Automated non-contact cleaning

• US 7,784,477 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Seasly, Zachariah A., Seasly, Elaine E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KO, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US11/353,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 134/95.1, 134/103.2, 134/172, 134/103.3, 134/123, 134/8, 134/6, 134/93, 134 56 R- 58 R, 134/66
• US Class Current: 134/172
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/024 Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0021 by liquid gases or supercritical fluids

Abstract

The disclosed system, device and method for automated non-contact cleaning of hardware articles generally includes: a cleaning chamber configured to at least partially enclose the hardware article to be cleaned; a plurality of nozzles configured to spray a sublimating agent on the hardware article; an air inlet configured to purge the chamber with a gas; and an air outlet configured to exhaust the purge gas, contaminants and sublimating agent from the chamber. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to realize improved non-contact cleaning function.

Claims

1. An automated system for precision cleaning of hardware articles, said system comprising:

a walk-in cleaning chamber configured to at least partially enclose a hardware to be cleaned;

a plurality or nozzles disposed within said chamber and upon an armature assembly configured to rotate about an axis such that a rotation circumscribes 360 degrees about said axis and said hardware article, said nozzles suitably configured to spray a sublimating agent upon said hardware article and to impart a substantially spherical impingement or said sublimating agent upon said hardware article to be cleaned;

a gas inlet connected to a gas source and configured to purge said chamber with said gas; and

a gas outlet configured to exhaust at least one or said purge gas, contaminants and sublimating agent from the chamber.

2. Tile automated system of claim 1, wherein:

said sublimating agent comprises at least one of carbon dioxide and krypton; and

said purge gas comprises at least one of dry air and nitrogen.

3. The automated system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a safety interlock, a door, a false floor, a grate, a rotary arm, a valve, a nozzle manifold, a ramp, a wheel, a rack, a mounting fixture, a securing fixture and a grounding strap.

4. The automated system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said false floor and said grate are disposed at least above said gas outlet.

5. The automated system of claim 3, wherein said sublimating agent is introduced into said chamber through at least one nozzle via actuation of at least one valve.

6. The automated system of claim 1, wherein introduction of said sublimating agent to said chamber is controlled at least one of manually, remotely and via timer.

7. The automated system of claim 1, wherein said gas inlet further comprises at least one of a diffuser, a HEPA filter and a dehumidifier.

8. The automated system of claim 1, wherein said chamber is suitably configured to comprise at least one of a permanent structural assembly, a semi-permanent structural assembly, a mobile assembly, and a pass through chamber.

9. The automated system claim 1, wherein said gas outlet further comprises at least one of a gas blower and an exhaust duct.