GB435575A - Method of dry cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for dry-cleaning fabrics or articles of clothing, consists in treating the materials in a washing-machine with a solvent, withdrawing the solvent, adding water thereto and homogenizing the mixture, and then returning the mixture to the washing-machine. Solvent contained in a washing machine 5, Fig. 1, is forced by a pump 9 through a filter 8 from which it flows through a pipe 10 in which it is mixed with water admitted in regulated amount from an injector 13, and the mixture flows into a homogenizer 11. The homogeneous dispersion of water in solvent then passes through a pipe 12 to the washing machine. The homogenization of water and solvent may be assisted by dry-cleaning soaps or dispersing-agents as described in Specification 401,752. For example, gasoline, naphtha, carbontetrachloride or trichlorethylene is mixed with 1 per cent by weight of a mixture containing oleic acid, naphtha, and mahogany <PICT:0435575/III/1> <PICT:0435575/III/2> sodium sulphate. Homogenized dispersion of water in a solvent containing this mixture are optically clear. The process is preferably effected continuously in which water is continuously mixed with the flow of solvent in amount equal to that removed by the fabrics in the washing-machine. The water injector consists of a main tank 14, connected to the solvent pipe 10 through a pipe 15 and injector needle valve 17 and above which is mounted a water supply tank 26 from which water flows to the main tank through a pipe 27 and valve 29. Water flows by gravity from the valve 17 through an inner pipe 20 to the solvent flowing under pressure in the pipe 10. An equalizing pressure is maintained in the tank 14, by a pipe 21 connected to the outer pipe 15, which opens into the tank provided with an air relief valve 24. The pressure is read on a gauge 25. Water drawn off from the tank is replaced by solvent which may be drawn off through a cock 16<a>. The homogenizer consists of an inner perforated casing 34 mounted in an outer vessel, and containing perforated tubes 31 closed at the top and surrounded by absorbent fibres such as cotton cloth 37. Solvent and admixed water enters at the bottom of the pipes and then passes through the perforations to the absorbent material in the interstices of which the admixed water is broken up into small particles which are then absorbed by the solvent containing the dispersing agent. The resulting dispersion which is free from any static electrical charges passes through the perforations 36 into the space 35 from which it flows through a pipe 12 to the washing machine. Specification 392,931 also is referred to.