Hollow fiber restraining system

• US 6,962,258 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cox, David John, Zha, Fufang
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, W. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menon, Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US10/894,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 210483-486, 210/488, 210/495, 210/497.01, 210/497.1, 210/500.22, 210/321.88, 210/321.89, 210/232
• 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

Abstract

A restraining system for hollow fibers 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 restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring, and wherein the terminating adaptor ring comprises an inner ring comprising a plurality of openings configured to allow passage of a fluid therethrough.

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 the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings.

4. A filtration system according to claim 3, 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.

5. A filtration system according to claim 4, wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.

6. A filtration system according to claim 3, wherein each ring comprises a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is situated on the internal surface of the ring.

7. A filtration system according to claim 6, 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.

8. A filtration system according to claim 7, wherein the cushioning element comprises a foam material.

9. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements comprises a generally rigid plastic material.

10. A filtration system according to claim 9, wherein the generally rigid plastic material comprises nylon or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

11. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a molded element.

12. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a machined element.

13. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the terminating adaptor ring is configured to mount the restraining system to a potting sleeve.

17. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the spacer elements are arranged in closely-spaced pairs.

18. A filtration system according to claim 1, wherein a number density of longitudinally extending elements varies along a length of the cage-like structure.

14. 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 restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring, and wherein the terminating adaptor ring comprises a radial extending circumferential rib.

15. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein the radial extending circumferential rib comprises a plurality of cut-outs for engaging with the longitudinally extending elements.

16. A filtration system according to claim 15, wherein a number of cut-outs on the radial extending circumferential rib is the same as a number of cut-outs on at least one of the spacer elements.

19. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein the cage-like structure comprises a tubular shape.

20. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings.

21. A filtration system according to claim 20, 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.

22. A filtration system according to claim 21, wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.

23. A filtration system according to claim 20, wherein each ring comprises a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is situated on the internal surface of the ring.

24. A filtration system according to claim 23, 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.

25. A filtration system according to claim 24, wherein the cushioning element comprises a foam material.

26. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements comprises a generally rigid plastic material.

27. A filtration system according to claim 26, wherein the generally rigid plastic material comprises nylon or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

28. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a molded element.

29. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a machined element.

30. A filtration system according to claim 29, wherein the terminating adaptor ring is configured to mount the restraining system to a potting sleeve.

31. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein the spacer elements are arranged in closely-spaced pairs.

32. A filtration system according to claim 14, wherein a number density of longitudinally extending elements varies along a length of the cage-like structure.