Filtration device

Claim 2

Filtration apparatus comprising an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, walls joining said manifolds and enclosing a filtrate region between said manifolds, and at least one removably mounted filter cartridge extending between said manifolds through said region, said cartridge having first and second headers, one header adjacent each end in communication with each manifold through an opening therein and having means for releasably sealing the header to the opening in the corresponding manifold to separate the filtrate region from each manifold respectively, and having at least one tubular membrane extending between said first and second headers and a longitudinally rigid core within said membrane, said filter cartridge being mounted for removal and replacement through said manifold opening.

Claim 3

A filter cartridge comprising a first header including a first peripheral sealing surface, a second header spaced from the first including second and third external spaced apart peripheral sealing surfaces, the overall diameter of both second and third external surfaces being at least equal to that of said first sealing surface to enable said cartridge to be passed endwise through a pair of spaced manifold openings and to be releasably mounted with each header in sealing engagement with one such opening, said second header having at least one opening between said spaced apart seals providing communication between the inside and the outside of said header, at least one tubular membrane extending between and sealed to the headers, and a longitudinally rigid stiffening member for said membrane extending between said headers.

Claim 4

A filter cartridge comprising a first header including a first peripheral sealing surface, a second header spaced from the first including second and third external spaced apart peripheral sealing surfaces, the overall diameter of both second and third external surfaces being at least equal to that of said first sealing surface to enable said cartridge to be passed endwise through a pair of spaced manifold openings and to be releasably mounted with each header in sealing engagement with one such opening, said second header having at least one opening between said spaced apart seals providing communication between the inside and the outside of said header, at least one tubular membrane extending between and sealed to the headers, and a longitudinally rigid stiffening member for said membrane extending between said headers.

Claim 5

The cartridge of claim 2 wherein said headers include resiliently compressible annular sealing rings, said sealing surfaces being provided by exposed portions of said rings.

Claim 6

The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said stiffening member is a core within said membrane.

Claim 7

The cartridge of claim 2 wherein said cartridge includes a plurality of tubular membranes arranged generally parallel to Each other and sealed to said headers.

Claim 8

The cartridge of claim 5 wherein each said header has an adhesive confining chamber adjacent each said support member, and a non-porous adhesive substance in each said chamber surrounding the respective end of each said tubular membrane to seal said membrane in said headers in fluid-tight seals.

Claim 9

The cartridge of claim 6 wherein each header has two adhesive confining chambers, one adjacent each side of said support member, and a non-porous adhesive in each said chamber, the adhesive in the innermost chambers being more flexible than the adhesive in the outer chambers.

Claim 10

The cartridge of claim 5 wherein each said header has a plurality of reinforcing members extending transversely of the axis of said tubular membranes.

Claim 11

The cartridge of claim 8 wherein said reinforcing members are formed integrally with said headers and are arranged radially of the axis of said tubular membranes.

Claim 12

A filter cartridge comprising an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of tubular membranes extending between said headers, each said header comprising a planar supporting member having a plurality of apertures for receiving therein respectively said plurality of tubular membranes, a peripheral wall defining an adhesive confining chamber adjacent each side of said supporting member, a plurality of solid radially extending ribs disposed on each side of said member and extending to the respective said wall, and an adhesive substance in each of said adhesive confining chambers to secure said tubular membranes in said headers.

Claim 13

A filter cartridge comprising an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of tubular membranes extending between said headers, each said header comprising a planar supporting member having a plurality of apertures for receiving therein respectively said plurality of tubular membranes, a peripheral wall defining an adhesive confining chamber adjacent each side of said supporting member, a plurality of solid radially extending ribs disposed on each side of said member and extending to the respective said wall, and an adhesive substance in each of said adhesive confining chambers to secure said tubular membranes in said headers.

Claim 14

The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the adhesive substance in said second chambers is more flexible than the adhesive substance in said first chambers.

Claim 15

Filtration apparatus comprising an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, and a plurality of removably mounted unitary rigid filter cartridges extending between said manifolds, each said cartridge having first and second headers, one header adjacent each end in communication with each manifold through an opening therein and having means for releasably sealing the header to the opening in the corresponding manifold, having a plurality of tubular membranes extending between said first and second headers, and having a longitudinal core within each said tubular membrane in supporting contact therewith substantially continuously along its length, each said filter cartridge being mounted for removal and replacement as a unit between said manifolds.

Claim 16

Filtration apparatus comprising an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, and a plurality of removably mounted unitary rigid filter cartridges extending between said manifolds, each said cartridge having first and second headers, one header adjacent each end in communication with each manifold through an opening therein and having means for releasably sealing the header to the opening in the corresponding manifold, having a plurality of tubular membranes extending between said first and second headers, and having a longitudinal core within each said tubular membrane in supporting contact therewith substantially continuously along its length, each said filter cartridge being mounted for removal and replacement as a unit between said manifolds.