Patent ID: 7487806

Claim:
A source liquid supply apparatus comprising: a) a source of pressurization gas; b) a source of cleaning fluid; c) a source of purge gas; d) a prescribed facility; e) a leaktight source tank comprising a discharge port and a pressurization port, wherein said source tank contains a source liquid; f) a pressurization gas conduit, wherein said pressurization gas conduit connects said pressurization port and said source of pressurization gas; g) a flow-switching mechanism that is attached to said discharge port, wherein said flow-switching mechanism comprises; i) a first port, wherein said first port is connected to said discharge port, ii) a second port and a third port, which are connected to each other through an intermediate flow passage and which are connected to said first port, and iii) a valve member that can produce an isolated state in which communication between said first port, said second port, and said third ports is closed off while communication between said second port and said third port is maintained; h) a feed conduit that connects said second port to said prescribed facility; i) a cleaning fluid conduit that connects said feed conduit with said source of cleaning fluid; j) a purge gas conduit that connects said feed conduit to said source of purge gas; and k) an exhaust conduit that connects to said third port.