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Patent US5267455A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5267455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid/supercritical carbon dioxide dry cleaning system
Assignee: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Filing: 1992-07-13
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Granted: 1993-12-07
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Expires: 2012-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A dry cleaning system particularly suited for employing supercritical CO 2 as the cleaning fluid consisting of a sealable cleaning vessel containing a rotatable drum adapted for holding soiled substrate, a cleaning fluid storage vessel, and a gas vaporizer vessel for recycling used cleaning fluid is provided. The drum is magnetically coupled to a motor so that it an be rotated during the cleaning process. The system is adapted for automation which permits increased energy efficiency as the heating and cooling effect associated with CO 2 gas condensation and expansion can be channeled to heat and cool various parts of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Dewees
- 👤 Frank M. Knafelc
- 👤 James D. Mitchell
- 👤 R. Gregory Taylor
- 👤 Robert J. Iliff
- 👤 Daniel T. Carty
- 👤 James R. Latham
- 👤 Thomas M. Lipton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:01
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F43/00; D06F43/007; B; B08; B08B; B08B7/00; B08B7/0021; D06F43/02; D06F43/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for cleaning a substrate with a densified gas comprising: a sealable cleaning vessel defining a compartment with temperature change means operatively associated therewith for adjusting the temperature within said compartment; a rotatable drum adapted to receive the substrate, the drum being positionable inside the cleaning vessel compartment, the substrate being selectably in contact with densified first gas when within the compartment; a storage vessel in fluid communication with the compartment; a gas vaporizer vessel in fluid communication with the compartment, wherein the storage vessel is in fluid communication with the ga vaporizer vessel by first conduit means; and means for introducing a compressed second gas at a selected pressure into said compartment for displacing said densified first gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for cleaning a substrate with a densified gas comprising: a sealable cleaning vessel defining a compartment with temperature change means operatively associated therewith for adjusting the temperature within said compartment; a rotatable drum adapted to receive the substrate, the drum being positionable inside the cleaning vessel compartment, the substrate being selectably in contact with densified first gas when within the compartment; a storage vessel in fluid communication with the compartment; a gas vaporizer vessel in fluid communication with the compartment, wherein the storage vessel is in fluid communication with the ga vaporizer vessel by first conduit means; and means for introducing a compressed second gas at a selected pressure into said compartment for displacing said densified first gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said storage vessel is in fluid communication with said compartment by second conduit means and wherein said apparatus further comprises: means for injecting cleaning additive into said cleaning vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said apparatus further comprises: cooling means disposed in said second conduit means for cooling gas from said storage vessel below its boiling point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 or 3 wherein said vaporizer vessel further comprises: means for adjusting the gas temperature therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising: filter means for removing volatile contaminants from gases in said first conduit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises: condenser means for condensing filtered gas from said filter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the drum is cylindrical and is supported by at least two sets of rollers and wherein said cleaning vessel further comprises motive means for rotating the drum, the motive means having a drive that is magnetically coupled to said drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the motive means includes a motor that causes said drum to rotate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the motor is electric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the drum is removably positionable inside the cleaning vessel compartment.
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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) | 1996-12-06 | 1997-06-07 | 1997-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-06 | 2001-06-07 | 2001-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-06 | 2005-06-07 | 2005-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |