Tubular membrane separation apparatus end joint seal

Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Divided filtered – and unfiltered liquid passages

Patent

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Details

210445, 210450, 210453, B01D 3100

Patent

active

043393349

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a tubular membrane separation apparatus for the ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis of solutions.


BACKGROUND ART

Various tubular membrane separation apparatus are already known. Many of these apparatuses are not provided with a liquid collector tube for the separation element, or include a plurality of separation elements which are housed in a single liquid collector tube. There are a few separation apparatuses in which each liquid collector tube houses a single separation element and the components are separable for cleaning and can be reassembled. Published Examined Japanese patent application Sho No. 52-37994 discloses a separation apparatus comprising a tubular support member having a large number of pores in its peripheral wall and accommodating a tubular semipermeable membrane in its interior. This apparatus includes a gasket of special shape and involves the problem of necessitating a special tool and skill for the removal and installation of the tubular semipermeable membrane.
Other separation apparatuses also have problems. The semipermeable membrane is inconvenient or costly to replace since the separation element is joined to an expensive porous pressure-resistant tube. When not separable into individual parts, the apparatus can not be cleaned and is liable to have sanitation troubles. Gaskets of special shape, if used for securing the liquid collector tube, support member and separation element, render the apparatus costly.


DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to this invention, a tubular separation element comprising a porous backing member and a semipermeable membrane formed over the inner surface of the member is fitted in a porous pressure-resistant tube which is inserted in a liquid collector tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pressure-resistant tube. A joint member is detachably attached at its one end to each end of the collector tube as by screw-thread engagement therewith. The end of the porous pressure-resistant tube is held in contact with an interior bearing face of the joint member. A narrow liquid passage is formed between the collector tube and the pressure-resistant tube. The joint member has an outlet bore through which the liquid passage is in communication with the outside. The liquid filtered by the separation element and flowing through the passage is run off via the outlet bore.
The separation element has a slightly enlarged open end within the joint member. A connector tube extends into the joint member through the other end thereof toward the enlarged end of the separation element and holds the enlarged end between the joint member and the forward end of the connector tube to prevent the leakage of liquid.
Since the separation apparatus of this invention is assembled from detachable components, the apparatus can be assembled or disassembled without necessitating the use of any special tool or skill. The semipermeable membrane is replaceable merely by replacing the separation element which is inexpensive. This is much more economical than the replacement of the combination of the membrane and the pressure-resistant tube conventionally needed.
Additionally the separation element can be sealed by the joint member and the connector tube which hold the enlarged end of the element therebetween, hence sanitary. Thus overcoming the problems encountered with the conventional tubular separation apparatus, the invention assures various outstanding advantages.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a tubular separation apparatus embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a device for diametrically enlarging the end of a separation element to show how the end is enlarged;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing other embodiments of the means for holding the end of the separation element;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the tubular separation apparatus of this invention; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a furthe

REFERENCES:
patent: 3446359 (1969-05-01), Loeb et al.
patent: 3480147 (1969-11-01), Kanyok
patent: 3581900 (1971-06-01), Clark
patent: 3768660 (1973-10-01), Block
patent: 3784470 (1974-01-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 3974068 (1976-08-01), Ebner et al.

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