US1426053A - Dry cleaning and sterilizing process - Google Patents

Description

T. P. ENDICQIT.

DRY CLEANING AND STERILIZING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1920.

Patentd Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N i Mimi h I l INVENTDR 4 Timm 1251mm;

ATTORNEYS T. P. ENDICOTT. DRY CLEANING AND STERILIZING PROCESS.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-14, I920. 1,426,058, Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

THOMAS P. ENDICOTT, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW J DRY GLEANING AND STERILIZING PROCESS.

like is accomplished by first scrubbing the same with soap and solvent, then rinsing in clear solvent to remove the soap, whereupon the cleaned goods are placed in a centrifugal machine to remove the most of the solvent. The material after being thus dried is put into a tumbler and the most of the solvent is carried off in a current of heated air. This completes the process, and the goods may then be pressed.

The above outlined process is unsatisfactory in two respects, namely, failure to sterilize the apparel and to recover the solvent to thereby reduce the fire hazard,

The objects of my invention are, there-- fore, to improve the dry cleaning'process so that the fire hazard is reduced to a minimum, the solvent is recovered, and complete sterilization is possible.

The accompanying drawings show for purposes of' illustration one of the many forms of apparatus which ma. be utilized.-'

While I have shown the pre erable form, I desire it to be' understood that the drawing shall be considered 'as illustrating the invention rather than asv limiting it. In these drawings Fi 1 is a side elevational view of the stegi wing and solvent receiving apparatus, an

Fig. 2 is an' and elevation thereof, parts being shown in section. t-

' A receptacle or; drum A is supported by suitable framework 1.- The drum is cylindrical in shape and'is providedwith dished heads 2 and 3 and is constructed towithstand steam pressure from the inside. 'A tumbling barrel 4 is mounted on ashaft 5 supported in the dished heads 2 and? This barrel has a charging door at '6' hinged at 7 to swin outwardly. It also has a cleaning door 8 inged at 9 to swing. inwardl to thereby provide access to the bottom 0 the drum. e drum 1s provided with a steam Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, .1922.

tight door 10 which is adapted to withstand steam pressure from the inside. The tumbllng barrel may be driven by the usual giaarilig 10', and fixed and loose pulleys Underneath the drum, the framework 1 supports a steam coil box 13 having a steam supply pipe 14 and a drip or condensate return 15. The box is open at the left end and between the right end and the bottom of the drum .A are connections 16. These connections may include a valve 17 to control the flow of air from the coil box to the drum and a valve 18 which is adapted to open the connection 16 to the atmosphere so that cold air may be admitted. The top of the drum is provided with a valve 19 which is connected to an exhaust fan 20 belt driven through pulleys 2122. A steam supply pipe 23 provided with a valve 24, is also connected to the drum. A

. drip pipe 25 having a valve 26 is connected to the bottom ofthe drum. An exhaust fan 20 is connected through suitable piping 27 to a condenser '28 which may be of any type suitable for condensing a current of steam or other vapors preferably one using a stream of cold water. When it is not desired to exhaust the gases from'the drum through the condenser, the piping may be opened. to the atmosphere vas at 29.

I will now describe the carrying out of the improved process in reference to'the structure heretofore described: After the Wearing apparel or the like has been scoured by the soap and solvent and centrifuged in the usual manner, it is placed inside the tumbling drum 4. The steam-tight door 10 is then put in place, the valves 18 and 26 closed and the valve 24 opened. This will admit live steam into the drum and'will force the air through the piping 27, The valve 19 is then closed andpower supplied-to the gearing 10 to revolve the tumbler. After the .steam pressure has been applied to the material inthe drum fora proper length of time to properly sterilize it, the valve 19 is again opened, fan 20started and the cooling water started.- through the condenser 28. The

steam passing throu h the drum and about the material 1n it W1l distill off the solvent through suitable drips. The recovery of the solvent in this manner not only improves vbeen distilled from the drum, the valve 24 is closed and the valve 17 opened. The exhaust fan 20 thereupon draws a current of hot, dry air through the steam coil or heater 13 and the drum A. It is preferable to bypass the gases directly into the atmosphere through the opening 29. After the contents of the drum are dried they are removed for the usual pressing.

Any suitable solvent, such as a light petroleum' distillate, benzene, or other liquid immiscible in water may be used. While T have described the proces's'and apparatus as used for dr cleaning wearing apparel, I would have it understood that they are use- 111 for operating upon many other analogous materials.

I claim;

1. The process of dry-cleaning wearingapparel or the like, which comprises stirring or tumbling a quantity of such mate rial dampened by a solution of soap and solvent immiscible in water, steam-distilling the solvent from the material and drying the material in a current of warm air.

.2. The process of dry-cleaning wearing apparel or the like, which comprises stirring or tumbling a quantity of such material dampened by a solution of soap and solvent immiscible in water, steam-distilling the solvent from the material and condenssame by live steam under pressure, steamdistilling the solvent from the material and dryingthe material in a current of warm air.

t. The process of dry-cleaning wearing apparelv or the like, which comprises stirtill ring or tumbling a quantity of such material dampened by a solution of soap and solvent immiscible in water, sterilizing the same by live steam under pressure, steamdistilling the solvent from the material and condensing the steam vapor and solvent to recover the latter.

5. The process of dry-cleaning wearing apparel or the like, which comprising washing the wearing apparel or the like in soap and solvent immiscible in water, removing most of the solvent mechanically, steam-distilling the residue of the solvent and condensing the steam and solvent to recover the latter. I

6. The process of dry-cleaning wearing apparel or the like, which comprises washing the wearing apparel or the like in soap and solvent immiscible in water, removing most of the solvent mechanically, sterilizin the washed and partially dried materiafi steam-distilling the residue of the solvent and condensing the steam and solvent to recover the latter.

THOMAS P. ENDTCQTTL

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