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, fluorinated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a fabric load which has been wetted with a working fluid including the steps of flowing drying gas through a container holding the fabric load, sensing the non-aqueous working fluid concentration and the aqueous working fluid concentration in the wash liquor or in the headspace above the fabric within the container and controlling drying in response to the sensed working fluid concentration.

Abstract: A non-aqueous laundering machine for laundering fabric with a non-aqueous wash liquor and a select rinse fluid. The non-aqueous laundering machine includes a container for a fabric load and means for the controlled application of a non-aqueous wash liquor to the fabric load, the removal of part of the non-aqueous wash liquor from the fabric load, and application of a select rinse fluid to the fabric load as well as means for applying mechanical energy to the fabric load.

Abstract: A method of laundering a fabric load is disclosed including the steps of processing a fabric load in an aqueous-based working fluid, substantially replacing the aqueous-based working fluid with a non-aqueous working fluid of the type which extracts some of the aqueous-based working fluid from the fabric load.

Abstract: A chemical generator device is arranged in association with an appliance having a cleaning zone where objects are cleaned. The chemical generator device includes an inlet to allow the introduction of at least one chemical composition, an operative area where a desired chemical composition is generated by utilizing the at least one chemical composition, an outlet communicating with the cleaning zone of the appliance, and a dispensing apparatus arranged to dispense the generated chemical composition to the cleaning zone from the operative area through the outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning objects in an automatic cleaning appliance is provided that includes the steps of introducing a load of objects into a wash zone of the automatic cleaning appliance, applying a wash liquor and at least one of electromagnetic, chemical and mechanical energy to the load of objects in the wash zone to remove soil from the load of objects, and subsequently applying an oxidizing agent to the load of objects through the medium of a fluid applied to the load of objects. The oxidizing agent may be generated in association with the automatic cleaning appliance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling and modular components and subsystems thereof.

Abstract: A method for fluid recovery in a semi-aqueous wash process including the steps of receiving semi-aqueous wash liquor from a wash container; pretreating the semi-aqueous wash liquor and separating it into aqueous-rich working fluid phase and non-aqueous working fluid phase, treating the aqueous-rich working fluid phase to remove remaining non-aqueous working fluid, and treating the non-aqueous-rich working fluid phase for recovery and reuse.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recovering non-aqueous wash fluid and rinse fluid from a non-aqueous fabric laundering process. The method includes removing particulates, separating the rinse fluid from the wash fluid, removing dissolved soils, and removing insoluble soils.

Abstract: A method of laundering a fabric load is disclosed including the steps of processing a fabric load in an aqueous-based working fluid, substantially replacing the aqueous-based working fluid with a non-aqueous working fluid of the type which extracts some of the aqueous-based working fluid from the fabric load.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wash apparatus that comprises a cabinet adapted to receive fabrics for hanging and further adapted to provide for some dry laundering of the hanging fabrics using a working fluid. Disclosed is a washing machine apparatus adapted to provide for some dry laundering of fabrics in a sealed wash chamber using a working fluid.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.