Membrane tube filter device and disc supports and tension members

Claim 1

A liquid flow device, which comprises: (a) a stack of discs having apertures, which are in alignment so as to define a plurality of elongated passages; (b) an end disc provided at each end of the stack of discs, each end disc having apertures which respectively are in alignment with the elongated passages of the stack of discs; (c) a membrane tube having a membrane wall provided in each elongated passage and projecting at opposite open ends through and beyond the end discs; (d) a liquid inlet to feed liquid into the interior of at least one membrane tube; (e) a liquid outlet for withdrawing liquid from inside the membrane tubes; (f) separating means separating the discs from each other so as to provide a flow gap between adjacent discs for allowing liquid, which has passed through the membrane wall of the membrane tubes, to flow out between the discs; (h) tubular interconnector members provided at both open ends of at least two of the membrane tubes for interconnecting the open ends of membrane tubes at both ends so as to allow series flow to take place from the open end of one membrane tube into the end of at least one other membrane tube at the ends via the tubular interconnector members; (i) at least one elongated tension member extending parallel to the elongated passages defined by the stack of discs; and (j) means for attaching each tension member to the discs, said attaching means cooperating with each elongated tension member for acting onto the end discs for forcing all discs between the end discs tightly together without the provision of an outer housing.