Patent GB-630614-A (GB)
Title: Methods and machines for dry cleaning clothes, textiles fabrics and all kinds of articles
IPC: D06F43/06
Filed: 1946-10-17
Abstract: In an automatically operating apparatus for dry-cleaning clothes, fabrics and other articles, the solvent is sprayed over or through the articles for a predetermined time at the expiry of which the dirty solvent is pumped out to a distilling device by the same pump that originally served the sprays, whereupon a heater in the vat is switched on, and the vapours of solvent are sucked out through the spraying nozzles until the drying action has reached the desired stage, when the pumping action is automatically stopped.  The dirty solvent is distilled by heat applied by a floating electric heater which is automatically switched off when it reaches a support near the bottom of the still.  In the apparatus shown, the faucet 33 is first turned on by raising the arm 331 to bring the tank 34 beneath the tap 35, when trichlorethylene or similar solvent flows from the tank 32 through the pipe 321 to the vat 26 where the clothes to be cleaned are mounted on frames 28.  The tap 35 is <PICT:0630614/III/1> adjusted so that the necessary quantity of solvent has flowed into the vat 26 by the time the weight of solvent collected in the tank 34 is sufficient to operate the faucet 33 by pressing down the arm 331 to the vertical position shown.  An electric switch 37 is thereby operated to start the pump 38, and solvent is pumped from the bottom of the vat through the pipes 40 and 39 to the pipe system 30 carrying clothes racks 28 with nozzles 31 through which the solvent is sprayed on to the clothes.  After an interval determined by the degree of opening of the tap 57, an arm 481 is passed down to operate a faucet 48 which diverts the flow of the now dirty solvent through the pipes 58, 59 to a still 49.  At the same time, electric heaters 31 are turned on.  As soon as the vat is empty, a float 411 descends and operates electric circuits controlling the solenoids 42, 43 which release weighted arms 441, 461 of the faucets 44, 46 and cause vapour of the volatile solvent to be pumped out of the vat 26 through the nozzles 31, pipe 60 and pipes 58, 56 to the condenser 561.  As soon as the vapour pressure falls sufficiently in the vat 26 to indicate substantial drying of the clothes, the pump is automatically cut out of action and an alarm sounded.  Evaporators.-The dirty solvent in the still 49 is evaporated by an electrically-heated element 50 floating on the surface of the liquid and passes through a coil 54 and condenser 55 to the solvent tank 32.  When the level of the liquid in the still 49 descends to the annular ring 521, the electric current to the heater 50 is automatically switched off.  Sludge may be drained off from the sloping bottom of the still by a cock 53. The clothes racks 28 may be arranged to carry various garments spaced apart by additional tubes provided with nozzles adapted to distribute solvent to every portion of the clothing.  Instead of a single motor pump, two pumps may be employed for delivering liquid and withdrawing vapour respectively, the operation of one or the other being dependent on the presence of liquid in the treating vat through the action of a float.  The apparatus may be mounted on a motor lorry, in which case the pumps for circulating the solutions may be driven from the fly-wheel while heat for heating the vat, drying the clothes, and distilling the dirty solvent may be derived from the exhaust gases. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also an arrangement of two self-revolving spraying arms in overlapping relationship so that the centre of a sprayed area where, for example, the collar of a coat to be cleaned would be arranged, receives twice as much solvent spray as the outer parts of the area; also a device for cleaning or dyeing hats in which a number of hat supports arranged above one another in a tubular frame with spray nozzles in the supports and self-revolving spraying arms above, are lowered into a cylindrical vat and sprayed with cleaning or dyeing liquid admitted through a flexible tube to the hollow frame members.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.