Patent ID: 9541287
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: F23J,F27B,G01N,H05B

Claim:
1. A cleaning system for cleaning the combustion tube of an induction furnace of an analytical instrument, the cleaning system comprising: an induction furnace having a first end and a second end; a combustion tube, said combustion tube positioned between said first and second ends of said induction furnace, said combustion tube having an inner cylindrical wall and first and second ends; a vacuum source selectively coupled to said first end of said induction furnace for drawing a vacuum on the induction furnace at said first end; an induction coil surrounding said combustion tube for combusting an analytical sample positioned within said combustion tube; a mechanical cleaning brush for abrading said inner cylindrical wall of said combustion tube; a source of pressurized gas selectively coupled to said second end of said induction furnace and wherein said vacuum source is coupled to said first end of said induction furnace by a pinch valve, which is momentarily opened when said source of pressurized gas is coupled to provide a pressure differential between said second and first ends of said combustion tube; and a drive coupled to said mechanical cleaning brush for selectively moving said cleaning brush into the combustion tube from said second end while said vacuum source removes debris from the induction furnace through said first end.