Claims
- 1. A method for cleaning a filter testing device comprising switching means, external connections and internal volumes which can come in contact with a fluid from a filter that is to be tested,
said method comprising the steps of:
selecting at least one internal volume to be cleaned; cleaning the selected internal volume(s) by switching the switching means to contact the selected internal volume(s) with a cleaning fluid; and discharging the cleaning fluid from the selected internal volume(s).
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning and the discharging steps are carried out successively.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising switching the switching means to dry the selected internal volume(s) after discharging the cleaning fluid.
- 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the drying is effected using compressed air at a pressure of at least 1 bar.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning step is carried out by filling the selected internal volume(s) with the cleaning fluid and subsequently rinsing the selected internal volume(s).
- 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the rinsing is effected by continuously rinsing the selected internal volume(s) with new cleaning fluid for a predetermined period of time (t2).
- 7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the rinsing is carried out only after a fixed period of time (t1) has elapsed after filling the selected internal volume(s) with cleaning fluid.
- 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said fixed period of time (t1) is 30 minutes.
- 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the switching means comprise pneumatically switchable valves.
- 10. A computer program product, comprising program parts for implementing the method of claim 1.
- 11. A filter testing device for testing a filter or filter system, said device comprising switching means, external connections, and internal volumes which can come in contact with a fluid from a filter or filter system to be tested, wherein:
the switching means and the external connections are in fluid communication via the internal volumes, and the fluid testing device includes means for cleaning at least one of said internal volumes, said cleaning means including means for selecting the at least one internal volume to be cleaned from among said internal volumes.
- 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said external connections is connected to a supply of cleaning fluid so that the cleaning fluid can be supplied said at least one external connection to the fluid testing device for cleaning at least one selected internal volume.
- 13. A device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said external connections is connected to means for discharging cleaning fluid from selected internal volumes.
- 14. A device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said external connections is connected to a source of compressed air for drying cleaned internal volumes.
- 15. A device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said external connections is connectable to an external reference tank.
- 16. A device according to claim 11, wherein the switching means are pneumatic switching means.
- 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic switching means are pneumatically operable valves.
- 18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic switching means comprise pneumatically operable proportional valves.
- 19. A device according to claim 11, wherein the internal volumes include:
connecting lines between the switching means, connecting lines between the switching means and the external connections, and volumes in the switching means.
- 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the internal volumes further include:
an internal reference tank, and connecting lines between the internal reference tank and at least one switching means.
- 21. A device according to claim 11, wherein the internal volumes comprise parts or lines made of high-grade steel or polytetrafluoroethylene.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
101 35 785.0 |
Jul 2001 |
DE |
|
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of international patent application no. PCT/EP02/03037, filed Mar. 19, 2002 designating the United States of America and published in German as WO 03/011428, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Priority is claimed based on Federal Republic of Germany patent application no. DE 101 35 785.0, filed Jul. 23, 2001.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/EP02/03037 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10762553 |
Jan 2004 |
US |