Membrane assembly

• US 5,034,129 A
• Filed: 09/08/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X-Flow B.V. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Stork Friesland BV (Fluor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ten Hove, Roelf J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPEAR JR, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US07/404,854
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 210/490, 210/321.84, 210/491, 210/507
• US Class Current: 210/490
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/10 Supported membranes; Membrane supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1071 Woven, non-woven or net mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/504 using rollers or pressure bands for corrugating B29C53/22
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12

Abstract

The invention relates to a membrane assembly, provided with a carrier which carries a layer of a macromolecular substance with membrane action, said carrier being a composite carrier comprising on the one side a layer (2) having an open, cohesive structure, whereby layer (6) of the macromolecular substance extends into layer (2), and on the other side a supporting layer (3) on the side turned away from layer (6) having membrane action.

The carrier comprises, preferably, completely or partially a knitted or woven textile product. The supporting layer (3) is advantageously a plastic non-woven. The macromolecular substance is expediently a polymer, said substance taking care for the connection of the supporting layer (3) to the remaining parts of the composite carrier.

A device for the production of the present membrane assembly is also described. Said device comprises carrier stock means (13), carrier feed means, application means (16, 19) for the application of a liquid solution of a macromolecular membrane-forming material to the composite carrier (2, 3), carrier positioning means (14a, 14b), carrier support means (15) and membrane assembly discharge means (18). The carrier support means support the carrier in such a way that the solution of a macromolecular membrane-forming material can be brought on the carrier as a homogeneous layer.

Claims

1. Membrane assembly, provided with a carrier which carries a layer of a macromolecular substance with membrane action, wherein the carrier is a composite carrier comprising on the one side a layer (2) having an open, cohesive structure, whereby the layer (6) of macromolecular substance extends at least partly through the layer having an open, cohesive structure, and on the other side having a supporting layer (3) on the side turned away from the layer having membrane action, said supporting layer (3) at least being partly connected to the remaining parts of the composite carrier by means of the macromolecular substance. PG,12

2. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the macromolecular substance is a polymer.

3. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the composite carrier has a packing density which increases in the direction towards the surface having no membrane action.

4. Membrane assembly according to claims 1, wherein at least a part of the carrier has a regular, homogeneous structure.

5. Membrane assembly according to claims 1, wherein the carrier completely or partially comprises a knitted or woven textile product, in particular a knitted or woven arrangement of polyester threads.

6. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting layer (3) is of greater packing density than the remaining part of the carrier.

7. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting layer (3) has an asymmetrical structure.

8. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting layer (3) is a textile product.

9. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the components of the composite carrier are fixed relative to each other by means of a joining weld.

10. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the supporting layer (3) is 20-60% of the total thickness of the composite carrier.

11. Membrane assembly according to claim 1, wherein the membrane assembly is tubular.

12. Membrane assembly according to claim 11, wherein the layer (2) and supporting layer (3) are provided with longitudinal welds which may or may not be displaced relative to each other.

13. Membrane assembly according to claim 8 wherein the textile product is a non-woven fabric.

14. Membrane assembly according to claim 8 wherein the textile product is a plastic non-woven fabric.