The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 30, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 23, 1994
Randy L Ranes, League City, TX (US);
United Laboratories, Inc., St. Charles, IL (US);
Abstract
A pressurized closed flow cleaning system for cleaning the interior surface of industrial processing equipment. A pressure vessel contains an aqueous cleaning solution including the combination of enzymes and a surfactant. A supply conduit connects the pressure vessel with equipment to be cleaned and serves to supply the cleaning solution to the equipment, while a return conduit connects the equipment to the pressure vessel and acts to return the cleaning solution to the pressure vessel, thus providing a closed flow system. The solution is circulated through the closed flow system by a pump located in the supply conduit and the aqueous solution is heated to a temperature, preferably in the range of about 220.degree. F., to 260.degree. F., by a heat exchanger which is located downstream of the pump. Flow of the heated cleaning solution through the equipment to be cleaned will remove oil and solid contaminants. The system also includes a reverse flow manifold which interconnects the supply conduit and the return conduit and acts to selectively reverse the flow of cleaning solution through the equipment. The solution returned to the pressure vessel is maintained in a relatively quiescent state to permit the oil to settle out as an upper layer in the pressure vessel and an oil drain conduit is connected to the vessel for selectively draining oil from the vessel. The pressure vessel also includes a provision for removing benzene and other hydrocarbon gases from the circulating cleaning solution.