Claims
- 1. A method for reducing water and energy consumption in a cleaning appliance during a normal operating cycle, the method comprising:
- providing a container for receiving soiled articles;
- placing said articles soiled with solids thereon into said container;
- continuously circulating the liquid in the container to transfer the solids to the circulating liquid;
- diverting the circulating liquid through a closed end hydroclone to separate the solids from the liquid;
- returning substantially all of said circulating liquid to said container through an overflow means positioned in the top center of said closed end hydroclone;
- transporting separated solids to a solid collection means via an underflow means, the underflow means being positioned at the bottom center of said closed end hydroclone;
- collecting said solids in said solid collection means; and
- selectively flushing the solids collection means into a drain means.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the normal operating cycle comprises:
- a lease one pre-wash fill cycle, a main wash fill cycle, at least one rinse fill cycle and a final rinse fill cycle.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This invention is a continuation in part of commonly assigned patent applications Ser. No. 08/573,847, filed Dec. 18, 1995 entitled "Methods for Reducing the Amount of Energy and Water Consumed by a Cleaning Appliance", now abandoned, Ser. No. 08/417,553, filed Apr. 6, 1995 entitled "Methods for Reducing the Amount of Energy and Water Consumed by a Cleaning Appliance", now abandoned, Ser. No. 08/417,552 filed Apr. 6, 1995 entitled "System for Reducing the Amount of Energy and Water Consumed by a Cleaning Appliance", now abandoned, Ser. No. 08/573,848 filed Dec. 18, 1995 entitled "System for Reducing the Amount of Energy and Water Consumed by a Cleaning Appliance", now abandoned, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
573847 |
Dec 1995 |
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