Non-aqueous washing apparatus and method

Abstract

Methods for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluorinated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.

1 . In automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning; container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids; means for adding a primary working fluid and a first co-solvent to said container means; means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the wash liquor in the wash container for a time sufficient to provide fabric cleaning; means for separating said first co-solvent and primary working fluid from the fabric to be cleaned; means for adding a second co-solvent to said container means and adding mechanical energy to provide movement between wash liquor and fabric; means for separating said second co-solvent from the fabric to be cleaned; and means for flowing air through said container means to dry the fabric therein in situ.  
     
     
         2 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises means for moving the wash container in a manner which moves the fabric load with respect to the wash liquor.  
     
     
         3 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises means for rotating the wash container about a horizontal axis.  
     
     
         4 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises means for rotating the wash container about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         5 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises means for nutating the wash container about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         6 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises means for vibrating the wash container.  
     
     
         7 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises a plurality of high pressure jets disposed in said wash container and constructed and arranged to impail on the fabric to be cleaned.  
     
     
         8 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said means for applying mechanical energy comprises a movable agitator mounted in the wash container.  
     
     
         9 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein individual containers for the primary working fluid and co-solvent are self-contained in the cleaning apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . In an automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning; container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids; means for adding a wash liquor to said container means; means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the wash liquor in the wash container for a time sufficient to provide fabric cleaning; means for separating said wash liquor from the fabric to be cleaned; means for adding a liquid extraction solvent to said container means and adding mechanical energy to provide movement between wash liquor and fabric; means for separating said liquid extraction solvent from the fabric to be cleaned; and means for flowing air through said container means to dry the fabric therein in situ.  
     
     
         11 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said liquid extraction solvent is stored therein separately from the working fluid.  
     
     
         12 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said liquid extraction solvent is accomplished by spraying said liquid extraction solvent onto the fabric.  
     
     
         13 . In an automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning: 
 A container for receiving fabric to be cleaned and fluids;    Storage tanks for each of a primary working fluid and a liquid extraction solvent;    A dispenser adapted for selectively dispensing working fluid and selectively dispensing the liquid extraction fluid into said container;    Means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the fluid in the wash chamber;    Means for separating fluids from the fabric to be cleaned; and    Means for flowing air through said container to dry the fluids therein in situ.    
     
     
         14 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus contains a pump for delivering a fluid or additive from the dispenser to the container.  
     
     
         15 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein mechanical energy is imparted to fluid and fabrics through one of the following: tumbling, agitating, nutating or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         16 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein an additive is added to the container through a dispenser.  
     
     
         17 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the additive is stored in a separate tank for dispensing.  
     
     
         18 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said apparatus contains a means for controlling the sequential steps of: adding a working fluid and at least one washing additive to the container; providing mechanical energy to the wash liquor and fabric to provide relative movement between said wash liquor and fabric; removing said wash liquor from fabric; and separating working fluid from wash liquor.  
     
     
         19 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said control means provides a co-solvent to the container.  
     
     
         20 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said control means removes co-solvent from the fabric.  
     
     
         21 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said apparatus provides a co-solvent to the container.  
     
     
         22 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the co-solvent is the liquid extraction solvent.  
     
     
         23 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of: perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, fluoroinerts or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the co-solvent is further selected from methoxynonafluorobutane, ethoxynonafluorobutane or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         25 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said apparatus provides an additional co-solvent to the container.  
     
     
         26 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said apparatus contains a separator for separating the liquid extraction fluid from the working fluid.  
     
     
         27 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said separator is selected from the group consisting of: gravity separation, filtration, centrifugation, fractional distillation, freeze distillation, adsorption, absorption, inducing electrical fields, vaporization or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         28 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said separator contains a means for disposing said washing additives.  
     
     
         29 . An automatic cleaning apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said means for flowing air contains a means for heating said air.