Hollow fiber restraining system
View Patent ↗A restraining system for hollow fibers is provided. The restraining system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a number of discrete spacer elements, each spacer element extending generally transverse of said longitudinal elements, such that in combination with said longitudinal elements they define a cage-like structure.
1. A filtration system, said filtration system comprising a bundle of hollow fibres and a restraining system for the hollow fibres, said restraining system comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a plurality of discrete spacer elements, said spacer elements extending generally transverse of said longitudinally extending elements, wherein said spacer elements and said longitudinally extending elements are arranged to define a cage-like structure, wherein the restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring, and wherein the terminating adaptor ring comprises an inner ring comprising a plurality of openings configured to allow passage of a fluid therethrough.
2. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein the cage-like structure comprises a tubular shape.
3. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings.
4. A filtration system according to claim 3 , wherein each ring comprises a plurality of radially extending cut-outs spaced around a periphery of the ring, each cut-out configured to provide an interference-fit or snap-fit with an associated rod.
5. A filtration system according to claim 4 , wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.
6. A filtration system according to claim 3 , wherein each ring comprises a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is situated on the internal surface of the ring.
7. A filtration system according to claim 6 , wherein the cushioning element extends past a length of the ring at both ends of the ring so as to overlap the internal edges of the ring.
8. A filtration system according to claim 7 , wherein the cushioning element comprises a foam material.
9. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements comprises a generally rigid plastic material.
10. A filtration system according to claim 9 , wherein the generally rigid plastic material comprises nylon or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
11. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a molded element.
12. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a machined element.
13. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein the terminating adaptor ring is configured to mount the restraining system to a potting sleeve.
14. A filtration system, said filtration system comprising a bundle of hollow fibres and a restraining system for the hollow fibres, said restraining system comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a plurality of discrete spacer elements, said spacer elements extending generally transverse of said longitudinally extending elements, wherein said spacer elements and said longitudinally extending elements are arranged to define a cage-like structure, wherein the restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring, and wherein the terminating adaptor ring comprises a radial extending circumferential rib.
15. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein the radial extending circumferential rib comprises a plurality of cut-outs for engaging with the longitudinally extending elements.
16. A filtration system according to claim 15 , wherein a number of cut-outs on the radial extending circumferential rib is the same as a number of cut-outs on at least one of the spacer elements.
17. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer elements are arranged in closely-spaced pairs.
18. A filtration system according to claim 1 , wherein a number density of longitudinally extending elements varies along a length of the cage-like structure.
19. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein the cage-like structure comprises a tubular shape.
20. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein the longitudinally extending elements comprise rods and the spacer elements comprise rings.
21. A filtration system according to claim 20 , wherein each ring comprises a plurality of radially extending cut-outs spaced around a periphery of the ring, each cut-out configured to provide an interference-fit or snap-fit with an associated rod.
22. A filtration system according to claim 21 , wherein the cut-outs are equally-spaced around the periphery of the ring.
23. A filtration system according to claim 20 , wherein each ring comprises a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is situated on the internal surface of the ring.
24. A filtration system according to claim 23 , wherein the cushioning element extends past a length of the ring at both ends of the ring so as to overlap the internal edges of the ring.
25. A filtration system according to claim 24 , wherein the cushioning element comprises a foam material.
26. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements comprises a generally rigid plastic material.
27. A filtration system according to claim 26 , wherein the generally rigid plastic material comprises nylon or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
28. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a molded element.
29. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending elements and the spacer elements is a machined element.
30. A filtration system according to claim 29 , wherein the terminating adaptor ring is configured to mount the restraining system to a potting sleeve.
31. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein the spacer elements are arranged in closely-spaced pairs.
32. A filtration system according to claim 14 , wherein a number density of longitudinally extending elements varies along a length of the cage-like structure.