Patent US4217115A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4217115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dry cleaning processes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-07-12
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Granted: 1980-08-12
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Expires: 1998-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A dry cleaning process in which contaminating solvent vapor is removed from a gas stream discharged from a dry cleaning machine and the stream then recycled. As a preliminary to the removal of the solvent vapor the gas is bubbled through an aqueous liquid. In some gas (for example when the solvent is perchloroethylene) the liquid is water and the gas stream is then returned to the machine where it passes over cooling coils so that the solvent vapor condenses and is collected. In other gas (when the solvent is trichloroethane or trichloroethylene) the aqueous liquid is a solution of a catalyst or emulsifying agent, the solvent being recovered by conventional chemical processes. Removal of the solvent is carried out in a recovery tank having inlet means for the gas extending into the bottom of the tank and including a foraminous screen through which gas is bubbled into the liquid in the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Reginald J. Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:20
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/18; D; D06; D06F; D06F43/00; D06F43/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A dry cleaning process, for removing contaminating dry cleaning solvent vapor from a stream of gas from a dry cleaning machine without any loss of said solvent vapor, comprising the steps of: bubbling said stream of gas through an aqueous liquid so as to facilitate and enhance the removal of said solvent vapor from said stream of gas through conversion of said solvent vapor into a liquid solvent solution; recovering said liquid solvent from said liquid solvent solution; recycling said recovered liquid solvent to said dry cleaning machine; and recycling said decontaminated stream of gas, including any entrained solvent vapor, to said dry cleaning machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A dry cleaning process, for removing contaminating dry cleaning solvent vapor from a stream of gas from a dry cleaning machine without any loss of said solvent vapor, comprising the steps of: bubbling said stream of gas through an aqueous liquid so as to facilitate and enhance the removal of said solvent vapor from said stream of gas through conversion of said solvent vapor into a liquid solvent solution; recovering said liquid solvent from said liquid solvent solution; recycling said recovered liquid solvent to said dry cleaning machine; and recycling said decontaminated stream of gas, including any entrained solvent vapor, to said dry cleaning machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A dry cleaning process according to claim 1 wherein after passing through the liquid the stream of gas is passed over cooling coils to condense the solvent vapour, the condensate then being collected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dry cleaning process according to claim 2 wherein the dry cleaning solvent is perchloroethylene, the gas being air and the liquid being water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A dry cleaning process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is an aqueous solution of a catalyst or emulsifying agent for the solvent, whereby as the gas bubbles through the liquid the solvent vapour is removed to form an emulsion with said solution from which the solvent can be recovered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dry cleaning process according to claim 4 wherein the solvent is trichloroethane or trichloroethylene, the gas being air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for removing contaminating dry cleaning solvent vapor from a stream of gas from a dry cleaning machine without any loss of said solvent vapor, comprising: a dry cleaning machine; a container housing a liquid; foraminous screen means disposed within said container at a level beneath said liquid; means for introducing said stream of gas from said dry cleaning machine into said container liquid below said screen means so as to cause said stream of gas to bubble upwardly through said screen means so as to facilitate and enhance the removal of said solvent vapor from said stream of gas through conversion of said solvent vapor into a liquid solventsolution; means for recovering said liquid solvent from said liquid solvent solution; means for recycling said recovered liquid solvent to said dry cleaning machine; means for removing said decontaminated stream of gas, including any entrained solvent vapor, from said container; and means for conducting said decontaminated stream of gas from said removal means to said dry cleaning machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for removing contaminating dry cleaning solvent vapor from a stream of gas from a dry cleaning machine without any loss of said solvent vapor, comprising: a dry cleaning machine; a container housing a liquid; foraminous screen means disposed within said container at a level beneath said liquid; means for introducing said stream of gas from said dry cleaning machine into said container liquid below said screen means so as to cause said stream of gas to bubble upwardly through said screen means so as to facilitate and enhance the removal of said solvent vapor from said stream of gas through conversion of said solvent vapor into a liquid solventsolution; means for recovering said liquid solvent from said liquid solvent solution; means for recycling said recovered liquid solvent to said dry cleaning machine; means for removing said decontaminated stream of gas, including any entrained solvent vapor, from said container; and means for conducting said decontaminated stream of gas from said removal means to said dry cleaning machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said introducing means comprises a pipe, the open end of which extends downwardly through said screen means; and baffle means is disposed beneath said open end to said pipe for deflecting said gas stream upwardly through said screen means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the introducing means enters the container beneath the foraminous screen arranged as a partition across a lower part of the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the introducing means comprises one or more pipes which extend along the bottom of the container, the foraminous screen being the pipe wall which is perforated with a large number of small holes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |