Abstract: A method and system for cleaning workpieces with a liquid solvent in a treatment chamber which is connected into a drying gas circuit for the purpose of drying the workpieces. The drying gas circuit includes in series one after the other a ventilator, a condenser, a heating device and an adsorber containing activated carbon. The circuit is operated such that during a drying phase the condenser is cooled, the heating device switched on and the activated carbon regenerated by the hot circulating air whereupon, during an adsorption phase with the condenser switched on and the heating device switched off, the remaining solvent vapor is withdrawn from the circulating drying air by the activated carbon.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of articles especially metal articles with a solvent, e.g. for the degreasing of the articles, comprises an upper chamber in which an article carrier is charged with or discharged from the articles, a lower treatment chamber, and a device for raising and lowering the carrier. The carrier is provided with one or more plates with sealing peripheries engaging sealing collars, at least one of which is located between these chambers to seal the chambers from one another in at least one position of the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distillation of vaporizable liquids, for example alcohol, solvents used for the degreasing of metal and the like, comprises a distillation chamber, a heating unit in the region of the bottom of the distillation chamber, a cooling and condensation unit at an upper portion of the distillation chamber and a cold-generating unit. According to the invention, the cold-generating unit is formed as a heat pump with a circulating refrigerant and has a compressor, a cold branch and a hot branch. The cold branch is connected to the cooling and condensation unit of the distillation chamber while the hot branch transfers heat via a heat exchanger to a heat storage device, e.g. a utility water reservoir from which hot water is drawn to heat the heating unit of the distillation chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating articles with a solvent, a solvent-containing liquid such as a lacquer, or with solvent vapors, comprises an open treating vessel provided with a device for raising and lowering the articles in the vessel and a heating unit at the bottom of the vessel for heating solvent therein. Around the wall of the vessel, above the bottom thereof, cooling tubes are provided which are connected to the cold branch of a heat pump so as to condense solvent vapors which can collect in a trough below these tubes and can be returned to a compartment of the vessel adjacent the treating compartment. The hot branch of the heat pump is connected via a heat exchanger to a water boiler and heat storage tank and the heater is connected to this boiler by a pump controlled by a control device responsive to the raising and lowering of the articles.