Cryogenic treatment methods
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorJonathan P. Worsfold
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Abstract
An article such as a mattress, carpet or curtain is treated by spraying its surface with liquid cryogen (usually liquid nitrogen). The liquid nitrogen acts as an acaricide and kills house dust mites. The dead mites are then removed from the freshly sprayed fabric. Such a treatment is also effective in dislodging particles of dirt from the articles and may be used for example to clean a carpet in situ. After treatment with the liquid nitrogen, the carpet may be subjected to a conventional vacuum cleaning.
Claims10
A method treating an article having a fabric surface, comprising spraying the surface with liquid cryogen and then removing dead mites from the freshly sprayed fabric, in which the mites are removed from each region of the surface within 1 minute of that region being sprayed.
A method of cleaning a porous article causing liquid cryogen to penetrate the pores of the article in sufficient quantity that on evaporation the cryogen expands in the pores of the articles and displaces particulate contaminants from the article, in which flow of the vaporized cryogen out of the article from a surface opposite that at which the liquid cryogen is directed is so obstructed or prevented that at least most of the vapour leaves the article from said surface at which the liquid cryogen is directed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.