US3701431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reverse osmosis apparatus and method for making same
Assignee: Eastman Technology Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract Reverse osmosis apparatus comprises one or a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane tubes enclosed within a housing. Each tube comprises two mating rigid support forms, each having a long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of the channel. Two reverse osmosis membrance sheets are clamped between the flanges, and each sheet extends into one of the channels, so that together the sheets form a tube for conducting solution. Elements of the housing can bear on the flanges with clamping pressure. A series of such tubes can be formed side-by-side in a unit. The apparatus advantageously is made by placing a flat sheet of membrane across each of first and second support forms, with or without an interposed spacer sheet, depressing the membrance into the channel by a mandrel or by applying a gas pressure differential, and then fitting the two together with the channels facing toward one another and in register. The flanges are then clamped together and the whole is enclosed in a housing in spaced relation thereto for collecting solvents. Each support form can have a series of such channels spaced from and parallel to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry M Brown
- 👤 Elbert L Ray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:19
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/08; B01D63/00; B01D63/06; B01D63/061; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for making reverse osmosis apparatus comprising a reverse osmosis membrane tube for carrying a stream of solution, and space outside of said tube for collecting solvent which penetraTes said membrane, said method comprising: providing first and second rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, the flanges and the channels of said first and second forms being adapted to register with one another with said channels facing toward one another; positioning two reverse osmosis membrane sheets between said support forms in contact with the respective flanges thereof and depressed into the respective channels thereof, and with the active surfaces thereof facing toward one another; clamping said flanges tightly together; and enclosing said support forms and the resulting reverse osmosis membrane tube in a housing in spaced relation thereto for collecting such solvent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for making reverse osmosis apparatus comprising a reverse osmosis membrane tube for carrying a stream of solution, and space outside of said tube for collecting solvent which penetraTes said membrane, said method comprising: providing first and second rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, the flanges and the channels of said first and second forms being adapted to register with one another with said channels facing toward one another; positioning two reverse osmosis membrane sheets between said support forms in contact with the respective flanges thereof and depressed into the respective channels thereof, and with the active surfaces thereof facing toward one another; clamping said flanges tightly together; and enclosing said support forms and the resulting reverse osmosis membrane tube in a housing in spaced relation thereto for collecting such solvent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each membrane sheet is depressed into its channel by placing shaft means on the surface thereof opposite said channel, and entering said shaft into said channel; said method also comprising withdrawing said shaft means through the end of the resulting tube after clamping said flanges together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein a separate generally semi-cylindrical shaft is entered into each channel while said support forms are out of register, and wherein said support forms are then brought into register with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said shaft means is generally a cylinder, said method also comprising placing said cylinder on a first one of said sheets and depressing said first sheet into the channel of said first support form; placing a second one of said sheets on top of said cylinder; and then placing said second support form on said second sheet in register with said first support form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each membrane is depressed into its channel by applying suction to the side of said support form opposite said membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, also comprising interposing between each reverse osmosis sheet and the adjacent support form a spacer sheet of porous flexible material, said sheets also being depressed into said channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second rigid support forms are provided with a plurality of said channels in spaced parallel relationship and a series of said reverse osmosis membrane tubes are thus formed; said method also comprising stacking a plurality of said series of tubes in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
Reverse osmosis apparatus comprising two rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, said channels and said flanges being in register; two reverse osmosis membrane sheets clamped between the flanges of said support forms, each sheet extending into one of said channels and forming together a reverse osmosis tube for conducting a solution, the active surface of each such membrane being on the inside of said tube; and a housing enclosing said support forms in spaced relation thereto for collecting solvent which penetrates the wall of said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
Reverse osmosis apparatus comprising two rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, said channels and said flanges being in register; two reverse osmosis membrane sheets clamped between the flanges of said support forms, each sheet extending into one of said channels and forming together a reverse osmosis tube for conducting a solution, the active surface of each such membrane being on the inside of said tube; and a housing enclosing said support forms in spaced relation thereto for collecting solvent which penetrates the wall of said tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Reverse osmosis apparatus in accordance with claim 8 also comprising spacer sheets of porous flexible material interposed between each support sheet and the adjacent membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 comprising a plurality of said tubes within said housing; means for supplying solution to and removing solution from said tubes; and means for removing solvent from the space in said housing outside of said tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, also comprising means for supplying solution to an initial one of said tubes, means connecting a plurality of said tubes together end-to-end in series relationship; and means for removing solution from the final one of said tubes in said series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein sAid housing comprises a plurality of blocks in clamping contact with said flanges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A tubular assembly for reverse osmosis apparatus, said assembly comprising two rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, said channels and said flanges being in register; and two reverse osmosis membrane sheets clamped between the flanges of said support forms, each sheet extending into one of said channels and forming together a reverse osmosis tube for conducting a solution, the active surface of each such membrane being on the inside of said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A tubular assembly for reverse osmosis apparatus, said assembly comprising two rigid support forms, each having a relatively long and narrow perforate channel therein and flat flanges extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides of said channel, said channels and said flanges being in register; and two reverse osmosis membrane sheets clamped between the flanges of said support forms, each sheet extending into one of said channels and forming together a reverse osmosis tube for conducting a solution, the active surface of each such membrane being on the inside of said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tubular assembly in accordance with claim 13, also comprising spacer sheets of porous flexible material interposed between each support sheet and the adjacent membrane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |