Retractable cantilever rack support

• US 20060021929A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rogers, Peter, Tsatsaronis, Sofoklis, Mannheim, Heather M.A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,282,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.600
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/06 External membrane module supporting or fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/16 Specific vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/26 Specific gas distributors or gas intakes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/16 Use of chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/003 Membrane bonding or sealing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1273 Submerged membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system of the type where the membranes (12) are supported on a membrane support rack (13) in a tank or vessel (6) which, in use, contains liquid to be filtered. The tank (6) comprises a selectively operable opening (9) which in an open position allows the removal of the membranes (12) from the tank (6). The membrane support rack (13) is movable relative to the tank (6) to move said membranes (12) through the opening (9), in its open position, to a position outside the tank (6).

Claims

1. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system of the type where the membranes are supported on a membrane support rack in a tank or vessel which, in use, contains liquid to be filtered, the tank comprising a selectively operable opening which in an open position allows the removal of said membranes from the tank, wherein said membrane support rack is movable relative to said tank to move said membranes through said opening, in its open position, to a position outside said tank.

2. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said membranes are suspended from above on said membrane support rack.

3. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises an extendable support rack slidable relative to said tank and slidably engaged with the membrane support rack such that said extendable support rack is slidably extended from said tank and said membrane support rack is slid along the extendable support rack to said position outside said tank.

4. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 3 wherein said extendable support rack is contained within the bounds of said tank when in a non-extended position.

5. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 3 wherein said extendable support rack is cantilevered from said tank when extended therefrom.

6. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 5 wherein said extendable support rack is contained within the bounds of said tank when in a non-extended position.

7. A removal system for membranes in a membrane filtration system according to claim 5 wherein the extendable support rack is slidable along tracks provided on the top of the tank.

8. A removal system for membranes according to claim 1 wherein the membranes are positioned vertically in the tank and are moved transversely of a longitudinal axis of the membranes when removed through the opening.

9. A removal system for membranes according to claim 1 wherein the selectively operable opening comprises a removable wall of the tank.

10. A removal system for membranes according to claim 1 wherein the membranes are mounted in a number of membrane modules, each membrane module being supported on the membrane support rack.