Deaeration device and ultrasonic cleaning device using the same

• US 20060283328A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KAIJO Corporation (Shibuya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KAIJO Corporation (Shibuya Corporation)
• Inventors: Saiki, Kazuyuki, Hase, Masaru, Koyama, Katsuhiro, Sakazaki, Katsutada
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/289
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0005 with one or more auxiliary substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0052 in rotating vessels, vessels containing movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused B01D19/0026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0094 by using a vortex, cavitation
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/14 Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid; Regenerating cleaning liquidstreatment of water in general C02F

Abstract

A cleaning-liquid circulation path is formed so that cleaning liquid in a cleaning tank is suctioned by a circulating pump and circulated through a predetermined path and then, returned to the cleaning tank again. A deaeration device for bubbling dissolved air in the cleaning liquid by cavitation is connected on the way of the cleaning-liquid circulation path so as to bubble the dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path by the deaeration device, and the bubbled dissolved air flows back to the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank. Moreover, a propeller-type pump is used as the circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled within a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

Claims

1. A deaeration device comprising:

a flow passage through which cleaning liquid passes; and

a throttle portion provided on the way of said flow passage and having narrowed inside sectional area of said flow passage, wherein

cavitation is generated at the rear of said throttle portion so as to bubble dissolved air in said cleaning liquid.

2. The deaeration device according to claim 1, further comprising a deformable elastic tube constituting said flow passage and a tube-sectional-area varying mechanism which is attached to said elastic tube and can vary inside sectional area of said flow passage by pressing said elastic tube, wherein

said throttle portion is formed by pressing operation of said tube-sectional-area varying mechanism.

3. The deaeration device according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid pipe constituting said flow passage, wherein

said throttle portion is formed by narrowing a diameter of said rigid pipe.

4. A deaeration device comprising:

a flow passage through which cleaning liquid passes; and

an obstacle arranged in said flow passage to generate turbulence by resisting the flow of said cleaning liquid through said flow passage, wherein

cavitation is generated at the rear of said obstacle so as to bubble dissolved air in said cleaning liquid.

5. A deaeration device comprising:

a pump chamber of a circulating pump for supply/feed cleaning liquid;

a pipe connected to an inlet of said pump chamber; and

a throttle portion formed at said inlet and the throttle portions being smaller than a diameter of said pipe, wherein

cavitation is generated at the rear of said throttle portion so as to bubble dissolved air in said cleaning liquid.

6. A deaeration device comprising a propeller of a circulating pump for supply/feed cleaning liquid in which a blade profile is asymmetrical, wherein

cavitation is generated around said rotating propeller so as to bubble dissolved air in said cleaning liquid.

7. An ultrasonic cleaning device including a cleaning tank attached with an ultrasonic wave generator and filled with cleaning liquid for ultrasonic cleaning of an object to be cleaned by immersing said object to be cleaned in said cleaning tank and irradiating an ultrasonic wave from said ultrasonic wave generator, comprising:

a cleaning-liquid circulation path formed so that the cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank is circulated through a predetermined path and then, returned into the cleaning tank again;

a circulating pump for suctioning the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path for circulation; and

a deaeration device connected on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path, wherein;

said deaeration device is provided on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path and has a throttle portion which is formed by narrowing inside sectional area of said cleaning-liquid circulation path; and

dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through said cleaning-liquid circulation path is bubbled by generating cavitation on the downstream side of said throttle portion and the bubbled dissolved air flows back into the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank.

8. The deaeration device according to claim 7, further comprising a deformable elastic tube provided on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path and a tube-sectional-area varying mechanism which is attached to said elastic tube and can vary inside sectional area on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path by pressing said elastic tube, wherein

said throttle portion is formed by pressing operation of said tube-sectional-area varying mechanism.

9. The deaeration device according to claim 7, further comprising a rigid pipe provided on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path, wherein

said throttle portion is formed by narrowing a diameter of said rigid pipe.

13. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, further comprising an air supply means with variable valve opening degree connected to said cleaning-liquid circulation path on the downstream side of said deaeration device so that air can be supplied into the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path through the air supply means.

14. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein a multivariate autoregressive model showing an input/output relation of the ultrasonic cleaning device is configured from time-series data of plural state quantities including at least dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled based on the multivariate autoregressive model.

15. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein a learning function is given to said multivariate autoregressive model, the time-series data on state quantity is measured/collected regularly or when necessary and the multivariable autoregressive model configured based on the previous time-series data is modified by the obtained time-series data.

16. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein a cleaning-liquid suction port for suctioning the cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank into said cleaning-liquid circulation path is opened on an upper part of the cleaning tank, and a cleaning-liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path into said cleaning tank is opened on a lower part of the cleaning tank on a side opposite to the suction port.

17. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 16, wherein a flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is changed by changing a circulating amount of the cleaning liquid through control of said circulating pump so that the dissolved air concentration in the cleaning tank becomes uniform.

18. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein the dissolved air concentration of said cleaning liquid is controlled to be not less than 2.5 mg/l.

19. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein a propeller-type pump is used as said circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled to fall in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

21. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein a multivariate autoregressive model showing an input/output relation of the ultrasonic cleaning device is configured from time-series data of plural state quantities including at least dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled based on the multivariate autoregressive model.

22. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein a cleaning-liquid suction port for suctioning cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank into said cleaning-liquid circulation path is opened on an upper part of the cleaning tank, and a cleaning-liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path into said cleaning tank is opened on a lower part of the cleaning tank on a side opposite to the suction port.

23. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein a flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is changed by changing a circulating amount of the cleaning liquid through control of said circulating pump so that the dissolved air concentration in the cleaning tank becomes uniform.

24. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the dissolved air concentration of said cleaning liquid is controlled to be not less than 2.5 mg/l.

25. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein a propeller-type pump is used as said circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled to fall in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

10. An ultrasonic cleaning device including a cleaning tank attached with an ultrasonic wave generator and filled with cleaning liquid for ultrasonic cleaning of an object to be cleaned by immersing said object to be cleaned in said cleaning tank and irradiating an ultrasonic wave from said ultrasonic wave generator, comprising:

a cleaning-liquid circulation path formed so that the cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank is circulated through a predetermined path and then, returned into the cleaning tank again;

a circulating pump for suctioning the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path for circulation; and

a deaeration device connected on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path, wherein;

said deaeration device has an obstacle arranged in said cleaning-liquid circulation path to generate turbulence by resisting the flow of said cleaning liquid through said cleaning-liquid circulation path; and

dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through said cleaning-liquid circulation path is bubbled by generating cavitation on the downstream side of said obstacle and the bubbled dissolved air flows back into the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank.

20. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, further comprising an air supply means with variable valve opening degree connected to said cleaning-liquid circulation path on the downstream side of said deaeration device so that air can be supplied into the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path through the air supply means.

28. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a multivariate autoregressive model showing an input/output relation of the ultrasonic cleaning device is configured from time-series data of plural state quantities including at least dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled based on the multivariate autoregressive model.

31. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a cleaning-liquid suction port for suctioning cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank into said cleaning-liquid circulation path is opened on an upper part of the cleaning tank, and a cleaning-liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path into said cleaning tank is opened on a lower part of the cleaning tank on a side opposite to the suction port.

34. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is changed by changing a circulating amount of the cleaning liquid through control of said circulating pump so that the dissolved air concentration in the cleaning tank becomes uniform.

37. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the dissolved air concentration of said cleaning liquid is controlled to be not less than 2.5 mg/l.

40. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a propeller-type pump is used as said circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled to fall in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

41. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a propeller-type pump is used as said circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled to fall in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

42. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a propeller-type pump is used as said circulating pump, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled to fall in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/l.

11. An ultrasonic cleaning device including a cleaning tank attached with an ultrasonic wave generator and filled with cleaning liquid for ultrasonic cleaning of an object to be cleaned by immersing said object to be cleaned in said cleaning tank and irradiating an ultrasonic wave from said ultrasonic wave generator, comprising:

a cleaning-liquid circulation path formed so that the cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank is circulated through a predetermined path and then, returned into the cleaning tank again;

a circulating pump for suctioning the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path for circulation; and

a deaeration device connected on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path, wherein;

said deaeration device has a pump chamber of a circulating pump for supply/feed of said cleaning liquid, a pipe connected to an inlet of said pump chamber, and a throttle portion formed at said inlet and the throttle portion being smaller than a diameter of said pipe; and

dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through said cleaning-liquid circulation path is bubbled by generating cavitation on the downstream side of said throttle portion and the bubbled dissolved air flows back into the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank.

26. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 11, further comprising an air supply means with variable valve opening degree connected to said cleaning-liquid circulation path on the downstream side of said deaeration device so that air can be supplied into the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path through the air supply means.

29. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein a multivariate autoregressive model showing an input/output relation of the ultrasonic cleaning device is configured from time-series data of plural state quantities including at least dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled based on the multivariate autoregressive model.

32. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein a cleaning-liquid suction port for suctioning cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank into said cleaning-liquid circulation path is opened on an upper part of the cleaning tank, and a cleaning-liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path into said cleaning tank is opened on a lower part of the cleaning tank on a side opposite to the suction port.

35. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein a flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is changed by changing a circulating amount of the cleaning liquid through control of said circulating pump so that the dissolved air concentration in the cleaning tank becomes uniform.

38. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein the dissolved air concentration of said cleaning liquid is controlled to be not less than 2.5 mg/l.

12. An ultrasonic cleaning device including a cleaning tank attached with an ultrasonic wave generator and filled with cleaning liquid for ultrasonic cleaning of an object to be cleaned by immersing said object to be cleaned in said cleaning tank and irradiating an ultrasonic wave from said ultrasonic wave generator, comprising:

a cleaning-liquid circulation path formed so that the cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank is circulated through a predetermined path and then, returned into the cleaning tank again;

a circulating pump for suctioning the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path for circulation; and

a deaeration device connected on the way of said cleaning-liquid circulation path, wherein;

said deaeration device has a propeller which is a propeller of the circulation pump for supply/feed of the cleaning liquid and whose blade profile is asymmetrical; and

dissolved air in the cleaning liquid flowing through said cleaning-liquid circulation path is bubbled by generating cavitation around said rotating propeller and the bubbled dissolved air flows back into the cleaning tank together with the cleaning liquid so that the bubbled dissolved air is ejected from the liquid surface of the cleaning tank to the outside of the tank.

27. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 12, further comprising an air supply means with variable valve opening degree connected to said cleaning-liquid circulation path on the downstream side of said deaeration device so that air can be supplied into the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning-liquid circulation path through the air supply means.

30. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein a multivariate autoregressive model showing an input/output relation of the ultrasonic cleaning device is configured from time-series data of plural state quantities including at least dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid, and the dissolved air concentration of the cleaning liquid is controlled based on the multivariate autoregressive model.

33. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein a cleaning-liquid suction port for suctioning cleaning liquid in said cleaning tank into said cleaning-liquid circulation path is opened on an upper part of the cleaning tank, and a cleaning-liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid in said cleaning-liquid circulation path into said cleaning tank is opened on a lower part of the cleaning tank on a side opposite to the suction port.

36. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein a flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is changed by changing a circulating amount of the cleaning liquid through control of said circulating pump so that the dissolved air concentration in the cleaning tank becomes uniform.

39. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein the dissolved air concentration of said cleaning liquid is controlled to be not less than 2.5 mg/l.