Patent ID: 6572457
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B24C

Abstract:
A humidity control system for a cleaning chamber of a cryogenic cleaning system, the cleaning chamber having a workspace defined therein within which a workpiece may be removably placed for cleaning during a cryogenic cleaning cycle, the workspace having a partly gaseous atmosphere therein and the cleaning system having an airflow path defined therethrough, the cryogenic cleaning system further including a spray nozzle located within the cleaning chamber and connected to a cleaning media source for producing a stream of solid or liquid crygenic spray entrained by a gas phase for cryogenically cleaning the workpiece during a cleaning cycle, said humidity control system comprising a dehumidifier of an air handling system located in the airflow path and through which the workspace atmosphere is circulated for removing moisture from the gaseous part of the workspace atmosphere and to reduce the humidity in the workspace without having to purge the cleaning chamber prior to initiation of a cleaning cycle.