GB1086195A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the dry cleaning of materials - Google Patents

Abstract

1,086,195. Dry cleaning apparatus. I. VICTOR and O. VICTOR, [trading as RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CO.] Sept. 11, 1964 [Sept. 13, 1963], No. 19430/67. Divided out of 1,086,194. Heading D1A. Apparatus for dry cleaning and recovering the solvent used therein comprises a combined washer and drier 10, a container 22 to supply a volatile dry cleaning solvent thereto, means for cooling and means for reheating the interior of 22, and a blower 44 in a closed circuit which includes 10 and 22 for circulating vapours therein. Washer/drier 10 is supplied with cleaning solvent from 22 and surfaceactive agent from 28. Soiled solvent is discharged into container 16. Duct 34 extends in a closed loop between containers 22 and 16 and comprises right hand leg 36 containing filter 40, and left hand leg 38 containing reheating chamber 52 and blower 44. Washer/ drier 10, communicating with duct 34 by conduits 54 and 56, is in parallel with 16. A refrigeration system providing transfer and recovery of solvent includes refrigerant compressor 62, first condenser (heating heat exchanger) 64 in 16, second condenser 66 in reheating chamber 52 and evaporator (cooling heat exchanger) in 22. Direct hot gas conduit 92 from compressor 62 provides defrosting means for evaporator 68 when required. Appropriate valves are provided throughout the apparatus. In a single complete operation of the apparatus new or soiled solvent is initially present in 16 in a solid or semi-solid state and garments are placed in 10. Valves 20. 26, 58 and 60 are closed and 48 and 50 opened, while the refrigeration circuit is set with 80 and 94 closed and 76 and 84 open, placing condensers 64 and 66 in container 16 and reheating chamber 52 respectively in series relationship. Operation of fan 44 and compressor 62 causes transfer of heated solvent from 16 to 22, condensation of the solvent in 22 and return of the gas through 52 to 16 until sufficient solvent is collected as liquid in 22. Valve 26 is then opened and the garments are cleaned in rotating washer 10, if desired in the presence of surfactant from 28. Then, soiled liquid is drained into 16, valves 48 and 50 are closed, 58 and 60 are opened and valve 80 alone is opened in the refrigeration circuit to provide the drying circuit. Under these conditions the gas within the system is passed through the closed loop comprising 10, 22 and 52 and vaporised solvent continuously condenses round coil 68 in 22. Solvent solidifying on coil 68 is melted as necessary by hot refrigerant gas from 92; substantially all the solvent is thus recovered in 22 and is returned through the system to container 16. Volatile dry cleaning solvent compositions suitable for use with this apparatus are described and claimed in the parent Specification 1,086,194.