Hollow fibre restraining system

• US 6,783,008 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cox, David John, Zha, Fufang
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENON, KRISHNAN S
• Application Number:
  US10/268,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 210/485, 210/483, 210/484, 210/486, 210/487, 210/488, 210/493.3, 210/493.4, 210/494.2, 210/495, 210/497.01, 210/497.1, 210/500.22, 210/321.88, 210/321.89
• US Class Current: 210/485
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/06 External membrane module supporting or fixing means
• 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: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224

Abstract

A restraining system for hollow fibres is provided. The restraining system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a number of discrete spacer elements, each spacer element extending generally transverse of said longitudinal elements, such that in combination with said longitudinal elements they define a cage-like structure.

Claims

1. A filtration system, said filtration system comprising a bundle of hollow fibres and a restraining system for the hollow fibres, said restraining system comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a plurality of discrete spacer elements, said spacer elements extending generally transverse of said longitudinally extending elements, wherein said spacer elements and said longitudinally extending elements are arranged to define a cage-like structure, wherein the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings, wherein each rod comprises a first width at a first location and a second width at a second location, wherein the second width is less than the first width, and wherein the rod engages with an associated spacer at the second location.

2. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the cage-like structure comprises a tubular shape.

3. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein each ring comprises a plurality of radially extending engagement formations configured for releasably engaging an associated rod.

4. A filtration system according to claim 3 wherein the formations comprise part-circular opposed flanges spaced to provide a socket having an interference-fit or snap-fit with the associated rod.

5. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein each ring comprises a plurality of radially extending cut-outs spaced around a periphery of the ring, each cut-out configured to provide an interference-fit or snap-fit with an associated rod.

6. A filtration system according to claim 5 wherein the cut-outs comprise a part circular cross section and wherein the ring comprises an opening slightly smaller than a diameter of an associated rod to provide for snap-fitting retention of the associated rod.

7. A filtration system according to claim 5 wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.

8. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the second location comprises a circumferential groove or slot.

9. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein each of the spacer elements comprises a plurality of sub-elements configured to fix together in use.

10. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein an internal surface of each ring is beveled along each internal edge.

11. A filtration system according to claim 1 wherein each ring comprises a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is situated on the internal surface of the ring.

12. A filtration system according to claim 11 wherein the cushioning element extends past a length of the ring at both ends of the ring so as to overlap the internal edges of the ring.