US2074508A - Dry cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 23, 1937.

R. A. HETzR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 23, 1937. R. A. HETZER DRY CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet` 2 Filed May 19, 1934 FIG.- 5

INVENTOR RUSSELL A. HETZER 12 A ORN Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT oFElcE 2,074,508 DRY CLEANDTG APPARATUS Russell A.. Hetzer,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Norwood, Ohio Application May 19, 1934, Serial No. '726,460

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dry cleaning apparatus of that type in which the work to be cleaned is cleaned, dried and deodorized in a single apparatus or system.

.5 One object of the invention is to improve the general construction of that unit of the apparatus in which the work is subjected to the various steps in the treatment or, in other words, to the washing machine, and more particularly, to provide an improved type of such machine in which the doors of the outer stationary tub and rotating cylinder are connected and move as a unit for opening and closing the device and in closed position permit rotation of the door of the rotatable drum while the door of the tub is non-rotatable. l

A further object of the invention is to provide, in dry cleaning mechanism of this kind, a washing unit with coupled or connected doors of the character described. the inner or drum door being foraminous or perforated together with means for introducing the air supply to the space between the two doors so that it may be delivered to or discharged from the center of the rotating drum with most eicient results.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in dry cleaning apparatus oi' this kind, means for introducing moth preventive or moth-proofing material during operation of the apparatus in the customary manner.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved type of conduit connection to those portions oi the apparatus which contain the volatile detergent for more readily repairing and replacing gaskets and the like. f

Other objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts of the apparatus shown more or less diagrammatically and with portions of the apparatus broken out or in sectional elevation to expose interior parts; Fig. 2 is a detail end view of the washing unit from the left in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 9 3, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation, corresponding to Fig. l, but on a larger scale, illustrating the door construction; Fig. 5 is an end elevation from the right in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional plan view on the line tft, Fig. 5.

Taken as a whole, the dry cleaning system or apparatus illustrated in the drawings is of 55 the same general type and construction illus- (Ci. (iB-38) trated in my prior application for dry cleaning apparatus filed March 16, 1932, Serial No. 599,127, and now Patent Number 1,993,407, of March 5, 1935, to which reference may be had for a more complete description where desirable 5 or necessary. In actual practice, however, the present system will usually be made in smaller form and with more compact arrangement than in my prior application referred to.

The system comprises a washing machine .or unit i draining by way of the valve and conduit 2 to a sump 3, the chamber within the washing unit communicating by a conduit 4 with one end of a condenser 5 in which are screens ii. Condenser 5 drains into the sump by way of a 15 conduit 'i and valve 8. The gas chamber in the condenser communicates by conduit', 9 with a fan i0 delivering by way of a conduit H into a suitable air heater i2 which on its discharge side communicates by pipe I3 with the washing unit i. it is an air inlet valve to conduit i3 while iii is a two position valve at the entrance to an exhaust pipe i6, the two valves i4 and i5 being connected by links and levers, generally marked il, so coupling them that when in the Jfull line position, Fig. 1, air is repeatedly circulated through the circuit, while in the dotted line position fresh air enters at valve I4 and passes through the washer. condenser and fan and is discharged through the pipe i6. 30

The liquid detergent collected in the sump E is` conducted by way of pipe i8 and valve i9 to a renovating unit shown at the right in Fig. l. This renovating unit is generally similar tothat shown in my prior application before referred to. It .comprises a boiler 20 suitably heated in any manner as by steam pipes 2|, and the gas space which communicates by way of a conduit 22 with coils 23 in a condenser 2t, said coils delivering through a water trap 25 to a storage chamber or reservior 26 from which the reclaimed volatile detergent may be delivered by way of a pipe 21 and valve 28 to the chamber of the washing unit i.

Preferably, the system is operated with a suitable volatile detergent, preferably non-inflammable, such as trichlorethylene, carbon tetrachloride, or the like, and is open or of the vented type with communication to the atmosphere at all times to avoid wide or dangerous fluctuations of pressure within the system. `As illustrated, the system is vented by way of a pipe 29 open to atmosphere and communicating by branches 30, 3i and 32 with the chamber in the Washing unit i, with the sump 3 and with fio f 45 is buiged or substantiels which air is admitted at valve I4 and conducted to the washer. thence tothe condenser and i'an and discharged to the atmosphere, for deodorizing purposes. 'I'he detergent'withdrawn from the sump is then conducted to the boiler, is there evaporated and conducted to the condenser 24 from which it is delivered to the reservoir 28 for reuse.

According to the present invention, the washing or treating unit is of special form'. particularly as to the arrangement of its doors and the vapor or gas circulating conduit connection thereto. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6 the washing unit comprises aV stationary outer tub or casing 38 ln which is mounted a rotatable foraminous drum or work container 34, the axis of rotation of which is horizontal. Said drum 'is provided at one end with a driving shaft 35 connected for operation to any suitable source of power (not shown). 30 At that end of the drum opposite its driving and drum, both of which are circular and ar- I3 ranged concentric with the drum axis. The two as a Yunit back and forth between open and closed position.' As illustrated, the door 35 for the tub is provided with arms 31 pivoted on a 1 vertical axis on brackets 38 carried by the tub or casing. Said door seats against the end edge 40 oi' a tubular or cylindrical extension 39 trom the tub wall within which is a chamber 40 to the upper portion of which is 'connected the conduit I3. The drum door, marked 4I, in elevation is circular, and'its inner surface v,42

that it projects work with no cracks chamber -41 within which said rod is provided with a collar 48 preferably perforated and beyond which is a compression spring 49. the l'ocl `works in an opening 50 within the springv pilot portion oi a plug 5I into the hub 45 and removable from its outer end.

ing lugs 58 on the tub wall, and the hub 45 to swing together or may bev provided with one or more lubricating ports or channels 58 communicating with the chamber 41, for the purpose oi' supplying lubricant thereto, while the walls of chamber 41 may also be provided with longitudinal grooves 60 to reduce any pistonor retarding eil'ect oi' the collar 48, which, as stated, is perforated for the same purpose.

Ihe axis of the pivotal vmounting oi' door 88 on the tub is located in a plane normal to the drum .the locking projections 58 and the screw shaft 54has been rotated to force the tub door ilrmly to its seat. In this position the drum door prevents escape of the work but nevertheless thedrum may be rotated freely pors are circulated'in the manner described, the gas or vapor current coming from conduit I8 enters the chamber 48 and passes directly through the openings inthe drum door to the chamber within the drum,.and vso on, although obviously the direction of iiow may be the re verse from the chamber in the drumto conduit and' so on. For` unloading and reloading the washer, the handle and clear accessv to the drum chamber. During this motion, due to thel location of the axis on which the doors swing, the inner door clears all stationary` parts of the tub and passes out through the opening for the tub door.

For the-purpose oi'l treating the fabrics or garments `with a moth preventive or mothproofing substance, I provide a vessel 6I having a re movablev cover 82, by removing which the moth preventive material in the form of powder, finely divided crystals or the like may be introduced into receptacle 6I. By moth preventive or moth-prooing substances is meant those substances which will either kill moths or 4drive them away from fabrics, such as those which may be purchased commercially or vthose which are devalve 84 is open. odorizing operation, when fresh air is passed over the fabrics for scavenging therefrom the last traces of detergent, a quantity of the mothproong material iiows by gravity and by the suction eilect of fan III from the vessel 8| into conduit I3 and is distributed over and upon the fabrics being treate Fig. 3 illustrates a special form of connection from'conduit to tank l conduit and vessel l ner surface of is provided said closures and through the points where conduit 22v opening,

75 whereby air connects respectively to the bollen 20 and condenser 2l and at the points where the water trap 25 communicates with condenser 24 and reservoir 26. Such connections necessarily include -a gasket or gasket material in contact with the detergent. These detergents cause rather rapid deterioration of the gasket material, requiring frequent removal thereof. In the arrangement shown the joint between the is arranged as follows:-

Within the tank, Whose wall is indicated at 10, is located a plate 1l tapped to receive two studs iz and provided with an annular seat to receive a gasket or washer 13 which lies against the inthe tank wall. With these parts in place, as described, a gasket or washer 14 is applied to the outer surface of the tank and the joint is tightened by screwing down nuts 15. The end of the conduit` such as the conduit 22,

with a flange 11 slotted at 18 for application to the studs12 over nuts 15. The inner end or said conduit is applied to a washer 19 lying in an annular seat of the plate 1l, and the conduit, when inserted to the position shown, is secured tightly to produce a sealed joint by screwing up nuts B0. With this arrangement, upon deterioration of any packed joint or this kind, the parts may be disassembled and the washers and gaskets readily renewed from the outside of the vessel without the usual necessity for full access to the chamber within the tank.

What I claim is:

1. A work treating device of the character described comprising a stationary casing having an a drum rotatable therein having an opening substantially concentric with its axis oi rotation. a seat disposed around the'opening in said duim. a closurefor the opening in said casing and a closure for the opening in said drum, said closures being mounted to` move as a unit between open and closed position, the closure for said drum being rotatable and yieldlngly mounted with respect to the casing closure, whereby when the unit is closed the drum door will be forced into engagement with the drum seat and will rotate therewith.'

2. A work treating device of the character described, comprising a stationary casing having an opening, a perforate drum rotatable therein having an opening substantially concentric with its axis oi rotation, a closure for the casing opening, a perorateclosure for the drum opening, said closures being spaced from each other, a conduit communicating with the space between drum closure with the drum chamber, and a conduit connected to the casing wall and communicating through the drum perforations with its chamber, whereby air may be caused to flow from conduit to conduit by way o the drum chamber and thus into intimate contact with the work in said drum:

3. Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 in which the closure for said drum is yieldingly and rotatably/,mounted with respect to the closure for said casing.

e. A work treating device of the character described comprising a stationary casing, a perforate drum rotatable therein, a supply conduit leading into said casing and a discharge conduit leading therefrom and communicating with the supply conduit to form a closed circuit, whereby air may be circulated from conduit to conduit and thereby through the work and periorate drum, valve controlled openings in said conduits from the atmosphere may be forced through the workin said drum and passed to the atmosphere, a receptacle containing a mothprooilng substance, communicating means between said receptacle and the supply conduit, valve means for normally closing communication between the receptacle and the supplyconduit, and means controlled by the operation of said air valves for opening communication between said receptacle and the supply conduit when the supply conduit is open to atmosphere. whereby the moth-proofing substance may be drawn through the supply conduit when air from the atmosphere is forced through said drum.

5. A work treating device of the character described comprising a stationary casing, a perforate drum rotatable therein, a closure for said drum and a closure for said casing, said closures being spaced from each other and the inner clesure being perforated, into the space between the closures, a discharge conduit leading from the casing and communieating with the supply conduit to form a closed circuit for the circulation of air from conduit to conduit, valve controlled openings in said conduits wherebyI air may be forced-from the atmosphere through the work and passed to the atmosphere for deodorizing the fabric when said valves are open, a receptacle containing a moth-A proorlng substance, communicating means between said receptacle and the supply conduit, valve means for closing said communicating means, and means controlled by the operation of said air valves for opening communication between said receptacle and the supply conduit when the supply conduit is open to the atmosphere, whereby when air from the atmosphere is drawn through the supply conduit moth-prooiing substance will be drawn from the receptacle 'and forced through the perforations in the drum closure upon the work in said drum.

6. A work treating device of the character described, including a stationary casing, a cylindrical foraminous drum rotatable therein on a horizontal axis, a closure unit therefor including casing and drum door members of circular form mounted to move together as a open and closed positions and which in closed position are substantially concentric with the drum axis, said two door members being spaced from. each other, a conduit connected to the space between said doors, and a conduit connected to the casing wall, for circulation `of air from' conduit to conduit and thereby through the work and rotatable drum.

'1. Apparatus of the character described in claim 6, in `which the drum door is yieldingly mounted with .reference to the casing door, thereby to accommodate itseli to the opening in the drum.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 6, in which said door members are pivoted to the casing upon an axis which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the door members and substantially midway between them.

9. A work treating device of the character described comprising a stationary casing having an opening. a drum rotatable therein having an opening substantially concentric with its axis of rotation. a closure seat surrounding said opening, a closure for the opening in said casing and a closure for the opening in said drum, the closure for said drum being rotatabiy and yieldingly mounted with respect to the casing closure when the doors are closed so that the drum door will a supply conduit leading unit between l Ch be forced into ensasem and will rotate therewith.

10. A work .treating device described concentric with its ent with the s an opening subl exis of rotation.

a seat surrounding lthe drum opening, a closure for said drum opening rotatably mounted with respect to said casing closure. and means associated with the casing door for yieldably forcing the closure for the drum into engagement with 5 the seat.

RUSSELL A.

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