US1669235A - Dry-cleaning system - Google Patents

Description

May, 1928.

J. 'i'. FEN'roN DRY CLEANING s`YsTEM Original Filed 0st. ll, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1928. 1,669,235

J. T. FENTON DRY CLEANING SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 1l, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MPE Gam/sr Ol/ff-Hl TER-646 J. T. FENTON DRY CLEANING SYSTEM May 8,v 1928.

Original Filed Oct.. 1l, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @Www Patented May 8, 1928.

PATIENT OFFICE..

JAIFS '.ll. FENTO, 0F #ALT un UITY, UTAH.

nar-emunio srsrim.

i Application fled October 11, 1981, serial No. 507,017. Renewed November 19, 1927.

The present invention has for its object, economizing in dryv cleaning of textile materials, such as soiled garments and thev like, while making the c eaning process more complete and more effective, and will sub-` stantiall do awa with the necessity of distilling t. e -dry c eaning fluid. The invention involves both the process and the apparatus for accomplishing the stated results.

In accordance with the present invention, the textile material, such as soiled clothing, is put into a washer referably a rotary drum'washer of any of t e well known ty es which are on the market. Into this w er is run a cleaning fluid,l such as gasoline, naphtha or other light hydrocarbon solvent, or mixtures of such materials with com onents capable of reducing the inilammability thereby, such as carbon tetrachloride, chlorinated ethanes, chloroformor other like materials. Preferably a continuous stream of the cleansing fluid runs into the washer, while a .corresponding stream Hows out of the washer, to a purifying system. It is advisable to so regulate the inlet and outflow of cleansin liquid as to. maintain a suiiiciently uni orm quantit of cleansing fluid in the washer. The 'rty cleaning fluid drawn out is preferably run rst through a storage tank for equahzin the flow ofthe liquid through the system. rom the storage tank the'soiled liquid is run into 'an agitator tank in which it is avitated with a solid material having good adsorbing properties, for example, ullers earth. The li uid after being thoroughly agitated with t eadsorbing material is then separated from the adsorbing material and from the adsorbed impuri# ties which are taken up by the adsorbing material. The puried liquid is -then run back into the washer, making the processv cyclic. It is notnecessary in ordinary washing operations tc go to the expense of distilling the washing liquid, which operation entails considerable expense for both apparatus, heat and attendance. 'It is, of course,

- understood that additional quantities of the cleansing iiuid may be introduced from time to time, to make up for small mechanical losses-and losses by evaporation. Y

ln the accompanying drawings, I have shown more or less'diagrammatically, apparatus within the scope of the present invention, for carrying out the process above.

brietly described. ln said drawings Fig. 1

is a side view, partly in section, of apparatus which is suitable for usevin the process. Fig. 2 shows a preferred. formv ofextractor Abasket and a canvas filter for the same.

distributor shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows 'one form of attachment of riiiles to the inner tlter bag. Fig. 7 Vshows one construction of the cycloid distributor illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 shows a preferred construction of an automatic regulated feed for the clarifying material, to the agitator tank and Fig. 9

shows a detail of construction inconnection i with the said feed mechanism, Fi 9 being a view of the parts in question loo from a plane indicated by the lines 9-9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In'carrying out the process of the present invention, the soiled clothing or other material to be cleaned is put into the washer 20 which in the construction shown has an inner perforated drum 21, mounted .u on an axle 22,A rotated by suitable means, or example, the pulley 23. Gasoline or other cleaning liquid is fed to the washer, preferably in a continuous stream, by pipe 24, provided with a valve 25. The rotation of the drum 21 causes the vclothing to be tumbled about withy i asoline absorbs the gasoline, whereby the and dissolves the greases, oi s and other materials soluble in gasoline, and also on account of this action, the solid dirt is so loosened that it readily goes into suspension in the gasoline.` The liquid is drawn out from this tank, preferably in a continuous manner, through pipe 26, provided with a valve 27, leading to a' pump'28. The said nsv anA

pipe is falso prvided with 'a b -pass 29 car- Atank 40. The liquid leaves the tank 40 by pipe 41 provided with a valve 42 and with va float regulated valve 43.V The liquid flows through the pipe 41 into the spout 44 of the hopper 45. The spout 44 discharges into the upper part of the agitator. From the receptacle 46 is fed a solid adsorbing material through the spout 47 into the hopper 45, this being fed for example by the worm 49 operated by a pulley 50. The mixture of gasoline and solid in the agitator tank is agitated by means of an impeller 51 preferably located in the lower end of the central compartment 52. This central compartment or tube is held in place by the braces 53, which braces do not completely fill the cross section of the agitator tank, outside of the central pipe or casing. This central pipe is preferably also provided with perforations as shown at 54 near its lower end, in order that some liquid can be drawn in through these perforations and forced downwardly by the screw propeller 51, in order to give an additional amount of circulation and agitation in the bottom of the receptacle, and also in order to provide adequate circulation in the agitator tank, should the level of liquid therein fall below-the top of 52.-

The liquid level of the agitator tank is preferably maintained substantially uniform, by means of the float 57 and its connections 58, 59, 60 and 61, controlling the liquid valve 43. The propeller 51 is rotated at a suitable rate of speed by means of the shaft 62 on which said propeller is mounted, this shaft being driven from a pulley 63.

The liquid carrying the adsorbing material such as fullers earth, together with whatever the same has taken up in the agitator tank is fed through pipe controlled by valve 71 into a 'centrifugal separator 72. Here all solid material is separated from the gasoline, the latter owin out through pipe 74 past check valve 75 an valve 25, through pipe 24 into the vwasher 20.

The gasoline as above stated removes the greases and oils and also the solid dirt from the clot-h or other material being washed in the washer 20. When this liquid is agitated with fullers earth or like adsorbing material in the agitator tank, the fullers earth will adsorb and take up both the solid impurities and the oils and greases from the gasoline, leaving the said gasoline completely purified, and when the solid material has been separated from the gasoline in the separator 72 the said gasoline is entirely clean and may be then run back into the washer 2O.v The purification of the gasoline in this manner is so complete that I have been able to wash white clothing in gasoline which has previously been used for washing dirty overalls and other very dirty clothing, which.

gasoline has been passed through the purifying system, but which gasoline has not been redistilled.

It is to be understood that the complete purification of the gasoline with fullers earth or like adsorbing material will require a certain minimum quantity of the fullers earth per gallon of gasoline, depending upon the amount and character of impurities in the said gasoline. The clarifying material, such as fullers earth, is accordingly fed to the agitator tank preferably in a quantity regulated by the amount of gasoline being fed to the agitator tank, also the proportion of this material should bear a certain relation to the character and amount of the impurities. Accordingly the device as illus- -trated in Figs. 8 and 9 is preferably provided.

In this apparatus, power is supplied by means of the pulley 81 to a shaft.80 carrying a crank disc 82, to which is attached a crank 83, by means of asuitable' stud 84. This stud 84 may be placed in any one of a number of holes 85 located at different distances from the center of the crank disc. The other end of the crank 83 is connected to a variable stroke link 86. The variable stroke link is connected at a movable point in its length to the arm 87, the end of which is pivotally connected `to the rock arm 88, the upper end of which is rigidly secured to Shaft 89. This shaft 89, which is suitably supported in rigid bearings (not shown) is provided at its other end with a bell crank lever 90, the outer end of which is in turn. connected With a flink 91, tothe end of another bell crank lever 92, carried upon the rotary shaft 58 above referred to, which in turn is rigidly connected to the rod carrying the float 57 in the float chamber `Which is attached to the upper portion of the agitator tank. Accordingly rotation of the shaft 58 will move the arm 87 either to the right or left hand Fig. 9, thereby either lengthening or shortening the stroke of the r.link 94 the upper part of which carries a pavvlv 95 engaging `with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 96. The device is accordingly variable in its action on the ratchet wheel 96, depending upon the distance from the center of the crank disc, at which the lower end of 83 is connected, and also upon the position of the fioat 57. In this manner the amountof clarifying material introduced to the hopper 45 at each revolution of the crank disc 82 can be adjusted to meet the existing requirements, adjustment of 84 on 82 being manually made, depending upon the amount of dirt in the gasoline being treated,`

and the adjustment by the position of 87 relative to 86 being automatic depending upon the position of the float 57 In Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, I have illustrati ed details of the preferred construction of the centrifugal filter. The extractor basket 100 isof the ordinary Well known type, being perforated with numerous smal'l holes 101. Within this disc is placed a canvas filter bag 102. This filter bag is preferably sli htly smaller than the interiordimensions o the nie-nner, for example, as shown in Fig. 6. v

ln this modification a core .'lO isA placed aga-inst the inner surface of the lt'er bag, and a canvas strip 107 is placed around the same being stitched to the canvas at 108 and Mill,- Between 103 'and 102 is o space in which may be locatedv a filter felt of any de sired construction. Y ln order to impart a rotery motion to the liquid running into the rapidly rotating bi1/siret there is preferably.

provided ey cycloid distributor 112 shown in Figs. 3 and 5. This cycloid distributor may be conveniently made by laying a piece of rope ll upon the bottom of the inner lter loa-g end placing e. strip of canvas 114e upon the seine which canvas is stitched to the bottorn o-i the inner filter bag as shown at 116.

This distributor is preferably made in the forni of a cross with the, arms somewhat curved, as shown in Fig. 5, the rotation of the iilter being in the direction of the arrow in Fig., o. lt is to be understood that a. suitable cover (not shownl will be provided on the top oit the centrifugal ilter, in order to prevent eve. v eration.

dll

l have rel'erred above to the use of iullers earth vas the adsorbing material or clarifying material. The invention is not restricted to the use of this specific material, but numerous other materials acting in a similar manner may be employed, for example, pul-A verized talc or diatomaceous earth. It will be understood that the material teken up from the clothingy being cleaned includes a. number of constituents. Reference has already been made to oils and greases. ln addition to these, the gasoline will taire up numerous substances which ossess odors, such as the dried perspiration, also dirt most oi which will be found to exist in a substantially colloidal state in the cleaning liquid. -'l`he edsorbing material acts also as a coa-guleting agent coaguieting the colloidal dirt, producing relatively large masses which will be precipitated in part and will in part loe adsorbed by the coagulating agent.

'lihe use ci the coagulating adsorbing agent is entirely essential in the production vce of satisfactory results. If this is omitted, greases and "tats and oils taken up by the gasoline will simply be carried back into the washing machine, and while a :smallquantity of the dirt could be separated by simple filtration, if the agitator tank and clarifying material supplied, were omitted, the result would not be satisfactory, since the odors and greases would not be suiciently removed from the clothing. I have shown from the lower end of the agitator tank as being hemispheric in sha e.

that this shape gives the moet eiiiactive circulation in the lower part of said tank. The agitator tube in 52 is best supported by p etes 53 which are set at an angle of from to 60, in order to give a rotary motion to the liquid passing upwardly around the agitator tube. The plate 53 on the left may slope backwards and the plate 58 may 'slope forwards. As a rnodied form of constructiinfi, instead of a sino'le propeller 51located in the lower part o the agitator tube 52, I may employ two propellers one just below the top of the agitator tube in addition to the one just within the bottom of the egitator tube which is illustrated in the drawing These may be arranged to cause the liquids to travel in opposite directions, the one in the bottoni drawing the liquid downwardly and the one in the top drawing the liquid upwardly, outrof the agitator tube, and a" number of holes can be `provided in the agitator tube about midway of this height, so that the liquid in the upper part of the agite-tor tank will travel downwardly outside of the tube, through the holes above referred to and then upwardly inside of the tube, while the liquid in the lower part of the tank will travel in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig l.

The drawing illustrates a centrifugal lilter as being the preferred form of filter for use in the system. However, l call attention to the fact that other forms of filters can be employed, although less` advantageously, thus' an ordinary ilter press or a bag filter can be employed.

For supplying gasoline to the system, pipes may be provided as shown at 125 for introducing gasoline which needs to be purilill l have in the above description referred;

particularly to the use of gasoline as a cleaning fluid. lt is, of course, to be understood that various other cleaning iiuids may be likewise employed. For example, naphtha, benzine, liquid chlorides of carbon, or mixtures osuch materials.

Iii-'the preferred operation, the liquid in passing the gasoline from the major part of the agitator tank is preferably maintained a little above the top of the agitator tube 52.

In the above descri tion, I have referred to continuous cyclic ow. Continuous flow is in many cases preferred, but in some instances it is advisable to employ an intermittent fiow, that is to say, to run into the Washer, a given amount of gasoline, or the like, then rotate the washer for a while, then draw otl' all the gasoline from the washer, then run in another charge of gasoline. This mode possesses some advantages, in that it is not necessary (especially when washing very dirty greas`y articles, e. g. overalls) to run such a large amount of washing fluid through thewasher and purifying s stem.v In this event, a cyclic-intermittent ow is produced. The hand valves will be used in this system of working.

In some cases it is advisable to employ, along with the gasoline, dry-cleaners soap. This does not necessitate any changes in the system, as already described.

,In some instances the use of the adsorbing material may be omitted for a time, by

pipe 41 directly to the pipe 7() forming the inlet of the centrifugal separator. Thus, when articles are being washed which do not contain large quantities of greases, it may bc advisable to pass the asoline direct from the tank 40 through the pipe 132 provided with valve 133, to the centrifugal separator, after the first portion of the gasoline, containing the the grease has been through the agitator tank.

In some instances the operation of the agitator tank, and if desired, also the centrifugal filter may be intermittent, that is to saythe total supply of gasoline may be run through the agitator tank and centrifugal separator, into a suitable storage tank, from which the said gasoline is subsequently drawn to the washer. A

The treatment of the dirty gasoline with the adsorbing material and subsequent filtration not only purifi'es the gasoline, but also acts to revivify the grease solubility of the gasoline or other washing media. It is of course to be understood that the total amount of gasoline used can be drawn olf from the system after being subjected many times to the adsorbing material, and redistilled, for the purpose of removing any constituents which have been taken up with the lgasoline which will not be removed by the adsorbing material.

The bags used in the centrifugal filter, both at 102 and 103 are preferably made interchangeable,4 so that the same can be taken out of the centrifugal basket when desired'and clean bags substituted therefor.

I claim:

1. In dry-cleaning, the herein described process which comprises subjecting soiled Lacasse textile material containing greasy or oily material to the action of a volatile organic solvent which is substantially non-miscible with water; drawing ot the solvent with accumulated impurities; agitating the said solvent carrying impurities together with a solid material insoluble therein, which material possesses good adsorbing properties; separating the solid adsorbing material with accumulated impurities from the said solvent by liltration; and returning the solvent free from said adsorbing material and adsorbed impurities in a substantially continuous manner to .the first-mentioned step of the process, until the said textile material has beencleaned to the desired extent.

2. In dry cleaning, the herein described process which comprises subjecting soiled textile material containing greasy or oily -material to the action of a volatile organic solvent which is substantially non-miscible with water; drawing off the solvent with accumulated impurities; agitating the said solvent carrying impurities together with fullers earth; separating the fullers earth with adsorbed impurities from said solvent y by centrifugal filtration; and returning the solvent free from said adsorbing material and adsorbed impurities in a substantially continuous manner to the first-mentioned step of the process, Auntil the said textile material has been cleaned to the desired extent.

3. A system` of apparatus comprising a. washing machine, an agitator, .means for feeding solid material thereto, a separator, means for drawing olf liquid from the washing machine, means liquid to the agitator, means for varying the amount of liquid and the amount of solid material fed to the agitator according to the amount of the mixture therein, means for passing liquid from the agitator to the separator, and means'` for passing liquid from the separator back to the washing machine. f

4. A system of apparatus comprising 'a Washing machine, an agitator, means for passing liquid from the washing machine to the agitator, means for feeding solid material thereto, means for regulating the amount of liquid and solid material fed to the agitator according to the amount of the mixture therein, a centrifugal filter, means for passing' the mixture from the agitator to the centrifugal filter, and means for passing the liquid from said filter back to the washing machine.

5. A system of apparatus comprising a washing machine, an agitator, means for feeding solid material thereto, a separator; means for drawing oif liquid from said washing machine, means for feeding the said liquid to said agitator, means for passing liquid from said agitator to said separator for feeding the v,said

and means for passing liquid from said separator back to said washing machine'. v

6. A system of apparatus comprising a washing/machine, an agitator, means for feeding solid material thereto, a-centrifugal filter; means for passing liquid from said Washing machine to said agitator, means for passing liquid from saidl agitator to said centrifugal filter, and means for passing liquid from said filter back to said Washing machine. 7. A system of dry cleaning apparatus comprising a washing machine, means for maintaining a substantially uniform depth of cleaning liquid'in the Washing machine, an agitator, means for passing liquid con taining impurities from the Washing machine to the agitator, means for feeding a solid material to the agitator, means 4for regulating the amount of liquid and solid material fed to the agitator, a centrifugal filter, means for feeding the mixture of solid material and liquid containing impurities from the agitator to the centrifugal filter, and means for feeding the liquid separated from the solid material and impurities from the filter into the washing machine. f I

8. A system -of apparatus for clarifying gasoline containing impurities which comprises an agitator, means for feeding the gasoline with impurities` to the agitator, means for feeding a solid adsorbent material to theagitator, means for regulating both feeding means according to the amount of the mixture in the agitator, means for feeding the mixture to a separator, and `means for separatin the gasoline'from the solid material and t e impurities.

9. A system of apparatus for, clarifying gasoline containing impurities which comprises an agitator, means for fee-ding the A gasoline with impurities to the agitator,

means for feeding a solid adsorbent material. to the agitator, means for simultaneously and automatically re ulating both feeding meansaccording to t e amount of mixture in the agitator, means :for feeding the "mix ture to a centrifu al filter, and` means for leading the clarified gasoline from the filter,

10.. A system of apparatus for clarifying a cleaning fluid comprising an agitator, means for feeding the cleaning fluid with contained impuritles to the agitator, means i' for feeding a solid material which is a good adsorbent of the limpurities, to' the agitator, means for regulating both feedin means in accordance with the amount of t e mixture ycoagulating adsorbent agent; separating the adsorbent agent with adsorbed and coagulated impurities from the solvent by filtration; and returning the solvent free from said adsorbing material and impurities in a substantiallycontinuous manner to the firstmentioned step of the process, unt-il the textile material has been cleaned to the desired extent.

12. In dry-cleaning, the herein described lprocess which comprises subjecting soiled textile material containing greas or oily material to the action of a volati e organic solvent which is substantially non-miscible with water; drawing off the solvent with accumulated impurities; agit-ating the said solvent carryingimpurities with an adsorbent agent; automatically measuring the amount vof the adsorbent agent; se arating the adsorbent agent with adsorbe impurities from the solvent by centrifugal filtration; and returning the solvent free from said adsorbingsol material and impurities to the frstvmentioned step of the process, until the textile material has been cleaned to the desired ex'- tent. 'n

13. A 'system of apparatus comprising a ,washing machine, an agitator, aV separator,

ymeans for drawing off liquid from the wash ing machine, means for feeding the said liquid in measured quantities to the agitator, means for feedin an adsorbent to t e a tator, meansfor feeding the mixture to t e separator, and means for feeding the purified liquid back to the washing machine.

14. 'A process for the recuperation of dry I cleaning fluids which comprises mixing 4therewith a suitable agent for the 'coagulation of the colloid impurities, agitating'the 1 mixture, and filtering the fluid fromthe co-A agulating agent and the coagulated impurities.

In testimony whereof, I subscribed: my name.`

JAMES fnFEN'roN.'

have hereunto-

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