Abstract: A method and apparatus for metal degreasing or metal phosphatizing that utilizes a low boiling point solvent. The apparatus comprises a vessel defining a reservoir of solvent and a zone of solvent vapor above the reservoir, and an external heat pump system having a heat-emitting section and a heat-absorbing section to provide the necessary heating and cooling for the vessel. Intermediate heat transfer fluid loops transmit heat between the vessel and the heat pump, and include reservoirs to inhibit the loss of thermal balance in the heat pump. Coolant fluid is circulated through the solvent reservoir to inhibit solvent evaporation when the apparatus is not being used.

Abstract: A bar is intermittently movable through an explosion sensing port in the wall of a chamber for cleaning the port without blocking it. The chamber is coupled to a mechanism for introducing a suppression agent into the chamber for suppressing or smothering an explosion within the chamber, and further has a pressure responsive device for actuating the explosion suppressing mechanism whenever the fluid pressure sensed through the sensing port reaches a predetermined value due to an explosion within the chamber. A duct fluidly connects the sensing port to the pressure responsive device, and the bar is movably mounted within a portion of the duct.

Abstract: In a multi-stage washing system comprising a plurality of washing tanks, fresh liquid is applied over a treated material at a front position in the zone of a furthermost tank, whereas in the tanks excluding a nearest tank, washing liquid is pumped from the individual washing tanks in an amount of more than that of the applied fresh liquid and applied over the treated material at a front position in the zones of individual adjacent washing tanks placed after said individual washing tanks in an amount of the applied fresh liquid and a rear position in the zones of said individual washing tanks in the remaining amount.

Abstract: A method for removing scale, particularly oxide scale, from a surface of a high temperature alloy, the surface having been exposed to high temperature conditions, employs an aqueous alkaline hydroxide solution in contact with the scale in an autoclave. The solution is heated in the autoclave in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of about 200.degree.-340.degree. C. while providing relative movement between the solution and the scale. Thereafter, the scale reaction product is flushed from the surface to remove the alkaline solution.

Abstract: Spray flux apparatus (10) of a soldering system is automatically cleaned by delivery of a predetermined amount of solvent to the apparatus. A control system (50) transmits signals for controlling the delivery of air or solvent through holes (33) in an air manifold (32) located in a flux tank (21). After a predetermined amount of solvent is delivered to the tank (21), the control system (50) signals a solenoid valve (62) to close to stop the flow of solvent to the tank (21) and then signals another solenoid valve (52) to open to allow compressed air to enter the tank (21) to aid in the cleaning of the apparatus (10).

Abstract: Contaminants that accumulate on test probes utilized to contact aluminum pads on integrated circuit chips cause the probe resistance to become unacceptably high. As disclosed herein, the contaminants (predominantly a mixture of aluminum and aluminum oxide) are substantially removed by immersing the probes in boiling water. Adding small quantities of phosphoric and/or hydrofluoric acids to the water further improves the cleaning action.

Abstract: Process of degreasing and washing objects, particularly industrially manufactured pieces having blind holes, comprises the steps of arranging a centrifuge drum in upright position, rotating the drum at high speed about its vertical axis of rotation, placing the objects to be treated into the drum and degreasing the objects. The drum is thereafter tilted into an inclined position and driven at a reduced speed so that the objects are tumbling in the drum while a cleaning and rinsing agent is charged into the drum. A higher speed is then imparted to the drum and a part of the cleaning agent is removed therefrom. The drum is thereafter returned to its vertical position where the objects contained in the drum are dried by rotating the drum at high speed while blowing hot air therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning particulate matter from container bodies. Container bodies are conveyed, open end down, along a corridor formed by two parallel pressurized fluid curtains. The container bodies pass over a series of nozzles which subject the interior of the containers to blasts of ionized gas. The ionized gas neutralizes any electrostatic charges and expells the particulate matter from the container. The curtaining sweeps the expelled particles into a spray mist region where they are entrained and subsequently condensed into a waste stream for disposal. The apparatus features a tunnel which substantially separates the fluid curtaining from the spray mist region. An outer housing enclosing the spray mist region is fabricated of transparent plastic to permit visual monitoring.

Abstract: Mixing devices such as worm machines used for embedding radioactive wastes in hot bitumen are cleaned to remove residual bitumen and salt incrustations in three successive operations: (a) Washing with a solvent for bitumen in a volume amount equal to about the free space of the device. (b) Rinsing with a water-soluble rinsing medium miscible with the solvent in a volume amount the same as (a). (c) Rinsing with demineralized water in a volume amount twice (b). Pumice gravel is used to absorb the solvent and rinsing medium and the resultant pumice embedded in bitumen and sent to ultimate storage.

Abstract: A feed-effluent heat exchanger in a sour water stripping system having sour water stripping means, sour water storage means, and a stripper feed-effluent heat exchanger, is cleaned when the stripped water pathway in the heat exchanger becomes fouled, by passing sour water having a pH of greater than 8 from the storage means through the stripped water pathway in the exchanger at a temperature of at least 70.degree. F., and returning the sour water to the sour water storage means.

Abstract: Piping such as oil country tubular goods are passed to an external cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of rotating brushes for cleaning the pipe exterior. The pipe is transported longitudinally by a conveying apparatus which also causes transverse rotation of the pipe. A brush is contained at the end of a conductive spear and the pipe is passed over the brush while rotating to clean the internal surface thereof. Once the pipe is fully disposed on the spear, electrically conductive clamps attach to the spear just behind the brush. Current is passed through the spear to produce a circumferential magnetic field in the pipe wall which field is later sensed to determine the existence of anomalies in the pipe structure. The pipe is then removed from the spear by movement over the internal cleaning brush caused by activation of the conveying apparatus in a direction opposite to its original motion which again effects cleaning of the inside surface of the pipe.

Abstract: A washing head, having two annular compartments, includes a plurality of ported posts in fluid communication with one of the annular compartments; each of the posts being respectively aligned with a first aperture in one of a plurality of radially oriented dual apertured chambers of a rotor to inject a washing fluid into each of the chambers. Each of the second apertures in each of the plurality of chambers is in fluid communication with and discharges the washing fluid to the other of the annular compartments.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are removed from solids such as drill cuttings in apparatus including a rotating cylindrical retort vessel having a counter rotating auger-type conveyor therein, the auger-type conveyor is eccentrically located at the bottom of the vessel, the vessel is heated by an induction heating coil surrounding the vessel and traveling along the length thereof, and a retention device is inserted at the downstream end of the retort vessel in order to impede the discharge of solids traveling therethrough, to ensure more complete hydrocarbon removal, and the apparatus includes a general assembly of a pair of retort vessels, each with a counter rotating auger-type conveyor therein, located generally in the same vertical plane, with the downstream end of the upper vessel being in communication with the upstream end of the lower vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleaning container closures during downward travel in an elongated vertical pathway from a hopper to a capping machine. The apparatus includes liquid and gas spray means for directing generally horizontal fluid streams against vertically oriented inner surface portions of the closures, an enclosure, and a drain for removing liquid from the enclosure. A belt means engages closures traveling through the apparatus, thereby forcing the closures past the liquid and gas spray means and controlling their rate of travel. In a preferred embodiment, the belt means comprises several laterally spaced flexible endless belts each having a principal section frictionally engaging outer surface portions of the closures. An additional feature of the preferred embodiment is a perforated plate adjacent an interior surface portion of the principal section.

Abstract: A carpet which contains residues of high foaming anionic surfactants is cleaned, and foam formation simultaneously inhibited, by contacting the carpet with an aqueous cleaning composition containing a cationic surfactant and then vacuuming the composition from the carpet; the cationic surfactant being one which is incompatible with the high foaming anionic surfactants.

Abstract: In a hydro-jet housing the form block, possibly with core, is stripped of mold sand by means of a high-pressure water jet. The sand is fed in the form of a muddy pulp to a first hydrocyclone, where the water is largely separated and is supplied for the formation of new muddy pulp. The sand flows into a scrubbing mechanism for knocking off its binding material, which has settled as a coat around the sand grains. After being scrubbed, the sand is fed to a second hydrocyclone for hydro-extracting water and dislodged binding material from the sand. The sand is then dried and cooled and is available for further use. The contaminated water is neutralized with flue gas, after which a flocculation agent is added to it and the water is then purified for reuse in a settling tank and possibly in a filter.

Abstract: Protective and residual organic coatings are stripped from a surface by substantially sealing the surface from the atmosphere to provide a stripping zone, forming a stream of gaseous stripping composition in an evaporation zone, contacting the surface with the stripping composition in the gaseous state at about ambient temperature and recirculating the gaseous mixture from the stripping zone to the evaporating zone and back to the stripping zone to rapidly increase the concentration of gaseous stripping composition in the stripping zone. Optionally the surface may be rinsed by raising the temperature of the gaseous stripping composition slightly above ambient temperature, whereby the gaseous stripping composition condenses on the surface and flushes the surface free of adhering particles.

Abstract: A coating of urea-formaldehyde resin is removed from spun fiberglass with an aqueous phosphoric acid solution. The fiberglass product is subsequently rinsed, dried and chopped for reuse.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for cleaning masonry containing sulphuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, chromic acid and a water miscible wetting agent.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cleaning a continuous web of material (1), for instance a paper web, whereby the web of material is brought to pass through a suction chamber (2) having inlet (12) and outlet (13) for the web of material and one or more air outlets (11), for instance at the bottom thereof, which outlets are connected to a suction source. A means (4) for working the web of material (1) may be provided inside the suction chamber. The inlet (12) and the outlet (13) have substantially the same cross-section area. The amount of air entering the suction chamber through the web inlet (12) is restricted to cause a greater amount of air to flow into the suction chamber through the web outlet (13) than flows into the suction chamber through the web inlet (12).