Patents Assigned to Whirlpool Patents Co.
  • Patent number: 6451066
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Whirlpool Patents Co.
    Inventors: Kurt A Estes, Daniel C. Conrad, Mark Bradley Kovich, Tremitchell L. Wright