Spider fitting for multi-module filter system, and motive cart assembly comprising same

• US 6,017,451 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smartflow Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henry B. Kopf
• Inventors: Kopf, Henry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savage, Matthew O.
• Application Number:
  US08/941,842
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 210/241, 210/323.1, 210/323.2, 210/340, 210/345, 210/232, 210/322, 210/341, 285/125.1, 285/127.2, 285/130.1
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0469 Filter tubes connected to collector tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/105 Supply manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/125 Discharge manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/118 open-ended
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/52 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/90 for feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/945 for continuously discharging concentrated liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/146 comprising multiple ultrafiltration steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/149 Multistep processes comprising different kinds of membrane processes selected from ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/046 in separate housings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes

Abstract

A multi-arm spider fitting including a central hub from which such arms radiate. The arms are adapted at their extremities for coupling with filter modules, so that multiple filter modules can be secured to a single spider fitting, with the filter modules being arranged in a compact array to minimize the volumetric and spatial requirements of the filtration system. The multi-module filter assembly may be mounted on a motive cart, to provide for ready transport of the filter assembly between locations in a process plant.

Claims

1. A cross-flow multi-filter module assembly, comprising two spider fittings each in opposed facing relationship to one another, and including a central hub body having an interior volume, and having arms joined in fluid flow communication with the hub body interior volume, with each of the arms extending generally horizontally radially outwardly to a radially outer flanged terminus, and a right angle pipe fitting being coupled to each of the arms of the spider fitting, the right angle pipe fitting being flanged at respective ends thereof, with one of the flanged ends of said right angle pipe fitting being abuttingly engaged with the radially outer flanged terminus of an arm of the spider fitting so that the right angle pipe fitting extends generally horizontally radially outwardly from the said one of the flanged ends thereof and then generally vertically to the other of the flanged ends thereof, with said other of the flanged ends of the right angle pipe fitting being coupleable to an end portion of a filter module, and with respective filter modules arranged parallel to one another, each said filter module (1) including at least one permeate discharge for discharging permeate produced by filtration in said filter module, and (2) extending between said other of the flanged ends of a first right angle pipe fitting at a first end of the filter module said other of the flanged ends of a second right angle pipe fitting at a second end of the filter module wherein a lower end of each said hub body includes means for introducing or discharging a medium to or from the respective said interior volume, and wherein a distance from the interior volume of one of said spider fittings through the filter module to the interior volume of the other of said spider fittings is the same for each of the filter modules in said assembly, and wherein at least one of said spider fittings comprises an upper segment joined by a flange to the hub body, which upper segment includes a central bore opening which communicates with the interior volume of the hub body, and wherein the upper segment terminates at its upper end in a flange.

2. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub body is cylindrical in shape.

3. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper segment is cylindrical in shape.

4. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the arms of the spider fittings is spaced from adjacent arms by less than 120 degrees.

5. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the arms of the spider fittings is spaced from adjacent arms by 60 degrees.

6. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the arms of the spider fittings is spaced from adjacent arms by 90 degrees.

7. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 1 wherein the arms of the spider fittings are spaced apart from one another by a uniform distance.

8. A cross-flow multi-filter module assembly, comprising:

(a) first and second spider fittings, each in an opposed facing relationship to the other, wherein;

(i) each of said spider fittings comprises a central hub body having an interior volume;

(ii) each of said spider fittings comprises arms joined in fluid flow communication with the hub body interior volume, with each of the arms extending generally horizontally radially outwardly to a radially outer flanged terminus;

(iii) at least one of said spider fittings comprises an upper segment joined to the hub body and having a central bore opening which communicates with the interior volume of the hub body and terminating at its upper end in a flange, and

(iv) a lower end of each said hub body includes means for introducing or discharging a medium to or from the respective interior volume;

(b) a right angle pipe fitting coupled to each of the arms of the first and second spider fittings, the right angle pipe fitting being flanged at respective ends thereof, with a first of the flanged ends being abuttingly engaged with the radially outer flanged terminus of an arm of the first spider fitting, so that the right angle pipe fitting extends generally horizontally radially outwardly from the said first of the flanged ends thereof and then generally vertically to a second of the flanged ends thereof, with the second of the flanged ends being coupleable to an end portion of a filter module;

(c) filter modules arranged parallel to one another, each said filter module;

(i) including at least one permeate discharge means for discharging permeate produced by filtration in said filter module;

(ii) extending between the second of the flanged ends of a right angle pipe fitting of the first spider fitting and a corresponding second of the flanged ends of a corresponding right angle pipe fitting of the second spider fitting; and

wherein a distance from the interior volume of the first spider fitting through the filter module to the interior volume of the second spider fitting is the same for each of the filter modules in said assembly.

9. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 8, wherein only one of said spider fittings comprises the upper segment of (a)(iii).

10. A cross-flow multi-filter module assembly, comprising:

(a) two spider fittings each in opposed facing relationship to one another, and including;

(i) each of said spider fittings comprises a central hub body having an interior volume;

(ii) each of said spider fittings comprises arms joined in fluid flow communication with the hub body interior volume, with each of the arms extending generally horizontally radially outwardly to a radially outer flanged terminus;

(iii) at least one of said spider fittings comprises an upper segment joined to the hub body and having a central bore opening which communicates with the interior volume of the hub body and terminating at its upper end in a flange, and

(iv) a lower end of each said hub body includes means for introducing or discharging a medium to or from the respective interior volume;

(b) a right angle pipe fitting coupled to each of the arms of the first and second spider fittings, the right angle pipe fitting being flanged at respective ends thereof, with a first of the flanged ends being abuttingly engaged with the radially outer flanged terminus of an arm of the first spider fitting, so that the right angle pipe fitting extends generally horizontally radially outwardly from the said first of the flanged ends thereof and then generally vertically to a second of the flanged ends thereof, with the second of the flanged ends being coupleable to an end portion of a filter module;

(c) filter modules arranged parallel to one another, each said filter module;

(i) including at least one permeate discharge means for discharging permeate produced by filtration in said filter module;

(ii) extending between the second of the flanged ends of a right angle pipe fitting of the first spider fitting and a corresponding second of the flanged ends of a corresponding right angle pipe fitting of the second spider fitting.

11. The cross-flow multi-filter module assembly of claim 10, wherein only one of said spider fittings comprises the upper segment of (a)(iii).