Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An apparatus for separating contaminants from small parts comprises a separation chamber having an upper end and a lower end, and a separation-fluid source in fluid communication with the separation chamber. The separation-fluid source is adapted to direct a pressurized separation-fluid current toward the upper end of the separation chamber. The upper end of the separation chamber has an opening for receiving the small parts, so that the small parts, upon passing through the opening, will fall toward the lower end of the separation chamber against the separation-fluid current while the separation-fluid current removes the contaminants from the small parts and carries the contaminants out of the separation chamber via the upper end of the separation chamber. A method of cleaning contaminants from small parts comprises causing the small parts to fall toward the lower end of a cleaning chamber against a generally upwardly-directed pressurized cleaning-fluid flow located within the cleaning chamber, and separating the contaminants from the small parts by permitting the cleaning-fluid flow to remove the contaminants from the small parts and carry the contaminants toward the upper end of the cleaning chamber.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim