Hollow fibre restraining system

Abstract

A restraining system for hollow fibres 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, the bundle having an outer periphery; and    a restraining system for the hollow fibres comprising: 
 a plurality of discrete spacer elements positioned about the outer periphery of the bundle; and  
 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 are constructed and arranged to be removably connected to said longitudinally extending elements define a cage-like structure.  
   
   
   
       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 restraining system comprises a terminating adaptor ring.  
   
   
       14 . A filtration system according to  claim 13 , wherein the terminating adaptor ring is configured to mount the restraining system to a potting sleeve.  
   
   
       15 . A filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer elements are arranged in closely-spaced pairs.  
   
   
       16 . A filtration system according to  claim 1 , wherein a number density of longitudinally extending elements varies along a length of the cage-like structure.  
   
   
       17 . A filtration module comprising: 
 a bundle of hollow fibres having an outer cross-sectional periphery;    a plurality of longitudinally extending elements; and    a plurality of spacer elements positioned about the outer cross-sectional periphery of the bundle, wherein the plurality of spacer elements are constructed and arranged to be removably connected to the plurality of longitudinally extending elements.    
   
   
       18 . The filtration module of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of engagement sockets positioned on an outer surface of each of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein each of the engagement sockets are constructed and arranged to removably receive one of the plurality of longitudinally extending elements.  
   
   
       19 . The filtration module of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of spacer elements comprises a plurality of recesses on an outer surface of each of the plurality of spacer elements, wherein the recesses are constructed and arranged to removably receive on of the plurality of longitudinally extending elements.  
   
   
       20 . A method or reinforcing a hollow fibre bundle comprising: 
 providing a bundle of hollow fibres;    providing a plurality of longitudinal elements; and    releasably engaging a plurality of spacer elements transversely to the plurality of longitudinal elements.