Method of cleaning a contaminated surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288174-A1
Application number	US-201615181964-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 3, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus is provided that includes a first nozzle configured to direct a cleaning jet towards a contaminated surface at a pressure sufficient to remove contaminants from the surface. At least one second nozzle is configured to direct a rinsing jet towards the contaminated surface to remove cleaning fluid therefrom, wherein the rinsing jet is directed at a pressure sufficient to isolate the cleaning jet from an ambient environment.

First claim

1 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . A method of cleaning a contaminated surface, said method comprising:
directing a cleaning jet towards a contaminated surface with a first nozzle, the cleaning jet directed at a pressure sufficient to remove contaminants from the surface, and including steam and at least one cleaning chemical; and directing a rinsing jet towards a contaminated surface with at least one second nozzle to remove cleaning fluid therefrom, the rinsing jet directed at a pressure sufficient to isolate the cleaning jet from an ambient environment.

15 . The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein directing a rinsing jet further comprises directing the rinsing jet at a pressure that is one of equal to or greater than the cleaning jet pressure.

16 . The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein directing a rinsing jet further comprises directing a plurality of rinsing jets towards the contaminated surface such that the plurality of rinsing jets substantially circumscribe the cleaning jet.

17 . The method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising directing the cleaning jet and the rinsing jet towards the contaminated surface simultaneously.

18 . The method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising:
generating cleaning fluid with a cleaning fluid source that includes a steam generation unit and a cleaning fluid injection unit; and generating rinsing fluid with a rinsing fluid source that includes a steam generation unit and a rinsing fluid injection unit.

19 . The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein generating cleaning fluid further comprises combining at least one predetermined cleaning chemical from the cleaning fluid injection unit with dry steam from the steam generation unit.

20 . The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein generating rinsing fluid further comprises at least one of:
generating wet steam with the steam generation unit; and combining at least one solvent from the rinsing fluid injection unit with wet steam from the steam generation unit.

21 . The method in accordance with claim 20 , wherein generating rinsing fluid comprises generating rinsing fluid for the rinsing jet that includes at least 85% wet steam by weight of the rinsing fluid.

22 . The method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein generating cleaning fluid further comprises generating cleaning fluid for the cleaning jet that includes at least 40% dry steam by weight of the cleaning fluid.

23 . The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein directing a rinsing jet comprises directing a plurality of rinsing jets towards the contaminated surface, the plurality of rinsing jets positioned circumferentially about the cleaning jet.

24 . The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising activating the rinsing jet before activating the cleaning jet.

25 . The method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising deactivating the cleaning jet before deactivating the rinsing jet.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Ponomarev Sergey G

Classifications

• B05B7/0892

  the outlet orifices for jets constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid being disposed on a circle · CPC title

• B08B3/02 Primary

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B08B2203/0258

  Multiple lance high pressure cleaning station · CPC title

• B05B7/0876

  to form parallel jets constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid (B05B7/0884, B05B7/0892 take precedence) · CPC title

• B08B2230/01

  Cleaning with steam · CPC title