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US4381985A
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US
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Membrane construction
Assignee: NOHREN FRANCES W 5170 126TH AVENUE NORTH CLEARWATER FL 33520
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Filing: 1981-03-09
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Granted: 1983-05-03
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Expires: 2001-03-09
Abstract
Abstract An ion transfer membrane assembly, for electrochemical processes, is provided which includes a plurality of layers of capillary material and a structure for compressing the layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane. The membrane includes a plurality of layers of capillary material, each of the plurality of layers being formed from a corrosion-resistant relatively soft, film, such as a thermoplastic film, having surface manifestations formed on it, which manifestations define the capillaries. The surface manifestation may be formed by embossing, frosting, etching, etc. A plurality of layers of corrosion-resistant, springy, porous capillary material, such as a polyester non-woven web, may be interspersed with the capillary material film layers, and a plurality of layers of smooth-surfaced film may also be interspersed with the capillary material film layers.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Ryder, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:47
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/42; B01D61/44; B01D61/52; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/20; B01D2313/201; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes, comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, water impervious, electrically non-conductive, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes, comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, water impervious, electrically non-conductive, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film comprises an embossed film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film comprises a lumpy-surface film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film comprises a frosted film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film comprises an etched film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film comprises a scribed film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said film is of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said film is about 1-10 mils thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said film is about 3-5 mils thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of layers of corrosion-resistant, springy, porous capillary material interspersed with said film layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 having a water permeability of about 0.02-2.0 milliliters per minute per square inch at a pressure of 5.5 inches of water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 having capillaries of an average cross-sectional dimension of about 0.0000008 sq. in.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said membrane assembly comprises a block of membrane material and means defining at least one opening in said membrane material extending the length of the height of said block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said membrane consists of said plurality of said film layers, adjacent film layers having non-interlocking surface manifestations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said film is of polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said film is thermoplastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes, comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane; and a plurality of layers of corrosion-resistant, springy, porous capillary material interspersed with said film layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes, comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane; and a plurality of layers of corrosion-resistant, springy, porous capillary material interspersed with said film layers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as recited in claims 10, or 17 wherein said film and porous capillary material layers alternate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly as recited in claims 10, or 17 wherein said porous capillary material is selected from the group consisting essentially of woven and non-woven synthetic fiber fabric webs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as recited in claims 1, 17 or 10 further comprising a plurality of layers of smooth-surfaced non-capillary material film interspersed with said capillary material film layers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said films are thermoplastic films.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of thermoplastic film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said thermoplastic film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of thermoplastic film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said thermoplastic film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure as recited in claims 1 or 22 further comprising means for stabilizing the membrane so that it does not quickly respond to new equilibrium conditions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack, said capillaries having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 0.0000008 square inches; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising: a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height; surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack, said capillaries having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 0.0000008 square inches; and means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the 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) | 1986-05-02 | 1986-11-01 | 1987-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-02 | 1990-11-01 | 1991-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-02 | 1994-11-01 | 1995-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |