Portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus cleans a textile with abrading particles that carry a wet cleaning compound. The cleaning apparatus dries the textile and removes the abrading particles with minimal stress on the textile because airflow, rather than centrifugal force is used. The textile includes a drape with pleats. The apparatus cleans the textile by scrubbing the textile in a rotating drum with abrading particles and the wet cleaning compound. Fins in the drum agitate the textile for cleaning A door enables passage of air flow into the drum. A collar extends into the cavity of the drum to inhibit the textile from snagging. The air flow is increased by forming a vacuum that forms in a drum enclosure. The vacuum is enhanced because the drum enclosure has rounded corners that increases air flow and reduces static pressure. A control portion regulates air flow and drum rotational velocity.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus for non-immersion cleaning with abrading particles and drying with an air flow, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing, the housing defined by at least one panel, at least one exhaust, a top end, and a base, the base having at least one channel;   an air blower, the air blower defined by a variable speed control, the air blower configured to generate an air flow, the velocity of the air flow regulated by the variable speed control;   a drum, the drum defined by an outer surface and a cavity, the cavity having a plurality of fins, the plurality of fins defined by a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures configured to enable passage of the air flow to the at least one exhaust of the housing, the drum disposed inside the housing, the drum configured to rotate;   a direct drive motor, the direct drive motor configured to rotate the drum;   a door, the door defined by a collar, a sealing ring, and an inlet, the collar configured to protrude into the cavity, the sealing ring configured to restrict passage of the air flow into the cavity of the drum, the inlet configured to enable the air flow to pass into the cavity of the drum, the door configured to enable access to the drum by moving between an open position and a closed position;   a drum enclosure, the drum enclosure defined by generally rounded corners, the drum enclosure disposed between the housing and the drum, the drum enclosure configured to form a vacuum, wherein the rounded corners of the vacuum housing enhance the vacuum such that the air flow is increased and a static pressure is decreased in the drum enclosure;   a filter portion, the filter portion configured to at least partially clean the air flow;   a bin, the bin disposed approximately at the base of the housing; and   a control portion, the control portion configured to regulate the air blower and the direct drive motor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean a textile. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the textile includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a drapery, a curtain, a hotel blackout drapery, lined drapery, children's stuffed animals, costumes, quilts, fabric art, furs, sheer style drapery, wool, cotton, silk drapery, and delicate fabrics. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus utilizes abrading particles and a wet cleaning compound for cleaning the textiles. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one channel is configured to receive a fork from a forklift. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the drum is formed from cut rolled pieces of metal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins in the cavity of the drum are configured to agitate the textile during rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the drum is configured to rest on a plurality of rollers in the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the drum comprises a pair of end plates connected to at least one shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the direct drive motor is an electric direct drive motor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the direct drive motor operatively connects to the drum through a hub coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the collar and the sealing ring in the door are configured to inhibit the textile from wedging between the drum and the door. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the rounded corners of the drum enclosure comprise a cowling. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the control portion comprises a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to control the variable speed control of the air blower. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the control portion comprises pre-programmed settings. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including an emergency cut-off switch, the emergency cut-off switch configured to power off the direct drive motor and the air blower. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the control portion comprises a digital flat screen interface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the bin is configured to catch excessive wet cleaning compound from the air flow. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the filter portion comprises a disposable filter cloth. 
     
     
         20 . A cleaning apparatus for non-immersion cleaning with abrading particles and drying with an air flow, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing, the housing defined by at least one panel, at least one exhaust, a top end, and a base, the base having at least one channel;   an air blower, the air blower defined by a variable speed control, the air blower configured to generate an air flow, the velocity of the air flow regulated by the variable speed control;   a drum, the drum defined by an outer surface and a cavity, the cavity having a plurality of fins, the plurality of fins defined by a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures configured to enable passage of the air flow to the at least one exhaust of the housing, the drum disposed inside the housing, the drum configured to rotate;   an electric direct drive motor, the electric direct drive motor configured to rotate the drum;   a door, the door defined by a collar, a sealing ring, and an inlet, the collar configured to protrude into the cavity, the sealing ring configured to restrict passage of the air flow into the cavity of the drum, the inlet configured to enable the air flow to pass into the cavity of the drum, the door configured to enable access to the drum by moving between an open position and a closed position;   a drum enclosure, the drum enclosure defined by generally rounded corners, the drum enclosure disposed between the housing and the drum, the drum enclosure configured to form a vacuum, wherein the rounded corners of the vacuum housing enhance the vacuum such that the air flow is increased and a static pressure is decreased in the drum enclosure;   a filter portion, the filter portion configured to at least partially clean the air flow;   a bin, the bin disposed approximately at the base of the housing;   a control portion, the control portion defined by a digital flat screen interface and a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to control the variable speed control of the air blower and the direct drive motor; and   an emergency cut-off switch, the emergency cut-off switch configured to power off the electric direct drive motor and the air dryer.