Claims
- 1. Separation apparatus, useful especially for ultrafiltration, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a. two rectangular rigid end plates;
- b. ends of said end plates;
- c. means defining at least one inlet orifice in one end plate for the introduction of the fluid to be treated and at least one outlet orifice in the other end plate for the removal of the fluid to be treated, said orifices being placed adjacent one end of the associated end plate;
- d. a plurality of membrane support plates of generally rectangular shape, in overlying relationship with respect to one another, each said support plate carrying a generally rectangular semi-permeable membrane without apertures therein on each of its faces and having duct means for the removal of the fluid which has crossed through the said membranes;
- e. first and second generally elongate apertures for the passage of the fluid to be treated through the support plates, the first apertures being adjacent one end of the support plates and aligned with one another to form a first duct through the stack, in communication with the inlet orifice of the said one end plate, the second apertures being adjacent the other end of the support plates and forming a second duct through the stack;
- f. holding means extending between the two end plates effective to hold the support plates in position;
- g. jointing members separating said support plates in a leakproof manner and enabling the fluid to be treated to pass in contact with the membranes of two consecutive plates and flow substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the said plates;
- h. at least one intermediate plate in the stack dividing the said stack into at least two sub-assemblies; and
- i. one generally elongate opening through said intermediate plate aligned with said second duct only.
- 2. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising on each face of each support plate a recess in which a membrane lies, said recess extending between the opposite elongate apertures and being connected to at least one of said duct means.
- 3. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each support plate comprises at least one laterally extending duct connecting the recess to an adjacent edge of the support plate.
- 4. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising, on at least one face of each support plate, lateral and transverse rims for the positioning and holding of a jointing member.
- 5. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising means defining a central opening in each jointing member, the width of said opening being substantially equal to the lateral extent of elongate aperture and the length of which is substantially equal to the longest distance between the two elongate apertures.
- 6. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the width of each recess is at least equal to the lateral extent of the elongate apertures.
- 7. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising a permeable support in each recess on which support the associated membrane rests.
- 8. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which on each face of the support plate a membrane is attached in a leakproof manner to the transverse zone of the said plate between the recess and the adjacent elongate aperture.
- 9. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for holding the support plate comprises a member extending between the two end plates and slots supported in the support plates in which said member engages.
- 10. Separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a distribution plate situated between two consecutive membrane support plates, said distribution plates being of generally rectangular configuration and comprising first and second generally elongate apertures in communication with the first and second apertures of the support plate, means defining openings inwardly of first and second apertures of said distribution plates, a distribution bar having longitudinal channels formed therein separating each opening from its associated first and second aperture, bevelled edges to said distribution plates defining the inner edges of said openings and jointing members separating said support plates and said distributing plates, in a leakproof manner, whereby the fluid to be treated passes between the support plate and the distribution plate with the fluid flowing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plates. .Iadd. 11. Separation apparatus, useful essentially for ultrafiltration, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) two rigid end plates;
- (b) ends of said end plates;
- (c) means for defining at least one inlet orifice in one end plate for the introduction of the fluid to be treated and at least one outlet orifice in the other end plate for the removal of the fluid to be treated, said orifices being placed adjacent to one end of the associated end plate;
- (d) a plurality of membrane support plates in overlying relationship with respect to one another forming a stack, edges of said support plates being open to the exterior of the apparatus, means defining a recess in each face of each support plate, each said support plate carrying a semi-permeable membrane on each of its faces, each membrane covering a recess, each recess having means for supporting the said membrane for enabling the removal of the fluid which has crossed through the said membrane, and at least one duct means, the said duct means opening onto an edge of the said support plate which is open to the exterior of the apparatus;
- (e) first and second apertures for the passage of the fluid to be treated through the support plates, the first apertures being adjacent one end of the support plates and aligned with one another to form a first duct through the stack, in communication with the inlet orifice of said one end plate, the second aperture being adjacent the other end of the support plates and forming a second duct through the stack;
- (f) holding means extending between the two end plates effective to hold the support plates in position;
- (g) jointing means provided near the periphery of each support plate and beyond the first and second apertures thereof, the said means sealing the support plate in a leak-proof manner to the adjacent support plate and determining the thickness of the layer of fluid to be treated flowing from one duct of the stack to the other, between and in contact with the membranes of two consecutive support plates;
- (h) at least one intermediate plate in the stack dividing the said stack into at least two sub-assemblies; and
- (i) one opening through each said intermediate plate aligned with only one of the two ducts to the stack, said intermediate plate enabling the fluid to be treated to flow in parallel in a sub-assembly and in series from one sub-assembly to the other. .Iaddend.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
71.06493 |
Feb 1971 |
FRX |
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71.19774 |
Jun 1971 |
FRX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 715,659, filed Aug. 19, 1976, now abandoned. .Iaddend.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
715659 |
Aug 1976 |
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Reissues (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
228887 |
Feb 1972 |
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