GB648609A - Improvements in methods of washing textile material - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of washing contaminated textile materials comprises subjecting the material to the action of a liquid washing medium and passing high intensity supersonic waves into the liquid medium at a frequency exceeding 16,000 cycles per second. A machine for carrying out this action comprises a tub 12 having a hinged cover 13 which is resiliently supported by means of rubber blocks 16 on legs 14 within a casing 10 and has an inlet pipe 18, a drain pipe 22 and an overflow pipe 24 each of which is connected to the tub through a rubber gasket to prevent transmission of vibration. A bank of supersonic tube vibrators 28 preferably for a frequency between 16,000-30,000 <PICT:0648609/IV (c)/1> <PICT:0648609/IV (c)/2> cycles per second is attached to the tub bottom and single tube vibrators 27 may be mounted in its walls if required. The bank of vibrators 28, Fig. 6, comprises a ring 30 of relatively large mass which is bolted to the tub bottom and within which is a diaphragm 32 made of a plurality of blocks 35 which are connected together and to the ring 30 by thin webs. Each block 35 has attached to it a magneto-striction vibrator comprising a nickel tube 27 and an energizing coil 29. Piezo-crystal vibrators may be used as an alternative. The vibrators are energized by a magneto-strictively controlled valve oscillator followed by an amplifier and this is provided with three switches, one for manual control, one for control by an automatic timer and one operated by the cover 13 of the tub so that the vibrators can operate only when the cover is closed. The tub may have guide rollers over which a conveyer belt or a strip of textile material may be passed, this arrangement allowing continuous cleaning, the speed of the belt or strip being adjusted so that it remains on the tub for a sufficient time. Specifications 407,704, [Group XXXIX], and 587,214 are referred to.ALSO:<PICT:0648609/III/1> <PICT:0648609/III/2> A method of washing contaminated textile material comprises subjecting the material to the action of a liquid-washing medium and passing high intensity supersonic waves into the liquid medium at a frequency exceeding 16,000 cycles per second. A machine for carrying out this action comprises a tub 12 having a hinged cover 13 which is resiliently supported by means of rubber blocks 16 on legs 14 within a casing 10 and has an inlet pipe 18, a drain pipe 22 and an overflow pipe 24 each of which is connected to the tub through a rubber gasket to prevent transmission of vibration. A bank of supersonic tube vibrators 28 preferably for a frequency between 16,000-30,000 cycles per second is attached to the tub bottom and single tube vibrators 27 may be mounted in its walls if required. The bank of vibrators 28, Fig. 6, comprises a ring 30 of relatively large mass which is bolted to the tub bottom and within which is a diaphragm 32 made of a plurality of blocks 35 which are connected together and to the ring 30 by thin webs. Each block 35 has attached to it a magneto-striction vibrator comprising a nickel tube 27 and an energizing coil 29. Piezo-crystal vibrators may be used as an alternative. The vibrators are energized by a magneto-strictively controlled valve oscillator followed by an amplifier and this is provided with three switches one for manual control, one for control by an automatic timer and one operated by the cover 13 of the tub so that the vibrators can operate only when the cover is closed. The tub may have guide rollers over which a conveyer belt or a strip of textile material may be passed, this arrangement allowing continuous cleaning, the speed of the belt or strip being adjusted so that it remains on the tub for a sufficient time. Specifications 407,704, [Group XXXIX], and 587,214, [Group IV], are referred to.