US4276249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processes for sealing hollow fiber membranes arranged in the form of a bundle
Assignee: Permea Inc
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Filing: 1979-09-26
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Granted: 1981-06-30
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Expires: 1999-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Processes are disclosed for sealing the ends of the bores of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprised of a thermoplastic material which membranes are arranged in the form of a bundle by subjecting the ends of the hollow fiber membranes to heat to effect the sealing. The heat also causes the ends of the hollow fiber membranes to adhere to one and another. An insert material is placed within the bundle of hollow fiber membranes at the zone which is subjected to the heat. This insert material provides a barrier to the adhering of the hollow fiber membranes and thus provides a fluid passageway at the sealed end of the bundle.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry P. Holladay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:14
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D63/00; B01D63/02; B01D63/021; B01D63/0233; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/74; B29C65/743; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/52; B29C66/522; B29C66/54; B29C66/543; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/04; B29C65/14; B29C65/16; B29C65/18; B29C65/22; B29C65/221; B29C65/222; B29C65/223; B29C65/224; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/14; B29L2031/60; B29L2031/601; B29L2031/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In a process for sealing the bores of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprised of thermoplastic material, which hollow fiber membranes are arranged in the form of a bundle, comprising subjecting an end of the bundle, which end is transverse to the orientation of the hollow fiber membranes, to sufficient heat to melt the ends of the hollow fiber membranes in order to cause hollow fiber membranes to adhere at the end of the bundle to adjacent hollow fiber membranes, the improvement comprising placing a substantially non-sealing insert member within and at the end of the bundle prior to and during subjecting the end of the bundle to the heat whereby said substantially non-sealing insert member provides a boundary to the adhering of hollow fiber membranes and results in passageways being provided through the end of the bundle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a process for sealing the bores of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes comprised of thermoplastic material, which hollow fiber membranes are arranged in the form of a bundle, comprising subjecting an end of the bundle, which end is transverse to the orientation of the hollow fiber membranes, to sufficient heat to melt the ends of the hollow fiber membranes in order to cause hollow fiber membranes to adhere at the end of the bundle to adjacent hollow fiber membranes, the improvement comprising placing a substantially non-sealing insert member within and at the end of the bundle prior to and during subjecting the end of the bundle to the heat whereby said substantially non-sealing insert member provides a boundary to the adhering of hollow fiber membranes and results in passageways being provided through the end of the bundle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature to which the ends of the hollow fiber membranes are subjected is at least about 50° C. above the polymer melt temperature of the hollow fiber membranes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein the inside diameter of the hollow fiber membrane is about 50 to 500 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein the hollow fiber membranes have walls with a substantial void volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hollow fiber membranes are anisotropic with a thin, dense exterior skin and have a void volume of about 30 to 70 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, 2 or 5 wherein the temperature to which the ends of the hollow fiber membranes are subjected is about 700° to 950° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, 2 or 5 wherein the hollow fiber membrane comprises polysulfone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the packing factor of the bundle at the zones through which the heated member passes is about 50 to 65 percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the insert member has a low affinity to the hollow fiber membranes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the insert member is a substantially non-thermoplastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the insert member comprises a cellulosic-type material which chars and becomes frangible upon heating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherin the insert member is of an open structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the insert member is of a closed structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the insert member defines segments and the segments are spaced apart.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 or 14 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the bundle is circular and at least one insert member extends through the width of the bundle and defines pie-shaped segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the bundle is circular.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1, 14 or 16 wherein at least one insert member extends through the width of the bundle and defines segments shaped as bands.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the bundle is severed using heat to form the end of the bundle and the heat closes the bores of the hollow fiber membranes and causes hollow fiber membranes to adhere to adjacent hollow fiber membranes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 or 18 wherein the heat is provided by a heated member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 or 18 wherein the heat is provided by a heated member and the temperature of the heated member is at least 700° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 or 18 wherein the heat is provided by a heated member and the heated member comprises an electrical resistance material and heat is generated by passing an electrical current through the heated member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1, 9 or 10 wherein the insert member is removed from the bundle after subjecting the end of the bundle to the heat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3968192A
Cited
US4183890A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-29 | 1984-12-29 | 1985-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-29 | 1988-12-29 | 1989-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-29 | 1992-12-29 | 1993-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |