a flame on a device before the device is sprayed with the first fluid substance by said washing means, whereby no first fluid substance is sprayed on the device before the device is inspected by said detecting means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparats comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said fist end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices form a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with the second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a housing at least partially surrounding said first conveying means; means or exhausting gases within said housing and for drawing ambient air into said housing; scrubber means disposed in said exhausting and drawing means for removing pollutants from air exhausted from said housing, said scrubber means comprising: air permeable pollution removal means for removing liquid and solid components of the gases exhausted from said housing; and means for washing said pollution removal means to remove pollutants therefrom.

Claim 8

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparats comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said fist end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices form a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with the second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a housing at least partially surrounding said first conveying means; means or exhausting gases within said housing and for drawing ambient air into said housing; scrubber means disposed in said exhausting and drawing means for removing pollutants from air exhausted from said housing, said scrubber means comprising: air permeable pollution removal means for removing liquid and solid components of the gases exhausted from said housing; and means for washing said pollution removal means to remove pollutants therefrom.

Claim 9

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a housing at least partially surrounding said first conveying means; at least one openable window disposed in a wall of said housing; means for locking said window in a locked condition; means for sensing whether said window is in said locked condition; and means repsonsive to said sensing means for disabling said first conveying means if said window is not in said locked condition.

Claim 10

Apparatus for cleaning devices using a fluid substance, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end; means disposed at a location between said first end and said second end of said first conveying means for washing devices with a first fluid substance; second means for conveying devices from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said second conveying means receiving devices at said first end thereof from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected with said second end of said first conveying means; means disposed between said first end and said second end of said second conveying means for rinsing devices with a second fluid substance; a housing at least partially surrounding said first conveying means; at least one openable window disposed in a wall of said housing; means for locking said window in a locked condition; means for sensing whether said window is in said locked condition; and means repsonsive to said sensing means for disabling said first conveying means if said window is not in said locked condition.

Claim 11

Apparatus for removal of solder rosin fluxes from printed circuit boards, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying printed circuit boards from a first end of said first conveying means to a second end of said first conveying means, said first conveying means being adapted to receive printed circuit boards at said first end thereof from a soldering apparatus; a bath associated with said first conveying means and containing first fluid substance; means for washing printed circuit boards disposed on said first conveying means with said first fluid substance; means for recovering said first fluid substance after washing of printed circuit boards and returning said first fluid substance to said bath; means for circulating said first fluid substance from said bath to said washing means; second means for conveying printed circuit boards from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said first end of said second conveying means being adapted to receive printed circuit boards from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected to said second end of said first conveying means; means for rinsing printed circuit boards disposed on said second conveying means with a second fluid substance; a baffle disposed between second end of said first conveying means and said first end of said second conveying means for preventing the second fluid substance from coming in contact with said first conveying means and said bath; and means for preventing ignition of vapors of said first fluid substance.

Claim 12

Apparatus for removal of solder rosin fluxes from printed circuit boards, said apparatus comprising: first means for conveying printed circuit boards from a first end of said first conveying means to a second end of said first conveying means, said first conveying means being adapted to receive printed circuit boards at said first end thereof from a soldering apparatus; a bath associated with said first conveying means and containing first fluid substance; means for washing printed circuit boards disposed on said first conveying means with said first fluid substance; means for recovering said first fluid substance after washing of printed circuit boards and returning said first fluid substance to said bath; means for circulating said first fluid substance from said bath to said washing means; second means for conveying printed circuit boards from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said first end of said second conveying means being adapted to receive printed circuit boards from said second end of said first conveying means, said first end of said second conveying means being spaced from and unconnected to said second end of said first conveying means; means for rinsing printed circuit boards disposed on said second conveying means with a second fluid substance; a baffle disposed between second end of said first conveying means and said first end of said second conveying means for preventing the second fluid substance from coming in contact with said first conveying means and said bath; and means for preventing ignition of vapors of said first fluid substance.