US3027739A - Dry cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 j MCCALLUM DRY CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 ATTORNEY walrlld April 1952 D. J. MCCALLUM 3,027,739

DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/Vl/ENTOR Dav/0 (/M CcY/M/W RNEY.

April 3, 1962 D. J. MCCALLUM DRY CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. Dav/'0 J. M? C0//um BY ATTOKNEX April 3, 1962 D. J. M CALLUM 3,027,739

DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWW United States Patent Ofiice 3,027,739 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,027,739 DRY CLEANING MACHINE David J. McCallum, 8560 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,080 18 Claims. (Cl. 68-5) This invention relates to improvements in dry cleaning machine. The principal objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a machine for cleaning garments and fabrics by means of a recirculated current of heated air and cleaning vapors.

Second, to provide an air and vapor dry cleaning machine with means for providing a drying cycle in which dry heated air only is circulated through the fabric being cleaned.

Third, to provide a dry cleaning machine with means for injecting a spray of dry cleaning vapor into a stream of circulating air and forcing the mixture through the fabric to be cleaned and thereafter separating the cleaning vapors and liquids from the air to filter out dirt and impurities withdrawn from the fabric and returning the cleaning fluid for reuse in the machine.

Fourth, to provide a dry cleaning machine which can conveniently be manufactured in a size and capacity for economical domestic use in a home and which will operate without danger of escape of toxic or dangerous cleaning solvents from the machine.

Fifth, to provide a dry cleaning machine which will selectively inject a cleaning solvent from one or the other of two sources or in mixture from the sources into a stream of air forced through the fabric to be cleaned.

Sixth, to provide a dry cleaning machine of domestic size and capacity having automatic controls for forcing and recirculating a stream of hot air through fabric to be cleaned and introducing a spray of cleaning solvent into the stream during a portion of the cleaning cycle and thereafter discontinuing the supply of cleaning solvent and introducing fresh filtered and heated air for delivery through the fabric, and filtering residue of cleaning solvent from the air prior to exhausting the air from the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are four sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of the dry cleaning machine.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine partially broken away in horizontal cross section to illustrate interior parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the broken line 33 in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 44 in FIG. 3 and looking forwardly toward the front of the machine.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 55 in FIGS. 1 and 7.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 66 in FIG. 3 with parts further broken away in cross section.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through the air control damper shaft taken along the plane of the broken line 77 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the fluid selector valve taken along the plane of the line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls and operating elements of the machine.

The machine consists generally of a forward base or pedestal 1 on top of which is mounted a work receiving pad 2. Rearwardly of the pedestal 1 is a cabinet 3 enclosing parts of the operating mechanism of the machine and on top of which is mounted a blower and pump housing 4. A discharge throat 5 from the blower delivers through a hinged connection 6 to a pressing and cleaning head 7 which is swingable downwardly into lapped sealed engagement with the cleaning pad 2. A combined latch and safety switch 8 locks the cleaning head to the pad 2 in a manner which will be described in greater detail presently.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the forward pedestal or base 1 encloses a filter system positioned below the pad 2. The central portion of the pad 2 is perforated or formed of relatively heavy wire mesh as at 9 so as to support the garment or fabric to be cleaned while permitting gas or vapor to be forced through the pad into the separator and filter section. The filter and separator consists of a plurality of alternately staggered and tilted plates 10. The plates are inclined laterally toward the sides of the pedestal as appears in FIG. 4 and forwardly toward the front of the machine as shown in FIG. 3, so that the mixture of air and dry cleaning vapors discharged through the Wire mesh 9 are caused to travel circuitously and impinge successively against the plates whereby vapors and liquids in the air are separated and condensed and drained forwardly through ports 11 into an upright filter 12 mounted along the inside of the front wall of the pedestal. The filter 12 is filled with diatomaceous earth or other suitable filtering media to absorb and screen out oils, greases, impurities and other foreign materials abstracted from the fabric being cleaned by the cleaning fluid. The filter 12 discharges the separated and filtered cleaning fluid into a settling tank 13 near the bottom of the pedestal which further separates impurities from the fluid and overflows into a collecting tank or sump 14 in the bottom of the edestal. The baflle plates 10 constitute separators for separating the liquid and gaseous components of the cleaning mixture.

At the back of the separator plates 10 there are provided two upright transverse plates 15 and 16 forming a recirculating duct 17 completely across the rear end of the pedestal. At the upper end of the duct 17 there is provided a recirculating port 18 selectively closed by a damper valve 19 and opening into a downwardly extending heating chamber 20 having an electrical heating element 21 therein. The heating chamber 20 opens centrally near its bottom to the inlet 22 of a suction fan designated in its entirety by the numeral 23. The suction fan 23 is driven by a motor 24 and delivers through an upwardly extending discharge duct 25 to one end of a centrifugal blower 26 positioned in the previously described blower and pump housing 4. The blower 26 is thus connected in series with the suction fan 23 to increase the pressure and velocity with which air is circulated through the system. As previously stated, the blower 26 discharges through the throat 5 into the hollow pressing and cleaning head 7 which has a perforate or mesh undersurface 27 registering with the mesh surface 9 of the cleaning pad.

The blower 26 on the upper side of the cabinet is driven by a second motor 28, see FIG. 2, which also drives a high pressure liquid pump 29 mounted on the opposite side of the blower 26. The pump 29 functions to deliver cleaning fluid from sources to be described to the delivery nozzle 30 positioned in the blower neck 5 to introduce a fine spray of cleaning fluid into the stream of air circulated through the machine.

The cleaning fluid delivered through the nozzle 30 comes alternatively or in combination from three sources. The first is a tank 31 adapted to receive or hold a supply of fresh cleaning solvent or cleaning fluid. The second source is a tank 32 adapted to receive and collect refiltered cleaning fluid after it is collected from the sump 14, and the third source is the sump 14 itself. Cleaning fluid is circulated primarily by asuction pump 33 mounted on the end of the lower motor 24 and connected to draw liquid through the pipe 34 from a manually adjustable regulating valve 35. As appears more clearly from FIG. 8, the valve 35 has a lower sump portion from which the pipe 34 draws. Liquid is supplied to the sump of the valve from either a pipe 36 extending to the new fluid tank 31 or a pipe 37 extending to the reused fluid tank 32 or a pipe 38 extending to the sump 14 at the bottom of the separating and filtering chamber in the pedestal. The pipe 38 has a small constantly open restriction 39 therein so that the suction in the pipe 34 constantly draws some filtered fluid into the regulator valve 35 to keep the sump 14 empty. The pipes 36 and 37 from. the new and the reused fluid tanks open to opposite ends of a selector chamber 40 with a selector valve 41 therein. The valve element 41 can be moved by the manual control handle 42 to close the valve head 43 in the opening to the new fluid pipe 36 and correspondingly open the valve head 44 from the opening to the reused fluid pipe 37 in which case all of the fluid in excess of that recovered through the pipe 38 will be drawn from the reused fluid tank. The valve head 44 has a small constantly open bypass passage 45 therein so that regardless of the position of the valve element 41, some fluid will be returned to the system from the reused fluid tank. The selector chamber delivers into the sump of the control valve 35 in response to actuation of a valve 46 opened by a float 47 in the sump of the control valve. Thus when an insufficient amount of cleaning fluid is recovered from the separator chamber through the pipe 38, the float 47 will fall, opening the valve 46 for an increased supply of fluid from either or both the new fluid tank 31 or the reused fluid tank 32. The valve 46 has a small restricted passage 48 therethrough so that regardless of the position of the float 47, some cleaning fluid will be added to the fluid being recovered from the sump 14.

From the primary suction pump 33 and its suction pipe 34 the selected mixture of cleaning fluid is delivered through a pipe 49 to the previously described high pressure spray pump 29 on the end of the upper blower 26. Any and all excess of the cleaning fluid delivered to the pump 29 which is not immediately discharged through the nozzle 30 is returned through a pipe 50 to the refiltered or reused fluid tank 32. There is thus constantly available a supply of cleaning solvent or fluid from three. different sources and in various combinations from those sources at the spray nozzle 30.

Alternative air flow passages from the under side of the cleaning pad 9 are provided for different portions of the cleaning cycle. At the upper end of the separator chamher and along the rear edge thereof there is provided an outlet port 51 controlled by a damper valve 52 and delivering to a downwardly extending outlet duct 53 which opens into a filter chamber 54 in the bottom of the cabinet. The chamber 54 is filtered with activated carbon 55 (see FIG. 6) and is provided with an outlet vent 56 for connection to a vent to the outside of the building. Thus when the damper valve 52 is open air and such cleaning vapors as it may contain which is delivered through the cleaning-pad can escape through the duct 53 and filter chamber 54 to the outside after first being passed through the activated carbon to absorb the cleaning fluid vapors.

The damper valve 52 for the outlet vent 53 is mounted upon a control or rock shaft 57 which also carries the previously described damper valve 19 positioned at the upper end of the recirculating duct 17. As appears most clearly from FIG. 3, when the damper valve 52 is open as illustrated, the damper valve 19 is closed and all air delivered through the cleaning pad will take the path of least resistance through the discharge vent 53 rather than passing downwardly through the separator and filter chambers. At this time and in this position of the damper valve 19, a port 58 at the upper end of the. heater chamber 20 is opened to a suction or inlet duct 59 extending downwardly behind the heater chamber to an inlet chamber or tank 68 positioned at the bottom of the cabinet 3 alongside of the discharge filter 54. The inlet filter chamber 60 is provided with a suitable dry air filter 61 and draws air through the inlet 62 to filter the air of dust and deliver it to the heater chamber 20. The incoming dry air is heated by the heating element 21 to a temperature controlled by the thermostat 63 and drawn in by the suction blowers 23 for delivery to the high pressure blower 26.

When the damper valves 19 and 52 are in the positions shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 3 and by full line section in FIG. 5, the air circulating passage through the cleaner is from the cleaning pad 9 through the separator chamber and recirculating duct 17 to the heater chamber 20 and suction blower 23. Since the blower 23 delivers to the blower 26 and the cleaning head 7, a recirculating path with two blower or pump means connected in series is provided for effective recirculation of heated air and selected quantities of cleaning fluid through the fabric on the cleaning pad.

For an explanation of the cleaning cycles for which the machine is particularly adapted, attention is directed primarily to the circuit diagram FIG. 9 with cross reference to the structural figures illustrating the parts controlled by the electrical elements. An on-oif switch 64 functions first to energize the heating element 21 through the thermostat 63 and an On indicator light 65 and a temperature indicator light 66. Normally in operation of the apparatus the cleaning head 7 will be raised initially and the safety latch and switch 8 will be open so that no other electrical circuit is completed. When the thermostat 63 indicates the correct temperature in the heating chamber 20, the heating element 21 and the indicator light 66 will be de-energized indicating that the machine or apparatus is ready for operation. An operator then places the garment or fabric to be cleaned on the mesh 9 of the cleaning pad 2 and closes the cleaning head 7 with the safety latch and switch 8. This completes a circuit through the motor 24 to a timing device 67 having a selectively settable contact 68 that progressively advances with time to engage first a contact 69 and then a contact 70. Initial engagement of the contacts 68 and 69 for a pre-selected period completes a circuit through both the motor 24 and the motor 28 for the upper high pressure blower 26. This starts what may be defined as the cleaning cycle during which both blowers are operating for maximum circulating force and during which both the suction pump 33 and the high pressure spray pump 29 are driven to deliver a spray of cleaning fluid into the recirculated and heated current of air. A very effective mixture of heated air and cleaning vapors is thus forced continually through the fabric with separation, filtration and reuse of the cleaning fluid for economy.

After the cleaning cycle is completed as determined by movement of the contact 68 away from the contact 69, a circuit is immediately completed to the contact 70 and a solenoid control 71 connected to the damper shaft 57 to move the damper valves 52 and 19 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 in full lines. This de-activates the upper blower motor 28 and also the high pressure liquid pump 29 to discontinue the supply of cleaning fluid to the cleaning head and start what may be defined as a drying and recovery cycle. The vacuum blower unit 23 continues to operate to draw in fresh filtered air through the duct 59, heat the air and force it through the cleaning pad 2 to the activated carbon filter 54 and the vent 56. At the same time the liquid suction pump 33 continues to operate to draw up refiltered liquid which may be draining gradually through the filter 12 during the in active period of the separator chamber. This recovered fiuid is delivered to the upper pump 29, but due to the deactivation of that pump is returned immediately through the overflow 50 to the refiltered fluid collecting tank 32. When the timing unit 67 completes its timed cycle and disengages from the contact 70, the cleaning and drying operation is complete and all elements are de-energized except the heating element 21 which remains active for a succeeding cleaning cycle.

In order to render the apparatus safe for use of cleaning fluids and solvents which may be somewhat toxic or dangerous, the coacting edges of the cleaning pad 2 and the cleaning head 6 around the perforate grills 9 and 27 are provided with spaced annular seals 72 which close upon each other when the cleaning head 7 is closed, thus forming an annular safety passage 73 completely around the cleaning head and cleaning pad during the operating cycle of the apparatus. This safety passage 73 is connected by means of a suction pipe 74 to a safety suction pump 75 positioned between the blower assembly 23 and the motor 24 to be operated at all times that the apparatus is in operation, including the drying cycle. The safety pump 75 delivers through the outlet 76 to the activated carbon chamber 54 for venting through the outside vent 56. Thus any fumes which might conceivably escape from the cleaning head 7 are safely withdrawn and passed through the activated carbon 55 to an outside vent and the apparatus is completely safe for opeartion in a home by relatively inexperienced operators.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising a pedestal having a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, a liquid-from-air separator chamber in said pedestal receiving from said pad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, a liquid sump positioned to receive liquid from said filter, an air heating chamber at the rear of said recirculating passage in said pedestal and selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper for said port, a cabinet behind said pedestal supporting a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motor therefor positioned on top of said cabinet and connected to receive the output from said first blower, a hollow perforate cleaning head selectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad and to fluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower, liquid pumps connected in series and driven by said motors, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to said sump at the bottom of said filter and a supply tank of fresh cleaning liquid and a tank of recirculated cleaning liquid, a manual control for setting said suction connection, an overflow connection from the inlet to said second pump to said tank of recirculated liquid to by-pass liquid not delivered by said second pump to said nozzle, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an air filter connected to the inlet end of said inlet vent, an outlet vent from the upper end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent and delivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and an exhaust vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and associated blower and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and pump, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety passage formed therearound and therebetween and connected to a suction pump delivering to said absorbing chamber and driven by said first motor to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head.

2. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising a pedestal having a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, a liquid-from-air separator chamber in said pedestal receiving from said pad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, a liquid sump positioned to receive liquid from said filter, an air heating chamber at the rear of said recirculating passage selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper for said port, a cabinet behind said pedestal supporting a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motor therefor positioned on top of said cabinet and connected to receive the output from said first blower, a hollow perforate cleaning head selectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad and to fluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower, liquid pumps. connected in series and driven by said .motors, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectiole to said sump at the bottom of said filter and a supply tank of fresh cleaning liquid and a tank of recirculated cleaning liquid, a manual control for setting said suction connection, an overflow connection to by-pass liquid not delivered by said second pump to said nozzle, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from the upper end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent and delivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and an exhaust vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and associated blower and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and pump, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety passage formed therearound and therebetween and connected to a suction pump to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head.

3. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, a liquid-from-air separator chamber receiving from said pad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, a liquid sump receiving from said liquid filter, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper for said port, a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motor therefor connected to receive the output from said first blower, a hollow cleaning head having a perforate face selectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad and concurrent fluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower, liquid pumps connected in series and driven by said motors, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to said sump at the bottom of said filter and a supply tank of fresh cleaning fluid and a tank of recirculated cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from the inlet end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent and delivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and associated blower and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and first pump.

4. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad on the top thereof, a liquid-from-air separa tor chamber receiving from said pad and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, a liquid sump receiving from said liquid filter, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper for said port, a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber, a second blower and driving motor therefor connected to receive the output from said first blower, a hollow cleaning head having a perforate face selectively movable into opposed relation to said cleaning pad and concurrent fluid receiving relation to the output of said second blower, separately driven liquid pumps connected in series, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the second blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to said sump at the bottom of said filter and a first tank of cleaning fluid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from the inlet end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blowers and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and blower and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said first blower and first pump.

5. A dry cleaning apparatus for domestic household use comprising a perforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed relation closed upon each other, a liquid-from-air separator chamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper adapted to close said port, a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air fom said heating chamber and having a delivery duct delivering to the other of said perforate elements, separately driven liquid pumps connected in series, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to a first tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from the inlet end of said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent and delivering to a vapor absorbing chamber and vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motor, blower and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said blower and said first pump, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety passage formed thereon and connected to a suction pump driven by said first motor to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head, said pad and head having a safety latch and switch connected in series with said controls to prevent operation of said liquid pumps when said pad and head are open.

6. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed relation closed upon each other, a liquid-from-air separator chamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a first damper adapted to close said port, a first blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber and having a delivery duct delivering to the other of said perforate elements, separately driven liquid pumps connected in series, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the second pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection to the first of said liquid pumps selectively connectible to a first tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motor, blower and pumps for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the final liquid pump and open said inlet and outlet vents while continuing to operate said blower and said first pump, said pad and head having a safety latch and switch connected in series with said controls to prevent operation of said liquid pumps when said pad and head are open.

7. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation on each other, a liquidfrom-air separator chamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to a liquid filter and an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a damper for said port, a blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air forn said heating chamber and deliver to the other of said perforate elements, a liquid pump driven by a second motor, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection to said liquid pump selectively connectible to a sump at the bottom of said filter and a first tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, and electrical controls including a timing device connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blower and pump for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaust vents while continuing to operate said blower, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety pas sage formed therebetween and therearound and connected to a suction pump driven by said blower motor to prevent escape of cleaning vapors from said pad and head, said controls including a safety switch closed in the closed position of said pad and said head.

8. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation on each other, a liquidfrom-air separator chamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said. recirculating passage through a damper con trolled port, a damper for said port, a blower and driving motor therefor arranged to dry air from said heating chamber and deliver to the other of said perforate ele ments, a liquid pump driven by a second motor, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection to said liquid pump selectively connectible to a first tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said inlet vent, and electrical controls connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blower and pump for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaust vents while continuing to operate said blower, said cleaning pad and cleaning head having a safety passage formed therebetween and therearound and connected to a suction pump 9 to prevent escape of cleaning vapors fromsaid pad and head, said controls including a safety switch closed in the closed position of said pad and said head.

9. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a perforate cleaning pad and coacting perforate cleaning head movable into opposed closed relation on each other, a liquidfrorn-air separator chamber connected to one of said perforate elements and delivering to an air recirculating passage, an air heating chamber selectively communicating with said recirculating passage through a damper controlled port, a damper for said port, a blower and driving motor therefor arranged to draw air from said heating chamber and deliver to the other of said perforate elements, a liquid pump driven by a second motor, a spray nozzle connected to the output of the pump and delivering in the output stream of the blower, a suction connection to said liquid pump selectively connectible to a first tank of cleaning liquid and a second tank of cleaning liquid, an inlet vent to the heating chamber opened upon closing of said damper controlled port to the recirculating chamber, an outlet vent from said separator chamber opened simultaneously with said linet vent, and electrical controls connected to simultaneously operate said motors, blower and pump for an initial period while said inlet and outlet vents are closed and then deactivate the liquid pump and open said inlet and exhaust vents while continuing to operate said blower.

10. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of said members when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members, blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculating passage, a liquidfrom-air separating chamber formed in said passage and ahead of said blower means, a heating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber between said separating chamber and said blower means, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber from said separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad and head members, a motor connected to drive said pump, a second motor connected to drive said blower, a vacuum pump driven by one of said motors and connected to said safety passage, plural sources of cleaning fluid and a manually adjustable valve for selectively connecting the inlet of said,liquid pump to said sources, and automatic control means connected for separately and concurrently actuating said blower motor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said first damper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber and close said separating chamber from said heating chamber and open said outlet passage to said separating chamber when said liquid pump is deactivated.

11. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting cham bers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of said members when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members, blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculating passage, a liquidfrom-air separating chamber formed in said passage, a heating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber from said separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad and head members, a motor connected to drive said pump, a second motor connected to drive said blower, a vacuum pump driven by one of said motors and connected to said safety passage, plural sources of cleaning fluid and a manually adjustable valve for selectively connecting the inlet of said liquid pump to said sources, and automatic control means connected for separately and concurrently actuating said blower motor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said first damper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber and close said separating chamber from said heating chamber and open said outlet passage to said separating chamber when said liquid pump is deactivated.

12. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of said members when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between said members, blower means positioned to circulate air through said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamber formed in said passage, a heating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber from said separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect. to said separator chamber, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad and head members, a vacuum pump connected to said safety passage, and motor means connected to drive said blower, said liquid pump and said vacuum pump.

13. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers of said members, blower means positioned to circulate a stream of air through said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamber formed in said passage on the downstream side of said members, a heating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said heating chamber and closing said heating chamber from said separating chamber, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect to said separator chamber, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad and head members, a motor connected to drive said pump, a second motor connected to drive said blower, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said liquid pump, and automatic control means connected for separately and concurrently actuating said blower motor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said first damper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber and close said separating chamber from said heating chamber and open said outlet passage to said separating chamber when said liquid pump is deactivated.

14. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers of said members, blower means positioned to circulate a stream of air through said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamber formed in said passage on the downstream side of said members, a heating element positioned in said passage to create a heating chamber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said heating chamseparately and concurrently actuating said blower motor and said pump motor and for alternatively actuating said first damper means to open said inlet passage to said heating chamber and close said heating chamber from the downstream side of said members and open said outlet passage to said downstream side of said members when said liquid pump is deactivated.

15-. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate surfaces thereof, coacting annular seals positioned around the perforate areas of said members when said members are closed and defining a safety chamber, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers of said members, blower means positioned to circulate astream of air through said recirculating passage, a liquid-from-air separating chamber formed in said passage, a heating element positioned in said passageto createa heatingcharnber, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper meansfor opening said,

inlet duct to said recirculating passage ahead of said heating chamber andinterrupting the continuity of said recirculating passage, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect to said recirculating passage ahead of said first damper means, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating .passage ahead of said pad and headmembers, motor means connectedto drive said pump and a vacuum pump connected to said safety chamber, a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of saidrliquid pump, and control means connected for separately and concurrently 7 rate pad and head members movable into opposed face to face relation and having hollow fluid conducting chambers behind the perforatesurfaces thereof, duct means defining a fluid recirculating passage between the chambers of said members, blower means positioned to circu late a stream of air through said recirculating passage,

an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, damper means for opening said inlet duct to said recirculating passage and interrupting the continuity of said recirculating passage, other damper means for opening and closing said outlet duct with respect to said recirculating passage ahead of said first damper means, a liquid pump having a discharge nozzle positioned in said recirculating passage ahead of said pad and head members, motor means connected to drive said pump and a source of cleaning fluid connected to the inlet of said liquid pump, and control means connected for separately and concurrently actuating said blower and said pump and for alternatively actuating said damper means to open said inlet duct to said recirculating passage and interrupt said passage and open said outlet duct when said liquid pump is deactivated.

17. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate head and pad members having fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate faces thereof, duct means forming a fluid recirculating passage between said chambers, blower means arranged to force a stream of air through said'passage and said members, pump means and a nozzle arranged to introduce a spray of cleaning liquid into said stream, a liquid-from-air separator positioned in said passage on the downstream side of said members from said nozzle, a heater positioned to heat the air in said passage, a sump in said separator, a source of cleaning liquid, valve means selectively connecting the intake of said pump means to said source and said sump, and controls for selectively actuating said pump means, said heater, and said blower means.

18. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising coacting perforate head and pad members having fluid conducting chambers behind the perforate faces thereof, duct means forming a fluid recirculating passage between said chambers, blower means arranged to force a stream of air through said passage and said members, pump means and a nozzle arranged to introduce a spray of cleaning liquid into said stream, a liquid-from-air separator positioned in said passage on the downstream side of said members from said nozzle, a sump in said separator, a source of cleaning liquid, valve means selectively connecting the intake of said pump means to said source and said sump, and controls for selectively actuating said pump means and said blower means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,691 MacLelland" Sept. 2, 1941 2,586,569 Sedgwick Feb. 19, 1952 2,607,209 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 2,959,047 Karrer Nov. 8, 1960

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