Patent Number: 051788233
Section: summary

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of this invention is primarily designed for use by the nuclear industry for decontamination of radioactive contaminated surfaces. The apparatus consists of a number of operational stages, one of which provides a continuous decontaminating liquid flow ranging from ambient temperatures up to +500 degree F. Suitable flow, temperature and pressure valves and gauges are provided for permitting the operator to select the optimum parameters for the clean up being performed. Included in the operational stages is a single vacuum power unit for creating an operational controlled recovery vacuum flow throughout the entire apparatus. Further stages of the recovery and discharge system including a critical mass collector and separator, demister, filters and absorbers, all having the construction and configuration necessary for performing the specific cleaning application as required. Simultaneously with the remote cleaning activity the recovery vacuum flow induced throughout the operational stages will pick up the liquid laden contamination removed from the surface being cleaned and transfer it to the collector and filtering units that in turn separates the air and liquid mixture with each being separately filtered and contained for disposal. PRIOR ART Past devices of a similar type to that described in this application have included a pressurized heat cleaning liquid and dispensing means associated with a vacuum recovery system such as is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,030, dated Oct. 13, 1959. While these prior devices also include operational controls, such controls are activated by the inherent functioning of the associated parts, such as a pressure relief valve controlling the heating and pressurizing of the cleaning liquid. The object of the present invention is to provide operational controls which are individually and collectively associated with each segment of the system and which are responsive to the results achieved thereby. Considering the decontaminating of radioactive material, the controls for the accumulation of a critical mass, which is the product of the operation of the system, is the principal object of this invention. Thus the collector of the decontaminated material is provided with a operational control responsive to a critical mass volume. The filter and demisting of the collected contaminated material is provided with a operational control responsive to a critical mass volume. Each of these controls, activated by the results of the operation of the system, will disable the system by interrupting the recovery vacuum source. The above object is achieved by the new and novel arrangement and association of structure hereinafter described. Other objects of the invention will be hereinafter made apparent.