Methods and apparatus to accelerate the drying of aqueous working fluids
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for laundering a fabric load comprising:
- a. A wash container for receiving fabric to be cleaned and dried as well as working fluids;
b. Means for contacting the fabric with a working fluid;
c. Means for removing working fluid;
d. Means for flowing drying gas through said container means to dry fabric in situ;
e. A first sensor adapted to sense a non-aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the wash container;
f. A second sensor adapted to sense an aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the wash container;
g. At least one controller coupled to said first and second sensors to control a drying process.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for drying a fabric load which has been wetted with a working fluid including the steps of flowing drying gas through a container holding the fabric load, sensing the non-aqueous working fluid concentration and the aqueous working fluid concentration in the wash liquor or in the headspace above the fabric within the container and controlling drying in response to the sensed working fluid concentration.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for laundering a fabric load comprising:
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a. A wash container for receiving fabric to be cleaned and dried as well as working fluids;
b. Means for contacting the fabric with a working fluid;
c. Means for removing working fluid;
d. Means for flowing drying gas through said container means to dry fabric in situ;
e. A first sensor adapted to sense a non-aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the wash container;
f. A second sensor adapted to sense an aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the wash container;
g. At least one controller coupled to said first and second sensors to control a drying process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for laundering a fabric comprising:
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h. Disposing said fabric load in a container;
i. Contacting the fabric with a working fluid;
j. Removing working fluid;
k. Flowing drying gas through said container means to dry fabric in situ;
l. Sensing a non-aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the container; and
m. Sensing an aqueous working fluid concentration in said wash liquor or the headspace above the fabric within the container. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification