Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of tubes made of a first material, a shell body made of a second material which second material undergoes differential thermal expansion in relation to the first material of the tubes, two end members each being rigidly secured to a respective end of each of said tubes, at least one of the end members being a floating member, at least one flexible ring gasket having inner and outer edges which are affixed to the floating member and to the shell body, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of tubes made of a first material, a shell body made of a second material which second material undergoes differential thermal expansion in relation to the first material of the tubes, two end members each being rigidly secured to a respective end of each of said tubes, at least one of the end members being a floating member, at least one flexible ring gasket having inner and outer edges which are affixed to the floating member and to the shell body, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the two end members are floating members and are each connected to the shell by means of two respective flexible ring gaskets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the end members is floating and is connected to the shell by means of a flexible ring gasket and wherein the other end member is connected to the shell by means of a dimensionally stable disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each end member is shaped as a disk or hollow cup having a bottom traversed by said tubes, and wherein the tubes are held in place by a packing material, which packing material is poured cold into the members and which packing material is capable of hardening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the packing material is compacted within the cup of end member and around the tubes passing therethrough by means of a cover disk which disk is fastened with bolts onto the end members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tubes are parallel to and spaced from one another, each end of which tubes pass through respective holes in said end members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubes further comprise filter barriers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible ring gaskets are made of metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the flexible gaskets are made of stainless steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the flexible stainless-steel gaskets are corrugated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of tubes are parallel to and spaced from one another, each end of which tubes pass through respective holes in said end members, and wherein each end member is shaped as a disk or hollow cup having a bottom traversed by said tubes, and wherein the tubes are held in place by a packing material, which packing material is poured cold into the members and which packing material is capable of hardening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said tubes further comprise ultrafiltration barriers coated With a mineral layer of at least one metal oxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said packing material is a refractory material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the two end members are floating members and are each connected to the shell by means of two respective flexible ring gaskets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein one of the end members is floating and is connected to the shell by means of a flexible ring gasket and wherein the other end member is connected to the shell by means of a dimensionally stable disk.