Patent ID: 7424892
Filing Date: 2008-09-16
Classification: B08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for safely cleaning live equipment, the apparatus comprising: heating means for heating a water-based solution to produce steam and for heating said steam to produce superheated steam, comprising an output; a grounding element for grounding said apparatus; an electrically non-conducting conduit having an output and an input connected to the output of the heating means, the conduit having a flexible portion and wherein that said flexible portion: withstands an AC phase-to-neutral voltage of 450 kV/2.7 meters of flexible portion, at a frequency of 60 Hz, under dry conditions; withstands an AC phase-to-neutral voltage of 240 kV/2.7 meters of flexible portion, at a frequency of 60 Hz, under wet conditions similar to rain having a conductivity of 15 μS/cm; withstands a switching voltage of 850 kV/2.7 meters of flexible portion, under said wet conditions; and allows a maximum conducting current of 2 mA when subjected to an AC phase-to-neutral voltage of 240 kV/2.7 meters of flexible portion, under dry conditions while carrying superheated steam; the apparatus further comprising a nozzle connected to the output of the electrically non-conducting conduit for concentrating superheated steam into a pressurized jet usable for cleaning the live equipment; and an electrically non-conducting telescopic boom supporting the electrically non-conducting conduit and configured for positioning the nozzle near the live equipment to be cleaned, wherein the electrically non-conducting telescopic boom comprises one or more electrically non-conducting telescopic sections and withstands an AC phase-to-neutral voltage of 450 kV/2.7 meters of electrically non-conducting telescopic boom, at a frequency of 60 Hz, under dry conditions; withstands an AC phase-to-neutral voltage of 240 kV/2.7 meters of electrically non-conducting telescopic boom, at a frequency of 60 Hz, under wet conditions similar to rain having a conductivity of 15 μS/cm; and withstands a switching voltage of 850 kV/2.7 meters of electrically non-conducting telescopic boom, under said wet conditions.