Cylindrical Cage Textile Cleaning with Particle Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aqueous textile washing processes face challenges in reducing water, energy, and detergent consumption while maintaining effective mechanical action, which can lead to fabric damage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of an apparatus with a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and recirculation system that uses solid particulate material, allowing for efficient collection, recycling, and controlled distribution of cleaning particles during the wash cycle, reducing water and detergent usage while minimizing fabric damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water usage level is increased to improve mechanical action during washing, then cleaning performance is improved, but energy consumption and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional aqueous mechanical washing system with a particle-based mechanical action system. Solid particles are tumbled with the fabric to provide mechanical cleaning action, eliminating the need for large volumes of water while maintaining effective mechanical action for soil removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and form of the cleaning medium from liquid water to solid particles. This parameter change allows mechanical action to be maintained through particle-fabric interaction rather than water-fabric interaction, thereby reducing water and energy consumption while preserving cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If water usage level is increased to improve mechanical action during washing, then cleaning performance is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional aqueous mechanical washing system with a particle-based mechanical action system. Solid particles are tumbled with the fabric to provide mechanical cleaning action, eliminating the need for large volumes of water while maintaining effective mechanical action for soil removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates water from the washing system, retaining only the essential mechanical action component through the use of solid particles. This extraction of water eliminates water consumption while preserving the mechanical cleaning function.
3Reliability
If aqueous washing processes are used to achieve cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but detergent consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional aqueous mechanical washing system with a particle-based mechanical action system. Solid particles are tumbled with the fabric to provide mechanical cleaning action, eliminating the need for large volumes of water while maintaining effective mechanical action for soil removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses solid particles that can be easily discarded or reused without requiring expensive detergent chemicals. The particles provide mechanical cleaning action without needing chemical additives, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing detergent consumption.
4Quantity of substance
If solid particulate material is used for cleaning, then water and detergent consumption are reduced, but collection and recirculation of particles becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the washing chamber into separate zones: a particle collection zone at the bottom and a fabric washing zone above. This segmentation allows particles to naturally settle and be collected in one area, simplifying the recirculation system by providing a dedicated collection point without requiring complex separation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses excess solid particles that are more than needed for the fabric load. These excess particles naturally settle at the bottom of the rotating drum, automatically separating from the fabric and becoming available for recirculation. This excessive action simplifies collection by relying on gravity-based natural separation rather than complex mechanical separation systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient cleaning with reduced water and detergent consumption, improved fabric care, and lower energy usage, while maintaining effective mechanical action and allowing for the reuse of cleaning particles, thereby enhancing both environmental and economic benefits.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and means for collecting and recycling solid particulate material therein
Implementation Method 2
pumping means
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the treatment of substrates, the apparatus comprising housing means (1) having a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage (2), a second lower chamber located beneath said cylindrical cage (2), at least one recirculation means, access means, pumping means, and a multiplicity of delivery means, whereby both the apparatus and the method find particular application in the cleaning of soiled textile fabrics.