US1851015A - Process for cleaning fabrics - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1932 e. E. OLSEN PROCESS FOR CLEANING FABRICS Filed Nov. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 29, 1932.

e. E. OLSEN PROCESS FOR CLEANING FABRICS 1929 2 Sheets-S11E61 ue/nZbr- Filed Nov. l

Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. OLSEN, OI GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN PROCESS FOR CLEANING FABRICS Application filed November 1a, 1929. Serial in. 408,120.

rapes and fabrics regardless of their texof Figure 3.

ture.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel process and ap aratus wherein the garments are first run t rough naphtha, gasoline, or a similar fluid to form a protection for the fabrics, and is then run through chemically treated water which contains chemicals having pro erties for remov- :0 ing dirt and stains, as wel as forming protection to the color and the fabric, and then agitating the water thoroughly through the fabric in order to remove all dirt, s ots,

stains, and the like after which it is dramed and partially dried before being hung out for t orough drying.

A further ob cct of my invention is the rovision of an improved apparatus utilizmg both water and gasoline, or other similar solvent in the cleaning operation, thus materially increasing the efficiency of cleaning and removing spots, water marks, persplration, food marks, vet'c., from fabrics which the organic substance will not remove. A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for carrying out the novel process referred to above which consists of a tank having suitable inlets, drainage and overflow, together with a foraminous container with means for raising and lowering the container within the tank. v With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and a1- rangement of parts hereinafter more fully set orth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus carrying out my improved process; 5 Figure 2 is a detail section of the body of the apparatus, illustrating in plan view the air supply control;

Figure 3 is a vertical section view with parts disclosed 1n elevation;

Fi ure 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 For carrying out my improved process, I provide a main tank 1 having suitable supporting legs 2, and at one side of the tank, I provide a tubular upright 3 in which is slidably mounted a plunger 4:, the upper end of the plunger having attached thereto the arm 5 of a standard 6. The lower end of the standard 6 is connected to a wire basket -7 having a hinged cover 8.

In order to properly support the basket 7 with respect to the standard 6, I provide a yoke 9, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the standard adjacent the arm 5, while the lower ends are connected to the basket 7 upon opposite sides thereof.

The tubular standard 3 is arranged vertically of the tank 1 and retained in place by means of the uides 10. The lower end of the tubular member 8 is connected to a compressed air supply pipe 11 provided with a control valve 12 whereby compressed ,air is utilized for raising the plunger 4: into the tubular member 3.

At one side of the tank 1, I provide a pair of gauges 13 and 14:, and it will be noted that upon the interior of the tank, I have indicated the lines 15 and 16, the line 15 indicating the high mark of the chemically treated water to be used in the tank and this high mark 15 can be readily noted by the gauge 13 so that the proper quantity of water can be placed in the tank for carrying out the I process. 0

The line 16 indicated in Figure 3 within the tank can be auged from the exterior of the tank throng the medium of the gauge 14, and this line indicates the high mark for the naphtha, gasoline, or similar fluid. At 17, I have indicated an overflow pipe through which is discharged in superfluous amounts of naphtha, gasoline or the like, so that only a cirtain amount will be maintained in the tan Within the bottom of the tank, I provide a substantially U-shaped perforated air pi e 18, the horizontal part of which extends d1ametric of the tank and retained in position by means of the guide 19. One end of the pipe 18 is connected to the supply pipe 20 in which is arranged a valve 21. The stem of the valve 21 has a crank arm 22 connected to the lateral arm 23 of'a reciprocating rod 24. The rod 24 has a lateral foot iece 25 at its lower end and the movement 0 the rod is gllilided by the stationary loops 26 within the tan The rod 24 is normally maintained in a raised osition and the valve 21 is normally closed by means of a coil spring 27, one end of which is attached to the crank arm 22 and the other end attached to a lateral arm 28 on the pipe 20 adjacent the valve 21.

The apparatus heretofore described is used in m improved process for cleaning and spottlng fabrics and in carrying out the process, the fabrics are placed in the wire basket 7 and the basket is then lowered through the naphtha, gasoline, or the like, the fabrics being saturated with the same to form a protection therefor, and when the basket is lowered suflicient to engage the foot piece 25 and pushed downwardly into the water, the valve 21 is opened through a reciprocation of the rod 24 against the tension of spring 27. This admits air under pressure into the tank for agitating the chemically treated water for forcing the same through the fabrics in the basket.

This action is carried on for a certain length of time and then the basket is raised by admitting air under pressure into the tubular standard 3, forcing the plunger upwardly which in turn will raise the basket.

At this time, it might be well to call attention to the fact that water to the tank 1 is supplied through a pipe 29 which extends into the tank just above the overflow 1.7, while gasoline, naphtha, and the like can be supplied to the tank through the supply pipe 30 which can be arranged directly above the water supply 29, or in any other suitable position.

It will be noted that any gasoline removed from the basket and its contents, while the same is agitated, in the water, will rise upwardly into the gasoline area as the naphtha, gasoline and similar fluid will not mix with the water, this assuring the fact that the naphtha, gasoline, and the like, will always be on top of the water and the fabrics in the basket will be treated as described, with naphchemically treated with any suitable chemi cals contained therein for removing dirt and stain qualities, and also chemicals for the protection of the coloring of the fabric and for the fabric itself, thus fabrics within the basket can be thoroughly cleaned and any spots, water marks, persplration, food marks, and the like, will be quickly removed from the fabrics.

It will also be noted that by using this process, it will not be necessary to remove the trimmings from dresses and similar articles, as no injurious fluid is used and furthermore, the fabrics of which the trimmings may be constructed will be protected through the saturation of these articles with the gasoline or naptha. In view of the fact that the fabrics being cleaned are first dipped in naphtha or the like, the dirt spots are naturally softened to a certain extent and, therefore, it will not be necessary to have the garment remain in the water solution any reat length of time, particularly in view 0 .the fact that the water solution is slightly a itated through the use of compressed air or quickly removing the dirt and stains from the fabrics. It will be readily appreciated, that by having the fabric first treated with naphtha, gasoline or the like, to thoroughly saturate the fabric with such a fluid, the chemically treated water will not penetrate the fabric, but will have a tendency to remove from the exterior of the fabric any dirt or stains, and from this, it will be noted that my improved process is extremely useful, not only from a point of labor saving but from a standpoint. of saving the fabrics from injurg due to the chemically treated water.

' fter the contents of the tank have been used to a certain extent so that it is necessary to replenish the supply, a drain plug 31 is arranged in the bottom of the tank .1 whereby the contents can be quickly drawn off and a fresh supply put into the tank. It is believed from the foregoing that I have provided a very economical and simple process together with an apparatus for cleaning I claim:

A process of the class described consisting of dipping fabrics in avolatile solvent-to provide a protection for the fabrics, then 5 submerging the fabrics in washingwater, in

troducing a pressure in the water for agitat- I ing the same through and around the fabrics to remove the volatile solvent and the matter loosened thereby. and then removing the fabrics from the washing water and drying them. n

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Green Bay, in' the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin.

GEORGE E. OLSEN.

so I I

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