Autoclavable bucketless cleaning system

Abstract

An autoclavable bucketless cleaning system. The system includes an autoclavable vessel with an inside for storing fluid under pressure and with a first connection point and a second connection point disposed at an outside of the vessel, an autoclavable outlet regulator assembly for dispensing fluid from the vessel and removably connected to the vessel at the first connection point so as to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, and an autoclavable inlet regulator assembly for pressurizing the vessel and removably connected to the vessel at the second connection point to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a system for performing cleaning operations in cleanroom environments. More particularly, the present invention relates to a washing system that is bucketless and completely autoclavable and has improved safety features.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many industries require controlled environments that are free from contaminants, such as in surgical suites in hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing facilities and laboratories, medical device manufacturing facilities, and micro-electronics manufacturing facilities. Such industries utilize cleanrooms to provide environments in which dust, small particles and other contaminants are reduced. Cleanrooms can function effectively only when every effort is taken to maintain the level of control necessary to preclude contamination in their controlled environments. Contamination most often is caused by workers in the cleanroom and / or by items brought in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]In view of the foregoing, it is a non-limiting object of the present invention to provide an autoclavable bucketless cleaning system that includes an autoclavable vessel with an inside for storing fluid under pressure and with a first connection point and a second connection point disposed at an outside of the vessel, an autoclavable outlet regulator assembly for dispensing fluid from the vessel and removably connected to the vessel at the first connection point so as to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, and an autoclavable inlet regulator assembly for pressurizing the vessel and removably connected to the vessel at the second connection point to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel.

[0022]It is another non-limiting object of the present invention to provide a method of performing a cleaning operation with an autoclavable bucketless cleaning system that includes placing a cleaning solution in an inside of an autoclavable vessel where the vessel includes a first connection point and a second connection point disposed at an outside of the vessel, removably connecting an autoclavable outlet regulator assembly on the vessel at the first connection point so the outlet regulator assembly is in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, removably connecting an autoclavable inlet regulator assembly on the vessel at the second connection point so the inlet regulator assembly is in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, pressurizing the inside of the vessel via the inlet regulator assembly, dispensing cleaning solution from the inside of the vessel via the outlet regulator assembly to clean a designated area, removing any pressurized gas that remains inside the vessel after the designated area is cleaned, removing any cleaning solution that remains inside the vessel after the designated area is cleaned, and autoclaving each of the vessel, the outlet regulator assembly, and the inlet regulator assembly.

Problems solved by technology

Contamination most often is caused by workers in the cleanroom and / or by items brought into the cleanroom.

The problems associated with keeping these rooms clean have not been easily solved.

Maintaining a cleaning system that is meaningful, manageable and defendable, however, becomes complex in production areas based on a multitude of variables.

Although sprayers, mops with buckets and foggers have all been utilized in varying capacities and with varying success in cleanroom applications, the more of these separate components that are introduced into the controlled environment of a cleanroom, the greater the likelihood of introducing contaminants into the controlled environment.

Even when few components are introduced into a cleanroom, the likelihood of introducing contaminants along with the components increases every time a component must be removed and re-introduced into the controlled environment during the cleaning operation.

For example, the use of a mop with a bucket results in “dirty water” mopping, which may actually contribute to the spread of contaminants.

This not only increases the likelihood of introducing contaminants into the cleanroom, it also increases the volume of cleaning agents required to complete the cleaning operation.

The use of compressed air in a pressure vessel 2 creates many potential dangers arising from a potential sudden release of the pressure.

This is not only an unnecessarily complicated configuration, it also poses certain safety risks.

These components, therefore, can trap bacteria therein, which will adversely effect a subsequent cleaning operation using the system, thereby reducing the reliability and control of the system.

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