Non-aqueous washing cabinet and apparatus

• US 6,766,670 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, Tremitchell L., Conrad, Daniel C., Estes, Kurt A, Kovich, Mark Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERRIN, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US10/420,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 814/2, 815/8, 68/5.R, 68/5.C, 68/5.E, 68/120.8, 68/121.3, 68/18.R, 68/18.C, 68/18.F, 682/00, 682/05.R
• US Class Current: 68/5.00C
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/44 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/007 Dry cleaning methods
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/02 using organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/04 combined with specific additives D06L1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/08 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 4/00 Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic washing apparatus for dry laundering hanging garments. The automatic washing apparatus has a sealed wash cabinet and a working fluid storage chamber for storing an amount of working fluid sufficient to dry launder a fabric load. The working fluid storage chamber is in fluid communication with the sealed wash cabinet. The sealed wash cabinet has an interior region, an upper assembly above the interior region, a lower assembly housed below the interior region and a door sealing the interior region of the wash cabinet. The upper assembly shakes the hanging garments in the wash cabinet and dispenses a wash a working fluid into the wash cabinet. The lower assembly has a moisture generator and a heater to respectively generate moisture and heat inside the wash cabinet.

Claims

1. An automatic washing apparatus for dry laundering hanging garments comprising a sealed wash cabinet, comprising:

(a) an interior region;

(b) an upper assembly housed above the interior region, the upper assembly comprising means for shaking the hanging garments in the wash cabinet and means for dispensing the working fluid into the wash cabinet;

(c) a lower assembly housed below the interior region comprising a moisture generator and a heater to respectively generate moisture and heat inside the wash cabinet;

(d) a door sealing the interior region of the wash cabinet; and

(e) a means for pressurizing and depressurizing the sealed cabinet.

2. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for substantially removing the wash working fluid from the wash cabinet.

3. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper assembly further comprises means for adding ozone/UV.

4. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for separating the working fluid from at least one washing additive.

5. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separating means comprises a distillation apparatus for separating the working fluid from the at least one washing additive by distillation.

6. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separating means comprises a filter.

7. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a condenser in fluid communication with the working fluid storage unit for receiving the working fluid and at least partially condensing the working fluid to a liquid.

8. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a cooler for removing heat from the at least partially condensed working fluid and in fluid communication with the condenser and a liquid inlet in the wash cabinet for allowing the liquid to enter the wash cabinet.

9. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a dirt container in fluid communication with a liquid outlet of the wash cabinet for vaporizing the working fluid to a gaseous form and for collecting dirt particles entrained in the fluid.

10. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first filter positioned between the working fluid storage unit and a the liquid inlet of the wash cabinet.

11. The automatic washing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a second filter positioned between a liquid outlet of the wash cabinet and the working fluid storage unit.

12. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additive dispenser in fluid communication with the wash cabinet for dispensing at least one additive to the wash cabinet.

13. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a recirculation conduit in fluid communication with the additive dispenser for circulating the working fluid through the additive dispenser and dispensing the working fluid and additive in the wash cabinet.

14. An automatic washing machine for dry laundering hanging garments, comprising:

(a) a sealed wash cabinet having an interior region and comprising an upper assembly and a lower assembly;

(b) a means for adding a wash liquor into the wash cabinet, the wash liquor comprising a non-oleophilic working fluid;

(c) a means for hanging garments in the wash cabinet;

(d) a means for reducing the pressure in the wash cabinet to a pressure equal to or less than 1 atm;

(e) means for shaking the hanging garments housed in the upper assembly;

(f) a particle trap disposed adjacent to the wash cabinet;

(g) a storage unit for storing an amount of working fluid sufficient to dry launder a fabric load;

(h) a recirculating pump adapted to pump working fluid from the wash cabinet to at least one of a first filter, second filter, holding tank, separator, distiller, condenser, carbon bed, dirt container, cooler, and heater.

15. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

the condenser is in fluid communication with the working fluid storage unit for receiving the working fluid and at least partially condensing the working fluid to a liquid;

the cooler is configured to remove heat from the at least partially condensed working fluid and is in fluid communication with the condenser and a liquid inlet in the wash cabinet for allowing the liquid to enter the wash cabinet;

the dirt container is in fluid communication with a liquid outlet of the wash cabinet for vaporizing the working fluid to a gaseous form and for collecting dirt particles entrained in the fluid;

the first filter is positioned between the working storage chamber and a the liquid inlet of the wash cabinet; and

the second filter positioned between a liquid outlet of the wash cabinet and the working fluid storage unit.

16. The automatic washing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

an additive dispenser in fluid communication with the wash cabinet for dispensing at least one additive to the wash cabinet; and

a recirculation conduit in fluid communication with the additive dispenser for circulating the working fluid through the additive dispenser and dispensing the working fluid and additive in the wash cabinet.