Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Tank cleaners
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-10
2001-02-06
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Tank cleaners
C015S249200, C015S104068, C055S295000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182325
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning a chamber.
The manufacturing or fabrication processes in certain industries produce toxic gaseous effluent. For example, chemical vapor deposition processes associated with semiconductor fabrication produces highly toxic gaseous effluent. Also, combustion processes involving the partial combustion of solid fuels discharge hot gaseous effluent. These gaseous effluent are usually heavily laden with particulate matter and must be cleaned or “scrubbed” before they can be treated and released into the environment. Typically, particulate laden gaseous effluent are introduced into a scrubbing chamber through an inlet. The particulate matter tends to adhere to the inner surface of the chamber. Various methods and apparatus have been devised to prevent, or at least slow down, the buildup of particulate matter on the inner surfaces of scrubbing chambers.
Referring to prior art
FIG. 1
a
, a chamber cleaning mechanism is shown. The scrubbing chamber (not shown) has an inlet
1
, which houses a plurality of scraping blades
2
parallel to a longitudinal axis of inlet
1
. The scraping blades
2
are rigidly interconnected by three rings
3
, as shown. An actuating arm
4
extends through a slit
5
in the inlet
1
and is attached to the middle one of rings
3
.
Referring now to prior art
FIG. 1
b
, actuating arm
4
is attached to a piston rod
6
, which is driven by a pneumatically operated piston
7
. The pneumatically operated piston
7
drives actuating arm
4
back and forth, causing the scraping blades
2
to scrape in a reciprocating motion along the inner surface of inlet
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a chamber having at least one scraping blade mounted to an annular member. The method comprises the step of applying a force to the annular member in a direction tangential to a circumference of the annular member so as to cause the annular member to circumferentially rotate, thereby causing the scraping blade to circumferentially rotate, whereby an inner surface of the chamber is scraped by the scraping blade.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a chamber cleaning mechanism comprising an annular mounting means for mounting at least one scraping blade within the chamber parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber, and a rotating means for rotating the scraping blade circumferentially within the chamber.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a chamber cleaning mechanism comprising at least one scraping blade rotatably mounted within the chamber parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber. An annular gear assembly supports the scraping blade within the chamber, and a pushrod assembly rotates the scraping blade circumferentially within the chamber.
Advantages and features of the invention include one or more of the following: rotatably mounted scraping blades for cleaning the inner surface of a chamber, and a method and apparatus for mounting and rotating the scraping blades circumferentially in such a way as to allow a direct and unobstructed path through the chamber. Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 548138 (1895-10-01), Prather
patent: 851134 (1907-04-01), Kleidon
patent: 1261243 (1918-04-01), Kettner
patent: 1616777 (1927-02-01), Booth
patent: 2554546 (1951-05-01), Zahm
patent: 3120020 (1964-02-01), Schell
patent: 3589609 (1971-06-01), Wyant
patent: 4210976 (1980-07-01), Apelt et al.
Advanced Technology & Materials Inc.
Barrett William A.
Hultquist Steven J.
Olsen Kaj K.
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
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