Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Patents Company

Mark Bradley Kovich

Jim J Pastryk

Tremitchell L Wright

Daniel C Conrad

Anthony H Hardaway

Kurt A Estes

John W Euler

Sheryl L Farrington

Jeanne C Van Newenhizen

Joel Adam Luckman

Devinder Singh

Phalguni S Roy

Vicki Lyn Wyatt-Smith

Karl David McAllister

Michael T Dalton

Andrew Leitert

Tracy M Smart

Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau

Brian W May

Earl E Meister, Iii

Hank Robert Reinhoudt

Cinnamon S Brown-Green

Holli Krumbein

Kenyata Joi Maki

Machial Goedhart

Katrien A Saveyn

Jan Hendrik Verbeek

Methods and apparatuses 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.

Non-aqueous washing apparatus and method

The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling.

Non-aqueous washing machine and methods

An improved solvent cleaning process of cleaning a non-aqueous solvent used in a dry cleaning process for fabrics including consecutive wash cycles for washing respective fabrics batches, including a basic solvent refining cycle and a first advanced solvent refining cycle, the basic solvent refining cycle including a step of separating solvent into a first solvent fraction and a second solvent fraction which is less clean than the first fraction, wherein the basic and first advanced solvent refining cycles are independently effected when solvent to be cleaned fulfils a respective predetermined condition.

Solvent cleaning process

The present invention relates to an automatic washing apparatus for dry laundering hanging garments. The automatic washing apparatus has a sealed wash cabinet and a working fluid storage chamber for storing an amount of working fluid sufficient to dry launder a fabric load. The working fluid storage chamber is in fluid communication with the sealed wash cabinet. The sealed wash cabinet has an interior region, an upper assembly above the interior region, a lower assembly housed below the interior region and a door sealing the interior region of the wash cabinet. The upper assembly shakes the hanging garments in the wash cabinet and dispenses a wash a working fluid into the wash cabinet. The lower assembly has a moisture generator and a heater to respectively generate moisture and heat inside the wash cabinet.

Non-aqueous washing cabinet and apparatus

Methods and apparatuses 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, fluoronated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.

An automatic washer having a wash tub in which a rotatable wash basket is disposed. A wash plate is rotatably mounted in the wash basket and is capable of independently rotating or co-rotating with respect to the wash basket. The wash plate has at least two ripples integrally formed in its surface whereby upon the rotation of the wash plate, any clothing in contact with the ripple will be directed vertically to impart mechanical energy to the clothing instead of carrying the clothing with the wash plate as it is rotated.

Vertical axis washer and a rotating washplate therefor

A vertical axis washer is provided with a rotatable wash basket that has one or more inwardly directed baffles, but no central agitator structure. Surfaces are provided in association with the baffles, which may be in the form of ramps on the bottom wall of the basket, to cause the fabric load within the washer to move up the side of the basket wall and to slide along the baffles in a swirling motion as the basket is accelerated and decelerated during the washing cycle, which causes the fabric to be flexed and rearranged in the basket. This washer construction is particularly suited to be used in conjunction with a concentrated detergent solution wash cycle.

Vertical axis washer

The present invention contemplates a rinse process which can be used with any wash cycle, but which has particular utility following a wash cycle have a highly concentrated detergent solution. The method of rinsing fabric provided by the present invention is useful in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis. The steps undertaken in the method begin with loading fabric to be washed into the wash chamber of the washer. The fabric is then washed in a detergent solution while rotating the wash chamber about its horizontal axis for a first period of time. Next the detergent solution is drained from the wash chamber. The fabric is then rinsed by adding water to the wash chamber while spinning the wash chamber at a speed to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will tumble within the wash chamber as it spins. Finally, the wash chamber is drained of the rinse water.

Tumble method of rinsing fabric in a horizontal axis washer

An improved wash process is provided wherein during a low speed spin portion of the wash process, the wash chamber or wash basket is rotated about its horizontal axis at a spin speed to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will tumble in the wash chamber. During this tumbling action a recirculating spray of highly concentrated detergent solution, preferably in the range of at least 0.5% to 12% by weight is directed onto the fabric for a first period of time. After the first period of time, the detergent solution is diluted somewhat, although the concentration remains above a normal concentration of 0.06 to .28%. The wash chamber will again be spun to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will tumble in the wash chamber. The lesser concentrated detergent solution will then be recirculated on to the fabric during a second time period.

Tumbling method of washing fabric in a horizontal axis washer

The present invention provides a method of rinsing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a vertical axis. Water is added to the wash chamber while rotating the wash chamber about its vertical axis a number of revolutions sufficient to cause the fabric, rinse water and wash chamber to rotate at approximately the same speed. The wash chamber is periodically decelerated to cause the fabric and rinse water to move relative to the wash chamber due to rotational inertia of the fabric and rinse water. The fabric is caused to tumble within the wash chamber as the wash chamber decelerates by impinging the fabric on structures in the wash chamber as the fabric is moving relative to the wash chamber. A spray of rinse water is directed onto the fabric during a first period of time as the fabric is rotating with and tumbling in the wash chamber. The rinse water is then drained from the wash chamber. Finally, the rinse water is removed from the fabric by spinning and draining the wash chamber.

Method for rinsing fabric articles in a vertical axis washer

A method of washing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a vertical axis and charged with a detergent solution is provided. The wash chamber is rotated about its vertical axis a number of revolutions sufficient to cause the fabric and detergent solution within the wash chamber to rotate at a speed approximately the same as the wash chamber. The wash chamber is periodically decelerated to cause the fabric and detergent solution to move relative to the wash chamber due to rotational inertia of the fabric and detergent solution. The fabric is caused to tumble within the wash chamber by impinging the fabric on structures in the wash chamber as the fabric is moving relative to the wash chamber. The steps of rotating, decelerating, and tumbling are repeated for a predetermined first period of time. A recirculating spray of concentrated detergent solution is directed on to the fabric during the first period of time as the fabric is rotating with and tumbling in the wash chamber. Finally, the detergent solution is removed from the fabric by spinning and draining the wash chamber.

Method of washing fabric articles in a vertical axis washer

The present invention contemplates a rinse process which can be used with any cycle, but which has particular utility following a wash cycle have a highly concentrated detergent solution. The method of rinsing fabric provided by the present invention is useful in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis. The steps undertaken in the method begin with loading fabric to be washed into the wash chamber of the washer. The fabric is then washed in a detergent solution while rotating the wash chamber about its horizontal axis for a first period of time. Next the detergent solution is drained from the wash chamber. The fabric is then rinsed by adding water to the wash chamber while spinning the wash chamber at a speed to effect more than a one gravity centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will not tumble within the wash chamber as it spins. Finally, the wash chamber is drained of the rinse water.

Spin method of rinsing fabric in a horizontal axis washer

An improved wash process is provided for a horizontal washer wherein a concentrated detergent solution is applied to a spinning wash load, the load is spun to effect a greater than one gravity force to maintain the clothes load against the basket wall, and the concentrated detergent solution is recirculated through the clothes load for a first period of time. After the first period of time, the detergent solution is diluted somewhat, although the concentration remains above a normal concentration of 0.06 to 0.28%. The wash chamber will then be spun to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on the fabric such that the fabric will tumble in the wash chamber. The lesser concentrated detergent solution will then be recirculated on to the fabric during a second time period.

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St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Mark Bradley Kovich