US3884814A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for fractionating fluids
Assignee: Rhone Poulenc SA
•
Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for fractionating fluids in which a jacket encloses a plurality of hollow fibres arranged in the shape of a U, a core supporting the hollow fibres and being placed inside the branches of the U. The hollow fibres are fixed to one another near their ends by a mass of glue which fixes the fibres into bundles and to the core. At least one fluid inlet passage and at least one fluid outlet passage are formed in the casing and/or lid of the jacket. The lid is provided with compartments so that fluid can enter the ends of the hollow fibres and leave therefrom, the space within the casing being connected to an inlet and/or outlet for fluid on the outside of the hollow fibres. A process for forming the elements of the fractionating apparatus involves winding the hollow fibres to form a skein, placing the skein on a primary core in the longitudinal position, fixing the fibres to the core and to one another by glue, attaching the core and hollow fibres to a collar or casing and cutting the skein of fibres optionally together with the collar or casing transversely to provide one or two U-shaped bundles of filaments on the core.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Vogt
- 👤 Michel Rochet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:31
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D63/00; B01D63/02; B01D63/021; B01D63/0233; B01D63/024; B01D63/0241; B01D63/04; B01D63/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
APPARATUS WHICH CAN BE USED ESPECIALLY FOR FRACTIONATING FLUID MIXTURES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A. A JACKET; B. A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW FIBERS ARRANGED IN THE SHAPE OF AT LEAST ONE U AND POSITIONED WITHIN THE JACKET; C. A CORE SUPPORTING THE HOLLOW FIBRES AND PLACED INSIDE THE BRANCHES OF THE U; D. MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE GROOVE IN WHICH SAID HOLLOW FIBRES ARE LOCATED; E. MEANS FOR FIXING THE FIBRES TO ONE ANOTHER AT THEIR ENDS, SAID MEANS BEING FIRMLY FIXED TO THE CORE; F. AT LEAST ONE FLUID INLET PASSAGE FORMED IN THE JACKET; AND G. AT LEAST ONE FLUID OUTLET PASSAGE FORMED IN THE JACKET.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
APPARATUS WHICH CAN BE USED ESPECIALLY FOR FRACTIONATING FLUID MIXTURES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A. A JACKET; B. A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW FIBERS ARRANGED IN THE SHAPE OF AT LEAST ONE U AND POSITIONED WITHIN THE JACKET; C. A CORE SUPPORTING THE HOLLOW FIBRES AND PLACED INSIDE THE BRANCHES OF THE U; D. MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE GROOVE IN WHICH SAID HOLLOW FIBRES ARE LOCATED; E. MEANS FOR FIXING THE FIBRES TO ONE ANOTHER AT THEIR ENDS, SAID MEANS BEING FIRMLY FIXED TO THE CORE; F. AT LEAST ONE FLUID INLET PASSAGE FORMED IN THE JACKET; AND G. AT LEAST ONE FLUID OUTLET PASSAGE FORMED IN THE JACKET.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the said groove is a U-shaped groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the core has a cross-section in the shape of an H.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end of the core with a cross-section in the shape of an H is rounded and the casing is in the shape of a U.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core is of cruciform cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core forms a part of said jacket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core is perforated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising an axially extending central channel in said core, this central channel being connected to outside the core by small channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises a lid and a casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising means defining at least two compartments in said lid corresponding to each of the branches of said at least one U-shaped bundle of hollow fibres, each of these compartments being equipped with an inlet or outlet passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein there are two inlet passages and two outlet passages, the casing containing one inlet passage and one outlet passage, and the lid containing the other two passages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein there are one inlet passage and two outlet passages; one outlet passage being formed in the lid and connected to inside the hollow fibres and the other two passages being formed in the casing and connected to outside the hollow fibres.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein there are one inlet passage and two outlet passages, one outlet passage being formed in the casing and connected to outside the hollow fibres and the other two passages being machined in the lid and connected to inside the hollow fibres.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for fixing the fibres is a hardened mass, in which the non-sealed ends of the hollow fibres are embedded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
A single fractionating cell mountable in a jacket, said cell comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of hollow fibres arranged in the shape of at least one U; b. a core supporting the hollow fibres and placed inside the branches of the U; c. means defining at least one groove in which said hollow fibres are located. d. means for fixing the fibres to one another at their ends, said means being firmly fixed to the core; and e. a collar surrounding said fixing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A single fractionating cell mountable in a jacket, said cell comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of hollow fibres arranged in the shape of at least one U; b. a core supporting the hollow fibres and placed inside the branches of the U; c. means defining at least one groove in which said hollow fibres are located. d. means for fixing the fibres to one another at their ends, said means being firmly fixed to the core; and e. a collar surrounding said fixing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell as claimed in claim 15, wherein the collar is threaded.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
Process for the manufacture of a fractionating element, for use in apparatus for fractionating fluid mixtures, said process comprising the steps of: a. winding hollow fibres in such a way as to form a skein; b. placing said skein in the groove of a primary core in the longitudinal position; c. sealing the fibres to the core and to one another by means of a hardenable material; d. attaching the primary core and the hollow fibres to a casing; and e. cutting the skein of hollow fibres transversely of their length to form at least one U-shaped bundle of hollow fibres.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
Process for the manufacture of a fractionating element, for use in apparatus for fractionating fluid mixtures, said process comprising the steps of: a. winding hollow fibres in such a way as to form a skein; b. placing said skein in the groove of a primary core in the longitudinal position; c. sealing the fibres to the core and to one another by means of a hardenable material; d. attaching the primary core and the hollow fibres to a casing; and e. cutting the skein of hollow fibres transversely of their length to form at least one U-shaped bundle of hollow fibres.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the casing is cut simultaneously with the hollow fibres.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a1. the skein is produced by winding the hollow fibres in the groove of a fixed primary core, sealing the fibres to the primary core and to one another as they are wound; b1. the casing is placed around the sealed zone of the skein; c1. the skein is sealed to this casing to form an assembly; and d1. the assembly is cut transversely.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a2. the skein of hollow fibres is placed longitudinally on a primary core by winding the hollow fibres directly in the groove of this primary core; b2. the casing is placed on the thus formed core and skein combination; c2. the fibres-core-casing combination produced in step (b2) is sealed and d2. the thus sealed combination is cut transversely.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a2. the skein of hollow fibres is placed longitudinally in the groove of a primary core by winding on an intermediate coil support and transferring the skein onto the primary core; b2. the casing is placed on the thus formed core and skein combination; c2. the fibres-core-casing combination produced in step (b2) is sealed; and d2. the thus sealed combination is cut transversely.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a3. a skein of fibres is placed longitudinally on a primary core by winding the hollow fibres directly in the groove of this primary core; b3. the fibres are sealed to one another and to the primary core; c3. the skein-primary core combination is cut transversely; and d3. the secondary core-bundle of fibres combination is attached to a casing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein: a3. a skein of fibres is placed longitudinally in the groove of a primary core, by winding on an intermediate coil support and transferring the skein onto the primary core; b3. the fibres are sealed to one another and to the primary core; cl . the skein-primary core combination is cut transversely; and d3. the secondary core-bundle of fibres combination is attached to a casing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the primary core is provided with a slit through which glue is introduced in order to carry out the sealing step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the skein is formed by winding in the groove of the fixed primary core by means of a revolving wheel carrying bobbins of fibres or fibre guide rings.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the casing is attached to the core by welding.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cutting is carried out flush with the end of the casing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the primary core consists of a secondary core and a U-shaped plate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cutting is carried out flush with the secondary core.
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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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |