US3166923A

US3166923A - Dry cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3166923A
Application number: US309371A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zacks Louis
Original assignee: Zacks Ltd
Current assignee: Zacks Ltd
Priority date: 1963-09-12
Filing date: 1963-09-12
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26
Also published as: FR1380988A; NL301655A

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 zAcKs f DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. l2, 1963 m mm .n A L ,E U O L4 H O O l 2 O 2 @m.. mm A im L L 8 2 Jan. 26, 1965 l.. zAcKs 3,166,923

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ([38 L\ XTX x YN fd i m l ,37 RIJ-f INVEIWUR LOUIS ZACKS United States Patent Office aimais Patented Jan. 26, i965 3,166,923 vDRY CLEANING APPARATUS Louis Zacks, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as-

signor to Zaclrs Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a corporation of British Columbia Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 309,371 16 Claims. (CL 68-5) This is a continuation-in-part application from application Serial No. 145,093, filed October 16, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to apparatus for dry cleaning, and particularly for dry cleaning in homes or residences.

Hitherto it has been the common practice in the dry cleaning art Ito immerse the articles to be cleaned in a suitable dry cleaning medium in liquid form or to spray the articles with the liquid cleaning medium. These methods, however, involve considerable wastage of the cleaning medium, necessitate a comparatively long drying operation since the articles are more or less saturated with the cleaning medium and the articles are usually considerably wrinkled with the result that the articles must be pressed before they can be used. Also, the cleaning mediums employed heretofore have been more or less inflammable and/or toxic when used in large quantities as in the immersion or spraying process, the cleaning operation is usually accompanied by noxious odours.

The present invention avoids the drawbacks and disadvantages inherent in the prior art fand contemplates apparatus for dry cleaning in which the articles to be cleaned are positioned Within a flexible vapor-proof cabinet and treated with cleaning fluid in vapor form, the vaporized cleaning fluid being continuously circulated under pressurearound the interior of the cabinet and through the pores of the material from which the articles are made whilst the cabinet is preferably simultaneously gently vibrated. During this circulation of the cleaning fluid it is directed through a filter in order to remove the soil or dirt therefrom. At the end of the cleaning period the cleaning fluid is exhausted from the cabinet and air is thereafter circulated through the cabinet to dry the articles. In a preferred form of the invention, the vapor is passed through a condenser and reclaimer so that it may be used for many cleaning operations. The cleaning fluid employed in this apparatus is a highly volatile fluo-carbon compound of extremely low toxicity as compared to the cleaning agents commonly used heretofore and is completely non-flammable. The dry cleaning operation according to this invention which is carried out within a sealed cabinet, is completely odourless, no heat is required to evaporate the cleaning fluid due to its high volatility, no wrinkling of the articles occurs during the dry cleaning operation and since the articles are not saturated with cleaning fluid, the drying time is materially reduced. In addition to this, the cleaning vapor is condensed and reclaimed for further use.

Objects of the invention are to provide apparatus for drycleaning articles which requires a minimum amount of cleaning fluid, in which the cleaning fluid is vaporized and circulated under pressure around and through the pores of the fabrics from which the articles are made, whichrequires a comparatively short drying period, and

which is not accompanied by any undesirable odours, fire FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating an alternative form of dry cleaning apparatus,

v FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiony taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a hollow generally rectangular cabinet 1f) having front and back walls 12 and i4, a base 16, a top 18 and side walls 2.@ and 22. Side wall 20 is provided with an access flap 24 adapted to be closed by means of a zipper 26. The

cabinet 1f) is preferably made of a heavy flexible or pliable plastic material, such as sheet polyvinyl chloride. An exhaust port 2S is formed in the back wall 14 of cabinet lil adjacent the lower end thereof and an inlet por-t 3@ is formed in the top 18 of cabinet l0. A shelf 32 made of coarse mesh screen material is mounted within cabinet it) and extends transversely thereof and is spaced a little from the top 1S of the cabinet.

A lter unit generally designated 34 is adapted lto be removably inserted within cabinet l@ through the flap 24 and is supported by shelf 32. The filter unit 34 may be of any suitable design, but as shown consists of a layer of filtering material 36, such asvdiatomaceous earth combined with activated carbon, sandwiched between two outer layers 3S and til of porous material, such as sponge rubber. While shelf 32 and filter unit 3e are shown at the top of cabinet ttl, it is obvious that the shelf could be spaced above bottom 16 andthe filter unit placed on said bottom over exhaust port 28.

A cleaning fluid container which preferably consists of a plastic squeeze bottle 42A having a bubble-type seal is mounted on the inside of cabinet lll in a corner thereof with its neck 44 connected to one end of a tube i6 which terminates at its other end in a nozzle i3 positioned within, or below the filter unit 34. In this example, tube 46 kand nozzle 4S are located above the lter unit.

A reinforcing panel Sil is secured to the inner surface. of top f8 of the cabinet, and a motor 54 is mounted lon a bracket S2 secured to the top of cabinet lll over panel 5ft. A fan 56 is connected to the upper end of the shaft 58 of motor 54 and a vibrator pad @il is mounted on the other end of shaft 58. The vibrator pad e@ is rigidly bonded to the top of cabinet ltl'and with the motor'in operation is effective to imparta gentle vibratory motion to the entire cabinet. In some applications it maybe desirable to impart a more vigorous vibration to the cabinet to improve the cleaning action and in such cases a'further vibrator unit may be connected to the bottom of the cabinet to supplement the action of vibrator pad 6ft. lThe fan 56 is totally enclosed in a housing 62 and an outlet pipe 64- connected at one end to housing 62 communicates at its other end with the interior of cabinet llt) through inlet port 30. An intake pipe 6e extends from fan heus? ing 62 and opens into a pipe 68 extending longitudinally of container l@ from eaust port 23. A vent pipe 7i) communicates atone end with pipe 66 and is open to atmosphere at its other end.

Suitable valves

72 and 74 are positioned within pipes e8 and 76 respectively, to con-` trol the fluid flow therethrough. These valves may be of any suitable design and, as shown, consist of individually manually operated butterlly valves, although if desired they may be mechanically interlinked for conjoint operation or may be solenoid operated valves for automatic operation in accordance with a predetermined programl de-energized and the apparatus comes to rest.

9 The cabinet 10 is normally designed to be suspended from a suitable support tixture and for this purpose a pair of hangers 76 and '73 are secured to bracket 52. If

desired, however, the cabinet 16 may be mounted on a shelf or'other support stand and in some applications the cabinet may itself form a closet for permanent installation in a home or commercial establishment.

The articles to be cleaned, such as garments Si), are adapted to be suspended Within the cabinet and for this purpose there is provided a rod 82 mounted at either end in brackets S4 and 86 secured to the front and

back walls

12 and 14 respectively of the cabinet. The garments may then be suspended from rod 82 by means of the conventional hangers 88.

The motor 54, which is preferably an electric motor, is connected to a source of electrical power in series with a conventional timer device designated di?, and its operation is initiated and controlled by the timer device 99.

In operation of the apparatus, the flap 24 is opened and the garments to be cleaned are placed within the -cabinet on the hangers S8. Cleaning fluid container 42 is charged with a suitable cleaning iiuid. Thereafter, iiap 24 is closed by means of zipper 26 and a sealing Vmember 92 which preferably consists of one of the so-called zipperless zippers is placed over the ap closure zipper 26 to form a completely vapor-proof seal for the cabinet. The cleaning fluid employed is preferably a highly volatile lino-carbon compound, such as the compound marketed under the trade name Val- Clene by DuPont of Canada Limited. During the cleaning cycle,

valves

72 and 74 are closed, thereby forming a closed circuit from the fan Ithrough pipe 64 to the top of cabinet 1li and from the bottom of cabinet 10 through pipe 68 back to the fan. The timer device 9u is then adjusted for the desired length of cleaning cycle and energized to start the motor 54. Container 42 is then squeezed by compressing the adjacent sides of cabinet 1t), thereby to break its bubble seal and the cleaning compound is injected into the lter unit 34. As the lter unit becomes saturated, very small droplets of the cleaning fluid Aare distributed across the Whole width of cabinet 10 and because of the high volatility of the cleaning compound, these droplets are immediately vaporized ."to form a dense cloud of vaporized duo-carbon ycleaning compound. With the motor 54 energized, fan

55 is operative and the vibrator is effective to vibrate cabinet 1t? and with it the vapor-laden air therewithin. Thecloud of iluo-carbon vapor which acts as the cleaning agent is driven under pressure downwardly through the cabinet by means of the current of air from the fan. In passing down through the cabinet, the vapor-laden air is driven through the garments to be cleaned and the tiny molecules of vapor pass through the pores of the fabrics from which the articles are made and in combination with the gentle vibratory action imparted to the vapor-ladenV airy is effective to remove soil and other foreign matter from the garments. After passing through the' cabinet, the vapor passes upwardly through pipe '68 and 66 into the fan housing 62 and may then be re-cycled through the apparatus. At this time, of course, the vapor-laden air holds in suspension the foreign matter removed from the garments and prior to its further passage through the garments its passes through lilter unit 34 which is effective to remove substantially all of the foreign matter suspended therein as it is removed from the garments being cleaned. The air and cleaning vapor mixture may be recirculated through the container and garmetns for any desired number of cycles or period of times which may be predetermined and the timer device 9d) is adjusted so that when the selected period has elapsed, the motor is automatically Thereafter, valves 72 and '74 are opened, whereupon the moto-r is again energized andV the apparatus commences the dryingcycle. In the drying cycle, fresh air is drawn into the fan housing from the atmosphere through pipe 79, and is driven downwardly through the cabinet and upwardly through pipe 68 and discharged to atmosphere. This is initially effective to discharge the vapor-laden air from the cabinet and thereafter a continuous stream of fresh air is driven through the cabinet and the garments to dry the latter. The timer device is eifective after a predetermined and adjustable drying period to de-energize the motor. Thereafter, the sealing member 92 is removed, the zipper 26 opened and the cleaned and dried garments may be removed from the cabinet through side iiap 24. The garments upon removal from the cabinet are substantially completely Wrinkle free and are ready to be worn Without pressing.

Periodically and as necessary, the cleaning fluid container must be refilled or replaced and the lter unit removed and either reactivated or renewed prior to reinsertion in the cabinet to ready the apparatus for further use.

If desired .a suitable heater, preferably an electric heater, may be incorporated in the fan unit and adapted to be energized during the drying cycle whereby a continuous stream of hot air is driven through the garments to expedite the drying process.

FlGURES 5 to 7 illustrate an alternative form of dry cleaning apparatus 10d. This is substantially the same as the apparatus described above, excepting that the cleaning fluid is directed into a cabinet 102 in a different .mannen said cabinet preferably being formed of a pliable material. Apparatus 10i) has a similar circulating system, and includes a pipe 105 extending from an exhaust port 164 at the bottom of cabinet 102 up to a pipe 106 communicating with the casing of a fan 197, said fan being driven up by an electric motor 198. Air from the fan is directed through pipes and 111 into the top of cabinet 102. A pipe 114 is connected to the upper end of pipe 105 and extends upwardly above pipe 1%, said pipe 115 having a control valve 115 therein. A vent pipe 118 is connected to pipe 166 and includes a control valve 119 mounted therein, Motor 108 not only drives fan 167, but it operates a vibrator pad 122 secured to the top of pliable cabinet 102.

A lter unit is provided in cabinet 102, and this may be at the top of the cabinet, as in the previously-described form of the invention, or a unit 125, similar to unit 34, may be placed at the bottom of the cabinet over exhaust port 106.

The parts of apparatus 100 described so far function in the same manner as the corresponding parts in the' apparatus of FIGURES 1 toA 3, that is, a cleaning fluid in vapor form is circulated through articles 127 supported in cabinet 102 for a suitable time. Then the valves of the apparatus are adjusted so that air is circulated through the articles in the cabinet during a drying stage.

Apparatus 100 includes a container 130 for clean ing fluid. This container is shown outside cabinet 1&2, but it is to be understood that it may be mounted inside the cabinet with a ller opening projecting outwardly through a wall thereof. Container 130 has a normally closed ller tube 132 opening into the top thereof. The container is provided with an air inlet tube 133 having an inwardly-opening valve therein which may be similar to the valve used in the stem of the tube of a pneumatic tire. If an air pressure system is available, a hose therefrom may be connected to tube 133 to direct air into container 139. lf an air pressure system is not available, then an air bottle 134 is used for this purpose. This bottle is the type which is carried by many motorists to be used if a tire loses air some place Where air under pressure is not available. These bottles are readily filled at any sources o-f air pressure. Bottle 134 is adapted to be screwed on to tube 133, and when this is done, valves in this tube and in the outlet of the bottle are opened so that air under pressure is discharged from the bottle into container 130.

A pipe 136 extends upwardly from near the bottom of container 130, see FIGURE 5, through the top thereof and into cabinet 102. This pipe is connected to a pair of pipes 137 which extend in opposite directions along the bottom of the cabinet and up the front and back Walls thereof. Each pipe 137 communicates with a plurality' of laterally-extending branch pipes 138, each having nozzles 139 extending away therefrom and directed generally towards the vertical central plane of the cabinet.

In order to force solvent out of container 130, air under pressure from bottle 134 is directed into the container, and this forces the fluid through pipe 136 into the two pipes 137 and their respective branch pipes 138. This forces the solvent uid out through nozzles 139 which direct it in atomized form towards the articles hanging in cabinet 102. When fan 107 is in operation, it draws the cleaning vapor through filter unit 125, where it is cleaned, through

pipes

105 and 106, and directs the vapor back into the cabinet through pipes 110 and 111. This circulation of the cleaning vapor may be continued for any suitable length of time, and if desired, the apparatus may include an automatic timer for operating the control switch of motor 108.

After this cleaning operation has been completed,

valves

115 and 119 are operated to cause fan 107 to circulate air through the articles in cabinet 102. This would result in the solvent vapor being discharged to atmosphere. However, as solvents of the type used in this apparatus are very expensive, it is desirable to save the cleaning fluid for further use. For'this purpose, a vapor condenser reclaimer unit 145 has been provided. Units of this type are known in the industry, and no special description is required herein. This unit cools and condenses the cleaning vapor. Unit 145 is connected by a pipe 146 to pipe 110, and said pipe 146 has a control Valve 147 therein. It is desirable to provide another control valve 149 in pipe 111. By the manipulation of

valves

147 and 149, the output of fan 107 may be directed either into cabinet 102 or to unit 145. Another pipe 150 extends from unit 145 back to fluid container 133.

After the cleaning cycle in apparatus 100 has been completed, valve 149 is closed, and valve 147 opened so that fan 107 directs the cleaning vapor through pipe 146 into the condenser reclaimer unit 145, and the condensed liquid travels from this unit through pipe 150 back to container 130. Once all the vapor has been cleared out of the system, valve 147 is closed and

Valves

149, 115 and 119 are opened. This allows fan 107 to circulate air entering through pipe 118 through the articles in cabinet 102 and out through

pipes

105 and 114. This airing cycle is continued as long as necessary, and it is stopped either manually or automatically.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof pliable cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, means for injecting atomized cleaning fluid into said cabinet, means connected to said cabinet operable to impart a vibratory motion thereto, means adapted to circulate said cleaning iiuid under pressure and in vapor form throughout the cabinet and articles therein, and exhaust means for selectively evacuating spent cleaning fluid from said cabinet.

2. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof exible cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, means for injecting atomized cleaning fluid into said cabinet, means connected to said cabinet operable to impart a vibratory motion thereto, means adapted to circulate said cleaning fluid under pressure in vapor form throughout the cabinet and articles therein, a lter unit within the cabinet located so that all the circulating iiuid passes through said unit, and exhaust means for selectively evacuating spent cleaning fluid from said cabinet.

3. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a iilter unit within the cabinet, means for injecting cleaning iiuid into said cabinet suhstantially to impregnate said iilter unit, said cleaning iiuid vbeing adapted to vaporize substantially instantaneously upon introduction into said cabinet, means adapted to circulate the vaporized cleaning uid throughout the cabinet and articles therein, said lter unit being located so that all cleaning iiuid vapor passes through said unit, and exhaust means for selectively evacuating spent cleaning iiuid from said cabinet.

4. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a lter unit within the cabinet, means for injecting cleaning fluid into said cabinet substantially to impregnate said filter unit, said cleaning iiuid being adapted to Vaporize substantially instantaneously upon introduction into said cabinet, means adapted to circulate the vaporized cleaning fluid throughout the cabinet and articles therein, said filter unit being located so that all cleaning iluid vapor passes through `said unit, means connected to said cabinet operable to impart a vibratory motion thereto, and exhaust means for selectively evacuating spent cleaning fluid from said cabinet.

5. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, means for injecting cleaning fluid into said cabinet, said cleaning iiuid being adapted to vaporize substantially instantaneously upon introduction into said cabinet, a pressure circulating system for the cabinet, means for closing said system to circulate said vapor through articles in the cabinet, a iilter unit Within the cabinet located so that all the circulating fluid passes through said unit, said iilter unit being adapted to remove foreign matter collected by said cleaning fluid from said articles, and means for opening said system to atmosphereto circulateair through the articles for drying purposes.

6. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a pliable vapor-proof container, means for supporting articles within said container, means for injecting vaporized cleaning fluid into said container, said cleaning fluid being adapted to vaporize substantially instantaneously upon introduction into the container, a motor mounted on said container, a vibratory unit secured to the container and coupled to said motor, said vibratory unit being operable to vibrate said container, a fan coupled to said motor and operable thereby selectively to drive air or cleaning fluid through the container, a iilter unit in the container located so that all the cleaning uid passes through said tilter unit, and exhaust means for evacuating spent cleaning iiuid from said container.

7. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a circulating system of which said cabinet forms part, pipe means forming part of said system and extending from one part of the cabinet directly to another part thereof, means for injecting cleaning fluid in vapor form into said lcirculating system, pressure generating means in said system for continuously moving cleaning fluid vapor therethrough under pressure continuously to circulate said vapor under pressure through the articles within the cabinet, and iilter means in said system positioned so that the circulating vapor passes through the ilter means, said filter means being adapted to remove from the vapor during movement thereof through said system foreign matter collected by said vapor from the articles in the cabinet.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including means connected to said cabinet operable to impart vibratory motion thereto while cleaning vapor is being moved therethrough.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the cabinet is formed with at least one pliable wall, and the means for injecting cleaning fluid into the circulatory system comprises a squeeze-bottle container mounted in the cabinet adjacent said pliable Wall and containing a volatile cleaning iluid, said container on being squeezed being adapted to eject cleaning iluid therefrom in vapor form.

l0. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof pliable, cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a squeeze-bottle container mounted in the cabinet adjacent a Wall thereof and containing a volatile cleaning iiuid, said container on being squeezed being adapted to eject cleaning fluid therefrom in atomized form, a pressure circulating sys tem for the cabinet, means for closing said system to circulate said vapor through articles in the cabinet, means attached to the cabinet for imparting a vibratory motion thereto and to articles therein, and means for opening said system to atmosphere to circulate air through the articles for drying purposes.

11.Appar`atus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles Within said cabinet, a circulating system of which said cabinet forms part, pipe means forming part of said system and extending from one part of the cabinet directly to another part thereof, a container for holding a volatile cleaning fluid in liquid form and connected by pipe means to the cabinet, pressure means connected to said container operable to force cleaning fluid in vapor form into the cabinet, a vapor condenser and reclaimer unit connected to said container, fan means in said circulatory system and connected to said unit, valve means for selectively causing said fan means to direct cleaning iiuid vapor through said circulating system to circulate vapor under pressure through the articles Within the cabinet or to direct said vapor through the condenser and reclaimer unit and to said container, and lter means in said system positioned so that the circulating vapor passes through the Vilter means, said lter means being adapted to remove from the vapor during movement thereof through said system foreign matter collected by said vapor from the articles in the cabinet.

k12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1l in which the pipe means from the container to the cabinet is connected to a plurality of nozzles in the cabinet positioned to direct cleaning fluid vapor on to articles supported in said cabinet.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the pressure means connected to the container comprises a pressureV air bottle removably connected to a valvecontrolled inlet for said container.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including an inlet and an outlet in said circulatory system,.valve means in the inlet and outlet normally closing said inlet and outlet and operable to open the inlet and outlet to permit air to be moved through and out of the circulatory system by said fan means.

15. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a container for cleaning uid at the cabinet, a pipe system for the cabinet and extending from the container, a plurality of nozzles in the pipe system positioned to direct cleaning fluid in vapor form on to articles in the cabinet, means for applying uid pressure to fluid in the container to force said liuid through the pipe system and out through said nozzles, a pressure circulating system for the cabinet, means for closing said system to circulate said vapor through articles in the cabinet, a filter unit in the cabinet positioned so that all the circulating power passes therethrough, said lter unit removing dirt from the vapor, and means for opening said system to atmosphere to circulate air through the articles for drying purposes.

16. Apparatus for dry cleaning articles in residences comprising a pliable vapor-proof cabinet, means for supporting articles within said cabinet, a container for a cleaning iiuid at the cabinet, a pipe system for the cabinet and extending from the container, a plurality of nozzles in the pipe system positioned to direct cleaning iiuid in vapor form on to articles in the cabinet, means for applying fluid pressure to uid in the container to force said iiuid through the pipe system and out through said nozzles, a pressure circulating system for the cabinet, means for closing said system to circulate said vapor through articles in the cabine-t, means at the cabinet for imparting a vibratory motion thereto and to articles therein, and means for opening said system to atmosphere to circulate air through the articles for drying purposes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,050 2/ 91 Young 68-207 1,242,824 10/ 17 Lindsay. 1,947,174 2/34 Salido 68-18 2,084,688 6/37 Johnson 68-l8 2,633,009 3 5 3 Steverlynck 68-207 X 2,845,786 8/58 Crisman 68--18 2,964,770 12/60 Lerner 15-541 FOREIGN PATENTS 825,131 lli/37 France. 1,077,541 5/54 France.

630,614 10/ 49 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

. BUNEVICH, Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING ARTICLES IN RESIDENCES COMPRISING A VAPOR-PROOF PLIABLE CABINET, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES WITHIN SAID CABINET, MEANS FOR INJECTING ATOMIZED CLEANING FLUID INTO SAID CABINET, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CABINET OPERABLE TO IMPART A VIBRATORY MOTION THERETO, MEANS ADAPTED TO CIRCULATE SAID CLEANING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE AND IN VAPOR FORM THROUGHOUT THE