Patent ID: 6579576
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B06B,B08B,H05K

Abstract:
A method of treating a substrate with fluid, said method comprising:providing a housing defining a chamber therein; providing fluid to said chamber of said housing at an established rate such that said fluid will provide chemical action and will move through said chamber, be maintained at an established level within said chamber, and will include vortex regions of turbulent flow and a boundary layer adjacent at least one of said vortex regions and substantially not including vortices of said fluid therein; moving a substrate through said chamber of said housing in an established direction along a path of travel and at an established rate such that said substrate will be exposed to both said vortex regions and said boundary layer of said fluid moving within said chamber for an established time period; and providing vibrational energy to said fluid moving within said chamber to enhance the treatment of said substrate by said fluid by increasing said chemical action of said fluid, said vibrational energy being provided by partly submerging means for providing said vibrational energy within said fluid and activating said means while so partly submerged and while said means is also positioned immediately adjacent the means for providing said fluid to said chamber along said path of travel, while also maintaining said means for providing said vibrational energy in a non-contacting relationship with said housing, said boundary layer of said fluid being positioned directly below said means for providing said vibrational energy along said path of travel and substantially between said at least one of said vortex regions of said fluid and said means for providing said vibrational energy.