Method of cleaning textile fabrics

• US 3,883,301 A
• Filed: 06/21/1973
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald G. Emrick, Joseph H. Christian, Robert M. Hines
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Emrick, Joseph H. Christian, Robert M. Hines
• Inventors: Emrick, Donald G., Christian, Joseph H., Hines, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilhite, Billy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, C. K.
• Application Number:
  US05/372,201
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320,321,322 8/149.1,158
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

Textile fabrics such as carpet, upholstery and the like are cleaned by a method which includes spraying a solution of hot water and detergent from a predetermined distance, at a predetermined pressure and at a predetermined flow rate against the fabric to be cleaned while simultaneously withdrawing the solution and soil from an adjacent portion of the fabric. Specific relationships for the various parameters defining this invention are stated hereinafter.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF CLEANING TEXTILE FABRIC SUCH AS CARPET, UPHOLSTERY AND THE LIKE WHEREIN CLEANING OF THE FABRIC IS MAXIMIZED WHILE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE FABRIC ARE MINIMIZED DUE TO OPERATION WITHIN OPTIMAL PARAMETERS, THE METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF:

SPRAYING A SOLUTION OF HOT WATER AND DETERGENT IN A PREDETERMINED ZONE AND AGAINST FABRIC TO BE CLEANED FROM A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 2 INCHES AND AT A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 26 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH AND AT A FLOW RATE OF ABOUT ONE GALLON PER MINUTE, WHILE DRAWING AIR THROUGH THE FABRIC IN A PREDETERMINED ZONE SPACED FROM THE SPRAYING ZONE AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 2 INCHES AND WITHDRAWING THE SOLUTION AND SOIL FROM THE FABRIC INTO A VACUUM CONDUIT HAVING A SEALED ORIFICE LIFT OF ABOUT 115 INCHES OF WATER.

2. A method of cleaning textile fabric such as carpet, upholstery and the like wherein cleaning of the fabric is maximized while adverse effects on the fabric are minimized due to operation within optimal parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a solution of hot water and detergent, then, spraying the solution in a predetermined zone and against fabric to be cleaned from a distance in the range of from about 1 3/4 to about 2 1/4 inches and at a pressure in the range of from about 22 to about 30 pounds per square inch and at a flow rate in the range of from about three-quarter to about one and one-quarter gallons per minute, while drawing air through the fabric in a predetermined zone spaced from the spraying zone at a distance in the range of from about 1 3/4 to about 2 1/4 inches and withdrawing the solution and soil from the fabric into a vacuum conduit having a sealed orifice lift in the range of from about one hundred ten to about one hundred twenty inches of water, then displacing the fabric and the zones one relative to the other for subjecting areas of the fabric to spraying and withdrawal in closely following sequence.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of moving the zones across the fabric to be cleaned and spraying the fabric in advance of the withdrawing zone for subjecting areas of the fabric to spraying and withdrawal in closely following sequence.