Apparatus for treating work pieces

Claim 2

Apparatus for treating workpieces in an enclosed space, said apparatus comprising: a. workpiece-supporting means having a workpiece-supporting surface; b. a rigid framework in proximity to and coextensive with edge portions of said workpiece-supporting surface, said framework having a side facing said workpiece-supporting surface; c. a collapsible material secured to said framework defining an enclosed space over the workpiece-supporting surface; d. a plurality of spaced posts secured to said framework; and e. wall members secured to and supported by said spaced posts extending continuously about said framework, said wall members together with said collapsible material defining between them a liquid-tight chamber.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 having flexible sealing means between the edge portions of the workpiece-supporting surface and the side of the framework facing said edge portions.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a container disposed beneath said workpiece-supporting surface, said container extending beyond the sides of said workpiece-supporting surface, and a skirt member extending from the framework into said container.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the said skirt member is secured to the framework.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the skirt member is secured directly to the collapsible material as an extension therefrom.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising ejector means for evacuating the enclosed space and pipe means having one end connected to said ejector means and the end remote from said ejector means extending into said enclosed space.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the end of the pipe means remote from the ejector means extends into the upper portion of the enclosed space.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising means for admitting liquid to the liquid-tight chamber whereby to apply pressure to the flexible sealing means and to cause the enclosed space to be evacuated.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a soft porous plate having a treating agent absorbed therein and a perforated plate cooperating with said porous plate for the concentrated treatment of selected portions of a workpiece on the workpiece-supporting surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the workpiece-supporting surface is provided with a recess disposed to coact with an enclosed space defined by the collapsible material.

Claim 12

Apparatus for treating workpieces in an enclosed space, said apparatus comprising: a. workpiece-supporting means having a workpiece-supporting surface; b. a rigid framework in proximity to and coextensive with edge portions of said workpiece-supporting surface; c. collapsible material secured to said framework defining an enclosed space over said workpiece-supporting surface; d. sealing means between said framework and said workpiece-supporting surface for sealing said enclosed space; e. a plurality of spaced posts secured to said framework; f. wall members secured to and supported by said spaced posts extending continuously about said framework, said wall members together with said collapsible material defining between them a liquid-tight chamber surrounding said enclosed space; g. suction means mounted on said collapsible material within the enclosed space; h. external ejector means connected to said suction means for providing a subatmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; i. pressurizing means and means connecting said pressurizing means to the enclosed space for providing a super-atmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; j. liquid reservoir means; k. liquid transfer means communicating with said liquid reservoir means and with said liquid-tight chamber and said enclosed space; l. valve means connected to said liquid transfer means for selectively directing liquid from said reservoir means to said liquid-tight chamber or to said enclosed space; and m. means for returning liquid from said liquid-tight chamber and enclosed space to said reservoir means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for treating workpieces in an enclosed space, said apparatus comprising: a. workpiece-supporting means having a workpiece-supporting surface; b. a rigid framework in proximity to and coextensive with edge portions of said workpiece-supporting surface; c. collapsible material secured to said framework defining an enclosed space over said workpiece-supporting surface; d. sealing means between said framework and said workpiece-supporting surface for sealing said enclosed space; e. a plurality of spaced posts secured to said framework; f. wall members secured to and supported by said spaced posts extending continuously about said framework, said wall members together with said collapsible material defining between them a liquid-tight chamber surrounding said enclosed space; g. suction means mounted on said collapsible material within the enclosed space; h. external ejector means connected to said suction means for providing a subatmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; i. pressurizing means and means connecting said pressurizing means to the enclosed space for providing a super-atmospheric pressure within said enclosed space; j. liquid reservoir means; k. liquid transfer means communicating with said liquid reservoir means and with said liquid-tight chamber and said enclosed space; l. valve means connected to said liquid transfer means for selectively directing liquid from said reservoir means to said liquid-tight chamber or to said enclosed space; and m. means for returning liquid from said liquid-tight chamber and enclosed space to said reservoir means.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said liquid reservoir means comprises a pair of separate tanks for holding different treating liquids and said liquid transfer means comprises (a) separate pipe systems connecting each of said tanks with said liquid-tight chamber and said enclosed space, (b) pump means connected to said pipe systems for moving liquid from said tanks to said liquid-tight chamber and enclosed space, and (c) valve means connected in said pipe systems for selectively directing flow of liquids.

Claim 15

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the workpiece-supporting means is provided with vertical supports, said workpiece-supporting means is secured by said vertical supports inside a first of the tanks, and the second of said tanks is mounted under said workpiece-supporting means inside said first tank.