Etec Systems, Inc.

Zerpa Industries, Inc.

Recyclene Products, Inc.

Manuel G Pastor

Donald J McCarthy, Deceased

Donald J Mccarthy

A movable stage assembly suitable for use in a vacuum has three circular stages rotating independently of one another. The stage assembly includes a base and a large rotatable circular table mounted on the base. This large table has a second smaller circular table which is eccentrically mounted within the first large table and rotates independently. This second table also has a smaller third circular table eccentrically mounted on it and independently rotatable within the second table. All the rotatable tables utilize ferrofluidic seals to prevent air within the air bearings from leaking into the vacuum chamber and are driven by motors mounted beneath the tables.

Epicyclic stage

A linear bearing assembly comprising sets of guides (ways) for guiding rolling elements (ball bearings or rollers) constrained within a cage. Typically, two sets of rolling elements and cages are used between a moving part and a stationary part. Each set has four resilient elements (springs) with one end of each spring anchored to the cage and with the other ends of two springs anchored to the stationary way or part and the other ends of the other two springs are anchored to the movable way or part. This arrangement provides a restoring spring force that gradually forces the cage to its correct tracking position. If the cage is tracking properly, the spring forces cancel out and there is no inherent rubbing in the restoring mechanism.

Rolling element cage constraint

A solvent recovery apparatus including a housing having an open top tank therewithin for receiving a flexible bag. A bag holder member is removably mounted within the bag, and the holder member shapes the bag to hold it in an open condition for receiving dirty solvent directed into the tank. The holder member urges the upper edge of the bag against the inner surface of the tank so that substantially no solvent can migrate into the space between the bag and the tank. The tank has a space for receiving heating oil below a bottom thereof so that heat can be imparted to the contents of the bag to evaporate the solvent therewithin. Baffle structure in the oil causes the oil to circulate as the oil is heated by a resistance heater in the space. A quench coil below the bottom of the tank and above the oil receives a coolant for heating the liquid and solid contaminants left in the bag after evaporation of the solvent to minimize the delay in waiting for the contaminants to cool before removing the bag from the tank. A reservoir adjacent to the tank receives clean solvent in liquid form and has a cooling coil therewithin to inhibit any tendency for the solvent to evaporate in the reservoir.

Solvent recovery apparatus

A method for recovering clean solvent from a mixture of solvent and contaminants. An open top tank is mounted in a housing below a sink in which articles to be cleaned with solvent are placed. The sink has a tap through which solvent is directed so that the articles can be cleaned by hand in the sink itself. A disposable, plastic bag is receivable in the tank and the tank is closed by a cover. Contaminated solvent can flow from the sink, through the cover and into the bag in the tank. Contaminated solvent in the bag is heated by heating a liquid surrounding the side wall of the tank and below the bottom of the tank so that the solvent in the bag will vaporize. A tube leading out of the tank carries solvent vapor into a heat exchanger where the vapor is condensed to form clean, liquid solvent, and the liquid solvent is collected in a reservoir. A pump is coupled to the reservoir for pumping liquid solvent to the tap at the sink. The bag can be disposed of after the solvent has been vaporized therefrom. The heating means has an expansion chamber for allowing expansion of the heating liquid as it is heated. The apparatus provides a solvent reclaiming and cleaning station near a location where articles to be cleaned are used.

Solvent recovery method

Apparatus and method for recovering clean solvent from a mixture of solvent and contaminants. The apparatus includes an open top tank mounted in a housing below a sink in which articles to be cleaned with solvent are placed. The sink has a tap through which solvent is directed so that the articles can be cleaned by hand in the sink itself. A disposable, plastic bag is receivable in the tank and the tank is closed by a cover. Contaminated solvent can flow from the sink, through the cover and into the bag in the tank. Contaminated solvent in the bag is heated by heating a liquid surrounding the side wall of the tank and below the bottom of the tank so that the solvent in the bag will vaporize. A tube leading out of the tank carries solvent vapor into a heat exchanger where the vapor is condensed to form clean, liquid solvent, and the liquid solvent is collected in a reservoir. A pump is coupled to the reservoir for pumping liquid solvent to the tap at the sink. The bag can be disposed of after the solvent has been vaporized therefrom. The heating means has an expansion chamber for allowing expansion of the heating liquid as it is heated. The apparatus provides a solvent reclaiming and cleaning station near a location where articles to be cleaned are used.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Manuel G Pastor