Abstract: A degreasing and cleaning apparatus for cleaning circuit boards and the like has a first, wash sump containing a boiling, environmentally friendly wash material and a second, rinse, sump containing an environmentally friendly rinse material, separated by a weir. An anti-splash and surge control fence is mounted on top of the weir to control splashing and spill-over between the sumps. The wash sump contains a plurality of spray wands and a programmed hoist pans the carrier of the boards past the spray wands in incremental steps. After the wash cycle, the carrier is introduced into the second, rinse, sump and then given a final vapor rinse. The temperature ranges in which the apparatus is operated yield optimum cleaning.

Abstract: A degreasing and cleaning method for cleaning circuit boards and the like has a first, wash sump containing a boiling, environmentally friendly wash material and a second, rinse, sump containing an environmentally friendly rinse material, separated by a weir. An anti-splash and surge control fence is mounted on top of the weir to control splashing and spill-over between the sumps. The wash sump contains a plurality of spray wands and a programmed hoist pans the carrier of the boards past the spray wands in incremental steps. After the wash cycle, the carrier is introduced into the second, rinse, sump and then given a final vapor rinse. The temperature ranges in which the apparatus is operated yield optimum cleaning.