Patents by Inventor Ralph E. Tomes

Ralph E. Tomes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4581133
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use with a dry cleaning system having a filter for filtering the dirty solvent comprises a first pressure vessel (28) for vaporizing the filtered solvent and a second pressure vessel (58) for condensing the vapors into purified liquid solvent for collection and reuse. The upper end of the second pressure vessel (58) is upset to provide an annular chamber about the upper end of the condenser coil (76) which extends in closely spaced apart relationship into the reduced lower end of the second pressure vessel, so that clogging is avoided and better contact with the condenser coil and thus more complete condensation is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 10 includes a valve arrangement (104, 106, 108 and 118) by which the filter can be backflushed with hot fluid, such as steam in order to recover solvent from the saturated filter and render it safe for ordinary disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Inventor: Ralph E. Tomes