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US5366562A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for removing viscoelastic contaminants from holes

Assignee: Continental AG
•
Filing: 1991-02-07
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2011-02-07
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a method for the removal of viscoelastic rubber residues from deep holes. The cleaning tool is suggested in the form of a jet of fluid droplets. The fluid is accelerated by a high-pressure pump and a narrow valve to a velocity above the speed of sound of the material to be removed. The distance between the valve and the hole to be cleaned is made greater as the valve cross-section is made smaller in relation to the cross-section of the hole to be cleaned.

Inventors

  • 👤 Heinz J. Schwarze
  • 👤 Robert Kopp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B3/00; B08B3/02; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/25; B29C48/27; B08B2220/00; B08B2220/04; B29C48/03

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
A cleaning method for removing tacky, plug-shaped residues of an elastoplastic material from holes having a depth greater than their inner diameter D L , whereby the elastoplastic material is forced out in one direction while essentially maintaining its plug shape; said method comprising the steps of: accelerating a liquid jet by employing high pressure of between 150 to 190 bar within a fluid jet valve to a velocity v with which liquid droplets in said liquid jet hit the residues of elastoplastic material, with v≧c, c being the speed of sound of the residues of elastoplastic material; forcing out the residues of elastoplastic material by said liquid jet; wherein the residues of elastoplastic material have a density ρ K and the liquid of said liquid jet has a density ρ F with ρ K >ρ F ; and further comprising the step of adjusting said liquid velocity v and said speed of sound c according to the equation ##EQU1##
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
A cleaning method for removing tacky, plug-shaped residues of an elastoplastic material from holes having a depth greater than their inner diameter D L , whereby the elastoplastic material is forced out in one direction while essentially maintaining its plug shape; said method comprising the steps of: accelerating a liquid jet by employing high pressure of between 150 to 190 bar within a fluid jet valve to a velocity v with which liquid droplets in said liquid jet hit the residues of elastoplastic material, with v≧c, c being the speed of sound of the residues of elastoplastic material; forcing out the residues of elastoplastic material by said liquid jet; wherein the residues of elastoplastic material have a density ρ K and the liquid of said liquid jet has a density ρ F with ρ K >ρ F ; and further comprising the step of adjusting said liquid velocity v and said speed of sound c according to the equation ##EQU1##
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
A cleaning method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a diameter D F of said liquid jet; through which 95% of the total liquid volume passes, to 1.0 to 1.5 times said inner diameter D L of the holes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A cleaning method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: applying a pressure of 150 to 190 bar in a fluid line leading to said fluid jet valve during operation; and adjusting the liquid volume stream to said fluid jet valve to between 50 and 150 ml/sec.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 57 words
A cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the inner diameter D D of said fluid jet valve is 1 to 1.5 mm; further comprising the step of adjusting a distance between said fluid jet valve and the holes to 180 to 240 mm when said inner diameter D L of the holes is approximately 10 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid of said liquid jet is water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the water is free of substances that induce the solubility of the residues of elastoplastic material; further comprising the step of mechanically filtering the residues of elastoplastic material from the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said substances are soaps, alcohols, and acetone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of: providing a closed water circuit; collecting the water of the liquid jet; and recycling the collected and filtered water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the residues of elastoplastic material are insoluble in the liquid of said liquid jet.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3799173A Cited
US3799178A Cited
US4366003A Cited
EP0062111A2 Cited
EP0214749A2 Cited
US4899697A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-11-21 1998-05-23 1998-11-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-11-21 2002-05-23 2002-11-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-11-21 2006-05-23 2006-11-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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