Drying of articles

Claim 2

A process for removing water from the surface of an article in which said article is immersed successively (i) in a bath (A), for removal of water, maintained at boiling point consisting of a liquid drying composition which is not miscible with water and which comprises a solvent, (ii) in a rinsing bath (B) also maintained at boiling point consisting of said solvent, (iii) in a rinsing bath (C) consisting of said solvent maintained at a temperature appreciably less than its boiling point, and (iv) in the vapor emitted by a bath (D) consisting of said solvent maintained at boiling point, the following operations being carried out continuously, a. separately condensing the vapors leaving baths A and B and the vapors leaving bath C, removing water contained in the condensate, passing the condensed solvent into the bath C, passing excess solvent from bath C into bath B, passing excess solvent in bath B into bath A and recycling the excess of liquid from said bath A into bath A after elimination of water therefrom, b. condensing the vapor leaving bath D, removing water contained in the condensate, and recycling the solvent to bath D.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the solvent is 1,1, 2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane and the difference between the temperature of bath C and the boiling point of the solvent is at least 10*C.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the article is immersed in each of the baths A, B and C for from 1 to 3 minutes.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the article is immersed in vapor leaving bath D for from 15 to 30 seconds.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of baths A and B is agitated ultrasonically and the condensate obtained by condensation of vapor from baths A and B is boiled continuously before removal of water therefrom.

Claim 7

Apparatus for removing water from the surface of an article by immersion in a liquid composition which is not miscible with water comprising a water-removal tank for containing said composition having means for heating the composition therein, at least one decantation tank for separating water from said composition and a recycling circuit for the liquid composition connecting the decantation tank to the water-removal tank, a first rinsing tank having means for heating rinsing liquid contained therein, positioned adjacent the water-removal tank, having a space situated above the water-removal tank and first rinsing tank being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the first rinsing tank into the water-removal tank and means for passing excess liquid from the water-removal tank into the decantation tank, a second rinsing tank having a space thereabove being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the second rinsing tank into the first rinsing tank, means for recovering the condensates obtained by condensation of vapor rising respectively in the space above a water-removal tank and the first rinsing tank and in the space above the second rinsing tank, means for eliminating any water contained in said condensates and means for passing the condensed solvent into the second rinsing tank, and a third rinsing tank having means for heating liquid contained therein, having a space above the third rinsing tank surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for eliminating any water contained in the condensate obtained therefrom and means for passing the condensed solvent into the third rinsing tank.

Claim 8

Apparatus for removing water from the surface of an article by immersion in a liquid composition which is not miscible with water comprising a water-removal tank for containing said composition having means for heating the composition therein, at least one decantation tank for separating water from said composition and a recycling circuit for the liquid composition connecting the decantation tank to the water-removal tank, a first rinsing tank having means for heating rinsing liquid contained therein, positioned adjacent the water-removal tank, having a space situated above the water-removal tank and first rinsing tank being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the first rinsing tank into the water-removal tank and means for passing excess liquid from the water-removal tank into the decantation tank, a second rinsing tank having a space thereabove being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the second rinsing tank into the first rinsing tank, means for recovering the condensates obtained by condensation of vapor rising respectively in the space above a water-removal tank and the first rinsing tank and in the space above the second rinsing tank, means for eliminating any water contained in said condensates and means for passing the condensed solvent into the second rinsing tank, and a third rinsing tank having means for heating liquid contained therein, having a space above the third rinsing tank surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for eliminating any water contained in the condensate obtained therefrom and means for passing the condensed solvent into the third rinsing tank.

Claim 9

Apparatus for removing water from the surface of an article by immersion in a liquid composition which is not miscible with water comprising a water-removal tank for containing said composition having means for heating the composition therein, at least one decantation tank for separating water from said composition and a recycling circuit for the liquid composition connecting the decantation tank to the water-removal tank, a first rinsing tank having means for heating rinsing liquid contained therein, positioned adjacent the water-removal tank, having a space situated above the water-removal tank and first rinsing tank being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the first rinsing tank into the water-removal tank and means for passing excess liquid from the water-removal tank into the decantation tank, a second rinsing tank having a space thereabove being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the second rinsing tank into the first rinsing tank, means for recovering the condensates obtained by condensation of vapor rising respectively in the space above a water-removal tank and the first rinsing tank and in the space above the second rinsing tank, means for eliminating any water contained in said condensates and means for passing the condensed solvent into the second rinsing tank, and a third rinsing tank having means for heating liquid contained therein, having a space above the third rinsing tank surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for eliminating any water contained in the condensate obtained therefrom and means for passing the condensed solvent into the third rinsing tank.

Claim 10

Apparatus for removing water from the surface of an article by immersion in a liquid composition which is not miscible with water comprising a water-removal tank for containing said composition having means for heating the composition therein, at least one decantation tank for separating water from said composition and a recycling circuit for the liquid composition connecting the decantation tank to the water-removal tank, a first rinsing tank having means for heating rinsing liquid contained therein, positioned adjacent the water-removal tank, having a space situated above the water-removal tank and first rinsing tank being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the first rinsing tank into the water-removal tank and means for passing excess liquid from the water-removal tank into the decantation tank, a second rinsing tank having a space thereabove being surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for passing excess liquid from the second rinsing tank into the first rinsing tank, means for recovering the condensates obtained by condensation of vapor rising respectively in the space above a water-removal tank and the first rinsing tank and in the space above the second rinsing tank, means for eliminating any water contained in said condensates and means for passing the condensed solvent into the second rinsing tank, and a third rinsing tank having means for heating liquid contained therein, having a space above the third rinsing tank surrounded by walls, a condenser about the upper parts of the walls, means for eliminating any water contained in the condensate obtained therefrom and means for passing the condensed solvent into the third rinsing tank.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the means for removing water contained in the condensate obtained by condensation of vapors rising in the space situated above the water-removal tank and the first rinsing tank comprise a vessel provided with heating means for boiling the condensate and surmounted by means for condensing the vapor so obtained.