Undulating prismoid modules

Claim 2

A stack of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each undulating prismoid module having a polygon shape in plan, and made of relatively rigid material; the stack having at least first and second modules, and means for providing confined flow of fluid between the modules, including inlet and outlet means; wherein the improvement comprises for each module a plane passing through the centers of the prismoid bases in any row of prismoid bases being nonparallel to the sides of the module; and the first module in the stack having a first orientation, and being disposed in a horizontal plane, and the second module having a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis, so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the other module.

Claim 3

A stack of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module being quadrate and made of relatively rigid material; the stack having at least first and second modules, and means for confining a flow of fluid between the modules, including inlet and outlet means, wherein the improvement comprises: each module formed so that the prismoids forming the module have quadrate bases, and wherein a plane passing through the diagonals of a plurality of prismoids of the module makes a first actue angle of greater than 45° with a module edge that it intersects, or a second acute angle which is the complement of the first acute angle; and the first module in the stack having a first orientation, and being disposed in a horizontal plane, and the second module having a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis, so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the other module.

Claim 4

A stack of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module being quadrate and made of relatively rigid material; the stack having at least first and second modules, and means for confining a flow of fluid between the modules, including inlet and outlet means, wherein the improvement comprises: each module formed so that the prismoids forming the module have quadrate bases, and wherein a plane passing through the diagonals of a plurality of prismoids of the module makes a first actue angle of greater than 45° with a module edge that it intersects, or a second acute angle which is the complement of the first acute angle; and the first module in the stack having a first orientation, and being disposed in a horizontal plane, and the second module having a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis, so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the other module.

Claim 5

A stack as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said prismoids comprises a hexagonal based prismoid.

Claim 6

A stack as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said prismoids of each module comprises an octagonal based prismoid.

Claim 7

A stack as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said prismoids of each module comprises a truncated cone.

Claim 8

A stack of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module being quadrate and made of relatively rigid material, and at least four modules being provided in the stack; and including means for confining fluid flow between modules in the stack including inlet and outlet means: wherein the improvement comprises each module being constructed so that a plane passing through the diagonals of a plurality of prismoids of the module makes a first acute angle of greater than 45° with the module edge that it intersects, or a second acute angle which is the complement of the first acute angle; and wherein the first module in the stack has a first orientation, and is disposed in a horizontal plane; and the second module in the stack has a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis; and the third module in the stack has a third orientation which is said second orientation rotated 180° about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis; and the fourth module in the stack has a fourth orientation which is said third orientation rotated 180° about said first horizontal axis; and wherein subsequent modules in the stack repeat said first, second, third, and fourth orientations in order; so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the modules adjacent thereto.

Claim 9

A stack of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module being quadrate and made of relatively rigid material, and at least four modules being provided in the stack; and including means for confining fluid flow between modules in the stack including inlet and outlet means: wherein the improvement comprises each module being constructed so that a plane passing through the diagonals of a plurality of prismoids of the module makes a first acute angle of greater than 45° with the module edge that it intersects, or a second acute angle which is the complement of the first acute angle; and wherein the first module in the stack has a first orientation, and is disposed in a horizontal plane; and the second module in the stack has a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis; and the third module in the stack has a third orientation which is said second orientation rotated 180° about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis; and the fourth module in the stack has a fourth orientation which is said third orientation rotated 180° about said first horizontal axis; and wherein subsequent modules in the stack repeat said first, second, third, and fourth orientations in order; so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the modules adjacent thereto.

Claim 10

A stack of of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module having a polygon shape in plan and made of relatively rigid material; at least four modules being provided in the stack; and means for confining the flow of fluid between the modules in the stack, including inlet and outlet means, wherein the improvement comprises each of said undulating prismoid modules being polygon shaped in plan, and a plane passing through the centers of the prismoid bases in any row of prismoid bases being nonparallel to the sides of the modules; and wherein the first module in the stack has a first orientation, and is disposed in a horizontal plane; and the second module in the stack has a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis; and the third module in the stack has a third orientation which is said second orientation rotated 180° about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis; and the fourth module in the stack has a fourth orientation which is said third orientation rotated 180° about said first horizontal axis; and wherein subsequent modules in the stack repeat said first, second, third, and fourth orientations in order; so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the modules adjacent thereto.

Claim 11

A stack of of substantially identical undulating prismoid modules, each module having a polygon shape in plan and made of relatively rigid material; at least four modules being provided in the stack; and means for confining the flow of fluid between the modules in the stack, including inlet and outlet means, wherein the improvement comprises each of said undulating prismoid modules being polygon shaped in plan, and a plane passing through the centers of the prismoid bases in any row of prismoid bases being nonparallel to the sides of the modules; and wherein the first module in the stack has a first orientation, and is disposed in a horizontal plane; and the second module in the stack has a second orientation which is said first orientation rotated 180° about a first horizontal axis; and the third module in the stack has a third orientation which is said second orientation rotated 180° about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to said first horizontal axis; and the fourth module in the stack has a fourth orientation which is said third orientation rotated 180° about said first horizontal axis; and wherein subsequent modules in the stack repeat said first, second, third, and fourth orientations in order; so that some, but not all, prismoid projecting bases of each module abut those of the modules adjacent thereto.