US3661721A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact multistage distillation apparatus having stacked microporous membranes and impermeable films
Assignee: Pactide Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-05
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1991-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A still comprising a distillation unit formed by arranging microporous membranes and corrugated, impermeable films in alternating stacked relation together with adhesive sealing elements located between adjacent membranes and films and a spacer located between two stacks of membranes and films, to form channels for liquids. The assembly of membranes, films, sealing elements and spacer is subjected to heat and pressure to bond the sealing elements to the membranes, films and spacer, and holes are drilled through the unit to form conduits for feeding liquids to and from selected channels between adjacent membranes and films. The unit is then located together with sealing elements between the walls of two complimentary housing sections which are sealed to one another to form a housing enclosing the unit and subjected to heat and pressure to bond the unit to the walls of the housing to form additional liquid channels. The corners of the distillation unit are sealed to the corners of the housing to form chambers for receiving and distributing feed, heating, and coolant liquids. All of the components are designed to be fabricated or formed of polymeric sheet materials and connections for the flow of liquids are made to the conduits within the still (housing) by way of nipples secured to the housing and/or liquid conduits pressed into liquid-tight engagement with the housing. One surface of each member is corrugated to prevent blockage of the channels for feed liquid and the walls of the housing as well as the spacer are corrugated to provide channels for heating and coolant liquids.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin A Rodgers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:02
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/36; B01D61/364; B01D61/3641; B01D1/00; B01D1/22; B01D3/00; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/27; Y10S159/31; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1025; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1056; Y10T156/1057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said membranes, films and housing structures are formed of polymeric materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein two of said impermeable films comprise the outer components of said stack, and said main walls of said housing structures are corrugated and cooperate with the outer impermeable films of said stack to form coolant channels for conducting a coolant liquid from a first of said peripheral chambers to a second peripheral chamber at the opposite side of said stack, said coolant channels being blocked at the edges of said stack adjacent the third and fourth peripheral chambers to prevent flow of liquid between the latter and said coolant channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 3 further including a corrugated sheet located between medial membranes of said stack dividing the latter into two sections containing at least approximately equal numbers of said membranes and films, said corrugated sheet cooperating with said medial membranes to provide heating channels for conducting a liquid between said sections of said stack from said third peripheral chamber to said fourth peripheral chamber, said heating channels being blocked at the edges of said stack adjacent said first and second chambers to prevent flow of liquid between the latter and said heating channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the corrugations in said main walls extend perpendicularly to the corrugatiOns in said impermeable sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said channels are blocked at the edges of said stack and around said openings by dams located within said channels and bonded to the membranes, films, walls and sheet defining said channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said films are corrugated to form channels for the passage of liquids in contact with opposite sides of said membranes and said corrugations in said films are substantially parallel with the corrugations in said sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the depth of the corrugations in said sheet is several times the depth of the corrugations in said films.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said films are corrugated to form channels for the passage of liquids in contact with opposite sides of said membranes and said corrugations in said films are substantially perpendicular to the corrugations in said main walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said films cooperates with the adjacent membrane furthest from said sheet to form at least a distilland channel therebetween and said distilland channels are blocked at the edges of said stack adjacent said first and second peripheral chambers and are open at the other edges of said stack to permit circulation of liquid through said distilland channels between said third and fourth peripheral chambers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said films cooperates with the adjacent membrane closest said sheet to form at least a distillate channel and said distillate channels are blocked at all of the edges of said stack to prevent liquid from entering or leaving said distillate channels at said edges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said membranes, films, sheet and one of said main walls include aligned openings and all of said channels except said distillate channels are blocked in regions surrounding said openings for preventing passage of liquid through said openings and forming conduits coupled with said distillate channels for conducting liquid therefrom to the outside of said housing through said openings in said one main wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said channels are blocked at the edges of said stack and around said openings by dams located within said channels and bonded to the membranes, films, walls and sheet defining said channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising liquid conducting means including means for engaging the outer surface of said one main wall around the peripheries of said openings therein for making liquid-tight cells between said liquid conducting means and said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said liquid conducting means include a manifold having a plurality of inlet openings and said resilient means are compressively engaged around said inlet openings and said openings in said one main wall between the latter and said manifold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said manifold and said one main wall are formed with annular recesses surrounding the respective openings therein and said resilient means comprise O-rings engaged in said recesses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said inlet openings in said manifold are in the form of counterbored holes and said resilient means include tubes formed of a compressible material seated in the counterbored sections of said holes and retained in compressive engagement with one said main wall surrounding said openings therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a corrugated sheet located between medial membranes of said stack dividing the latter into two sections containing at least approximately equal numbers of alternating membranes and films, said corrugated sheet cooperating with said medial membranes to provide heating channels for conducting a liquid between said sections of said stack from a first of said peripheral chambers to a second of said peripheral chambers, said heating channels being blocked at the edges of said stack adjacent the third and fourth peripheral chambers to prevent flow of liquid between the latter and said heating channels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein two of said impermeable films comprise the outer components of said stack and said main walls of said housing structures are corrugated and cooperate with the outer impermeable films of said stack to form coolant channels for conducting a coolant liquid from said third chamber to said fourth chamber, said coolant channels being blocked at the edges of said stack adjacent said first and second chambers to prevent flow of liquid between the latter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said channels are blocked at the edges of said stack and around said openings by dams located within said channels and bonded to the membranes, films, walls and sheet defining said channels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
For use in distillation apparatus, a distillation unit comprising, in combination: a microporous membrane impermeable to liquid and permeable to the vapor thereof, said membrane having one surface formed with a multiplicity of generally parallel ridges and depressions; and a pair of vapor impermeable films disposed in contact with opposite surfaces of said membrane, said films being corrugated to provide channels between said films and said membrane and being arranged with the corrugations of said films perpendicular to said ridges and depressions in said membrane surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the other surface of said membrane is substantially smooth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said ridges and depressions have a generally sinusoidal configuration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 21 further including means for circulating a distilland liquid between one surface of said membrane and the adjacent film and causing said liquid to flow substantially in the direction of said corrugation transverse to said ridges and depressions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
Distillation apparatus as defined in claim 24 further including sealing element located between and bonded to the margins of said other surface of said membrane and the adjacent film for preventing escape of liquid from the channels defined by said membrane and the last-mentioned film at the edges of said membrane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |