Abstract: A method is provided for washing the inside of an organic digester of the type having a rotatable roof member. The method includes supporting the roof member, with pressurized gas excluding oxygen, rotating the roof member, spraying water on the interior walls of the digester, and observing the washing process.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for containers, especially bottles, which includes an endless transporting system for transporting containers to be cleaned through the machine, and which also includes a water pre-softening arrangement comprising at least two softening baths arranged one behind the other when viewed in the container transporting direction of the transporting system with the respective front bath having a lower temperature than the respective succeeding bath. The transporting system is over a considerable portion of its transporting path passed through the softening baths in submerged condition so as to also submerge therein the containers being transported by the transporting system.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum containing viscous product, tomato paste, is supported on end with its bung hole at the bottom emptying into a receiving vessel. A stationary spray pipe extends upwardly through the bung hole into the drum when supported on the turntable and includes a number of vertically spaced spray nozzles. Pressurized air is directed through the spray pipe to the top of the drum to remove most of the paste out of the drum. Then, water is sprayed under high pressure from the nozzles while the drum is simultaneously rotated on the turntable until the drum is sufficiently clean for reuse.

Abstract: In the production of a polyurethane foam by supplying two or more components to a machine, mixing said components, extruding the mixture to form a foaming mass, subsequently discontinuing supply and extrusion, rinsing the machine, and subsequently resuming supply and extrusion, the improvement which comprises effecting said rinsing with a rinsing agent having the approximate weight compositionWater: 70-80 partsSorbitol: 25-18 partsEmulsifier: 5-2 parts

Abstract: An apparatus and method for washing and drying reusable containers are disclosed. In the apparatus and method, the containers to be cleaned, after successively passing through washing and rinsing stations, are, thereafter, flipped by 180.degree. before passing through a drying station. This flipping action, which abruptly turns the containers end over end, causes a significant amount of excess fluid to be shaken from the containers. As a result, drying of the containers when passing through the drying station is greatly facilitated.In a further aspect of the apparatus and method of the invention, the containers after flipping are initially moved at a faster speed than a first speed associated with their passage through the washing and rinsing stations and, thereafter, moved through the drying station at a speed between the aforesaid two speeds.

Abstract: A bottle rinser having a linear path for carried bottles has closely spaced bottle carriers on a lug chain, the carriers receiving the bottles in upright position and being pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the path of chain movement to invert the bottles and carry them over rinse means, then slightly tip the bottles from fully inverted position to aid in draining, and finally being pivoted to restore the bottles to upright position for unloading. The carriers are of stamped and formed construction with an elastomer retainer for simple operation and allowing good bottle exposure for external rinse. Guide rods positioned near the lug chain control carrier pivoting.

Abstract: A method for the removal of deposits from a fuel injection valve of the type containing a reciprocatory sprayer needle unit including a valve member and a solenoid for operating the sprayer needle unit, in which at least a front portion of the valve is immersed in a pool of liquid detergent, and the pool is subjected to ultrasonic vibrations while maintaining a current of a liquid detergent through the valve and maintaining a reciprocatory motion of the sprayer needle unit by supplying a periodic electric current to the solenoid of the valve.

Abstract: A system for cleaning and disinfecting medical parts which include a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis where the drum includes an interior enclosable chamber for receiving small parts and circumferential retaining members for receiving and retaining tubular members about the horizontal axis. A timing device sequentially controls the operation upon filling by washing, draining, rinsing and drying in sequence and structure is provided to accomplish these functions.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cleaning nuclear fuel elements to remove carbonized pitch residue and the like, the cleaning operation preferably being conducted within an enclosure to permit containment of the removed residue, each fuel element being introduced into the enclosure through an airlock, the end surfaces and lateral surfaces of the fuel element being cleaned and one or more longitudinal passages within the fuel element being cleaned by means of a probe unit for initially determining the configuration and position of the longitudinal passages and causing cleaning elements to be aligned with the respective longitudinal passages and extended therethrough, the flow resistance of those longitudinal passages designed for gas flow being monitored by a gauging unit, clean fuel elements being removed from the enclosure through another air-lock.

Abstract: A container washing system comprises a container washing zone, a rinsing zone and a deionized rinsing zone through which containers are conveyed. At each of the zones, spray nozzles direct washing and rinsing liquids at the containers. In order to prevent the etching of stationary containers when the conveyor is interrupted, the spray nozzles in the washing and deionized rinsing zones are deactivated. In order to prevent the oxidation or rusting of the stationary containers in the absence of the washing and deionized rinsing liquids, the containers are maintained in the moist condition by fogging nozzles located within the washing and deionized rinsing zones.

Abstract: A method and means are disclosed for vibration cleaning of casting and manufacturing debris from engine blocks and similar articles. The method involves resonant torsional vibration of the workpiece around a longitudinal axis, preferably in the first torsional vibration mode. The workpiece may also be rotated at the same time to permit loosened debris to fall from the walls and cavities. A vibration cleaning stand is also disclosed including a rotatable frame with resilient supports, for holding and rotating an engine block, together with a small eccentric shaker, which is secured to the main bearing caps at one end of the block and rotated by a motor to resonantly vibrate the block in its first torsional mode of vibration.

Abstract: A formulation for the surface treatment of metal articles wherein the article to be treated is immersed and agitated in a working solution of the formulation. The formulation consists essentially of the esterification reaction product of phosphoric acid based upon P.sub.2 O.sub.5 with an alkylphenol of either octylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol or nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol, and wherein the mol ratio of the reactants ranges from between about 1:3 up to about 3:4 of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 to alkylphenol.