Patent ID: 6146466
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: B08B,B24C,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a component, said apparatus comprising:a) a carbon dioxide cleaning spray device for generating a carbon dioxide cleaning spray at a first time to clean the surface of the component, wherein said cleaning spray device generates a first static charge on the surface of the component during a first cleaning; andb) a programmable power supply that has outputs respectively coupled to ground and to the component for selectively biasing the component with a second static charge which is opposite in polarity to said first static charge generated during said first cleaning of the component by the carbon dioxide cleaning spray device, wherein said second static charge reverses the polarity of the first static charge on the surface of the component, such that contaminating particles bound to the surface of said component are released, and wherein the carbon dioxide cleaning spray device generates said carbon dioxide cleaning spray a second time to clean the component during a second cleaning, such that said second cleaning removes said contaminating particles from said surface.