Claims
- 1. A method of stripping contaminants from a filter comprising the steps of:
- subjecting the filter to a negative gauge pressure;
- stripping contaminants from the filter by applying superheated solvent vapor to the filter while maintaining the negative gauge pressure, whereby the negative gauge pressure and the superheated solvent vapor combine to vaporize liquid contaminants embedded in the filter.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: heating the filter prior to subjecting the filter to the negative gauge pressure.
- 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein applying superheated vapor includes applying superheated vapor composed of a material being removed from the filter.
- 4. A method of stripping contaminants from an activated carbon filter, comprising the steps of:
- subjecting the activated carbon filter to a negative gauge pressure;
- stripping contaminants from the filter by applying superheated solvent vapor to the filter while maintaining the negative gauge pressure, whereby the negative gauge pressure and the superheated solvent vapor combine to vaporize liquid contaminants embedded in the filter.
- 5. The method according to claim 4, further including the step of: heating the filter prior to subjecting the filter to the negative gauge pressure.
- 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein applying superheated vapor includes applying superheated vapor composed of a material being removed from the filter.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/281,303 filed Jul. 27, 1994 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,025 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/053,161 filed Apr. 26, 1993 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,876 which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/787,935 filed Nov. 5, 1991 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,507.
US Referenced Citations (22)
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
787935 |
Nov 1991 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
281303 |
Jul 1994 |
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Parent |
53161 |
Apr 1993 |
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