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:
Apr. 13, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2003
Goodarz Ahmadi, Potsdam, NY (US);
Paul E. Lewis, San Jose, CA (US);
Adel George Tannous, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Khalid Makhamreh, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Keith H. Compton, San Jose, CA (US);
NanoClean Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A cryogenic cleaner for and a method of performing cleaning of a surface that must be substantially free of contaminants utilizing a multi-stage, multi-mode filtered carbon dioxide-containing cleaning medium. Multiple stages and multiple types of filtration/purification are provided to remove contaminants such as hydrocarbons from the medium. In accordance with preferred embodiments, a filtering/purification process is provided that desirably utilizes one or more of: condensation of the hydrocarbon; particulate filtration; chemical filtration using activated filters; and catalytic oxidation. In certain embodiments, a resiliently mounted nozzle is provided for spraying a cryogenic cleaning medium on the surface. The nozzle may be driven in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined amplitude and frequency so the nozzle spray is delivered in a manner to provide pulsing of the spray and to provide as “snow plow” effect on contaminants as the spray delivers the cleaning medium against the surface. The surface is transported past the nozzle, and the cleaning occurs in an enclosed controlled environment.