Abstract: Liquid chromatography apparatus including a hollow cylinder and a fixed end closure in which the effective useful length of the cylinder is varied through the use of a piston member that slides within the cylinder due to force exerted by a threaded shaft that is connected to a handle. Binding of the piston member in the cylinder is prevented by a ball joint that operatively connects the piston member to the threaded shaft and by a plurality of O-rings located on the piston member that contact the inner wall of the cylinder and tend to prevent tipping of the piston member. Even liquid distribution and filtering is obtained through a 0.5 micron porous sintered stainless steel liquid distribution disk. A smooth inclined surface in combination with an uninterrupted ring provide a trap for bubbles of gas located inside the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter cartridge for a liquid filter, in particular for use for tanks for the filtration of water for the production of drinking water, with a generally cylindrical vessel, which contains the filtering material and with a sealing screen mounted on this vessel like a cover. In order to improve the functioning of a filter cartridge, and in particular to make such a filter cartridge, which with comparatively fast liquid throughput has a good filtration action with optimum utilization of the filtering material, it is proposed in conformity with the invention that the sealing screen be covered by a distributor cap 3 essentially closed at the top and open at the side.

Abstract: In chromatography columns, a pair of end plates mounting upon integral column flanges provided at either end of said chromatography column, each end plate mounting a series of frits and O-rings in place within cylindrical grooves provided within each end of the column, each end plate arranged contiguously with the enclosed frits incorporating a series of radially disposed grooves, to provide for dissemination of the incoming chemicals uniformly about the entire cross-section of the column chamber, to provide for efficient dispersion of said chemicals throughout the entire slurry packing contained therein, and incorporating equivalent grooves upon the inner surface of the end plate connecting with the outlet end of the column, to assure uniformity of collection of the chromatography treated chemicals as they are discharged to a location for usage or collection.

Abstract: A filter plate which is longitudinally partitioned between its inlet and outlet ends, and features liquid feed and collection troughs at the respective ends. Such plates may be associated in opposed, relatively inverted pairs to form enclosed flow channels characterized by fluid flow rates which are substantially uniform across the full transverse extent of the flow path and which facilitate the utilization of the full areal extent of the filter media employed therewith. Also described is a unitary filter element which may be usefully employed in the filter. The filter of the invention may be highly efficiently employed for dewatering of aqueous biomass suspensions, desalting of proteins, removal of secreted metabolites from cellular suspensions, and the like.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separatory module includes an annular hollow fiber bundle housed within a pressure resistant shell. The fiber bundle is encased within an impervious barrier. Pressurized fluid is fed into the channel formed between the impervious casing and passes into the fiber bundle through an opening in the impervious barrier. The fluid flows parallel to the axis of the annular fiber bundle and passes into respective permeate and raffinate outlet ports.

Abstract: The screen deck assembly of the present invention comprises a support frame, a screen member adapted to be removably mountable to the support frame, and releasable fastening means for mounting the screen member to the support frame, which in turn is fixedly mounted to the structure of the dewatering apparatus. The fastening means are readily releasable so that the screen member may be dismounted from the support frame, reversed and remounted by again engaging the fastening means into the reassembled screen member and support frame. The fastening means comprises a sleeve member and a pin member adapted for insertion into the sleeve member. The sleeve member has an elongated axially extending hollow cylindrical member which has an annular ring extending radially outwardly therefrom at one end and a plurality of axially extending slits cut in the other end thereof.

Abstract: A separator cell for pressure filtration and reverse osmosis includes a housing; a filtering membrane supported in the housing and having a feed side and an opposite filtrate side; a flow guide plate supported in the housing and being in a face-to-face engagement with the membrane on the feed side thereof; and a channel in the flow guide plate for guiding fluid. The channel is covered by the membrane. A feed pipe supported in the housing has an outlet and a concentrate discharge pipe supported in the housing has an inlet, both communicating with the channel. A filtrate discharge pipe is supported in the housing and has an inlet at the filtrate side of the membrane. The outlet of the feed pipe and the inlet of the concentrate discharge pipe are situated at generally diametrically opposite locations of the flow guide plate. The channel is constituted by a channel having a shape of a continuous spiral formed of a first and a second turn.

Abstract: A chicane system is provided in a belt filter press in a gravity drainage zone. The gravity drainage zone includes a movable filter belt, an inlet section for receiving a suspension on the filter belt, and an outlet for discharging separated liquid and solid components of the suspension. A support member is mounted over the filter belt and has a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the filter belt movement. A plurality of flow turners depend from the support member and engage the filter belt to prevent clogging of the filter belt by the suspension solid component. Each flow turner includes a plow portion extending into the suspension and engaging the filter belt and a coupling portion fixed to the support member. The opposite ends of the support member are slidably coupled to the retaining walls for floating translatory movement of the support member and flow turners in a vertical direction toward and away from the filter belt during operation.

Abstract: A cross-flow filtration membrane test unit having a bottom cell body, a top cell body and a pair of laterally spaced O-rings forming a seal therebetween. The bottom cell body is provided with a feed spacer cavity and the top cell body is provided with a permeate carrier cavity. A mechanism for receiving a test sample of membrane enables the membrane performance and characteristics to be tested in a manner which closely simulates actual full-scale operation.

Abstract: The overall mass transport efficiency of hollow fiber membrane separation cells is increased by introducing segmented flow into the bores of the fibers. The invention is preferably practiced by dispersing a gas segmentation phase into a continuous liquid phase and feeding the dispersion into the bores of the fibers to form alternating flowing segments of gas and liquid.

Abstract: A spirally-wrapped reverse osmosis membrane cell employing an envelope of semipermeable membrane sheets spirally wound or wrapped about a tubular mandrel. The convolutions of the membrane assembly are separated to form an open channel, directed feed flow path leading into a lateral opening or series of openings in a communicating tubular member defining an unobstructed bore throughout its length. The feed separator may comprise a plurality of substantially parallel strips of impermeable material of a thickness sufficient to provide desired separation between membrane sheets and wherein the strips define a meandering fluid flow path throughout the length and width of the membrane sheet.

Abstract: A feed box assembly including a feed box for feeding a slurry or other mixture to a screen, the box having an adjustable gate for controlling the rate and impingement angle of the feed on a screen and seals on the gate and cooperating fixed deflectors in and on the box for preventing the fluid mixture during feeding from spewing around sides of the gate.

Abstract: Bubble trap has a hollow body with an upwardly directed mixed fluid inlet on its side directed to introduce mixed fluid in a tangential direction so as to rotate the liquid within the body. This rotation permits separation of the gas bubbles from the liquid and permits withdrawal of the debubbled liquid from the bottom of the body. The inlet and outlet from the body are respectively upwardly and downwardly directed to permit draping of inlet and outlet hoses. In one embodiment, a filter is installed to facilitate gas bubble separation.

Abstract: Apparatus for casting molten metal including a mold for casting molten metal having a base portion, a molten metal inlet located at the base portion, a filter positioned across the molten metal inlet so that all the molten metal must pass therethrough and a well beneath said inlet and beneath said filter.

Abstract: A debris separator is provided in the downspout of a gutter system wherein a steeply angled grating is provided in the downspout which permits water to flow down through the downspout while leaves and other debris are carried downwardly along the grating and out of an opening in the downspout.

Abstract: A cross flow microfilter comprises a filter housing having a flow chamber wherein a fluid is introduced on one side and a concentrate is removed on the opposite side a collection chamber from which a filtrate is removed, and at least one microporous membrane over whose one surface the fluid to be filtered flows in a parallel stream and whose other surface is oriented toward the collection chamber, the membrane having pores of a width between about 0.1 micron and 30 micron, the improvement wherein the pores of the membrane have slit-shaped cross-sections and given profiles, and are formed by a plurality of webs arranged in rows with predetermined spacing and by terminating plates which cover the webs, and the webs are applied onto one of the two plates by X-ray lithographic means, X-ray depth lithographic-galvanoplastic means, or molding and galvanoplastic means.

Abstract: A membrane batch-processor system and method for the fluid treatment of a plurality of specimen containing membranes, such as membranes having specimens of DNA, RNA, and protein molecules deposited thereon, includes a receptacle having an interior cavity and a plug-like closure slidably received in the cavity. A membrane stack is assembled from a plurality of membranes to be treated and flow definers interleaved between the membranes to defined a membrane stack of alternate flow definers and membranes. The flow definers are preferable fabricated from an open-weave fabric-like material to define multiple fluid pathways across the opposite surfaces of each membrane. Fluid distribution plenums are defined between to the receptacle and closure so that treatment fluid introduced into an entry plenum will flow through the multiple fluid pathways across the opposite surfaces of each membrane to expose each membrane to the treatment fluid and effect time and fluid efficient treatment of the membranes.

Abstract: A filter comprising a filter housing with an interior within which between two closure members filter membranes in the form of hollow fibers are disposed. Between the hollow fibers a free flow space remains to which are connected two connecting pieces disposed inclined on the housing. Through said connecting pieces blood is supplied to the interior so that a filtration from the outside to the inside into the hollow fibers is possible. This and the arrangement of the connecting pieces gives an extremely favourable flow approach to the hollow fibers so that the blood flow is hardly influenced in its velocity and flow behaviour because in addition to the cross-section of the free flow space is adapted to the cross section of the blood supply line. For making such a filter at least two filters are arranged parallel and spaced apart in a plane, the support surface for the filters being rotatably mounted and the axis of rotation not intersecting any of the two longitudinal axes of the filters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the simultaneous filtering of samples contained in a plurality of test tubes includes a test tube block, a vacuum manifold, base manifold and vacuum base. The vacuum manifold is provided with a plurality of recesses complementary with barrels in the block defining chambers to receive the test tubes. The base manifold and vacuum base are assembled as a unit including recesses to receive filter screens and passages leading from the recesses to a vacuum source. The vacuum manifold is positioned onto the block with a filter medium placed over the vacuum manifold and secured in place by attaching the base manifold/vacuum base unit to the block. When vacuum is applied to the vacuum base the entire assembly is inverted whereby the contents of the test tubes are drawn through passages in the vacuum base to the filter medium. Passages in the base provide a wash solution to the barrels which is drawn through the device by the vacuum.

Abstract: A filter for removing particles from the fluid of a coolant or other fluid circulation system. The filter comprises a magnetic element to remove magnetic and charged or ionized non-magnetic particles, a plurality of filtering screens to remove particles larger than a selected size, and a filter by-pass system to allow the fluid to continue circulating on through the filter when the screens become impermeable.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filtering unit comprising a filter diaphragm (11), a backing surface (12) disposed against the diaphragm, and passages through which the liquid to be filtered can be supplied on one side of the diaphragm and the liquid that has drained through the diaphragm can be removed from the opposite side of the diaphragm. As taught by the invention, the backing surface (12) is provided with ridges (13) lying side by side and with grooves (14), moving liquid in the direction parallel to the diaphragm (11), between them and which start in the central part of the surface in different directions and lead to the periphery of the surface, curving in such manner that the spacing of mutually adjacent ridges is substantially constant on the entire area of the backing surface. The backing surface (12) will then to the filter diaphragm (11) lend throughout uniform support.

Abstract: A belt filter press-type apparatus receives a partially dewatered "cake" comprising a liquid/solid suspension which has been processed by conventional liquid/solid separation equipment; the apparatus removing additional moisture from the cake. The apparatus comprises two liquid-permeable belts which are driven by belt driving means along respective predetermined paths. The belts, however, share respective portions of their paths substantially in common. The cake is sandwiched between the two belts and driven through the common portions of the respective belt paths. The combination of the belts with the the cake interposed therebetween meanders around a plurality of rollers which create tension and pressure on the belt and the cake, thereby driving part of the liquid content out of the trapped suspension.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for use in a chromatographic system wherein a component of a mixture is partitioned between a liquid phase and an immobile phase. The device comprises at least one strip of a bibulous material. In the chromatographic system the component traverses at least a portion of the strip. The strip generally has a longitudinal edge substantially corresponding to the direction of traverse of the component. The longitudinal edge has the characteristic of substantially the same rate of traversal by the component along this edge when compared to the rate of traversal of the component along the body of the strip. The strips are prepared from a sheet of a bibulous material by non-deformative or non-compressive cutting of the sheet. The preferred cutting means is a laser beam.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for use in a chromatographic system wherein a component of a mixture is paritioned between a liquid phase and an immobile phase. The device is comprised of a chromatographic material. In the chromatographic system the component traverses at least a portion of the chromatographic material. The device generally has at least one longitudinal edge substantially corresponding to the direction of traverse of the component. The longitudinal edge includes means for controlling the shape of the front of the traversing component.

Abstract: In a dish-washing machine the bottom of the washing chamber has an outlet opening which is covered by a filter arrangement comprising a tubular part of a fine sieve. The tubular part is vertically and centrally disposed in a filter housing and extends through the whole housing. Liquid can pass through the tubular part radially in all directions. The lower part of the filter housing is connected to the suction side of a circulation pump by a conduit connected to the side wall of the housing. Further, a shield is disposed between the tubular part of the fine sieve and the filter housing, the shield having a construction and arrangement whereby the pressure drop across the tubular part of the fine sieve will become essentially evenly distributed around its periphery.

Abstract: Water straining device for removing sand, grit and other foreign suspended particles from water characterized by a cylindrical housing having a bottom closed end and an open top end together with multiple annular holes through the cylindrical side wall. Cylindrical baffles are mounted inside the housing adjacent each hole. At least one strainer containing multiple slots is located inboard of the baffles and is connected at one end to a pump with a one way valve interposed between the strainer and pump. A backwash system is connected to the inside of the housing to remove particles clogging the strainer slots.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating relatively large undesirable particles from a slurry includes an endless movable filter belt mounted for movement along a horizontal path and supply means depositing slurry carrying large particles on the upper surface of the filter means. Pressurized gas jets are positioned beneath the lower surface of the filter means in the area beneath which the slurry and relatively large particles are deposited to agitate same and suction means beneath the filter belt to separate the slurry from the relatively large particles to provide purified slurry. Gas from the slurry is separated by a degasser having a spiral floor partition which slurry comprises drilling mud and said large particles comprise earth cuttings comprises a common wall between gas and slurry outflow conduits in a space-saving manner.

Abstract: A classifying cyclone efficient at removing very fine particles. In preferred embodiments, the cyclone employs an annular bevel ring positioned along the interior wall to redirect separated particles from the wall back into the path of classifying air. A control air deflector is placed in the path of the classifying airstream and adjusted vertically to provide adjustment of the annular orifice through which the classifying air passes. The air deflector is positioned at approximately the height of the bevel ring.

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 receptacle 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: Device for the ultrafiltration of a pressurized high-temperature liquid, having, inside a pressure resistant casing (1), a second casing (11) to which are fastened tube plates (15,16) carrying tubes (14) forming an ultrafiltration wall, and a first set of partitions inside the second casing (11) for channelling the flow of the filtrate. A second set of partitions (27) arranged in the casing (11) above the upper tube plate (16) and partitions placed in the casing (1) underneath the lower tube plate (15) make it possible to channel the fluid to be purified and the concentrate. The part of the filter which incorporates the tubes (14) can easily be removed. The fluid circulates at a constant rate in all parts of the filter.

Abstract: In a static sieve assembly having a housing for mounting a sieve or screen, a feed box having a discharge spout for feeding material tangentially to and across the sieve, a side of the spout having flexibly connected fixed upper and movable lower parts, and an actuator on said feed box and acting on said lower part for controlling the rate of feed to the sieve by varying the area of a discharge opening of the spout.

Abstract: A rotatable disc having an annularly arranged screening zone includes a plurality of like cavities separated by spacing webs. A housing for the disc includes a first plate with a front and rear side and a second plate with a front and rear side. The disc is rotatably mounted between the rear side of the first plate and the front side of the second plate. A first flow-through bore in the first plate has a front side and a rear side and a second, aligned flow-through bore in the second plate also has a front side and a rear side. The disc is mounted in the housing such that at least one of the cavities is in alignment with the first flow-through bore and the second flow-through bore, the first flow-through bore, the second flow-through bore and the at least one cavity forming a flow-through channel. The second flow-through bore has a preselected outer contour at the front side thereof.

Abstract: A fluid filter apparatus uses an outer container configured to receive a removable columnar-like filter having its largest filter elements located at the bottom and its finest filter elements located at the top, from which a port communicates to a space within the housing, outwardly of the filter, for storing the cleaned fluid. The fluid to be cleaned passes through the columnar filter through a pipe through a space immediately below the filter. A pan-like dish communicates to the upper portion of the pipe to receive the fluid to be cleaned. A valve communicates to the storage area adjacent the inner walls of the housing and is used to draw off the cleaned fluid when required.

Abstract: A small volume laboratory filter having a thin rectangular body and coaxial inlet and outlet sleeves connected to opposite ends thereof. A very thin filter cavity is formed in the body and lies in a plane inclined slightly to the common axis of the inlet and outlet sleeves. The cavity is divided by a filter membrane into extremely thin chambers, one communicating with the inlet sleeve and the other with the outlet sleeve. A rigid package for the filter is sealed across one end by a flexible cover which when stripped from the package exposes the inlet sleeve so that it may be readily engaged by a syringe nipple or other fluid source without the user having to touch the filter. When the inlet sleeve is engaged, the filter may be withdrawn from the package.

Abstract: A separator with a magnetic drum which rotates through a well-defined liquid flow path to separate magnetic particles from liquid delivered to the flow path by way of a trough. A weir extends between the trough and the drum to define a gap at the entry end of the flow path. The weir is hinged to swing downwardly and upwardly to automatically increase and decrease the width of the gap when the incoming flow rate increases and decreases, respectively, the weir thus acting to maintain the liquid level in the trough substantially constant at various incoming flow rates. The trough is shaped to spread the incoming liquid across the length of the drum in a streamlined manner. The housing of the separator is of a fabricated construction enabling easy removal and replacement of an arcuate apron which coacts with the drum and the housing to define the flow path.

Abstract: A gravity liquid filtration apparatus with increased filtering efficiency includes a frame; a pool-forming assembly mounted in the frame, the pool-forming assembly including two spaced-apart, rotatable containment discs and a discharge element mounted between the two containment discs; a filter medium supply roll; a filter medium carrier assembly for pressing an elongated filter medium supplied by the filter medium supply roll against the peripheries of the two containment discs along corresponding bottom arcs thereof, this filter medium carrier assembly being intermittently operable to move new filter medium against the two rotatable containment discs; and a liquid input element for supplying liquid influent between the two containment discs and downwardly onto a downwardly sloped portion of the filter medium.

Abstract: A fluid separation module to be mounted in a cylindrical shell and the method of mounting the same, the module including a bundle of hollow fiber membranes and a polymeric tube sheet, the tube sheet being positioned at one end of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes with the hollow fiber membranes extending through the tube sheet. A resilient sheet having the form of the slit tube surrounds the bundle of hollow fibers and is held in this configuration by a plurality of rings encircling the slit tube at spaced intervals thereon, the slit tube being secured to the tube sheet. The rings are moveably mounted on the slit tube in such a manner that, as the module is inserted in the shell, the rings can be manually slid to one end of the slit tube to allow the slit tube to expand into contact with the inner surface of the tubular shell and thereby allow the fiber bundle to open for improved flow of the fluid mixture through the bundle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow-fiber filter module comprising a straight tube, a bundle of hollow fibers having at least a part thereof disposed within the straight tube, a fastening member for bundling and fixing the open ends of the hollow fibers, and at least a branch tube having an end protruding to the outside of the straight tube, that surface of the fastening member which includes the open ends of the hollow fibers being attached to the branch tube in a fluid-tight manner, as well as a filtration method in which a plurality of such hollow-fiber filter modules are connected in series to form a filter module assembly and a fluid to be treated is filtered by utilizing one end of the connected straight tubes of the assembly as an inlet for the fluid to be treated, the other end thereof as an outlet for the fluid to be treated, and the branch tube of each module as an outlet for the filtered fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for the ultra or hyperfiltration of liquids to form a permeate fraction and a concentrate fraction includes a stack of membranes and membrane support plates. The stack includes two longitudinally extending main flow passages connected with a plurality of flow passages extending along the surfaces of the membranes. There is provided a device for blocking the flow of liquid from one main flow passage to the other in a zone around the center line between the two main flow passages. Ribs may be provided having a height which increases when viewed in a direction from the central part towards the periphery of a membrane support plate with the object of obtaining an improved distribution of liquid over the membrane surfaces.

Abstract: A cross-counter-stream module for material and/or heat exchange done with a hollow filament bundle cast into a housing at its ends and a mechanism for conducting the material flow to the outside of the hollow filaments. The hollow filaments are cast at their ends as a stack into a housing, the stack being composed of one or more layers which consist of strata of hollow filaments fixed in a plane through cross-pieces transverse to their lumen directions, the cross-pieces being arranged tightly superimposed at all locations inside one layer, disposed at predetermined constant intervals, with the intermediate spaces between the hollow filaments filled by the cross-pieces at the places of crossing, and with the cross-pieces composed of a polymer with a melting point from 80.degree. to 190.degree. C. and a residual adhesion at room temperature. Preferably, the polymer is a polyamide, a polyethylene, a copolymer of polyethylene and vinyl acetate, or a copolyether-ester.

Abstract: A filter press, for cake or precoat filtration, including one or more filter units, each of which includes slurry frames, filter plates, and support sheets or surfaces. Each of the filter plates is provided with at least one filtrate discharge, and each support sheet or surface, which is disposed on one side of a given filter plate, has associate therewith one of the slurry frames, which has a filling space which is directed toward the caking side of the support sheet or surface, an upper and lower connection for venting and discharge, and a supply conduit for medium which is to be filtered. Associated with each of the slurry frames is a distribution chamber which communicates with the filling space of one of each of the support sheets or surfaces, which are in a sealed state with the slurry frame via a press border. The communication is established via a partition which borders one of the filling spaces and extends parallel to the support sheet or surface.

Abstract: A plasmapheresis filtration module having stacked grooved plates interleaved with membranes, enclosed in a unitary, flexible, impermeable envelope, sealing being effected by pressing the membranes between blood flow channels and a sealing surface on a plasma side support.

Abstract: A fluid intake screening device (10) is installed in a case (12) defining a sump (14), an opening (20), and an intake passage (28). A tubular baffle member (36) extends from the opening (20) into the sump (14), supports a tubular filter assembly (34) within it, and defines a chamber (52) therebetween. The baffle member (36) has a slot (54) for controllably directing fluid from the sump (14) to the chamber (52). An indexing apparatus (56) positions the slot (54) of the baffle member (36) and adjacent the bottom of the sump (14) and minimizes fluid aeration and turbulence with low fluid levels. A closure apparatus (38) can be removed from the case (12) to permit servicing of the filter assembly (34).

Abstract: A plasmapheresis filtration module having stacked grooved plates interleaved with membranes, enclosed in a unitary, flexible, impermeable envelope, sealing being effected by pressing the membranes between blood flow channels and a sealing surface on a plasma side support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rejuvenating oil well drilling mud is provided by an endless filter which is supported by a pair of spaced driven drums; drilling mud is distributed onto a moving flight of the filter at spaced locations so as to provide layers of the drilling mud on the filter. Passage of the drilling mud through the filter is assisted by spraying the drilling mud with drilling mud which has passed through the system (filtrate) and by applying suction to the underside of the filter. The drilling mud, after passing through the filter is degassed in a second stage degasser. The filter is cleaned by a solution spray, and by back washing with air and either water or diesel oil.

Abstract: A filter drier is disclosed for installation in a liquid refrigerant line of a refrigeration system, the filter drier comprising a housing having an inlet at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof. The liquid refrigerant is discharged from the inlet into the housing in a jet and a perforate plate is provided within the housing against which this jet impinges for diffusing the refrigerant jet substantially across the width of the housing. A filter filters the diffused liquid refrigerant and a bed of desiccant beads is provided with a perforate divider between the filter and the desiccant. A perforate support plate supports the desiccant bed and a second filter bears on the downstream perforate support plate with the desiccant being engageable with the second filter.

Abstract: Transfer membrane apparatus incorporates a number of parallel channels, each channel comprising a first conduit (5) for a first fluid formed between two closely spaced transfer membranes (6). The outer face of each membrane is supported against a profiled plate (7) such that second conduits for a second fluid are provided one on each side of the first conduit (5) between a respective membrane (6) and supporting plate (7). The supporting plates (7) are mounted spaced apart in a stack with the double membranes between each adjacent pair of plates. The transfer membranes (6) are provided as parts of a continuous web (6) of transfer membrane material which is folded in concertina fashion. One set of folds (11) each extends around the front edge of a respective plate (7) and the other set of folds (12) each closes a respective first conduit (5) adjacent to the rear of the stack.

Abstract: A separatory module is disclosed with a cylindrical shell and two ends. Within the shell there are several fiber bundles extending in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shell for separating permeates from a fluid. Each bundle is supported by one of the ends. The permeate as well as the remaining concentrates may be collected from either end.

Abstract: A filter system for fluids having an elongate filter basket mounted in tension in a filter housing, the filter element being retained therein by a boltless flange engaging the top thereof and an elongate tube engaging the element bottom and urging it downwardly in response to a single nut engaging a rod through the tube and element and fixed to the housing. A novel filter element for the system is disclosed having longitudinal support rods for containing and supporting a fragile filter medium, such as sintered metal, in any size filter element. In another embodiment, a novel filter element for indepth filtering is disclosed.

Abstract: A device for separating solids from liquids by means of a screen that inclines at an angle to the horizontal and is accommodated in a prescribed position within a screen housing. There is a product-delivery component with a feed pipe at the higher end of the screen and a receiving chamber with a drain pipe for the separated liquid below the screen. To ensure that the screen is uniformly loaded over its total effective width and that the quality of the separated solids will accordingly remain constant as the product and feed conditions vary, the screen housing is mounted in such a way that it can be pivoted around a horizontal axis in order to vary its angle of inclination to the horizontal.