Dry cleaning solvent filter
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsChristopher Nils Naber, Craig Vitan, Venkataraman Rachakonda, Darren Hallman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dry cleaning machine includes a tub for holding articles to be cleaned. A door is rotatably coupled to the dry cleaning machine. The door is movable from a closed position wherein access to the tub is substantially sealed, to an open position providing access to the tub. An outlet tube is coupled in flow communication to the tub. A filter assembly is positioned between the tub and the outlet tube filtering dry cleaning fluid channeled towards the outlet tube.
Claims18
A dry cleaning machine comprising:
- a tub for holding articles to be cleaned;
- a door rotatably coupled to said dry cleaning machine, said door movable from a closed position, wherein access to said tub is substantially sealed, to an open position providing access to said tub;
- an outlet tube coupled in flow communication with said tub;
- a storage tank in flow communication with said tub;
- a seal configured to facilitate preventing dry cleaning fluid from exiting said dry cleaning machine;
- a filter assembly comprising a handle and a filter element coupled to said handle, said filter assembly slidably positioned between said tub and said outlet tube to facilitate filtering dry cleaning fluid channeled towards said outlet tube, said filter assembly positionable such that said seal is disposed between said handle and said filter element;
- and
- a pump positioned in flow communication between said storage tank and said filter assembly, said pump configured to channel filtered dry cleaning fluid to said storage tank such that the filtered dry cleaning fluid is reusable for a plurality of washing cycles.
A dry cleaning solvent filter system for a dry cleaning machine, said filter system comprising:
- a filter assembly comprising:
- a handle;
- a filter element coupled to said handle;
- a plurality of rails enclosing said filter element, said plurality of rails flexible to accommodate a curvature in a tub of the dry cleaning machine;
- and
- a connecting portion coupled to said handle and said plurality of rails and configured to join said handle and said filter element;
- a seal disposed between said handle and said filter element;
- a storage tank configured to contain filtered dry cleaning fluid;
- and
- a pump positioned in flow communication between said storage tank and said filter assembly, said pump configured to channel filtered dry cleaning fluid to said storage tank such that the filtered dry cleaning fluid is reusable for a plurality of washing cycles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.