US2964934A

US2964934A - Apparatus for laundry machines

Info

Publication number: US2964934A
Application number: US367314A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl S Shields
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-07-10
Filing date: 1953-07-10
Publication date: 1960-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-20

Description

Dec. 20, 1960 c. s. sHlELns 2,964,934

APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed July l0, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENToR. CA m SSH/5ms 'H BY i/cf/K WA 775, EoaEieTo/v M-CNE/v/vy A Troie/Veys Dec. 20, 1960 c. s. sHlELns v 2,964,934

APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MAcHrNEs Filed July 1o, 1953 e vsheets-sheet 2 5j. E E. E INVENTOR.

CAE S. SHIDS www A TTOPNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed July 10, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY EVC/15x WA 77550651? 7'o/v MS NENA/,V

` )4 rroP/VEYS c. s. SHIELDs 2,964,934

c. s. sHlELDs I APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MAcHImssv Dec. zo, 1960 INVENTOR. CA R'L S- SHIELDS /Rv l d Il Filed July 10, 1953 BY R/cHEY, WATTS, Eoagle'roA/MSA/ENA/y 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 20, 1960 c. s. SHIELDs APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed July 1o, 1953 BY E/CHE", wA 77s, EQGERTOA/MSNENN Y )4 TTORNEYS United rates Patent O APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Carl S. Shields, Shields Engineering & Mfg. Co., 277 E. 156th St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed July 10, 1953, Ser. No. 367,314

9 Claims. (Cl. 68-18) This invention relates to dry cleaning and laundry machines generally and, more particularly, to a laundry machine and apparatus for performing a number of different fluid treatment operations in succession.

An object of the invention is to provide a laundry machine which is adapted to utilize a number of different kinds of fluids in succession and to do so without intermixing the fluids.

An object of the invention is to expedite and facilitate the cleaning or treatment of mixed quantities and kinds of fabrics and garments.

An object of the invention is to enable successiveuse of soap solutions and synthetic cleaning fluids in a laundry machine which is relatively compact and adapted to be installed in establishments having limited space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry machine which is physically compact and yet may be used to perform a number of different kinds of washing, cleaning or dyeing operations.

Still another object of the invention is to prevent contamination of cleaning fluids with fluids which have been utilized in other treating operations.

In my copending application, Serial No. 185,711, filed September 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,729,961, there is described a novel laundry machine wherein the cleaning solvent is continuously subjected to filtering and purifying processes, both during the washing operations and independently while the tub is used for drying or other operations. During the washing cycle, there is a continuous circulation of solvent from the tub through a flowregulating dump valve to a sump tank, through a filter, and back to the tub. Mixed solvent and water vapors are continuously removed from the tub, a portion of the vapors condensed, and the remainder returned to the t-ub. The condensate is continuously separated into water and solvent fractions and the solvent fraction stored for subsequent reuse.

Likewise, a portion of the solvent is separated from the remainder, distilled, and the distillate separated into water and solvent fractions. The filtering operation removes suspended particles from the solvent; the distilling operation separates the solvent from discoloring matter; while the Vapor recovery operation removes moisture which may have been introduced into the system upon opening the door of the tub or carried by the garments themselves.

During the recovery and drying cycle of the machine, the filtering and distilling operations may proceed continuously and without regard to the manner of utilization of the tub. A pump serves to circulate the solvent from the sump tank or from the reserve tank through the filter and back to the sump. Alternatively, the solvent may be transmitted from the sump tank or the reserve tank to the still. The vapor recovery, of course, serves to remove all moisture from the tub during this phase of operation. Y

In the practical utilization of the machines of the type described above, it is often desirable to be able to treat 2,964,934 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 ice the garments or fabrics by any of a number of different cleaning or treating fluids such as for dyeing, washing, and so forth. In particular, in small cleaning establishments, it is often desirable to be able to either clean the articles with the usual cleaning solvent or with a solvent incorporating a soap solution therein.

The present invention contemplates the use of a laundry machine, such as that described above, with a separate unit including a filter, a storage tank and associated pump and interconnecting conduits and valves whereby a second solvent fluid may be supplied to the tub of the machine. The separate unit is so constructed and interconnected that either solvent fluid may be continuously circulated through the tub during a washing operation and without admixture or contamination by the remaining fluid. Further, either solvent fluid may be subjected to continuous filtering or purifying operations while not 1n use.

The apparatus includes, in one important aspect thereof, an arrangement whereby any desired number of separate or auxiliary solvent units may be utilized with the laundry machine. A particular drain system includes a novel bypass valve construction such that any number of valves may be utilized to interconnect any number of such units with the machine. Further, the bypass valves and an associated dump valve are so designed and constructed that the drain system permits the escape of substantially all the solvent fluid in the tub and in the system. When, therefore, any treating fluid is removed from the tub, another fluid may be utilized in the tub without danger of a serious contamination of the second lluid by the remains of the first.

It is a feature of the invention that the laundry machine may be adapted to perform any arbitrary number of fluid treating operations merely by increasing the number of separate fluid supply units.

lt is a feature of the invention that each of the lluids is continuously filtered during the operations in which the fluid is being used.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be'more clearly apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front View of the laundry machine of the invention showing a portion of the machine in cut-away and a portion in section;

Fig. 2 is a section view of the machine of Fig. l taken along the lines 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the separate solvent supply unit of the invention and showing with Fig. 2 the connections of the unit to the laundry machine;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the separate solvent supply unit;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the separate solvent supply unit;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a portion of the laundry machine showing the right front corner of the reservoir, the button trap, the dump and bypass valves, and portions of the main drain pipe and the auxiliary drain pipe;

lFig. 7 is a longitudinal View partly in section and partly in cutaway taken along the lines 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the bypass Valve taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, the laundry machine 10 of the invention includes a tub 11 which is adapted to hold a solvent such as Perchlorethylene or the like for cleaning garments or fabrics by the svnthetic processes well known in the dry-cleaning art. The material to be cleaned is carried in a cylinder l2 which is supported and driven by a shaft 13. The shaft 13 is supported by a bearing 14 at the front of the machine and a second simiassistent lar bearing at the rear of the machine. The shaft is rotated by a two-speed drive unit such as is described in my copending application, Serial No. 163,278, filed May 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,681,578. The drive unit 15 turns the cylinder 12 at a first relatively slow speed during the washing operations and spins the cylinder at a` relatively high rate of speed for the extract and drying operations.

The cylinder 12 is loaded through a door 16 which is protected by a blast gate of the type described in my copending application, Serial No. 185,712, led September 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,729,961. The blast gate includes a latch 17 for holding the door and an operating handle 18.

A reservoir is provided for holding the synthetic cleaning iluid utilized during the cleaning operations and comprises a sump tank 19 positioned below the tub 11. The cleaning fluids are drained into the tank 19 from the tub 11 through a main drain pipe 20, a bypass valve 21, a dump valve 22 and a button trap 23. The

valves

21 and 22 and the drain pipe 2i?, together with a sheet metal member 24 which extends between an opening 25 in the tub 11 and the drain pipe, are so designed and constructed as to facilitate the complete drainage of all fluid from the tub and from the parts themselves when either of the valves are open. The construction, particularly of the valves, constitutes one aspect of the present invention and is hereinafter described in detail.

The sump tank 19 has sufficient capacity to hold the entire supply of cleaning uid necessary for a cleaning operation and normally serves as a reservoir for the cleaning iiuid when the machine is not in use or when the tub is being used for drying or extracting operations.

During washing operations, the cleaning iluid is pumped from the tank 19 by a pump 26 which has an inlet thereof connected to the tank through a pipe 27. The outlet of the pump 26 is connected to a filter 30 through a pipe 31 and Valve 32. The filter is of known construction and includes a sufficient number of separate lter elements to provide the necessary ltering capacity during the washing operations. The outlet of the lter is connected to the tub through a vertical pipe 33, a horizontal pipe 34 and an ori-off valve 3S in the pipe 34. The pipe 34 is connected to a tub inlet conduit 36.

The pipe 33 is connected to the outlet of the pump 26 through a T-connection 37 and through valves 3S and 39. A valve 419 controls the iiow of solvent fluid through the pipe 33. An inverted U-section 41 at the upper extremity of the pipe 33 serves as a gravity valve while the return side of the inverted U-section is connected to the sump tank 19 through the

pipes

42 and 43. The huid return is controlled by the on-off valve 35, which is operated by an electromagnetic solenoid and an automatic control system 44. During operation, the valve 35 is open and the fluid flows through the pipe 34 and the conduit 36 and is returned to the tub. During drying and extracting operations, the valve 35 is closed and Athe cleaning uid flows over the inverted U-section 41 and is returned to the tank 19. It is a result of this construction and an advantageous feature of the machine that the cleaning fluids in the tank 19 may be continuously filtered both during the washing operations and during periods when there is no cleaning fluid in the tub.

The mixed solvent and water vapors which appear in the tub during the cleaning operations are removed from the tub, a portion of the vapor is condensed, the water separated from the solvent, and the solvent fraction is stored for subsequent reuse. A blower 47 draws the mixed vapors from the tub and forces them through a housing 48, which comprises a portion of the blast gate assembly, and into a recovery unit 49. A stack 50 mounted on top of the housing 4S provides for diversion of the vapors when the blast gate handle 18 is operated to open the door.

The recovery unit 49 comprises a solvent recovery section and a vapor heater section. The first section includes a condenser coil 51, shown in dotted outline, and serves to condense a portion of the mixed vapors moving through the unit. The liquid condensate is carried from the recovery unit 49 to a Water separator 52 by a pipe 53. A second section of the recovery unit includes a heater 54 which is utilized primarily during drying operations to heat the air and vapors prior to their return to the tub through the tub inlet conduit 36. It will be seen that there is a continuous ow of vapor from the tub through the housing 48, through the recovery unit 49, and back to the tub through the conduit 36.

The water separator is described in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 185,711, filed September 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,729,961. For the purpose of the present application, it suices to say that the mixed liquid distillate is continuously separated into Water and cleaning fluid fractions. The solvent fluld is returned to a reserve tank 55 through a pipe 56 while the water is removed through a drain pipe 57. The reserve tank 55 is connected to the inlet of the pump 26 through a pipe 45 and a valve 46.

A purifier is provided for removing foreign substances from the solvent, such as, e.g. fatty acids, which discolor the solvent. The purier includes a still 58 which incorporates a steam coil for heating the uid. The inlet of the still is connected to the outlet of the pump 26 through a pipe 59 and the valve 39. It will be seen that by closing the

valves

32 and 33, the cleaning fluid may be pumped from the sump tank 19 into the still 58. The still is connected to a condenser 60 through a vapor conduit 61. Condensed distillate is returned to the water separator 52 through a T-coupling 62 and the pipe 53.

The various components of the laundry machine 10 are suitably vented to prevent vvapor locks or similar accumulation points which would hinder or cause the operations to cease altogether. To that end, the condenser 6) is connected to the recovery unit 49 by a vent pipe 65, while the U-section 41 and the water separator 52 are connected to the reserve tank S5 by

vent pipes

66 and 67, respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the auxiliary solvent supply unit 70 thereshown is adapted to be connected to and operated in conjunction with the laundry machine 1G as a secondary solvent supply system. The laundry machine 1d is so designed and constructed that its physical dimensions, e.g. its length, width and height, make it particularly suitable for use in small drycleaning establishments having a limited amount of space. In particular, the machine is adapted to installation in such establishments. The auxiliary solvent supply unit is adapted for installation as a separate unit, but, after installation, is capable of operation as an integral portion of the laundry machine 10 itself. Further, the auxiliary supply unit may be located in any suitable space either adjacent or remote from the laundry machine, and any desired number of auxiliary supply units may be utilized With any given laundry machine.

The `supply unit 70 comprises a filter 71, a storage tank 72 and a pump 73, all supported by a frame 74. The pump 73 is connected to the bypass valve 21 through an auxiliary drain pipe 75, a button trap 76 and an inlet pipe 77. The inlet pipe 77, and hence the inlet to the pump 73, is connected to the inlet of the pump 26 by a valve 78. Thereserve tank 55 may, therefore, be connected to the inlet of the pump 73 through the pipe 45, the valve 46 and the valve 78. The outlet of the pump 73 is connected to the filter 71 through a pipe 79 and a valve 80.

The outlet of the filter 71 is connected to the tub 11 and to the storage tank 72 so that solvent fluid of the secondary system may be either circulated through the tub or retained inthe unit for circulation through the filter 71 or storage in the storage tank 72. An outlet pipe 81 is connected through a valve 82 and a T-section 83 to an inverted U-section 84. The T-section 83 is connected to a pipe 85 which is, in. turn, connected to the tub inlet conduit 36. An on-olf valve 86 similar to the valve 35 controls the solvent flow through the pipe 85 to the tub. The inverted U-section 84 is connected on the return side thereof to the storage tank 72 and serves as a gravity valve for returning the solvent to the tank 72 when the valve 86 is closed.

The storage tank 72 includes an outlet 87 at the bottom thereof which is connected to the inlet of the pump 73 through a pipe 88 and a valve 89. The secondary solvent uid may, therefore, be circulated continuously through the filter 71 when not in use. The connection also allows the secondary fluid to be pumped from the tank 72 through the pump 26 and to the still 58 for purication.

A vent pipe 90 is connected between the lter 71 and the storage tank 72 to prevent accumulation of excessive pressures. A pipe 91, connected to the bottom of the lter 71 and to the storage tank 72, and a valve 92 are provided for forcing the solvent fluid in the lter 71 into the storage tank 72. The pipe 91 is connected to the tank 72 through a sight glass 200, Figure 4. Opening the valve 92, and if desired closing the valve 82, permits solvent to be forced from the tilter into the sight glass for visual inspection of the condition of the solvent in the iilter 71, if such visual inspection is found desirable.

The pump 73 is driven by an electric motor 93 which may have a separate control or may be automatically controlled with the apparatus of the machine 10.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the novel drain system of the invention is there shown in detail. As shown in the plan view of Fig. 6, there is included a main drain pipe which cooperates with the pocket member 24 of the tub 11, the bypass valve 21 and the main dump valve 22, together with the auxiliary drain pipe 75. In accordance with the invention, these members are adapted particularly to insure that, when the dump valve 22 is opened, all the solvent uid in the tub 11 and in the

valves

21 and 22 drains into the sump tank 19. Again, when the auxiliary solvent supply unit is being utilized and the bypass valve 21 is opened, the dump valve 22 being closed, all of the second solvent uid drains from the tub and from the drain pipe and valves into the auxiliary drain pipe 75. This feature is especially advantageous in that it enables the successive use of two or more solvents or other fluids in any order without contamination of the uids one by the other. Further, it is not necessary to clean the apparatus after any operation or to take any great care in changing from one uid to another. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use with relatively unskilled personnel.

As is shown in Fig. 7, the dump valve 22 and the button trap 23 are formed with an integral body member 101. The body member 101 includes a drain opening 102 in t-he bottom plate 103 of the member and is surrounded by a downwardly extending projection 104 which is received in an opening 105 in the top 106 of the tank 19. The portion of the body member 101 which comprises the button trap 23 is closed by a cover 107 and a gasket 108. The cover 107 is secured to the top of the tank 19 by a suitable clamp 150.

The dump valve 22 comprises a main inlet passage 109 and an outlet passage 110, separated by a horizontal partition member 111 which comprises a part of the body member 101. The partition member 111 is formed with a valve opening 112 and a valve seat 113 which receives the valve member 114. The valve member 114 is actuated by a stem 115 which extends vertically through the cap 116 of the valve into solenoid actuating mechanism 117, which forms a part of the automatic control mechanism of the machine.

The dump valve 22 is further described in detail in application Serial No. 407,219, tiled February 1, 1954,

now Patent No. 2,820,476. For the purpose of the present application, it sufl'ces to say that when the valve member 114 is in the raised position, substantially all the cleaning fluid in the inlet portion 109 will drain into the outlet portion 110. Similarly, when the valve member 114 is in the lowered or closed position, substantially all the lluid in the inlet chamber 109 may be drained therefrom when the valve 21 is opened.

The bypass valve 21 comprises a body member 120 having a through passage 121 and an outlet passage 122. The

valve passages

121 and 122 are connected by a valve opening 123 which is opened and closed by a valve member 124. The valve member is received in a recess 125 in the body 120 of the valve which insures that the top of the valve member is substantially flush with the bottom of the through passage. The valve member 124 is operated by a valve stem 126 which extends through a valve cap 127 to an operating handle 128. A gland 129 and packing 130 are provided to prevent escape of tluid through the valve cap while a spring 131 holds the valve member 124 in a normally closed position. The handle 128 is pivoted at the upper end of a link 132 which is connected at the lower end to the body member 120. The body member 120 of the bypass valve 121 is symmetrical in form and comprises a face portion 133 which is adapted to engage the corresponding face 134 of the dump valve 22, while a projecting portion 135 lits within the inlet passage of the durnp valve. At the inlet side of the bypass valve, a second similar face 136 corresponds to the face 134 of the dump valve, while the interior of the through passage is adapted to receive an end 137 of the drain pipe which is of the same dimensions as the projecting portion 135. Transverse openings 138 are provided for receiving clamping screws 139 which extend through a clamping plate 140 for the main drain pipe 20 and through the opening 138 into the body of the dump valve.

This construction is an especially advantageous feature of the valve in that any number of the valves may be clamped or stacked together so that the machine may be adapted for use with any arbitrary number of separate solvent supply units. The lower horizontal extending outlet portion 141 may, of course, extend in either direction from the main body portion of the valve (Fig. 8) and to any distance sufficient to provide clearance for the various drain pipes.

In operation, the garments or other articles to be cleaned are inserted into the cylinder 12, and the door closed and locked. The automatic control 44 is set to initiate the washing operation and thereupon starts the pump 26, opens the valve 35 and starts the drive unit 15 at slow speed. The rst solvent tluid is circulated from the tank 19 through the filter 30, the

pipes

33 and 34 and the conduit 36 to the tub 11 and back to the sump tank 19. The dump valve 22 controls the rate of flow from the tub 11 into the sump tank 19 and is adjusted to maintain the desired level of solvent uid in the tub while the garments are being washed. After a suitable interval, the automatic control 44 closes the v-alve 35, thereby causing the solvent fluid to ow over the inverted U-sec tion 41 and to return to the sump tank 19. Simultaneously therewith, the dump valve 22 is opened wide to allow complete drainage of the solvent fluid from the tub. The two-speed drive 15 is then switched to high speed rotation to extract the solvent from the garments. The two-speed drive is then returned to a slower speed for the drying operation.

The fan 47 may be operated continuously during the wash, extract and drying operations. During the wash and extract operations, cold water is circulated through the condenser coil 51 in order to liquify a portion of the mixed water and solvent vapors drawn through the recovery unit by the fan 47. The liquid condensate then ows through the pipe 53 to the water separator 52. The solvent is continuously separated from the water and reu'rned to the reserve tank and the water drained from' the machine throughthe pipe 57. During the drying operation, steam flows through the heater coil 54 and serves to heat and dry the air for drying the garments. The fan 47 is, of course, controlled by the blast gate handle as well as the automatic control apparatus 44 in order that an excessive amount of moisture laden air is not drawn into the door 16 when open.

In utilizing the secondary solvent supply system, the tub 11 is completely drained and the dump valve 22 closed. The

valves

86 and 89 are opened and the valve 78- closed. The pump 73 draws the secondary solvent fluid from the storage tank 72 and forces it through the lilter 71 and through the pipe 85 into the tub 11. When the tub 11 is filled to the desired level, the valve 89 is closed and thevalve 21 opened, and the second solvent fluid may be circulated through the tub and through the filter. The valve 86 may then be closed and the second solvent fluid pumped into the storage tank 72. The garments in the cylinder are then subjected to the extract and :lrying or other operations and, upon completion thereof, the valve 21 is closed. The machine may then be utilized for performing other operations upon the same garments or may be loaded with other garments and the same or other washing operations performed.

During the washing operation utilizing the second solvent fluid, the first solvent fluid may be continuously filtered by circulating the fluid through the filter 30 over the inverted U-section 41 and back to the sump tank 19. Alternatively, a portion of the fluid may be pumped into the still 58 to remove the organic or other discoloring matter from the fluid. The solvent fluid may also be pumped from the reserve tank 55 back to the sump 19. Similarly, during the washing operation utilizing the first solvent fluid, the second solvent fluid may be continuously filtered by circulation through the filter 71 and back to the storage tank 72.

The second solvent fluid will usually constitute what is known as a soap charge solution including synthetic solvent and a small percentage of liquid soap. Under those conditions, the recovered solvent from the vapor recovery unit or from the still may be mixed with the first solvent. However, in certain other circumstances, where it is desired that the recovered solvents be kept separate from the solvent in the primary system of the laundry machine, the reserve tank 55 may be emptied and the valve 46 closed while the

valves

38 and 39 are closed to prevent introduction of the first fluid into the still. A valve may be added in the inlet pipe 27 to further increase the flexibility of the arrangement.

It will be seen that any desired number of operations can be accomplished with the laundry machine by the practice of this invention. There may be successive cleaning or washing of either the same or different garments. Again, the one machine may be utilized for dyeing, mothproofing, sizing or other operations. The arrangement is particularly flexible and adapted for economical use in cleaning establishments having limited space as well as being highly economical and useful in large establishments where a number of laundry machines will be operated in conjunction with the number of separate solvent supply units.

The terminology secondary solvent supply system and second solvent fluid as utilized herein is not intended to be limiting, since the second fluid may be of any nature depending upon the operation to be performed.

The drain system including the bypass valve 21 and the dump valve 22 is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 332,360, filed January 2l, 1953. Insofar -as the common subject matter is concerned, this application may be considered as a continuation-impart of that application.

It is to be understood that the specific nature of the present disclosure is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that varius rearrangements of parts and modifications ofdesign may be resorted to without departing i from the scope or spirit ofthe invention as herein claimed.

What is claimedl is:

l. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a machine including a tub, a cylinder in the tub, means for driving the cylinder through wash, extract, and drying. operations of a washing operation, a drain system for the. tub including a bypass valve and a dump valve for regulating flow of solvent from the tub, a. solventV recovery system associated with the tub including a vapor recovery unit comprising a condenser and conduits connecting the inlet and the outlet of the condenser to the tub, means for circulating vapor from the tub through the condenser, a water separator connected to the condenser for separating the condensate into solvent and Water fractions, a re serve tank connected to the water separator, a solvent purifying system including a still and a .condenser having the inlet thereof connected to the still and the outlet. thereof connected to the water separator,l a primary solvent system for supplying a first solvent fluid to the tub during the washing operation including a sump tank positioned below the tub and connected to the outlet of the dump valve, a first pump having the inlet thereof connected to the sump tank, a first filter having the inlet thereof connected to the first pump, conduit means connecting the outlet of the first filter to the tub and to the sump tank, the conduit means including valve means for diverting flow of solvent to theA tub or to the sump tank whereby solvent from the sump tank may be circulated through the filter and returned to the tub or to the sump tank and first means connecting the primary solvent system with the purifying system for purifying the solvent fluid of the primary solvent system, a second solvent sys tem for supplying a second solvent fluid to the tub during a subsequent washing operation including a separate auxiliary unit connected to the machine comprising a second pump having the inlet thereof connected to the bypass valve, a second filter having the inlet thereof connected to the outlet of the second pump, a storage tank, conduit means connecting the outlet of the second filter to the storage tank and to the tub and including valve means for diverting solvent either to the storage tank or the tub and conduit means including a valve connecting the outlet of the storage tank to the second pump whereby solvent fluid of the secondary system is filtered during continuous circulation through. the tub or through the storage tank and apart from the fluid of the primary system, and second means connecting the secondary solvent system with the purifying system for purifying the solvent uid of the secondary solvent system.

2. The invention in accordance with claim l, the said first means connecting the primary solvent system with the purifying system comprising a connection between the outlet of the first pump and the inlet of the still, and a connection between the outlet of the reserve tank and the inlet of the first pump.

3. The invention in accordance with claim l, the said second means connecting the secondary solvent system with the purifying system including a connection between the inlet of the first pump and the outlet of the storage tank, a connection between the outlet ofthe first pump and the inlet of the still, and a connection between the outlet of the reserve tank and the inletrof the second' pump.

4. Auxiliary liquid supply apparatus for a dry cleaning machine comprising a filter, a storage tank and al pump, and a frame for supporting the said filter, storaget'ank and the pump as a unit, liquid transfer means including an inlet conduit connected to the inlet of the pump' and in that conduit, a conduitconnected from the outlet ofthe lter to the top of the storage tank including a T-connection, an inverted U-portion above the T-eonnection between the `connection and the storage tank and a discharge conduit from the T-connection adapted to be connected to an inlet of a tub of the dry cleaning machine, a valve in the discharge conduit, all for circulating a secondary liquid to and from the tub during treating operations with the secondary liquid.

5. In a dry cleaning machine, the combination of, a tub and a sump tank positioned below the tub, a by-pass valve having an inlet disposed below and connected to the tub, the by-pass valve having a horizontally disposed outlet and another outlet, a dump valve having an inlet disposed below the tub and connected to said other outlet of the by-pass valve, the dump valve having a horizontally disposed outlet connected to the sump tank, the by-pass valve and the dump valve each having a substantially horizontally disposed movable valve member selectively positionable to close the respective horizontally disposed outlets, a button trap having an inlet connected to the dump valve outlet and an outlet below the dump valve and connected to the sump tank, each of said valve horizontal outlets being below the inlets, the connection of the bypass outlet to the dump valve inlet being suliciently low that opening of either of the horizontally disposed outlets will substantially drain both of said valves through gravity ow.

6. In a dry cleaning machine, the combination of, a tub and a sump tank positioned below the tub, a by-pass valve having an inlet disposed below and connected to the tub, the by-pass valve having a horizontally disposed outlet and another outlet, a dump valve having an inlet disposed below and tub and connected to said other outlet of the by-pass valve, the dump valve having a horizontally disposed outlet connected to the sump tank, the by-pass valve and the dump valve each having a substantially horizontally disposed movable valve member selectively positionable to close the respective horizontally disposed outlets, each of said valve horizontal outlets being below the inlets, the connection of the by-pass outlet to the dump valve inlet being suiciently low that opening of either of the horizontally disposed outlets will substantially drain both of said valves through gravity flow, and a by-pass lint trap connected to the horizontally disposed outlet of said by-pass valve and having the body thereof disposed below the level of the horizontally disposed outlet of said by-pass valve.

7. In a dry cleaning machine, means for conducting fluid from a tub to a sump tank for cleaning fluid positioned below said tub, and to an auxiliary uid unit for another uid, said means including a conduit defining a horizontally disposed path of fluid flow extending from the bottom of the tub and terminating at an outlet, a by-pass valve and a dump valve, the by-pass valve having a body portion detining a uid passage extending from an inlet to a first outlet, the by-pass valve inlet being connected to the conduit outlet with said by-pass valve passage aligned with and forming an extension of said path of uid ow, the by-pass valve having a second outlet horizontally disposed and below said by-pass valve inlet, the by-pass valve horizontal outlet being in communication with said by-pass valve passage, the dump valve having a body portion dening a fluid passage extending from an inlet connected to the first by-pass valve outlet to a horizontally disposed outlet position below each of said inlets, the dump valve outlet being connected to said sump tank, each of said valves including a substantially horizontally disposed closure member, each of said closure members having an open and a closed position, each of said members when in the closed position being in abutment with the respective valve body portion and closing the respective horizontally disposed outlet, means connected to said by-pass valve closure member and to said by-pass valve body portion to selectively shift said by-pass valve closure member from the open to the closed position and return, means connected to the dump valve closure member and to the dump valve body portion to selectively shift the dump valve closure member from the open to the closed position and return, and the top portion of the closure member of the by-pass valve being substantially flush with the bottom of the body portion and at the periphery of said by-pass valve passage when in the closed position, whereby to provide a machine in which opening of either of the closure members Will drain the tub, the conduit, and both of the valves through gravity flow.

8. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of solvent circulation systems, each such system including a tank, a pump, a filter and an inlet conduit connecting the tank to the pump, a rst outlet conduit connecting the pump to the filter, and a second outlet conduit connecting the lter to the tank, a tub for receiving articles to be cleaned, a solvent separation and recovery means, tub supply conduits connecting one of the outlet conduits of each of said systems to said tub, the outlet conduits of one of said systems being rst and second conduits, said one system including a connecting conduit connected to said rst outlet conduit of said one system and to said solvent separation and recovery means, said connecting conduit and said lirst outlet conduit of said one system together defining a first separation and recovery means supply conduit means, a second separation and recovery means supply conduit means connecting a conduit of the other of said systems to a conduit of said one system for selectively connecting said other system to said separation and recovery means, return conduits connecting the tub and the solvent separation and recovery means to the inlet conduit of each of said systems, valves in said supply and return conduits and in each of said solvent separation and recovery supply conduit means, and means to control said Valves to open the supply and return conduits and each of said solvent separation and recovery supply conduit means connecting each of the systems to the separation and recovery means and to the tub to conduct solvent to and from each of said systems selectively one at a time to the separation and recovery means and to the tub, and each of said second outlet conduits including gravity Valve means to permit the conduits to be constantly open when the device is in normal operation.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein each of said gravity valve means comprises an inverted U conduit portion above the level of the remainder of each system.

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