Abstract: A filtering device includes a head intended to be permanently installed in a fluid dispensing machine and a disposable canister therefor. A central chamber is formed in the head which chamber is in communication with an inlet port and an outlet port for receiving an unfiltered liquid and supplying a filtered liquid, respectively. The disposable canister has a flask shaped main body with a flat top and a neck of substantially uniform diameter on the top. The neck fits in the central chamber. A tube extending through the neck defines an annular clearance between the tube and the interior of the neck which annular clearance is in fluid communication with the inlet port. The opening into the tube located at the top of the neck is in fluid communication with the outlet port in the head. A pair of tab receptacles on the head and a complementary pair of tabs on the canister are engageable with one another by 1/4 rotation of the canister to lock the canister to the head.

Abstract: A filter cartridge having an improved end cap and tube support design is taught. Briefly stated, an outer cage has circumferentially disposed thereround a plurality of truncated triangular shaped saw tooth-like projections each of which as a rounded nub or projection at the outermost truncated end. An inner cage similarly has a plurality of alternating projections coextensive therewith, with the thickness of the furthermost portion of the projection being tapered towards the bottom where the projection meets the end of the inner cage. The inner cage is disposed within the outer cage and placed between end caps having circumferential regions adapted to receive the projections disposed at the end of the outer and inner cage respectively. A filtration medium is disposed between the inner and outer cage.

Abstract: A filter media sheet comprising fine particulate and a self-bonding matrix of cellulose fiber, the surfaces of at least one of which are modified with a polyamido-polyamine epichlorhydrin cationic resin, the matrix incorporating beaten cellulose fiber to provide a Canadian Standard Freeness of less than 600 ml.

Abstract: An universal coupling is described which can be connected to the outlet of a variety of water faucets regardless of the design or cross-sectional shape of the faucet outlet. In one embodiment the universal coupling can be connected a smaller faucet outlet having a maximum outlet width of about 60% of the maximum outlet width of the largest faucet outlet to which the universal coupling can be connected. The capability of the universal coupling of this invention to be connected to such a large variety of faucet outlets regardless of the cross-sectional shape thereof enables, for example, the installer of water filters to kitchen faucets to stock just the universal coupling of this invention since it will fit most all faucets commonly found in kitchens.

Abstract: A quench bath, for quenching and solidifying an extruded hollow porous fiber of a liquid polymer solution in a chemical quenching solution, includes a shallow quench bath of a length for the generally horizontal part of the extruded fiber travel in the bath. A vertical extension tube with its lower end beneath the surface of the bath liquid holds a spinneret through which the fiber is extruded. The spinneret is sealed in the tube above the height of the liquid in the shallow bath. A vacuum drawn in the tube raises the liquid up to the spinneret. Also, the vacuum may be drawn by disposing the spinneret in a sealing piston which is raised through the tube to draw the vaccum in the tube behind the piston.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth an adapter for filter cartridges and a mating cartridge which provides sealing means between the cartridge and the adapter and sealing means between the adapter and a filter head to which it is to be installed, and means for installing the adapter on a cartridge and for installing the adapter in the filter head with an aligning and locking means that ensures that all parts are appropriately positioned for proper function and at the same time will prevent physical disengagement and/or a break in the flow path from the cartridge to the filter head when the cartridge and adapter are properly installed in the filter head.

Abstract: The invention is related to water vending systems for the automatic dispensing of purified water from a machine which is preferably activated by coin or other form of payment. Reverse osmosis filtration of local water together with other water treatment operations is used to improve the quality of the vended water. Stagnation of stored permeate is automatically prevented to assure the freshness of dispensed water. The system is designed to reduce the frequency of servicing and the life of components without decreasing the quality of the vended water. In one embodiment the vending system comprises control means for automatically dumping the filtered water stored in a tank in the system if there has not been at least a predetermined number of vends of water within a predetermined period of time. After the storage tank has been dumped the drain is automatically closed and fresh filtered water is produced to refill the storage tank.

Abstract: Polyionene-transformed modified polymer-polysaccharide separation matrix and use thereof in removing contaminants of microorganism origin from biological liquids are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth an improved cell type filter cartridge in which the individual cells contain a separator disc having stiffening members formed at the central aperture of the cell and connected to a plurality of the separating ribs in spaced relation to each other. The coaction of the two or more discs with the separator ribs provides for a rigid, box-like structure of the ribs to impart a substantial cantilevered strength to the ribs. Additionally, at least one of the stiffening discs is positioned at or near the ends of the separator ribs to act as a load-bearing surface to prevent media intrusion of the filtering medium and thereby maintain the area of the flow path of the filtered liquid as it passes through the central aperture of the disc.

Abstract: A flexible fabric filter apparatus having multiple support surfaces for shaping a flexible fabric filtering element into a compact shape and in which apparatus the support surfaces assist in sealing the filtering element to the filter housing between the inlet and outlet of the filter housing. A method for assembling a filter apparatus having a flexible fabric filtering element which method includes the steps of manipulating the filtering element to form inner and outer filtering sections, mounting the inner and outer filtering sections on corresponding inner and outer support surfaces, and sealing a filter section with the filter housing at a point between the inlet and outlet of the filter housing.

Abstract: A cationic charge modified microporous membrane is provided. The membrane comprises a hydrophilic organic polymeric microporous membrane having bonded thereto, through a cross-linking agent, a charge modifying amount of a cationic charge modifying agent. The charge modifying agent is an aliphatic amine or polyamine, preferably tetraethylene pentamine, and the cross-linking agent is an aliphatic polyepoxide having a molecular weight of less than about 500, preferably 1, 4 butanediol diglycidyl ether. The microporous membrane is preferably nylon. The process for applying the charge modifying agent to the membrane, preferably comprises contacting the membrane with an aqueous solution of the charge modifying agent and then contacting the membrane with a substantially aqueous solution of the cross-linking agent. The preferred process uses high purity water, i.e.

Abstract: A chromatography column for effecting chromatographic separation of at least two components of a sample flowing through the column. The column comprises a housing and at least one solid stationary phase within the housing. The stationary phase has chromatographic functionality and is effective for chromatographic separation. Means are provided for distributing the sample through the stationary phase and for collecting the sample after the sample has flowed through the stationary phase. The stationary phase comprises:(a) a plurality of layers of swellable fibrous matrix in sheet form having chromatographic functionality and being effective for chromatographic separation; and(b) a spacer means between each layer for permitting controlled swelling thereof and enhancing the distribution of sample flowing through the stationary phase.

Abstract: A cationic charge modified microporous membrane is provided. The membrane comprises a hydrophilic organic polymeric microporous membrane having bonded thereto, through a cross-linking agent, a charge modifying amount of a cationic charge modifying agent. The charge modifying agent is an aliphatic amine or polyamine, preferably tetraethylene pentamine, and the cross-linking agent is an aliphatic polyepoxide having a molecular weight of less than about 500, preferably 1, 4 butanediol diglycidyl ether. The microporous membrane is preferably nylon. The process for applying the charge modifying agent to the membrane, preferably comprises contacting the membrane with an aqueous solution of the charge modifying agent and then contacting the membrane with a substantially aqueous solution of the cross-linking agent. The preferred process uses high purity water, i.e.

Abstract: A filter element adapted to be sealingly clamped in a filter housing. The element comprises a porous hollow cylindrical integral self-supporting bonded fibrous structure. The structure has thermally melt bonded to at least one end thereof, a thermoplastic polymer closed cell foam sealing gasket. The gasket is adapted to provide a sealing surface between the end of the cartridge and the sealing edge of the filter housing. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing edges of the filter housing used in conjunction with the aforedescribed filter element comprises at least two circular sealing edges concentric to the axis of the cylindrical filter element. Such a combination provides a means for determinging whether there is leakage past the sealing edges by the discoloration of the sealing gasket area between the concentric sealing edges by the liquid being filtered.

Abstract: A filter element adapted to be sealingly clamped in a filter housing. The element comprises a porous hollow cylindrical integral self-supporting bonded fibrous structure. The structure has thermally melt bonded to at least one end thereof, a thermoplastic polymer closed cell foam sealing gasket. The gasket is adapted to provide a sealing surface between the end of the cartridge and the sealing edge of the filter housing. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing edges of the filter housing used in conjunction with the aforedescribed filter element comprises at least two circular sealing edges concentric to the axis of the cylindrical filter element. Such a combination provides a means for determining whether there is leakage past the sealing edges by the discoloration of the sealing gasket area between the concentric sealing edges by the liquid being filtered.

Abstract: A modified silica material which comprises silica covalently bonded to a synthetic polymer, the synthetic polymer being made from (a) a polymerizable compound capable of being covalently coupled directly to said silica, and (b) one or more polymerizable compounds containing (i) an ionizable chemical group, (ii) a chemical group capable of transformation to an ionizable chemical group, (iii) a chemical group capable of causing the covalent coupling of the compound (b) to an affinity ligand or a biologically active molecule or (iv) a hydrophobic compound.

Abstract: A process is provided for for cationically charge modifying a microporous filter membrane, wherein the membrane is a substantially symmetrical isotropic, hydrophilic, organic polymeric microporous filter membrane, preferably nylon, having a microstructure throughout the membrane. The process comprises bonding a primary charge modifying amount of a water soluble cationic charge modifying agent to substantially all of the membrane microstructure, without substantial pore size reduction or pore blockage. The charge modifying agent is a reaction product of a polyamine with epichlorohydrin, the reactive product having (i) tertiary amine or quaternary ammonium groups, and (ii) epoxide groups along a polyamine chain, the epoxide groups capable of bonding to the microstructure of the membrane.

Abstract: A cationic charge modified microporous membrane comprising a hydrophilic organic polymeric microporous membrane and a cationic charge modifying agent bonded to substantially all of the wetted surfaces of the membrane, the charge modifying agent being an epichlorohydrin modified polyamide having tertiary amine or quaternary ammonium groups. A secondary charge modifying agent may be employed selected from: (i) aliphatic polyamines having at least one primary amine or at least two secondary amines; and (ii) aliphatic amines having at least one secondary amine and a carboxyl or hydroxyl substituent. Processes for producing and using the membrane are also described.