With Spray Or Jet Supplying And/or Applying Means Patents (Class 134/198)
  • Patent number: 8443818
    Abstract: A carwash system is disclosed wherein a spray arm dependingly mounted to an overhead longitudinally movable carriage for dispensing fluids onto the exterior surfaces of a vehicle in a wash bay unidirectionally circumnavigates the vehicle for multiple circuits while performing one or more wash functions by coordinating longitudinal and rotational movements of the arm through the selective operation of two independent motor drives. Electrical power and/or data is carried to and from electrical devices on the arm by way of a slip ring conductor which is mounted coaxially with the arm pivot on the bottom side of the carriage. The fluid supply conduit also passes concentrically through this pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Thomas E. Weyandt, Barry S. Turner, Curtis S. Prater
  • Publication number: 20130118538
    Abstract: A rich air sprayer of sanitary ware has a base, the base is disposed with at least two waterways; each waterway includes an inlet hole, a mutation cavity connected to the inlet hole and an air inlet hole connected to the mutation cavity, the flow area of the inlet hole is smaller than that of the mutation cavity, negative pressure is generated inside the mutation cavity when the water flows from the inlet hole into the mutation cavity, the negative pressure makes the mutation cavity suck air from the outside of the sprayer through the air inlet hole, the air and the water are mixed to form bubbles; the outlets of the mutation cavities intersect or the tangents of the outlets of the mutation cavities intersect, making the water flowing out of the outlets of the mutation cavities collide to enhance the granular sensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicants: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Li Jiang, Jianmin Chen, Bin Cao
  • Patent number: 8439054
    Abstract: A painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus 10 is provided. The painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus of this invention facilitates the cleaning and storage of painting implements such as a roller 12, a brush 14 and a roller pan 16. The apparatus of this invention is provided with a base support member 18. The roller 12 is supported on the base support member 18 in an upwardly extending diagonal position adjacent a shield 70 for containing paint spreads from the roller in a predetermined confined area. The brush 14 is supported on the base support member in a predetermined upwardly projecting position. A roller pan 16 is coupable to the base support member 18 and supported thereon in a diagonally descending position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Rhines
  • Patent number: 8439051
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate processing system in which a processing liquid is supplied to a substrate W from a processing nozzle 50a situated above the substrate W so as to process the substrate W, and which makes it possible to prevent unintended dripping of the processing liquid from the processing nozzle. A substrate processing system 20 comprises a processing nozzle 50a capable of supplying a processing liquid to a substrate to be processed, an arm 54 supporting the processing nozzle, and droplet removing nozzles 60, 62 capable of blowing a gas to the processing nozzle. The arm is movable between a processing position and a waiting position, the processing nozzle being above a substrate when the arm is in the waiting position and being outside a substrate when the arm is in the processing position. The droplet removing nozzles are so situated that they are in the vicinity of the processing nozzle when the arm is in the waiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130112230
    Abstract: Washing rotor (10) for a washer machine such as a dishwasher or a machine for washing objects, comprising at least an oblong body (12) having a mainly longitudinal direction of development (X) and having two opposite ends (13). The oblong body (12) has an internal cavity which develops from one to the other of said opposite ends (13), so that a washing fluid can pass, wherein at least one end (13) has a service aperture (17) for access into said internal cavity. The washing rotor (10) comprises a closing member (14) for the selective closing of said service aperture (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: STEELCO SPA
    Inventor: Fabio Zardini
  • Patent number: 8434501
    Abstract: A cleaning system which includes an enclosure and having a door with a transparent window. The door is opened and closed to load and unload products to be cleaned. An operator puck on the outside of the enclosure couples magnetically to another actuator puck on the inside of the enclosure. This coupling allows an operator to move and direct the inside puck to actuate spray or air blast functions, without opening the enclosure. The outside operator puck includes one or more switches which turn on the various electronic components such as the liquid pump, light, or air blast valve. The cleaning system enables a user to efficiently direct cleaning action to parts inside to minimize the cleaning time, and to prevent exposure of chemicals. The cleaning fluid is cycled out of the enclosure continuously, and into a “trap” box, through a pump and back into the cleaner box in a closed loop cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Transition Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Curtin
  • Patent number: 8437875
    Abstract: An autonomous all weather outdoor cleaning robot that identifies and cleans various outdoor household objects including but not limited to personal automobiles and other vehicles. The robot autonomously navigates to a designated area and scans a vehicle or object to determine the optimum cleaning routine. The robot learns its working environment by comparing scanned vehicles and outdoor objects with its existing database for future reference. The robot compares and stores navigation data regarding areas previously visited to increase efficiency for future work by reducing travel and scanning times. The robot can perform many different functions. Specifically, the robot incorporates micro-processors to control cleaning, navigation and perception. The robot uses multi-segmented arms to perform chores. The robot adapts and learns from its environment while performing useful tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Eusebio Guillermo Hernandez, Michael Christopher Colucci
  • Patent number: 8434696
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8434504
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning generally upright surfaces, walls and windows of a building has a frame rotatably supporting one or more brushes adapted to engage the upright surface of a building. A davit supported on top of the building is connected to a cable pendently supporting the frame and brushes. A winch driven with a motor mounted on the frame operably connected to the cable operates to move the frame and brushes relative to the upright surface. A counterforce generator mounted on the frame establishes a force on the frame and brushes that maintains the brushes in effective continuous engagement with the upright surface during cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Dallas W. Simonette, Michael R. Lange
  • Publication number: 20130104946
    Abstract: A cleaning diffuser is disposed above a fluff-laden component and receives rinsing fluid for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component to detach fluff and carry it away. The diffuser is constructed to enable a buildup of dynamic pressure in the rinsing fluid and has two feed ducts which extend at a distance from one another in substantially parallel relationship so that rinsing fluid entering the diffuser is divided between the feed ducts. The feed ducts terminate in pockets in a wall at an end of the diffuser and have, relative to their entire duct length, a narrow, three-dimensional transverse mutual connection in the form of a transverse chamber. The diffuser has at least one narrow outlet opening which extends from the three-dimensional transverse connection to a lower side of the diffuser for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20130104936
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an article may include a cleaning head. The cleaning head may have a lower edge and may include an annular steam chamber and a steam nozzle. The annular steam chamber may define a vacuum chamber that may be configured to receive the article therewithin. The annular steam chamber may have a plurality of discrete apertures positioned in vertically spaced relation to the lower edge. The steam nozzle may be configured to provide steam to the annular steam chamber for discharge through the apertures into the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Sergey G. Ponomarev
  • Publication number: 20130104945
    Abstract: Provided is an anti-cleanser dispersing element for use in a dry washing device which disperses cleanser by an air stream to allow the cleanser to collide with an object for washing. The anti-cleanser dispersing element is disposed on a side of a holder of the object opposite to a side with which the cleanser collides. The anti-cleanser dispersing element is configured to be deformed by its own weight or pressure in accordance with an outer shape of the object, to tightly attach to the object with no gap and prevent the cleanser from moving to the opposite side of the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Akihiro Fuchigami, Yoichi Okamoto, Yuusuke Taneda, Kohji Tsukahara, Shozo Murata
  • Patent number: 8430109
    Abstract: A washing unit for machines that clean ophthalmic glass (1) or other substrates. It includes, on one hand, two washing lines (22, 23), each able to issue a high-pressure jet of washing liquid in a flared shape of a width substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the glass to be cleaned, said lines (22, 23) being parallel and mounted opposite each other on each side of the glass (1) to be cleaned so that the two streams of liquid (30) are located at the same level and come into contact on the concave (10) and convex (11) surfaces respectively of said glass (1); and, on the other hand, supports (4) intended to hold the glass (1) in a stable position during the washing operation and the means (2?) to allow movement of said lines (22, 23) or the glass (1) in order to perform simultaneous bathing of the concave (10) and convex (11) surfaces of the glass by the respective streams of washing liquid (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Special Coating Laboratory International
    Inventors: Jean Gehrig, Denis Gehrig
  • Patent number: 8430108
    Abstract: In a device (1) for cleaning a window (2) or a lens of a motor vehicle, a wash nozzle (5) is of spherical design and is held in a ball socket (13) of a nozzle stem (4). The wash nozzle (5) produces a fan-type jet (6) and can be adjusted by an angle of inclination ? and a tilting angle ? in relation to the nozzle stem (4). The device can be freely adjusted to different designs of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Bettenhausen, Patrick Opel, Dirk Ringler, Heiko Weitzel
  • Publication number: 20130092194
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially forming a treating chamber, a dish rack provided within the wash chamber, and a spray manifold. The spray manifold can have multiple apertures and/or sprayers for emitting wash liquid to define a spray zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER J. CARLSON, JORDAN R. FOUNTAIN, ANTONY M. RAPPETTE, CHAD T. VANDERROEST
  • Publication number: 20130091652
    Abstract: A surface cleaning device having a steering assembly is provided. The surface cleaning device includes a foot, a handle assembly with a user manipulated handle, and a steering assembly coupling the handle assembly to the foot. The steering assembly defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot and includes a means for biasing the foot with respect to the handle assembly. Movement of the handle assembly stores energy within the biasing means so that the biasing means exerts a corresponding force on the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Gregg A. Henderson, Douglas M. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20130093107
    Abstract: It is designed to wash and clean meat. When meat is put in a 5 gallon bucket and water source connected and turned on. Air is sucked in to mix with water. This makes the meat float up from the bottom and begin to toss and tumble, which takes loose scales, feathers, blood and debris over the top of bucket. This leaves the meat clean in 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the load. Therefore you don't have to mess up kitchen sink. It is good for washing other things, including fruits in vegetables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Roland Funderburg
  • Patent number: 8418702
    Abstract: A ready mix truck wash system includes at least one spray arch fluidly connected to a pump, a motor, and controls. The spray arch has a plurality of pipes and spray nozzles configured to spray pressurized fluid onto a ready mix truck. In one embodiment, the ready mix truck is washed in multiple stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Shadley F. Brand
  • Patent number: 8414708
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for cleaning a photomask. The photomask including a first region and a second region surrounding the first region, a pattern to be protected disposed on the first region, and a material to be removed exists on the second region. A cleaning liquid is sprayed from an inside region of the second region toward an outer region of the second region to remove the material, and a gas is blown from the first region toward the second region to protect the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-song Jeong, Hyung-ho Ko, Sung-jae Han, Kyung-noh Kim, Chan-uk Jeon
  • Publication number: 20130081659
    Abstract: An oil-in-water monitor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle configured to direct pressurized cleaning fluid at an optical window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventors: Per Gerhard Grini, Harald Kallevik
  • Publication number: 20130081658
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for treating a substrate through a supercritical process. The apparatus includes a housing providing a space for performing a process, and a plurality of support members vertically arranged in the housing at predetermined intervals to support edges of substrates, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gil Hun SONG, Jeong Yong BAE, Kyo Woog KOO
  • Publication number: 20130081650
    Abstract: A method and system for a tone generator assembly are provided. The tone generator assembly includes a resonance chamber that includes a first end and a second end and a body extending therebetween. The body surrounds a cavity therein, wherein the first end includes a resonance chamber opening in flow communication with the cavity. The tone generator assembly also includes a nozzle having a bore therethrough. The bore includes an inlet opening configured to receive a flow of relatively high pressure fluid and an outlet opening coupled in flow communication with the inlet opening and configured to discharge an underexpanded jet of fluid when the flow of relatively high pressure fluid is received at the inlet opening. The resonance chamber and the nozzle are positioned relatively and sized to facilitate emitting a tone from the tone generator assembly having a frequency less than two kilohertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Ephraim Gutmark, Jeffrey Kastner, David Michael Chapin, Terry Lewis Farmer
  • Publication number: 20130074880
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an industrial cleaning system and related methods. The system and methods utilize propelled media to clean equipment and facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Philip Bear, Kelly Brannick
  • Publication number: 20130074872
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for cleaning a semiconductor wafer. In an embodiment of the method, a single wafer cleaning apparatus is provided and a wafer is positioned in the apparatus. A first chemical spray is dispensed onto a front surface of the wafer. A back surface of the wafer is cleaned while dispensing the first chemical spray. The cleaning of the back surface may include a brush and spray of cleaning fluids. An apparatus operable to clean the front surface and the back surface of a single semiconductor wafer is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., ("TSMC")
    Inventors: Ming-Hsi Yeh, Kuo-Sheng Chuang, Ying-Hsueh Chang Chien, Chi-Ming Yang, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20130074891
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for supplying liquid to the treating chamber. The spraying system includes a sprayer having a body with an interior, a liquid passage provided in the interior, and a plurality of outlets extending through the body and in fluid communication with the liquid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROGER J. BERTSCH, MARK S. FEDDEMA, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20130068265
    Abstract: A two level conduit docking port for a dishwashing appliance is described. The docking port is provided having an upper port and a lower port, either of which is opened depending upon the position of a sliding valve that moves along the vertical direction. Movement of the valve to open either the upper port or the lower port is caused by contact between a protrusion on the sliding valve and a conduit attached to a height-adjustable rack. As such rack is pushed into the wash chamber of the dishwasher, the valve is moved vertically depending upon the vertical level of the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Errin Gnadinger, Satish Kumar Raju Buddharaju
  • Patent number: 8398933
    Abstract: By a method and a device for preventing corrosion on and in the region of a gas inlet nozzle during nitric acid condensation, contact of the condensing gas with the nozzle and with the surroundings of the nozzle are supposed to be minimized. This is achieved in that the gas inlet nozzle has a sleeve on the inside in the transition region to the interior of the condenser, by which sleeve a gas inlet orifice in the form of an annular gap is formed, whereby the annular space is provided with at least one feed opening for secondary air, so that an enveloping flow of secondary air is produced around the entering NO gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Maurer
  • Publication number: 20130056033
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning method includes removing a foreign material attached to a substrate while preventing deterioration of the substrate and any film formed on or above the substrate. A cleaning gas at a pressure between 0.3 MPa and 2.0 MPa is sprayed towards a wafer W with attached foreign material 22 placed in a near-vacuum, producing clusters 21 made up of a multitude of gas molecules 20, and the clusters 21 collide with the wafer W without undergoing ionization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicants: Iwatani Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hidefumi Matsui, Tsuyoshi Moriya, Masaki Narushima
  • Patent number: 8388301
    Abstract: A turbine system for the utilization of the energy of oceanic waves includes: a chamber that is provided with an opening at its lower end and at its upper end respectively; a duct that is open at both ends for guiding a stream of air, the lower end of the chamber being designated to be submerged in ocean water, and the opening of the upper end being connected with one of the ends of the duct; an energy unit that is mounted coaxial to such and surrounded by the duct; and a device for cleaning the rotor blades of deposits or for preventing the formation of deposits on the rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: William K. Tease, Janet Lees
  • Patent number: 8388764
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for handling an artificial turf arranged on a base. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a removing station for lifting from the base a strip of the artificial turf extending in a longitudinal direction, a separating station for separating filling material from the strip and a winding station for winding the strip onto a shaft. A method is disclosed for handling an artificial turf arranged on a base. In at least one embodiment, the method includes lifting a strip of the artificial turf extending in a longitudinal direction from the base, separating infill material from the strip and winding the strip onto a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SYDVAC
    Inventor: Ingemar Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20130048031
    Abstract: A lens washing system for cleaning the objective lens of a surgical telescopic instrument while the instrument is disposed within the body of a patient, wherein the system includes a hollow tubular sleeve disposable over a probe of a surgical telescopic instrument such that a distal end of the probe including an objective lens of the surgical telescopic instrument extends past a distal end of the sleeve. The system additionally includes a hollow tubular washing fluid conduit linearly and tangentially disposed along a longitudinal portion of an exterior surface of the sleeve such that a distal end of the conduit including a washing fluid egress port extends past the distal end and objective lens of the probe so that washing fluid dispensed from the egress port is directed onto the objective lens to wash away any debris or media obscuring the objective lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Darin Minkin
  • Patent number: 8377229
    Abstract: A system and method for ensuring compliance with a hygiene requirement are provided. The system includes a automated cleaning station operatively associated with a locking mechanism. The automated cleaning station provides means for a user to wash one or more appendage and means for verifying that a full washing cycling was completed. The locking mechanism may be unlocked in response to complete verified washing cycle. The locking mechanism may provide access to, for example, a work area, a work station and/or a work item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Barnhill, James Glenn, Amy Stenberg-Garcia, Kathy Lockridge, Rebecca Yaffe, Amy Beck, Jason Smirnow
  • Patent number: 8375965
    Abstract: Inventive methods and systems of cleaning patterned integrated circuit (“IC”) substrates are described. The cleaning methods of the present invention include: (1) providing the patterned integrated circuit substrate having thereon poly silicon lines adjacent to each other; (2) charging a solution, which contains at least a solute selected to promote cleaning of the patterned integrated circuit substrate, to produce a charged solution, wherein at least a portion of the solute is present as clusters in the charged solution; and (3) conveying the charged solution for cleaning the patterned integrated circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nano OM, LLC
    Inventor: Suraj Puri
  • Patent number: 8377231
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a vessel are disclosed. The vessel may include a coker for the extraction of crude oil, for example. The apparatus may include an elongated flexible conduit insertable through an elongated rigid conduit into the vessel, for conducting pressurized liquid into the vessel to clean the vessel. The apparatus preferably includes a sealing device for sealing a gap between the flexible conduit and the rigid conduit to prevent fluid from travelling through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: CEDA International Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Richards, David J. Whitlock, Brian Fitzmaurice, Mike Bronson
  • Patent number: 8377226
    Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic dishwasher, especially for built-in kitchenettes, comprising a cabinet 10 and equipped with a front door 11 that seals the wash tub 18 housing at least one first and one second spray arm 20, 21 for washing the dishes placed in at least one rack 19, said tub being closed on the bottom by a downward sloping panel 22 that directs the wash water into a sump hopper 23 that serves to collect and drain the water, with the horizontal as well as vertical capacity of the dishwasher enhanced in that the first spray arm 20 essentially extends coaxially with the sump hopper 23 while the second spray arm 21 is positioned above the sloped bottom panel 22 with its axis of rotation extending at a right angle to said panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Daniele Favaro, Roberto Pezzetta, Graziano Lazarotto
  • Patent number: 8372349
    Abstract: An air freshener including a housing having a reservoir chamber, a dispenser, a pump intermediate the reservoir and the dispenser, a pad, at least one fan proximate the pad, and wherein the dispenser transfers a scented liquid onto the pad and the at least one fan directs air flow proximate the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Marcus J. Shotey, John Klein
  • Publication number: 20130032182
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for treating microelectronic workpieces with one or more treatment materials, including liquids, gases, fluidized solids, dispersions, combinations of these, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: FSI INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: FSI International, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130025640
    Abstract: An appliance such as a dishwasher comprises an upper region and a lower region forming an appliance footprint. Positioned in the upper region is a spray arm assembly and a wash tub forming a wash zone. The wash zone has a low or reduced capacity, thereby holding fewer objects than conventional dishwashers but maintaining the appliance footprint so that the dishwasher fits an appliance opening, e.g., in kitchen cabinetry, that has a standard width dimension and a standard height dimension. In one embodiment, the wash zone has an opening through is received a rack, which supports the objects in the wash zone. The rack is moveable between a first position and a second position, and in one example, the rack is configured to move between the first position and the second position relative to the wash zone and independent of the spray arm assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Michael E. Nalley, Ronald Scott Tarr, Robert Scott Pickens, Jessica Elizabeth Agoston
  • Publication number: 20130025635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation for cleaning and/or degreasing manufactured parts. The installation applicator includes a first outlet nozzle connected to a device for producing vapor in order to produce a central jet consisting of the pressurized water vapor and a second outlet nozzle surrounding the first nozzle. The second nozzle is connected to a device for producing pressurized air in order to produce a peripheral jet consisting of the pressurized air. The nozzles form a composite treatment jet made of the central jet of pressurized water vapor and the peripheral jet of pressurized air with the peripheral jet surrounding the central jet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: DUERR ECOCLEAN GMBH
    Inventor: Duerr Ecoclean GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130019911
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head is provided comprising a dome-shaped, downwardly open housing, in which at least one spray arm is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, wherein the spray arm bears at a distance from the axis of rotation a nozzle which can be acted upon with cleaning fluid subject to pressure and revolves around the axis of rotation together with the spray arm, and comprising a protective disk which covers the at least one spray arm towards the open underside of the housing and defines a ring-shaped fluid passage for a stream of fluid to pass through, said fluid passage being penetrated by retaining bars, wherein the at least one spray arm is rotatable relative to the protective disk. The retaining bars are arranged so as to be distributed unevenly in circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Binder, Vitali Fischer
  • Patent number: 8347899
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame which circumferentially extends at least partially around a wind turbine tower. A separator structure can be attached to the frame and extends between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame at a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower. The separator structure can also include an attachment end which is attached to the frame and a slidabe end positionable near the wind turbine tower. A slider can be attached to the slidabe end of the separator structure and can slide on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower. A frame lift device can raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower. A sprayer can spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower to clean the wind turbine tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Dustin Jensen, Broque L. Fraughton, Sonny K. Fraughton
  • Patent number: 8347682
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cylinders (5) and/or rolls (5), e.g., working rolls (5) in a rolling stand, which are used for producing a rolled stock (1) such as strips or slabs, in which a liquid is sprayed onto the cylinders (5) at high pressure through several nozzles D1-Dn, a number of nozzles (D1-Dn) are stationary arranged in and/or on a nozzle beam (10), at least one on-off valve is associated with each nozzle (D1-Dn), and one or several nozzle(s) (D1-Dn) are sequentially switched on and off one after another starting from one end of the nozzle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Gramer, Peter De Kock, Rolf Brisberger
  • Patent number: 8347900
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower cleaning or coating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame which circumferentially extends at least partially around a wind turbine tower. A separator structure can be attached to the frame and extends between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame at a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower. The separator structure can also include an attachment end which is attached to the frame and a slidabe end positionable near the wind turbine tower. A slider can be attached to the slidabe end of the separator structure and can slide on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower. A frame lift device can raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower. A plurality of sprayers can be positioned circumferentially along the frame and configured to selectively spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Dustin Jensen, Broque L. Fraughton, Sonny K. Fraughton
  • Publication number: 20130000762
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diverter that may be used to control the flow of fluid to different locations or components within a dishwashing appliance. One or more dual outlets, each having an outer port that surrounds an inner port, can be used with a rotating disk (or rotating valve) to selectively control the flow of fluid to various locations within the appliance. One or more single outlets may also be added to the diverter as desired depending upon the number of locations in the dishwasher to which the delivery of the fluid is desirable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Satish Kumar Raju Buddharaju, Joel Charles Boyer, Errin Gnadinger, Eric B. Devins
  • Publication number: 20130000684
    Abstract: A cleaning method of cleaning a joint surface of a processing target substrate separated from a superposed substrate, while the processing target substrate is placed inside an annular frame and held by a tape bonded to a surface of the frame and a non-joint surface of the processing target substrate, the cleaning method including: a placement step of placing a cleaning jig to face the processing target substrate such that a supply surface of the cleaning jig for supplying a solvent for the adhesive onto the joint surface of the processing target substrate covers the joint surface and a distance between the supply surface and the joint surface is a predetermined distance; and a cleaning step of then supplying the solvent between the supply surface and the joint surface and diffusing the supplied solvent over the joint surface by a surface tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasutaka SOMA, Naoto Yoshitaka, Hiroshi Komeda, Eiji Manabe, Osamu Hirakawa, Masatoshi Deguchi, Takeshi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20130000683
    Abstract: A method and an installation for high-pressure liquid jet deburring are proposed, in which a machined workpiece (44) is deburred by means of a high-pressure/high-speed liquid jet from a high-pressure jet nozzle (30) that is connected to a high-pressure liquid circuit (32). According to the invention, the deburring receptacle (16) has a flooding inlet (48) connected to a liquid supply circuit for flooding the deburring receptacle (16) with cleaning liquid and is configured to contain a bath (46) of cleaning liquid during operation. Prior to deburring, the deburring receptacle (16) is flooded with cleaning liquid via a flooding inlet (48) of the deburring receptacle. Further according to the invention, the machined portion (44) is deburred after flooding and by means of a liquid jet without gas sheath such that the high-pressure/high-speed liquid jet and at least the machined portion are immersed in a bath of cleaning liquid during deburring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: ELWEMA AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Antonio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20120325277
    Abstract: A spray arm assembly for a dishwasher system is disclosed. The spray arm assembly includes a spray arm which has an internal chamber, a liquid inlet in flow communication with the internal chamber to supply the internal chamber with liquid from a source of liquid, an outlet passageway in flow communication with the internal chamber for discharging liquid from the internal chamber, an air inlet in flow communication with the outlet passageway, and a region adjacent the air inlet and defining part of the outlet passageway. The region is configured to create a venturi effect at the air inlet when the liquid passes through the region so that air is drawn into the outlet passageway from the air inlet and a mixture of air and liquid is discharged from the outlet passageway. A dishwasher system incorporating such a spray arm assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Errin Whitney Gnadinger, Ronald Scott Tarr, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 8337760
    Abstract: A system and method of cleaning an enclosure of a container defined by inner walls, including providing a container, orienting the container so that the opening is lowermost and opens downwardly and generating resonant vibration in the container at a predetermined frequency and at an energy level sufficient to dislodge any loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container but not being of an energy level to impact the structural integrity of the container and maintaining the resonant vibration within the container enclosure for a sufficient time to dislodge all loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container. The system may include a resonant chamber in the form of a shroud and means to effectuate the method steps and may also include a sanitizing step in which the containers are further sanitized to render inactive any organic contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Wolters
  • Patent number: 8337690
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of an electrochemically activated liquid. The ORP is reduced by emitting ions from an ion generator into the electrochemically activated liquid, wherein the ions have a charge polarity that is opposite to the ORP of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Patent number: 8333207
    Abstract: An arm includes a tubular body that is rotatable. The tubular body has a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion is bent in a first direction forming a first angle with the intermediate portion, and the second end portion is bent in a second direction forming a second angle with the intermediate portion. A plurality of nozzles are through the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Jackson MSC LLC
    Inventors: James Scott Calhoun, Walter Ray Lambert, Clifford Ernest Neuman