Resource management system for inline cleaning

January 10, 2012

The Trek Liquid Lock from Stoelting is an integrated resource management system for conveyorized inline cleaning. It provides high-throughput, precision cleaning of various parts, including electronics, optics, stampings, and castings.

According to the manufacturer, the system saves cleaning agent, water, and power and helps minimize the environmental impact of the cleaning process.

The technology encloses the spray stage of an inline cleaner with a laminar flow that locks the atomized and aerosoled cleaning agent within the confines of the locked wash zone. The liquid that comprises the locks is the same fluid being sprayed in the wash stage, which is pumped from the wash stage reservoir and cascades over specially designed weirs to enclose the entire spray zone. The only way in and out are through the liquid locks.

Atomized and aerosoled cleaning agent solution drawn into the laminar flow of the liquid locks rejoins the rest of the fluid in the wash stage reservoir. This locking process helps reduce the exhaust requirement for the cleaning system, thus reducing emissions of cleaning agent and water while minimizing the environmental impact of the cleaning process.

The technology was developed for semiaqueous inline cleaning that uses terpenes or aliphatic hydrocarbon cleaning agents to remove rosin-based flux from printed circuit boards. It allows hydrocarbon cleaning agents to be sprayed in air without creating a combustion atmosphere, thus eliminating the need for nitrogen inerting or other means to reduce direct sources of ignition typically associated with spraying hydrocarbons.

Stoelting * 800-558-5807 * www.stoelting.com