Abstract: A washing basket adapted to be incorporated in a washing machine having a hydroextracting function. The washing basket, which is provided at its bottom with a pulsator, has a plurality of protrusions formed in its inner peripheral wall. Each of the protrusions has an arcuate cross-section whose ridge is directed toward the center of the basket, and is extending in the vertical direction along the inner peripheral wall of the basket. A plurality hydroextracting apertures are formed in each of grooves which are formed between the adjacent protrusions.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat-treating textile yarn includes a heater tube (3) through which the yarn is passed, the tube (3) having a holder (2) at each end and a seal in the form of a stopper (5) fitted into a neck (4). The stopper (5) has a groove (10) on its outer surface for guiding the yarn through the heater tube (3). Steam is introduced at the yarn entry end of the heater tube (3), passes over the groove (10) and is removed via passages (11) in the stopper and a suction pipe (7) connected to the passages. The heater tube (3), suction tube (7) and steam supply tube (8) are surrounded by an insulating housing (1) to minimize heat losses.

Abstract: A washing machine suitable for washing a washable dust mat comprises means for supplying a main wash liquid to each mat in turn from a tank, means for collecting at least the used main wash liquid and returning it to the tank, an overflow from the tank, means for employing the overflow of liquid from the tank in a pre-washing operation for each mat, and means for rinsing the washed mat. A single supply of water is thereby recirculated to provide the main wash liquid and also provides the pre-wash liquid.

Abstract: An improvement in the machine washing of solid soiled materials comprising withdrawing and recycling the wash liquor in contact with said solid soiled materials through a silicate cation exchange compound having some combined water and a particle size of at least 10.mu. of the formula:(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x.Me.sub.2 O.sub.3.(SiO.sub.2).sub.ywherein M is a cation of valence n exchangeable with calcium, Me is a member selected from aluminum and boron, x is a number from 0.7 to 1.5 and y is a number from 0.8 to 6, said silicate compound having a calcium binding power of at least 50 mg of CaO per gram, said silicate compound being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time that the recycling wash liquor has passed through said silicate compound at least twice, in the presence of other soluble washing and cleaning compounds, while reversing the direction of flow of said wash liquor through said silicate compound repeatedly.

Abstract: Apparatus for the wet treatment of fabrics in rope form, wherein the tubular storage chamber is curved according to an arc of a circle in the vertical plane and has at one of the ends thereof means for the mechanical traction of the fabric and joint means for the hydraulic traction thereof.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the continuous, tensionless treatment of textile material lengths and similar web-shaped flat materials wherein the material is conveyed in gathered form to at least one treatment zone of a material treating unit. A fluid stream impinges intermittently from below upon the length of material approximately at right angles to the conveying direction thereby straightening and compressing the material by an alternating lifting and falling of the material. An air permeable conveyor belt may be employed to convey the length of material through the treating units or a number of spaced individual rollers may be provided in the treating unit with the material forming a loop between adjacent rollers which loop is acted upon by the stream of fluid. A sensor arrangement is provided for determining and controlling the length of the loop so as to maintain such length within predetermined limits.

Abstract: A cleaning head is adapted to rest on and be moved over the material to be cleaned. The cleaning head has a central chamber, open at its bottom, and at least one relatively narrow chamber, open at its bottom, peripherally surrounding the central chamber. Ultrasonic transducer means are provided in the central chamber and means are provided for supplying a cleaning solution to the central chamber and for maintaining the level of the solution in the chamber such that at least a portion of the transducer means is immersed in the solution so that vibrations of the transducer means are imparted to the solution. Means are provided for adjusting, i.e. controlling, the pressure of the cleaning solution in the central chamber and the pressure in the at least one peripheral chamber to substantially eliminate the flow of air into the solution in the central chamber and to prevent escape of substantial amounts of solution from the cleaning head.

Abstract: A reversible turbine pump for producing bi-directional liquid flow wherein there is provided a housing having a substantially annular outer wall and top and bottom walls closing the ends of the outer wall. Within the housing there is a rotatable impeller having an annular series of blades extending outwardly and forming with the wall a toroidal space. First and second spaced outlet openings are provided in the housing and also first and second circumferentially spaced channels between the impeller and each of the outlet openings in liquid flow communication with the toroidal space. A dam is located between the channels. An inlet opening is located in each of the channels.

Abstract: Recovery of solvent vapor in the course of the cleaning cycle in dry-cleaning machines and/or plants, which include a cleaning circuit, a drying circuit and a distillation circuit, in which low boiling-point solvents are utilized in particular, and simultaneous de-pressurization of such machines, inside of which, in the course of said dry-cleaning operation, a partial evaporation of the solvent occurs which results in the building-up of a given pressure, are accomplished by means of a filter, which whose inlet is directly connected with any point of the drying circuit, while its outlet is directly connected with the outside.

Abstract: A filter barrier or ring fixed to the bottom of a washing machine basket includes a plurality of closely spaced flexible teeth in a circumferential row extending outwardly and downwardly to divide the tub into first and second zones for filtering laundry liquid during a washing cycle. The teeth deflect in response to centrifugal spinning forces to effect self-cleaning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed cycle apparatus for the rapid, continuous and waterless dyeing of a textile or plastic material with a dyestuff dissolved or suspended or dispersed in a high boiling solvent (such as glycol or glycol ether or other members of the alcohol family) for carrying out the dyeing step, after which the dyed textile or plastic material subsequent to cooling is washed with a low boiling liquid (such as methanol or ethanol) and then dried. The apparatus is constructed so as to operate under non-aqueous or substantially non-aqueous conditions with the complete or substantially complete recovery and recycling of the used dyestuff, the used high boiling solvent and the used low boiling wash liquid.

Abstract: Solvent is vaporized from a work product as the product moves through a process which may be a heated chamber. The vaporized solvent is withdrawn from the chamber and passed through a chiller to recover a portion of the vapor. The output from the chiller is then passed through an adsorber to remove the remainder of the solvent.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning textiles, leather and furs by means of organic solvents as well as for working up the solvent, which comprises a cleaning drum with casing connected to a solvent cycle and a feed-back of solvent vapor including vapor liquefaction. The solvent cycle of the apparatus is provided with a pump, a filter, the cited distillation vessel and a solvent supply vessel containing a cooling cycle. The solvent vapor feed-back of the apparatus is provided with a sieve, a compressor, a condenser, a feed-back to the cited distillation vessel (drum casing) between compressor and condenser, and a duct from the condenser to the solvent supply vessel via a gas expansion device. The vapor feed-back is provided with a heat exchanger being part of the cooling cycle on the secondary side and a subsequent stop valve. The cooling cycle is provided with a compressor with subsequent heat exchanger being part of the feed-back on the primary side and a condensing coil being part of the solvent supply vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing and drying plant for dry cleaning machines.The plant in question is formed by two concatenated circuits, one of which for the washing and the other for the drying of the treated garments and both terminate at a washing tank positioned at a level higher than that of the rest of the plant.Once the cycle has ended and the access door to the washing tank has been opened, it is possible in this way to prevent, without the intermediary of any isolating valve, the solvent gases built up during the operating cycles which, on account of their weight, remain inside the plant, from issuing therefrom.

Abstract: A lint filter for an automatic washing machine having a rotatable walled basket for receiving items to be washed and means for recirculating liquid therein. The lint filter comprises an annulus channel member having an inside wall, an outside wall, and perforations for liquid to pass therethrough. The annulus channel member is secured to the wall of the basket inwardly thereof. There is provided a plurality of elongated protuberances attached to the inside wall of the annulus channel member with their bases positioned toward the rotational axis of the basket such that during rotation of the basket lint will be removed from the protuberances by centrifugal force.

Abstract: Process for the heat fixation of dyestuffs on textile flat articles using a steamer with directional air or vapor stream wherein the circulating air or vapor stream is purified from dyestuff particles by intercalating a filter.

Abstract: A washing machine or dishwasher includes means for admixing with waste wash water a suitable chemical compound to convert the soluble phosphate in the wash water to insoluble form before discharge of the waste solution to a sewer, drain or other means of disposal. Among the useful chemical compounds employed are calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide and aluminum sulfate, which convert soluble phosphates, including tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate salts, to insoluble materials, which may be removed from the effluent. Also within the invention are accessories for use with conventional washing apparatuses for effecting the insolubilization reaction, and corresponding processes.

Abstract: The invention provides a bi-directional single-impeller centrifugal pump having a filter screen enclosed within the pump housing and interposed, in the pump chamber, between the single pump inlet and one of two outlets defined in the housing for filtering the fluid pumped through the one outlet in response to the impeller rotating in one direction. When the impeller is reversed to pump the fluid through the other outlet, the particles of lint etc., retained within the pump chamber by the filter screen are then free to exit the pump as flushed therefrom by the fluid being pumped through the other outlet.