U.S. patent application number 11/496377 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for hollow fibre restraining system.
Invention is credited to David John Cox, Fufang Zha.
Application Number | 20070209993 11/496377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3820895 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070209993 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zha; Fufang ; et
al. |
September 13, 2007 |
Hollow fibre restraining system
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.
Inventors: |
Zha; Fufang; (West Ryde,
AU) ; Cox; David John; (Penrith, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWRIE, LANDO & ANASTASI, LLP;U0105
1 MAIN ST.
SUITE 1100
CAMBRIDGE
MA
02142
US
|
Family ID: |
3820895 |
Appl. No.: |
11/496377 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11056532 |
Feb 11, 2005 |
7223340 |
|
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11496377 |
Jul 31, 2006 |
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10894191 |
Jul 19, 2004 |
6962258 |
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11056532 |
Feb 11, 2005 |
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10268600 |
Oct 9, 2002 |
6783008 |
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10894191 |
Jul 19, 2004 |
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PCT/AU01/00387 |
Apr 6, 2001 |
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10268600 |
Oct 9, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/251 ;
206/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/00 20200501;
B01D 65/00 20130101; B01D 2313/06 20130101; B01D 63/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/251 ;
206/205 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00; B01D 29/13 20060101 B01D029/13 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 10, 2000 |
AU |
PQ 6801 |
Claims
1. A filtration system, said filtration system comprising: a bundle
of hollow fibres, the bundle having an outer periphery; and a
restraining system for the hollow fibres comprising: a plurality of
discrete spacer elements positioned about the outer periphery of
the bundle; and 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 are constructed and arranged to be removably
connected to said longitudinally extending elements 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.
17. A filtration module comprising: a bundle of hollow fibres
having an outer cross-sectional periphery; a plurality of
longitudinally extending elements; and a plurality of spacer
elements positioned about the outer cross-sectional periphery of
the bundle, wherein the plurality of spacer elements are
constructed and arranged to be removably connected to the plurality
of longitudinally extending elements.
18. The filtration module of claim 17, further comprising a
plurality of engagement sockets positioned on an outer surface of
each of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein each of the
engagement sockets are constructed and arranged to removably
receive one of the plurality of longitudinally extending
elements.
19. The filtration module of claim 17, wherein the plurality of
spacer elements comprises a plurality of recesses on an outer
surface of each of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein the
recesses are constructed and arranged to removably receive on of
the plurality of longitudinally extending elements.
20. A method or reinforcing a hollow fibre bundle comprising:
providing a bundle of hollow fibres; providing a plurality of
longitudinal elements; and releasably engaging a plurality of
spacer elements transversely to the plurality of longitudinal
elements.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/894,191, filed Jul. 19, 2004, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/268,600, filed Oct. 9, 2002, now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,783,008, which is a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
120, of International Patent Application No. PCT/AU01/00387, filed
on Apr. 6, 2001, under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which
was published by the International Bureau in English on Oct. 18,
2001, which designates the United States, and which claims the
benefit of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PQ 6801,
filed Apr. 10, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a restraining system for
hollow fibres used in membrane filtration systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A number of different types of restraining systems usually
in the form of a welded plastic mesh cage have been used in the
past, however, these suffer from lack of rigidity when large
apertures are required in the mesh to allow for fluid flows and are
difficult to repair should any portion of the mesh be broken during
transport, installation or use. While such known restraining
systems are cheap and simple to manufacture they suffer from a lack
of robustness in many required installations.
[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome or at least
ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or at
least provide the public with a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a
restraining system for hollow fibres including 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.
[0006] For preference, the cage-like structure is tubular.
Preferably, the longitudinal elements are rods and the spacer
elements are in the form of rings. It will be appreciated that the
rings may of any geometric shape and are not limited to a circular
shape. Similarly, the tubular structure and rods may be of any
geometric cross sectional shape.
[0007] In one preferred form, each ring has a number of radially
extending engagement formations for releasably engaging an
associated rod. The formations may be in to form of part-circular
opposed flanges spaced to provide a socket having an interference
or snap-fit with the associated rod.
[0008] In another preferred form, each ring has a number of
radially extending cut-outs spaced around its periphery, each
cut-out being sized and shaped to form an interference or snap-fit
with an associated rod. Preferably, the internal surface of each
ring is bevelled along each internal edge. For further preference,
the internal surface of each ring is providing with a cushioning
element. Preferably, the cushioning element is formed of a foam
material and extends past the length of each ring at both ends so
as to overlap the internal edges of each ring.
[0009] The spacer elements may be formed from a number of
sub-elements which are fixed together in use.
[0010] The cut-outs or sockets are preferably equally-spaced around
the periphery of the ring.
[0011] For preference, the rods have a reduced diameter or width at
the location where they engage with an associated spacer.
Preferably, the reduced diameter is provided by a circumferential
groove or slot.
[0012] The components of the system are preferably formed of
generally rigid plastics material, typically nylon and
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The components can be
moulded or machined to the desired configuration. The cut-outs are
preferably part circular in cross section with an opening slightly
smaller than the diameter to provide for snap-fitting retention of
the rods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the restraining system
according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the spacer component of
the restraining system of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged exploded perspective view of the
restraining system of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the restraining system
according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the snap ring component
of the restraining system of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the adaptor ring
component of the restraining system of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the restraining system
according to a third embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the snap ring component
of the restraining system of FIG. 7;
[0022] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the adaptor ring
component of the restraining system of FIG. 7;
[0023] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the restraining system
according to a fourth embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the snap ring component
of the restraining system of FIG. 10;
[0025] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the adaptor ring
component of the restraining system of FIG. 10; and
[0026] FIG. 13 shows an enlarged perspective view of the end of the
restraining system of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the restraining system comprises
a generally tubular cage-like structure 5 formed from a plurality
of longitudinally extending rods 6 spaced from one another and held
in position by a number of longitudinally spaced and transversely
extending spacer rings 7.
[0028] Each spacer ring 7 in this embodiment has a number of
engagement sockets 8 spaced equally around its periphery. Each
socket 8 is formed by part-circular opposed flanges 9 spaced to
provide an interference or snap-fit with the associated rod 6. The
sockets 8 are slightly over semi-circular in shape to provide
retention of the rods 6.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 13 of the drawings, each ring 7 in
these embodiments has a number of radially extending cut-outs 10
equally spaced around its periphery, each cut-out 10 being sized
and shaped to form an interference or snap-fit with an associated
rod 6. The cut-outs 10 in this embodiment are slightly over
semi-circular in shape to provide retention of the rods 6.
[0030] The rods 6 in this embodiment are provided with a
circumferential groove or slot 11 to provide a reduced
diameter/width at the location where they engage with the ring 7.
This serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the rings 7
relative to the rods 6.
[0031] Each end of the tubular restraining structure 5 is provided
with terminating adaptor ring 12 which, in use, mounts the
structure 5 to a potting sleeve 16 or the like. The adaptor ring 12
includes a inner ring 13 having a plurality of openings 14 to allow
passage of fluid therethrough and a radial extending
circumferential rib 15. Rib 15 is again provided with a
corresponding number of cut-outs 16 as those provided on the spacer
rings 7 for engaging with the ends 17 of rods 6.
[0032] As shown in the various embodiments, the spacer rings 7 are
preferably arranged in closely-spaced pairs. Further, the number of
rods and rings can be varied according to restraint requirements.
As best shown in FIG. 10, the density of rod numbers can also be
varied along the length of the tubular structure 5 where restraint
requirements vary along the length.
[0033] The restraining system is used to restrain a bundle of
hollow fibre membranes employed in filtration systems. The fibre
bundle extends longitudinally within the tubular restraining
system. The restraining system allows fluid flow to and from the
hollow fibre membranes. Typically, the fibres extend between upper
and lower headers which, together with the restraining system, can
be used to form a replaceable fibre bundle module. In such
arrangements, the cage has the added advantage of protecting the
fibre bundle during deployment of the module.
[0034] It will be appreciated, that further embodiments and
exemplifications of the invention are possible without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention described.
* * * * *