Abstract:
A system and method are provided for dry cleaning articles utilizing a siloxane solvent. The system (5) includes a cleaning basket (10) for receiving articles therein and one or more tanks (14, 16) for containing a siloxane solvent. Coupled between the tank and the cleaning basket is a pump (12) for immersing the articles in the cleaning basket with the siloxane solvent. Also included is a still (24) for distilling the dirty siloxane solvent to recover the pure siloxane solvent. A condenser (26) is coupled to the cleaning basket and/or the still for recovering condensed vapors. For decanting any water in the siloxane solvent received from the condenser, a separator (28) is coupled to the condenser. A fan (32) is coupled to the cleaning basket for circulating air past the condenser, then the heater coils (34) and into the cleaning basket for drying and cooling the articles.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for separating water from solvent during dry cleaning. Included is an inlet (52) capable of receiving a mixture of dry cleaning fluid and water from a basket of a dry cleaning apparatus. The dry cleaning fluid includes a siloxane composition. Also provided is a flow controller (60) for urging flow of the mixture received from the outlet. Coupled to the flow controller (60) is a coalescent media (64) that receives the mixture urged by the flow controller (60). A chamber (68) is coupled to the coalescent media (64) for receiving the mixture from the coalescent media (64) to separate the water and the dry cleaning fluid. Also coupled to the chamber (68) is an outlet (69) to remove the dry cleaning fluid from the chamber (68) in the absence of water.
Abstract:
A dry cleaning composition utilizes a stain removal surfactant and a stain removal solvent chosen from a solvent which is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, a biodegradable functionalized hydrocarbon, or a silicone solvent.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for cleaning and recycling solvents with an apparatus having pressure chambers (102) and a conduit in fluid communication with an outflow valve (116) of the chambers and an inflow valve (108) of the pressure chambers.
Abstract:
A detergent composition for dry cleaning which comprises (a) a nonionic surfactant, (b) a cyclic polysiloxane and (c) a polyether-modified silicone having a HLB value of 6 or less, in amounts satisfying that, relative to the total amount of the components (a), (b) and (c), the component (a) accounts for 5 to 70 wt %, the sum of the weights of components (b) and (c) is 30 to 95 wt %, and the weight ratio of the components (b) to (c), (b)/(c), is 1/10 to 20/1; and a cleaning solution for dry cleaning using the detergent composition. The detergent composition is excellent in detergency, the capability of preventing re-soiling, and the capability of solubilizing water, is less susceptible to the occurrence of a ring strain in a cloth when a pretreatment agent is used, can impart good softness to a material to be cleaned, and exhibits good stability for a long time.
Abstract:
Processing systems employing one or more divided pressure vessels (653) are described. These systems may allow for multiple solvent baths each having a different chemical composition to be stored and/or processed in a single pressure vessel (653) while maintaining the different chemical compositions of the multiple solvent baths. Thus, such systems employing one or more divided pressure vessels (653) may provide the improved operational efficiency of a carbon dioxide based system having multiple solvent baths while decreasing the capital costs that may be associated with such systems.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods to treat fabrics with lipophilic fluid and bleaching agents. The present invention is also directed to compositions containing lipophilic fluid and bleaching agents.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for dry cleaning articles utilizing a siloxane solvent. The system (5) includes a cleaning basket (10) for receiving articles therein and one or more tanks (14, 16) for containing a siloxane solvent. Coupled between the tank and the cleaning basket is a pump (12) for immersing the articles in the cleaning basket with the siloxane solvent. Also included is a still (24) for distilling the dirty siloxane solvent to recover the pure siloxane solvent. A condenser (26) is coupled to the cleaning basket and/or the still for recovering condensed vapors. For decanting any water in the siloxane solvent received from the condenser, a separator (28) is coupled to the condenser. A fan (32) is coupled to the cleaning basket for circulating air past the condenser, then the heater coils (34) and into the cleaning basket for drying and cooling the articles.