Method and apparatus for cleaning a photoactive and/or hydrophilic surface

• US 20070137673A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Harris, Caroline, Boykin, Cheri, Steffek, Cory
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/00 Cleaning windows
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/14 Hard surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/18 Glass; Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2082 Polycarboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/33 Amino carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/34 containing sulfur C11D3/162, C11D3/164, C11D3/166, C11D3/168 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/361 Phosphonates, phosphinates or phosphonites
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/365 containing carboxyl groups

Abstract

A method of cleaning a photoactive and/or hydrophilic surface includes contacting the surface with conditioned water and optionally a cleaning agent solution. A device for cleaning a photoactive and/or hydrophilic surface includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a first chamber and an optional second chamber located in the housing, a flow passage extending through the housingc between the inlet and the outlet, and a selector valve configured to selectively place the flow passage in flow communication with the first chamber, the optional second chamber, neither chamber, or both chambers. In one embodiment, the first chamber includes an ion exchange bed and the second chamber includes at least one cleaning agent.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a photoactive and/or hydrophilic surface, comprising:

contacting a photoactive and/or hydrophilic surface with a cleaning agent solution, wherein the cleaning agent solution consists essentially of a surfactant and a complexinq agent, and

contacting the surface with conditioned water.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditioned water has a specific conductance of less than or equal to 200 micro-ohms.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditioned water is obtained by:

conducting non-conditioned water through an ion exchange bed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ion exchange bed is a multi-bed exchange column.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the ion exchange bed is a mixed resin bed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step is practiced by spraying conditioned water onto the surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step is practiced by conducting the conditioned water through a water-fed pole onto the surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditioned water is obtained by:

connecting a cleaning assembly to a source of non-conditioned water comprising inorganic material, the cleaning assembly comprising an ion exchange bed; and

selectively conducting the non-conditioned water through the ion exchange bed to remove at least some of the inorganic material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cleaning assembly includes:

a housing; and

an ion exchange bed removably held in the housing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent solution is obtained by:

connecting a cleaning assembly to a water source, the cleaning assembly including a cleaning agent comprising at least one of a surfactant and a complexing agent; and

selectively conducting conditioned water through the cleaning agent to provide the cleaning agent solution.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cleaning assembly includes a housing removably connected to the water source.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the complexing agent includes at least one material selected from amino acids, carboxylic acids, alkyldiaminetetraacetic acids, oxoacids of phosphorous, oxoacids of sulfur, salts of any of the above, sugars, and any mixtures containing any one or more of the above.

15. The method of claim 3, including adding a fragrance to the conditioned water.

10. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16-40. -40. (canceled)