Abstract: A method for cleaning and transporting rubber stoppers includes the steps of ejecting pressurized water, fed from a water storage division, from a jet nozzle to form a jet stream flowing into a negative pressure-creating pipe for suction to create a negative pressure inside the negative pressure-creating pipe; transporting rubber stoppers placed in a storage section to the negative pressure-creating pipe through a cleaning inlet port placed under the storage section using the negative pressure; cleaning the rubber stoppers with the jet stream while the rubber stoppers are being transported through the negative pressure-creating pipe and then a transportation pipe directly connected to the negative pressure-creating pipe; transporting the rubber stoppers to a water separation section to remove water from the rubber stoppers; and transporting the rubber stoppers to a stocker for storing the cleaned rubber stopper.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for momentum exchange of a pressurized fluid including a jet nozzle for discharging a jet of pressurized fluid produced by a pressure pump, a first inlet opening provided downstream of the jet nozzle, an air layer generating pipe, and a momentum exchange tube disposed downstream of the air layer generating pipe. A layer of air, around a highly pressurized fluid released from the jet nozzle, is formed by the air layer generating pipe. The momentum exchange tube is formed of a substantially straight construction and has an inner diameter which is greater than an inner diameter of the air layer generating pipe. An outlet provided at the momentum exchange tube for using, as a lifting elevation, the pressure produced by urging the pressurized fluid against air in the momentum exchange tube.