Dry-cleaning of garments using liquid carbon dioxide under agitation as cleaning medium
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsSidney C. Chao, Thomas B. Stanford, Edna M. Purer, Angela Y. Wilkerson
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Abstract
Liquid carbon dioxide, in combination with agitation and, optionally, with process enhancers, such as surfactants, and solvents, such as water, is used to remove contaminants from garments or fabrics. Both apparatus and process are disclosed. Carbon dioxide-cleaned garments are rendered free of odor, require no drying, and the cost per unit solvent (by weight) is a fraction of that of conventional solvents.
Claims19
Apparatus for cleaning soiled garments and fabrics by removing soiling substances therefrom, comprising:
- (a) a walled vessel for containing liquid carbon dioxide, said walled vessel adapted to withstand a pressure in the range of about 500 to 1,500 psi (35.2 to 105.4 Kg/cm.sup.2) and a temperature within the range of about 0.degree. to 50.degree. C.;
- (b) inlet means attached to said walled vessel for introducing said liquid carbon dioxide thereinto;
- (c) reservoir means for supplying said liquid carbon dioxide to said inlet means;
- (d) a means of introducing a cleaning additive or enhancer into said walled vessel;
- (e) a stationary perforated lidded drum within said walled vessel for containing said soiled garments and fabrics;
- (f) means for directly agitating said liquid carbon dioxide in said walled vessel to thereby agitate said garments and fabrics in said perforated lidded drum, said means comprising at least one means selected from the group consisting of gas, sonic, and liquid agitation;
- (g) a liquid level gauge/controller for controlling the level of said liquid carbon dioxide in said walled vessel;
- (h) temperature control means associated with said walled vessel for controlling the temperature of said liquid carbon dioxide therewithin;
- (i) pressure control means associated with said walled vessel for controlling the pressure of said liquid carbon dioxide therewithin;
- and
- (j) outlet means in said walled vessel for removing said liquid carbon dioxide therefrom.
A process for cleaning soiled garments and fabric materials by removing soiling substances therefrom, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing said soiled materials in a stationary perforated drum within a walled vessel, said walled vessel provided with agitation means selected from the group consisting of gas, sonic, and liquid agitation;
- (b) introducing into said walled vessel a cleaning fluid, comprising liquid carbon dioxide and, optionally, up to about 5 wt % of at least one cleaning enhancer, and contacting said soiled materials with said cleaning fluid;
- (c) simultaneously contacting said soiled materials in said walled vessel with said cleaning fluid and directly agitating said cleaning fluid to thereby agitate said soiled materials for a period of time sufficient to clean said materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.