Mve, Inc.

Chart Inc.

A Duane Preston

Jon R Turner

Charles J Svoboda

Timothy A Neeser

Thomas Karl Drube

Paul A Drube

A carbon dioxide dry cleaning system features a pair of liquid carbon dioxide storage tanks in communication with a compressor. A sealed cleaning chamber contains the objects to be cleaned. By selectively pressurizing the storage tanks with the compressor, liquid carbon dioxide is made to flow to the cleaning chamber through cleaning nozzles so as to provide agitation of the objects being dry cleaned. Liquid carbon dioxide displaced from the cleaning chamber returns to the storage tanks. In an alternative embodiment, a single storage tank is pressurized via a compressor with gas from the cleaning chamber so that liquid solvent from the storage tank travels to the cleaning chamber through nozzles. The objects in the cleaning chamber are agitated by a rotating basket. After a prewash cycle, liquid solvent from the cleaning chamber is directed to a still. The liquid solvent in the still is boiled through a connection with the head space of the cleaning chamber. The still may be positioned within the storage tank and partially surrounded with a shroud for efficient heating of the still with gas from the cleaning chamber. During agitation, liquid solvent from the cleaning chamber may be heated and filtered.

Carbon dioxide dry cleaning system

A cartridge housing surrounds a shaft for rotating a basket within the pressurized cleaning vessel of a dry cleaning system that utilizes liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent. Primary and secondary seals are disposed between the cartridge housing and the shaft in a spaced relationship so that a primary chamber is defined. A final seal is also disposed between the cartridge housing and the shaft and spaced from the secondary seal so that a secondary chamber is defined. The primary chamber houses an inboard bearing while the secondary chamber houses an outboard and thrust bearings. Primary and secondary tanks containing supplies of oil communicate with the primary and secondary chambers, respectively, via their head spaces and wet sides. As a result, the bearings are lubricated. Solvent leaking across the primary seal is vaporized and delivered to the head space of the primary tank so that the pressure differential across the primary seal is reduced. The secondary tank operates in a similar fashion for solvent leaks across the secondary seal. Vaporized solvent from the tank head spaces is routed back to the cleaning vessel when the cleaning vessel de-pressurizes.

Shaft seal system with leak management

A high pressure chamber opening is equipped with a cylindrical element that features a circumferential flange. The circumferential flange features concentrically positioned primary and secondary O-ring seals that surround the chamber opening. A door is clamped to the circumferential flange and over the opening and the circumferential seals. As a result, the opening is sealed and an annular passage is formed between the seals. A port is formed in the cylindrical element so that the annular passage may communicate with a pressure switch. The port also communicates with a relief valve. The pressure switch signals the system operator when the pressure in the annular passage rises due to failure of the primary O-ring. The relief valve vents the annular passage when the pressure therein increases to a level where damage to the secondary O-ring could occur. The relief valve setting is such that the pressure within the annular passage may rise to a level where dry ice formation is prevented.

High pressure chamber door seal with leak detection system

A carbon dioxide dry cleaning system features a pair of liquid carbon dioxide storage tanks in communication with a compressor. A sealed cleaning chamber contains the objects being dry cleaned. By selectively pressurizing the storage tanks with the compressor, liquid carbon dioxide is made to flow to the cleaning chamber through cleaning nozzles so as to provide agitation of the objects being dry cleaned. Liquid carbon dioxide displaced from the cleaning chamber returns to the storage tanks. A still is disposed within one of the storage tanks and receives soiled liquid carbon dioxide as it is returned from the chamber. The pressure in the storage tank causes the soiled liquid carbon dioxide in the still to boil off. The gas is communicated to a third tank. The third tank may be used to initially pressurize the cleaning chamber. The system also includes a dispenser for the injecting solvent additives into the liquid carbon dioxide. The agitation pressure of the system may also be adjusted so that delicate objects may be cleaned without damage.

A cryogenic liquid transfer system, for servicing a use device, releases stored cryogen from a bulk storage tank to a gas supply tank and a dispenser tank. The liquid cryogen in the gas supply tank is circulated through a circuit that includes a heat exchanger and the gas thus generated is returned to the gas supply tank so as to pressurize it. The pressurized liquid cryogen is released from the gas supply tank so that it flows through a vaporizer. The gas produced by the vaporizer is bubbled through the liquid cryogen in the dispenser tank so as to raise its temperature and pressure to the level required by the use device being serviced. Gas from the vaporizer is then delivered to the space above the liquid cryogen in the dispenser tank to as to create a pressure head that will cause the liquid cryogen to flow to the use device upon release. A venturi is connected to the tubing between the gas supply tank and the dispenser tank and is used to reduce the pressure in the bulk storage tank.

Transfer system for cryogenic liquids

A carbon dioxide dry cleaning system features a pair of liquid carbon dioxide storage tanks in communication with a compressor. A sealed cleaning chamber contains the objects being dry cleaned. By selectively pressurizing the storage tanks with the compressor, liquid carbon dioxide is made to flow to the cleaning chamber through cleaning nozzles so as to provide agitation of the objects being dry cleaned. Liquid carbon dioxide displaced from the cleaning chamber returns to the storage tanks. A still is disposed within one of the storage tanks and receives soiled liquid carbon dioxide as it is returned from the chamber. The pressure in the storage tank causes the soiled liquid carbon dioxide in the still to boil off. The gas is communicated to a third tank.

The invention consists of an outer jacket surrounding and spaced from an inner tank to create an insulated space therebetween. The inner tank closely conforms to the outer jacket such that the insulation chamber is substantially uniform and the capacity of the inner tank is increased. An insulated support assembly that extends into the inner tank allows communication between the exterior of the vessel and the inner tank for pipes, pressure gauges and the like. The support assembly allows for a long insulated path without reducing the capacity of the tank to the same extent as the prior art devices.

Growing community of inventors

New Prague, MN, United States of America

A Duane Preston