Patent ID: 6051421
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A cleaning system for cleaning articles with a liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture including at least one liquified gaseous fluid in its subcritical state, the cleaning system comprising:an entrance chamber having an entrance hatch for receiving articles to be cleaned into the cleaning system;an exit chamber having an exit hatch for removing the articles which have been cleaned from the cleaning system;pressurization means for pressurizing the entrance chamber and the exit chamber with the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture in a gaseous form;depressurizing means for depressurizing the entrance chamber and the exit chamber;at least one cleaning chamber connected to the entrance chamber by a first hatch and connected to the exit chamber by a second hatch;recirculation means for maintaining the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture within the at least one cleaning chamber at a temperature and pressure at which the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture is in a subcritical state and has a liquid/gas interface;agitation means within the at least one cleaning chamber for agitating the articles to be cleaned within the at least one cleaning chamber; andwherein the cleaning system operates in a continuous sequence.