Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods and systems of drying objects containing interior surfaces. In particular, the present invention provides a method which alternates vacuum and pressure with heated gases to enhance interior drying of parts. More particularly, the method cycles the chamber through a vacuum phase that rapidly removes vapor from the object both convectively and through boiling followed by a pressure phase that delivers heat and fresh gases to difficult regions of the objects to be dried.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of cleaning an object in an open aqueous cleaning system. The method is directed to an open cleaning vessel into which water used for cleaning a material or object can be introduced. A means is provided for introducing a reactant chemical to the vessel to form an aqueous solution. Cleaning of the surface is in the form of bubble formation on the part that vaporizes the chemical in order to react the oxidizer in the vapor state to the exposed surface at the bubble growth area. Treatment in the form of etching or any other process in which material is removed from a solid surface displaces the liquid residue from the surface. The resulting process produces no dissolution or emulsion of the contaminant and therefore can be easily separated from the chemical cleaner. The process also conserves chemistry, water, energy, and reduces pollution.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of cleaning an object in an open aqueous cleaning system. The method is directed to an open cleaning vessel into which water used for cleaning a material or object can be introduced. A means is provided for introducing a reactant chemical to the vessel to form an aqueous solution. Cleaning of the surface is in the form of bubble formation on the part that vaporizes the chemical in order to react the oxidizer in the vapor state to the exposed surface at the bubble growth area. Treatment in the form of etching or any other process in which material is removed from a solid surface displaces the liquid residue from the surface. The resulting process produces no dissolution or emulsion of the contaminant and therefore can be easily separated from the chemical cleaner. The process also conserves chemistry, water, energy, and reduces pollution.

Abstract: Parts to be chemically treated are processed in a controlled-environment processing chamber. The process includes applying a negative gauge pressure to the chamber to remove air or other non-condensable gases. The process includes introducing an oxygen free solvent or aqueous solution in a vapor or liquid state. A first system removes oxygen and volatile contaminants from the object being processed and chamber, and a second system further recovers residual solvent from the object and chamber. Eliminating oxygen from the process prevents deflagration within the system thus allowing for the use of flammable solvents within the process.

Abstract: A improved solvent cleaning method and system which is truly a closed system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned and then the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber within the closed system before the clean object is removed.

Abstract: Clothes are dry cleaned by placing the clothes in a tumbler/dryer, sealing the tumbler/dryer, applying a negative gauge pressure to the tumbler/dryer, providing solvent to the tumbler/dryer, activating the tumbler/dryer to dry clean the clothes, removing the solvent from the tumbler/dryer, and simultaneously throttling hot solvent vapor into the tumbler/dryer while removing vapor from the tumbler/dryer in order to dry the clothes.

Abstract: Stripping contaminants/impurities from a filter includes subjecting the filter to a negative gauge pressure and applying superheated solvent vapor to the filter while maintaining the negative gauge pressure. The filter can be heated prior to being subjected to the negative gauge pressure. The superheated vapor may be composed of the same compounds as impurities being removed from the filter. The filter may be an activated carbon filter.

Abstract: A improved solvent cleaning method and system which is truly a closed system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned and then the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber within the closed system before the clean object is removed.

Abstract: A closed circuit solvent cleaning method and system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases, after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned. Following this, the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber and then the clean object is removed.

Abstract: A closed circuit solvent cleaning method and system in which the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber and subjected to a negative gauge pressure to remove air and other non-condensible gases, after which a solvent is introduced to the evacuated chamber and the object is cleaned. Following this, the solvent is recovered from the object and chamber and then the clean object is removed.

Abstract: A digital switching system is described for providing time division multiplexed digital communication of parallel sequential signals of N words each of M bit length between N telephone data subscribers over N transmission lines in which an array of orthogonal RAM memory devices provide parallel-to-serial conversion and multiplexing of the N words each of M bit length to provide a time division multiplexed serial digital bit stream of M words, each N bits in length, which are transmitted over a transmission line to a serial-to-parallel converter and coupled to a second orthogonal RAM memory device in which the N words M bits in length from the serial-to-parallel converter are stored and coupled to N telephone data subscribers over the transmission lines.

Abstract: A digital switching system for switching messages between a plurality of subscribers located a relatively short distance from the switching system. The message format for the system comprises the serial transmission of messages of M bits of information which are transmitted from the switching system to the subscribers during one-half of a transmission frame and messages of M bits of information which are transmitted from the subscribers to the switching system during the other half of the transmission format. Addressable memory arrays are employed at the switching system for multiplexing and serial-to-parallel conversion and switching. In a preferred embodiment up to 40 telephone and/or data terminal messages are handled in 125 microsecond time frames with 8 bit voice and 8 bit data words plus a start and stop bit and 1 signalling bit message format from each of the subscribers.