GB2153395A

GB2153395A - Pressure washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2153395A
Application number: GB08502359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Anthony Morton Maskell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-01
Filing date: 1985-01-30
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: GB2153395B; GB8502359D0

Abstract

A washing machine with applications also in tanning, dyeing and impregnation of fabrics, including leather, in which pressure applied through the wall of a waterproof bag 2 within a pressure vessel 1 is used to accelerate washing and other processes, as well as the removal of water. Where the pressure vessel is of flexible material, the equipment is easily packed away; and where the case is rigid, a vacuum can be used to assist in the transport of liquors into and out of the machine, as well as assist final drying by removing water-vapour made more volatile by reduced pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Minimum water-use washing machine using a flexible bag within a pressure vessel This invention relates to a clothes washing machine which may also be applied to other processes where fabrics are treated with solutions, such as tanning, dyeing and impregnation.

There are many forms of washing machine, but most use violent mechanical action to get the washing water and washing agent into and out of the spaces between the fibres of the fabric. To prevent the mechanical action causing felting or damage, large amounts of water are used which in turn uses a lot of heat; for increasing temperature is the usual means of accelerating the reactions. This invention employs hydrostatic pressure applied through the wall of a flexible waterproof bag to stimulate solution and the removal of the liquors.

Since the pressure is generated by positive action pump, the same pump may be used to generate a partial vacuum to cause the bag to collapse under atmospheric pressure to assist dewatering, or when applied to both sides of the bag to allow the remaining water to be removed as vapour.

According to the present invention there is provided a pressure vessel containing a flexible waterproof bag. There is a removeable lid through which the clothes to be washed are loaded into the space inside the bag. There is a connection to the pressure vessel so that compressed air, gas or hydraulic pressure or vacuum may be applied to the space between the pressure vessel and the bag.

There is also a valve through which the washing water is admitted and expelled from the inside of the bag.

In its simplest form, the device is small with a flexible outer case, for easy packing away, with pressure provided by a car tyre pump, but no possibility to employ vacuum. More sophisticated versions will be electric and automatic.

A specific embodiment of the invention will be described here by way of example. This machine is an intermediate type, intended for use on a domestic draining board. It is powered by a footoperated pump which consists of a squat pneumatic cylinder with a spring-extended double-acting piston and valves enabling it to deliver compressed air or vacuum. The drawing shows a diagrammatic vertical section through the device, but omitting the pump.

Referring to the drawing, the machine comprises a pressure vessel 1 containing a flexible waterproof bag 2; access to the inside of the bag is via lid 3.

There is a transparent water receiver 4 which is connected to the vessel through valve 5. Water is expelled from the machine through valve 6.

Pressure or vaccuum is admitted to the space between the pressure vessel and the outside of the bag through valve 8, and/or to the space inside the bag through valve 9. Valve 10 is for equalising with atmosphere whenever necessary. There is a perforated column 11 up the middle of the machine through which water passes in and out and against which the clothes are squeezed by the bag when dewatering.

The operation of the machine is as follows:- The clothes are loaded and the lid closed.

Washing water and the washing agent are mixed in the receiver and drawn through valve 5 by suction applied through valve 9, all the other valves staying closed. Valves 5 and 9 are shut and pressure is applied through valve 8. The clothes are then soaked under pressure before the liquor is returned to the receiver. The process is repeated a number of times before the liquor is expelled through valve 6.

Similarly a number of rinses take place before vacuum is applied through valves 8 and 9 together to remove water vapour without compression.

Valve 10 is opened before the lid, and the clean dry clothes are removed.

1. A pressure washing machine comprising a pressure vessel containing a flexible waterproof bag with a lid for loading the clothes to be washed into the bag. Hydrostatic pressure is applied to the space between the case and the bag for the purpose of insuring intimate contact between the goods to be washed and the washing solution, accelerating dissolving reactions and for removing the washing and rinsing liquors.

2. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided a strainer, perforated plate or perforated column to prevent the clothes being washed from inhibiting the access or egress of the liquors involved into and out of the space within the bag.

3. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the introduction of vacuum facilitates dewatering and the removal of water vapour.

4. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the case is of flexible material, through not elastic, so that the machine may be packed away more easily.

5. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 provided with a liquor receiver to hold the process liquors when they are not inside the machine.

6. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 and 5 with power operated pump(s) andlor valves.

7. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 with programmeable automatic controls.

8. A pressure washing machine as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 4 with power operated pump or pumps.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Minimum water-use washing machine using a flexible bag within a pressure vessel This invention relates to a clothes washing machine which may also be applied to other processes where fabrics are treated with solutions, such as tanning, dyeing and impregnation. There are many forms of washing machine, but most use violent mechanical action to get the washing water and washing agent into and out of the spaces between the fibres of the fabric. To prevent the mechanical action causing felting or damage, large amounts of water are used which in turn uses a lot of heat; for increasing temperature is the usual means of accelerating the reactions. This invention employs hydrostatic pressure applied through the wall of a flexible waterproof bag to stimulate solution and the removal of the liquors. Since the pressure is generated by positive action pump, the same pump may be used to generate a partial vacuum to cause the bag to collapse under atmospheric pressure to assist dewatering, or when applied to both sides of the bag to allow the remaining water to be removed as vapour. According to the present invention there is provided a pressure vessel containing a flexible waterproof bag. There is a removeable lid through which the clothes to be washed are loaded into the space inside the bag. There is a connection to the pressure vessel so that compressed air, gas or hydraulic pressure or vacuum may be applied to the space between the pressure vessel and the bag. There is also a valve through which the washing water is admitted and expelled from the inside of the bag. In its simplest form, the device is small with a flexible outer case, for easy packing away, with pressure provided by a car tyre pump, but no possibility to employ vacuum. More sophisticated versions will be electric and automatic. A specific embodiment of the invention will be described here by way of example. This machine is an intermediate type, intended for use on a domestic draining board. It is powered by a footoperated pump which consists of a squat pneumatic cylinder with a spring-extended double-acting piston and valves enabling it to deliver compressed air or vacuum. The drawing shows a diagrammatic vertical section through the device, but omitting the pump. Referring to the drawing, the machine comprises a pressure vessel 1 containing a flexible waterproof bag 2; access to the inside of the bag is via lid 3. There is a transparent water receiver 4 which is connected to the vessel through valve 5. Water is expelled from the machine through valve 6. Pressure or vaccuum is admitted to the space between the pressure vessel and the outside of the bag through valve 8, and/or to the space inside the bag through valve 9. Valve 10 is for equalising with atmosphere whenever necessary. There is a perforated column 11 up the middle of the machine through which water passes in and out and against which the clothes are squeezed by the bag when dewatering. The operation of the machine is as follows:- The clothes are loaded and the lid closed. Washing water and the washing agent are mixed in the receiver and drawn through valve 5 by suction applied through valve 9, all the other valves staying closed. Valves 5 and 9 are shut and pressure is applied through valve 8. The clothes are then soaked under pressure before the liquor is returned to the receiver. The process is repeated a number of times before the liquor is expelled through valve 6. Similarly a number of rinses take place before vacuum is applied through valves 8 and 9 together to remove water vapour without compression. Valve 10 is opened before the lid, and the clean dry clothes are removed. CLAIMS