Hollow fibre restraining system

• US 20030089659A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cox, David John, Zha, Fufang
• Granted Patent: US 6,783,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 restraining system for hollow fibres, said 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.

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

3. A restraining system according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings.

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

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

6. A restraining 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.

7. A restraining system according to claim 6 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.

8. A restraining system according to claim 6 wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.

9. A restraining system according to claim 3 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.

10. A restraining system according to claim 9 wherein the second location comprises a circumferential groove or a slot.

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

12. A restraining system according to claim 3 wherein an internal surface of each ring is beveled along each internal edge.

13. A restraining 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.

14. A restraining system according to claim 13 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.