Method For the Production of Tubular Membranes

• US 20080251445A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Flow B.V. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Poromedia GmbH
• Inventors: Gudernatsch, Wilhelm N., Kamleiter, Michael, Gudernatsch, Edith
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/497.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/061 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/04 Tubular membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/10 Supported membranes; Membrane supports
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 31/00 Crocheting processes for the production of fabrics or articles
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/04 Filters

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing tubular membranes. In order to create a very inexpensive production method while obtaining very high output rates for tubular membranes, a tubular member (10) is formed from several threads (12) in such a way that at least some of the threads (12) are tightly tied together along web-type connecting lines (14) that are composed of longitudinal threads while at least some of the threads (12) form a transversal connection (16) between adjacent longitudinal threads (14) in between said web-type connecting lines (14), and a predefined membrane material (18) is applied to the tubular member (10).

Claims

1. A method for the production of tubular membranes, characterized in that a tubular body (10) is constructed from a plurality of threads (12) in such a way that at least some of the threads (12) are tied substantially firmly together along fillet-like connecting lines (14), in that between the fillet-like connecting lines (14) at least some of the threads (12) form the transverse connection (16) between the mutually adjacent connecting lines (14), and in that a predefinable membrane material (18) is applied to the tubular body (10).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body (10) is created by means of a crocheting device, and in that each inserted thread is assigned its own hooked needle or crochet needle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the tubular body (10) is created by crocheting in such a way that passages (20) allowing liquid to pass through at a high flow rate are formed between the individual transverse connections (16), and in that the fillet-like connecting lines (14) are designed to be substantially liquid-tight or to allow liquid to pass through at a low flow rate.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the threads (monofilaments or multifilaments) are chosen from the group of

synthetic materials such as polyester, polyaramides, other polymers, carbon, Kevlar or

metals (wires) such as nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, silver, stainless steel or

catalytically active substances such as ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, nickel or

other materials such as cellulose acetate, glass fibers, graphite powder, activated charcoal or

from mixtures and compounds of the aforementioned groups.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent transverse connections (16) are arranged between two connecting lines (14) in such a way that between them they enclose an angle of 10 to 70°

, preferably of approximately 30°

.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body (10) is constructed from at least three, preferably six connecting lines (14) between which three, preferably six surfaces of transverse connections (16) extend on which the membrane material is applied.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body (10) is coated with a membrane-activatable substance which is guided through a precipitation bath, the substance being converted into a microporous membrane layer.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the membrane materials are chosen from the group of synthetic materials such as polyethersulfone, polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile or polyvinylidene fluoride.

9. A tubular membrane produced by the method as claimed in patent claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body (10) is constructed from a plurality of threads (12) in such a way that at least some of the threads (12) are tied substantially firmly together along fillet-like connecting lines (14), in that between the fillet-like connecting lines (14) at least some of the threads (12) form the transverse connection (16) between the mutually adjacent connecting lines (14), and in that a predefinable membrane material (18) is applied to the tubular body (10).