US5240507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning method and system
Assignee: RECEIVER SEREC Corp
•
Filing: 1991-11-05
•
Granted: 1993-08-31
•
Expires: 2011-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A closed circuit solvent cleaning method and system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases, after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned. Following this, the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber and then the clean object is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Gray
- 👤 Peter T. E. Gebhard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:46
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23G; C23G5/00; C23G5/02; B; B01; B01D; B01D5/00; B01D5/0033; B01D5/0039; B01D5/0078; B01D5/0093; B08; B08B; B08B3/00; B08B3/04; B08B3/08; B08B7/00; B08B7/0064; B08B7/0071; C23G5/04; D; D06; D06F; D06F43/00; D06F43/007; D06F43/08; D06F43/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A closed circuit solvent cleaning method comprising the steps of: placing the object to be cleaned in a chamber; subjecting the chamber to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases; introducing a solvent to the evacuated chamber; cleaning the object while maintaining an airless environment within the chamber; recovering and processing the solvent from the object and chamber within the closed circuit for preventing emissions to the environment; and removing the cleaned object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A closed circuit solvent cleaning method comprising the steps of: placing the object to be cleaned in a chamber; subjecting the chamber to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases; introducing a solvent to the evacuated chamber; cleaning the object while maintaining an airless environment within the chamber; recovering and processing the solvent from the object and chamber within the closed circuit for preventing emissions to the environment; and removing the cleaned object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 in which said negative gauge pressure is below the vapor pressure of the solvent and the contaminants to be removed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 in which said negative gauge pressure is in the range of atmospheric to zero atmospheric absolute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 3 in which said negative gauge pressure is in the range of 0-700 torr.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 4 in which said negative gauge pressure is in the range of 10-500 torr.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 5 in which said negative gauge pressure is in the range of 100 torr or less.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 in which said solvent is introduced to said chamber in the vapor state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 in which said solvent is introduced to said chamber in the liquid state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 further including varying the temperature of the chamber to control the temperature and vapor pressure of the solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 9 in which varying the temperature of the chamber includes increasing the temperature to increase the pressure of the solvent to increase its penetration into the object to be cleaned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 9 in which varying the temperature of the chamber is effected only during the cleaning of the object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 1 in which recovering the solvent includes withdrawing from the chamber the solvent in liquid state including contaminants, and then drawing off from the chamber the solvent in the vapor state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 12 in which withdrawing the liquid solvent includes maintaining the chamber at an elevated temperature to generate increased pressure in the chamber to positively drive out the solvent in the liquid state with contaminants.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The closed circuit solvent cleaning method of claim 12 in which drawing off the solvent in the vapor state includes drying the object of solvent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further including preheating the solvent before introduction into the chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further including storing the solvent to be introduced in a reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 further including producing a subatmospheric vapor pressure in said reservoir.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which cleaning the object further includes increasing the temperature of the chamber during cleaning.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which cleaning the object further includes increasing the pressure within the chamber during cleaning.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of cleaning objects in a closed circuit solvent cleaning system including a solvent supply system in sealable communication with a cleaning chamber comprising: sealing said solvent supply system with respect to said chamber; opening said chamber to the atmosphere and placing an object to be cleaned in said chamber; evacuating said chamber to remove air and other non-condensable gases; sealing said chamber with respect to the atmosphere; opening said chamber with respect to said solvent supply system and introducing a solvent into the evacuated chamber; cleaning the object while maintaining an airless environment within the chamber; recovering and processing the solvent introduced into the chamber within the closed circuit solvent cleaning system; sealing said chamber with respect to said solvent supply system; and opening said chamber and removing the cleaned object.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of cleaning objects in a closed circuit solvent cleaning system including a solvent supply system in sealable communication with a cleaning chamber comprising: sealing said solvent supply system with respect to said chamber; opening said chamber to the atmosphere and placing an object to be cleaned in said chamber; evacuating said chamber to remove air and other non-condensable gases; sealing said chamber with respect to the atmosphere; opening said chamber with respect to said solvent supply system and introducing a solvent into the evacuated chamber; cleaning the object while maintaining an airless environment within the chamber; recovering and processing the solvent introduced into the chamber within the closed circuit solvent cleaning system; sealing said chamber with respect to said solvent supply system; and opening said chamber and removing the cleaned object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |