Non-aqueous washing machine with modular construction

• US 7,513,132 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Krefman, Stephen David, Sunshine, Richard A., Luckman, Joel A., Wright, Tremitchell L., Leitert, Andrew, Conrad, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US10/971,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 68/18.F, 68/18.C
• US Class Current: 68/18.00F
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/02 having one rotary cleaning receptacle only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/08 Associated apparatus for handling and recovering the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/081 Reclaiming or recovering the solvent from a mixture of solvent and contaminants, e.g. by distilling
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/088 Condensing arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling and modular components and subsystems thereof.

Claims

1. A cleaning machine adapted for the utilization of a working fluid to clean a wash load comprising:

a first enclosure comprising a wash unit, said wash unit comprising a wash chamber for containing the wash load located within said wash unit;

a second enclosure comprising a reclamation unit, said reclamation unit comprising a cross flow membrane filter;

conduits extending between the wash unit and said reclamation unit;

a control for operating said cleaning machine through a series of washing steps;

a clean tank; and

a permeate filter, wherein the permeate filter is disposed between the cross flow membrane filter and the clean tank.

2. A cleaning machine adapted for the utilization of a working fluid to clean a wash load comprising;

a first enclosure comprising a wash unit, said wash unit comprising a wash chamber for containing the wash load located within said wash unit;

a second enclosure comprising a reclamation unit, said reclamation unit comprising a cross flow membrane filter;

conduits extending between the wash unit and said reclamation unit;

a control for operating said cleaning machine through a series of washing steps;

a waste tank;

a clean tank; and

a dead end filter, wherein the dead end filter is disposed between the cross flow membrane filter and at least one of the following;

the waste tank and the clean tank.

3. A fabric cleaning machine adapted for the utilization of a working fluid to clean a wash load, comprising:

a first enclosure having a plurality of walls;

a wash unit in said first enclosure, wherein said wash unit comprises;

a wash chamber for containing the wash load of fabric located within said wash unit;

an access door in at least one wall of said first enclosure adapted to permit selective access to said wash chamber for loading and removing the wash load; and

a dispenser for directing wash liquor into said wash chamber;

a second enclosure having a plurality of walls;

a reclamation unit in a second enclosure, wherein said reclamation unit comprises;

a working fluid storage system;

a working fluid supply system for supplying working fluid to wash chamber;

a working fluid retrieval system for recovering working fluid from said wash chamber and returning said working fluid to said working fluid storage tank; and

a working fluid processing system for removing contaminants from said working fluid recovered from said wash chamber;

wherein the working fluid processing system further comprises a chiller disposed between the wash chamber and a cross flow membrane filter;

conduits extending between said wash unit and said reclamation unit;

a pump connected to at least one of said conduits for moving fluid through said conduit;

a control for operating said cleaning machine through a series of washing steps wherein said first and second enclosures make up a modular system arrangeable and interconnectable in a plurality of functional orientations;

a clean tank; and

a permeate filter, wherein the permeate filter is disposed between the cross flow membrane filter and the clean tank.