Microbiological parts washer

• Main Authors: MCCLURE, JAMES C, MC NALLY, THOMAS W, MARKS, FRANK A, LELAND STRANGE, J, MEARS, ERIC L, WHITEMAN, G. ROB
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 08.05.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; CLEANING; CLEANING IN GENERAL; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SEPARATION; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE; VINEGAR; WINE

An apparatus includes a first mechanical component for cleaning parts by contacting the parts with a fluid, and a second mechanical component for biodegrading the organic matter removed from the parts. The first mechanical component is in communication with the second mechanical component so that the fluid recirculates between the first and second mechanical components. A method of washing parts including the steps of placing an article in a first chamber (20), circulating a washing liquid (82) from a second reservoir (80) to the first reservoir (20) to wash the surfaces of the article in contact with the liquid, passing the washing liquid (82) through a porous medium (38), draining the washing liquid from the first chamber (20) into the second chamber (80), removing organic matter in the washing liquid (82) and recirculating the washing liquid from the second chamber (80) to the first chamber (20), is also provided.