Carbon dioxide dry cleaning system
US6851148B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF17C2270/0545
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A carbon dioxide dry cleaning system features a pair of liquid carbon dioxide storage tanks in communication with a compressor. A sealed cleaning chamber contains the objects to be cleaned. By selectively pressurizing the storage tanks with the compressor, liquid carbon dioxide is made to flow to the cleaning chamber through cleaning nozzles so as to provide agitation of the objects being dry cleaned. Liquid carbon dioxide displaced from the cleaning chamber returns to the storage tanks. In an alternative embodiment, a single storage tank is pressurized via a compressor with gas from the cleaning chamber so that liquid solvent from the storage tank travels to the cleaning chamber through nozzles. The objects in the cleaning chamber are agitated by a rotating basket. After a prewash cycle, liquid solvent from the cleaning chamber is directed to a still. The liquid solvent in the still is boiled through a connection with the head space of the cleaning chamber. The still may be positioned within the storage tank and partially surrounded with a shroud for efficient heating of the still with gas from the cleaning chamber. During agitation, liquid solvent from the cleaning chamber may be…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.