Washer extractor apparatus and method

Abstract

A method of washing fabric articles provides a washer extractor having a reservoir for holding fabric articles and a washing liquid. A washing liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior. The ratio of pounds (or kilograms) of washing liquid to pounds (or kilograms) of fabric articles is about 4 to 1, plus absorbed water. Fluid is pulse flowed to the textile articles at a volume of between about 0.5 to 2 gallons (2 to 8 liters) per pound (kg) of fabric articles for a selected time interval. Washing chemicals are added to the washer extractor. Water is transmitted to the washer extractor at the rate of 0.35 to 0.6 gallons (1.33 to 2.3 liters) of water per pound (kg) of fabric articles within a selected time interval.

1 . A method of washing fabric articles, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a reservoir of washing liquid;   b) providing a washer extractor having an interior for holding fabric articles;   c) placing fabric articles to be washed in the interior of the washer extractor;   d) pumping the washing liquid from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior with a first pump;   e) adding washing chemicals to the washer extractor interior while it is filled with washing liquid and fabric articles;   f) transmitting rinse water to the washing extractor interior within a selected time interval with said first pump;   g) withdrawing the rinse water from the washer extractor interior with a second pump;   h) wherein a controller maintains a selected fluid level in said reservoir in steps “f” and “g” by adjusting the flow rates of one or both of said pumps.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 1  wherein water consumption is between about 1 and 2 gallons (8 and 16 liters) per pound (kg) of processed fabric articles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 1  wherein the time interval of step “f”′ is between about one-two minutes. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of pounds (or kilograms) of washing liquid to pounds (or kilograms) of fabric articles is between 3 to 1 to 5:1, plus absorbed water. 
     
     
         9 . A washer extractor apparatus, comprising:
 a) a washer extractor for holding fabric articles to be washed in a volume of a washing liquid having an associated reservoir and a washer drum with an extractor interior;   b) a reservoir having a flow line that enables transmission of washing liquid from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior;   c) a first pump at a first elevation that enables flowing of rinse fluid to the combination of fabric articles and washing liquid at a rate of between about 30 to 700 gallons (114 to 2,650 liters) per minute for a selected time interval;   d) a second pump at a second elevation lower than said first elevation that enables extraction of excess liquid from the washer extractor in order to maintain a selected volume of liquid in said interior and a first liquor ration; and   e) a controller that enables a change in the volume of fluid being pumped by the second pump to a flow value that is different from the volume of fluid pumped by the first pump so that the fluid level in the drum can be changed to provide a new and different liquor ratio.   
     
     
         10 . The washer extractor of  claim 9  further comprising a flow line for adding chemicals to the washer extractor interior. 
     
     
         11 . The washer extractor of  claim 9  wherein water consumption is between about one-half and two gallons (4 and 16 liters) per pound (kg) of washed and fluid extracted fabric articles. 
     
     
         12 . A method of washing fabric articles, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a reservoir of liquid;   b) providing a washer extractor having an interior for holding fabric articles;   c) placing fabric articles to be washed in the interior of the washer extractor;   d) pumping the liquid from the reservoir to the washer extractor interior with a first pump, wherein the washer extractor interior has a liquid upper surface;   e) adding washing chemicals to the washer extractor interior;   f) transmitting rinse water to the washing extractor interior at a rate of between about thirty and seven hundred gallons (114 to 2,650 liters) per minute; and   g) extracting liquid from the washer extractor during step “f”′, wherein excess liquid that has been added in step “e” is discharged via an effluent flow line.   
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 12  wherein water consumption is between about one-half (½) and two (2) gallons (4-16 liters) per pound (kg) of processed fabric articles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 12  wherein the time interval of step “f” is between about one and two minutes. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of washing fabric articles of  claim 12  wherein the ratio of pounds (or kilograms) of washing liquid to pounds (or kilograms) of fabric articles is about 4 to 1, plus absorbed water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the withdrawn liquid of step “g” is transmitted to the reservoir of step “a”. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a flow line for enabling transmission of the extracted liquid to the reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the extracted liquid of step “g” is transmitted to the reservoir of step “a”. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the withdrawn liquid of step “g” is re-circulated to the reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a re-circulation flow line connecting the washer extractor to the reservoir, wherein said re-circulation flow line enables transmission of at least some of the extracted liquid to the reservoir and wherein the said second pump is in said re-circulation flow line. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 12  wherein at least some of the extracted liquid of step “g” is re-circulated to comprise at least a part of the rinse water of step “f”. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a re-circulation flow line that conveys all or part of said excess liquid to said reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing the second pump below the first pump. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing the washer extractor interior below the first pump. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second pump is a column pump. 
     
     
         30 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is refilled with rinse water after step “d”.