Patent US4935142A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4935142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for retaining variable number of sheet membrane elements and a method for the use thereof
Assignee: WR Grace and Co Conn
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Filing: 1989-06-23
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2009-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Provided, is a membrane unit which can sealably accommodate a variable plurality of stacked planar membrane elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Shmuel Sternberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:17
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J20/00; B01J20/28; B01J20/28014; B01J20/28033; B01D; B01D29/00; B01D29/01; B01D29/05; B01D29/50; B01D29/56; B01D29/58; B01D35/00; B01D35/30; B01D63/00; B01D63/08; B01D63/082; B01J20/28052; B01J47/00; B01J47/12; C; C07; C07K; C07K1/00; C07K1/14; C07K1/16; C07K1/22; C07K1/34; B01D2201/00; B01D2201/30; B01D2201/301; B01D2201/302
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A membrane unit for two direction fluid flow and affinity binding through a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements, said unit variable comprising: a. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; b. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; c. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and d. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A membrane unit for two direction fluid flow and affinity binding through a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements, said unit variable comprising: a. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; b. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; c. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and d. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The membrane unit of claim 1 where the circumferences of the retention wall and the clamping walls are circular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The membrane unit of claim 2, said cup element further comprising a cup channel for fluid flow, having a first and a second port, said first port piercing said substantially planar surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The membrane unit of claim 3, said cap element further comprising a cup channel for fluid flow, having a first and a second port, said first port piercing said surface for clamping said membrane elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The membrane unit of claim 4, said substantially planar cup surface comprising a plurality of intersecting circumferential and radial channels, said radial channels meeting at said first port of said cup channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The membrane unit of claim 4, said clamping surface comprising a plurality of intersecting circumferential and radial channels, said radial channels meeting at said first port of said cap channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The membrane unit of claim 4, said cap element further comprising a vent channel, having a first port piercing said clamping surface and a second port communicating with a zone at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The membrane unit of claim 1, where the circumferences of the retention wall and the clamping walls are rectangular.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The membrane unit of claim 1, where the circumferences of the retention wall and the clamping walls are oval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The membrane unit of claim 1, wherein said means for clamping the cup element to the cap element comprises mating threads on said retention and clamping walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The membrane unit of claim 1, wherein said means for clamping the cup element to the cap element comprises a hinged spring clamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The membrane unit of claim 1, wherein said cup and cap elements are of an acrylic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
210 words
An affinity binding membrane unit for ion exchange segregation of ligate having an electrical charge of a known polarity employing two direction fluid flow through a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements, said unit comprising: a. a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements that bear a ligand population, each ligand having an electrical charge of a known polarity; b. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; c. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; d. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and e. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
210 words
An affinity binding membrane unit for ion exchange segregation of ligate having an electrical charge of a known polarity employing two direction fluid flow through a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements, said unit comprising: a. a variable plurality of sheet membrane elements that bear a ligand population, each ligand having an electrical charge of a known polarity; b. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; c. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; d. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and e. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The segregation unit of claim 13 where the circumferences of the retention wall and the clamping walls are circular.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The segregation unit of claim 13, wherein said means for clamping the cup element to the cap element comprises mating threads on said retention and clamping walls.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
259 words
A method of segregatinq a ligate constituent of a fluid using affinity binding comprising the steps of: a. providing plurality of sheet membrane elements which bear a ligand population having affinity for the ligate; b. providing a means for retaining a variable plurality of said membranes having: i. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; ii. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (A) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (B) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (C) a surface of clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; iii. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and iv. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween; c. securing said membranes in said membrane unit. d. passing said fluid through said membrane unit and over the surface of and through said membrane elements, thus binding ligate to said ligand population; and e. flushing a rinse fluid through said membrane unit in both forward flow and backward flow directions to remove unbound substances from said membrane elements; and
Claim 19
Independent Claim
259 words
A method of segregatinq a ligate constituent of a fluid using affinity binding comprising the steps of: a. providing plurality of sheet membrane elements which bear a ligand population having affinity for the ligate; b. providing a means for retaining a variable plurality of said membranes having: i. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said plurality of membrane elements, bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; ii. a cap element having a membrane clamping member having: (A) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (B) an outward facing chamfer edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (C) a surface of clamping against said plurality of membrane elements; iii. an O-ring contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential extent substantially co-extensive with the circumference of the circumferential retention wall and an inside circumferential extent greater than the smallest circumferential extent of the chamfer edge surface; and iv. means for clamping the cup element to the cap element, retaining the O-ring and the membrane elements therebetween; c. securing said membranes in said membrane unit. d. passing said fluid through said membrane unit and over the surface of and through said membrane elements, thus binding ligate to said ligand population; and e. flushing a rinse fluid through said membrane unit in both forward flow and backward flow directions to remove unbound substances from said membrane elements; and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, where said ligate has an electrical charge affinity for said ligand.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, where said ligate has a steric affinity for said ligand.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 where said ligate has a magnetic affinity for said ligand.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 comprising further the step of removing said ligate from said ligand.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
A membrane unit for two direction fluid flow through a variable number of sheet membrane elements, said unit comprising: a. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said membrane variable number of element(s), bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; b. a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamber edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said membrane element(s); and c. a resilient annular sealing member contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential sealing surface engaging the circumferential retention wall, an inside circumferential sealing surface engaging the chamfer edge surface, and an axial circumferential sealing surface engaging the membrane element(s).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
A membrane unit for two direction fluid flow through a variable number of sheet membrane elements, said unit comprising: a. a cup element having a chamber for retaining said membrane variable number of element(s), bounded radially by a circumferential retention wall and axially by a substantially planar surface; b. a membrane clamping member having: (i) an outward facing circumferential clamping wall sized to fit within the circumferential retention wall which bounds the membrane retention chamber; (ii) an outward facing chamber edge sloping radially inward from the outward facing clamping wall; and (iii) a surface for clamping against said membrane element(s); and c. a resilient annular sealing member contacting and concentric with the cup element and the membrane clamping member having an outside circumferential sealing surface engaging the circumferential retention wall, an inside circumferential sealing surface engaging the chamfer edge surface, and an axial circumferential sealing surface engaging the membrane element(s).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-18 | 1993-12-18 | 1994-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-18 | 1997-12-18 | 1998-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-12-18 | 2002-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |