Hollow fibre restraining system

• US 20050133438A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: David John Cox, Fufang Zha
• Inventors: Cox, David John, Zha, Fufang
• Granted Patent: US 7,223,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.880
• 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.

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 restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring.

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

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

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