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  Spiral wound hollow fiber pottingUSPTO Application #: 20060191838Title: Spiral wound hollow fiber potting Abstract: The present invention involves a process that includes injecting a potting compound such as an epoxy through a hollow portion of the central mandrel and onto the inner layer(s) of a multi-layered fiber bundle and through the outside of the bundle and onto the outer layer(s) of the bundle. By potting through the central mandrel, the potting compound distributes evenly throughout the inner fibers of the bundle. The steps may be sequentially or simultaneously. Preferably it is done as a two-step process, with the first step being to apply the potting compound through the central mandrel and onto the inner fibers first. The second step is to pot around the outer layer of the fiber bundle to finish the process. The resultant product is also disclosed. (end of abstract) Agent: Millipore Corporation - Billerica, MA, US Inventor: Paul Lowell USPTO Applicaton #: 20060191838 - Class: 210321610 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Casing Divided By Membrane Into Sections Having Inlet(s) And/or Outlet(s), Membrane Secured With Adhesive Of Specified Composition The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060191838. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of potting hollow fibers. More particularly, it relates to a method of potting spiral wound hollow fibers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Straight hollow fiber filtration devices are ubiquitous. However, coiled hollow fiber modules were only recently disclosed. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,758. Indeed, multi-layered coiled hollow fiber devices were only briefly discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,758, with no mention of how to assemble or pot the fiber bundles. Devices containing coiled hollow fibers if designed properly are capable of inducing Dean vortices in their inner diameter or lumen. These vortices cause a sweeping of the inner lumen surface disrupting the boundary layer which forms there between the particles or dissolved species which are to be retained inside the fiber and materials and fluids which are to pass through the fibers to the outside of the fibers, thus causing depolarization and defouling of the fiber membrane creating greater efficiency in the filtration process. [0003] In the prior art, epoxy is typically used to pot or bond one or both of the ends of straight hollow fibers together. Such fibers are potted by injecting epoxy around the outer layer of fibers. In this way, the outer surfaces of the ends of the fibers are formed into a liquid tight seal such that all fluid must pass through the lumen of the fibers in those areas that are potted. While this method is appropriate for straight hollow fibers, it has proven inadequate for the coiled hollow fiber devices, especially the multilayered coiled hollow fiber devices produced by the inventor's colleagues, the teachings of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. See PCT/U.S.99/30141, filed Dec. 17, 1999. [0004] As a mandrel is preferably used to produce these the multi-layered coiled hollow fiber devices, the mandrel interfered with the potting. With the prior art method of injecting the epoxy from the outside inward, the epoxy does not seal around all of the fibers, especially the 30 fibers positioned at or near the mandrel. The tightly wound, multiple layers of fibers formed a barrier to the epoxy penetrating the inner layers of fibers. Since the fibers did not pot properly, the performance of the module does not match the performance outputs predicted by the algorithms. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is an object of the present invention to pot fibers wound around a central mandrel. [0006] It is an object of the present invention to pot fibers wound around a hollow central mandrel. [0007] It is an object of the present invention to pot multiple layers of fibers wound around a central mandrel that is a hollow tube. [0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide better distribution of the potting compound, especially to the inner layers of fibers in a hollow fiber bundle. [0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to use higher viscosity potting compounds such as epoxies than those previously used in the prior art. [0010] It is an object of the present invention to prevent the potting compound from wicking up into the fibers or up the side of the mandrel. [0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hollow fiber device having two or more layers of hollow fibers where at least one layer is coiled on top of the other and at least one end of the fibers is sealed by a potting material throughout the bundle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a device used to practice the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a device used to practice the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a device used to practice the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a device used to practice the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a completed device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] The present invention involves a process that includes injecting a potting compound such as an epoxy through a hollow portion of the central mandrel and onto the inner layer(s) of a multi-layered fiber bundle and through the outside of the bundle and onto the outer layer(s) of the bundle and the product made by it. By potting through the central mandrel, the potting compound distributes evenly throughout the inner fibers of the bundle. The steps may be sequentially or simultaneously. Preferably it is done as a two-step process, with the first step being to apply the potting compound through the central mandrel and onto the inner fibers first. The second step is to pot around the outer layer of the fiber bundle to finish the process. [0018] The present invention is a potting technique that is preferable for potting spiral wound hollow fibers, especially when used in multiple layers. This potting technique would also be used to pot the ends of straight hollow fibers, especially in those devices having a high density of fibers or those utilizing a large number of layers of straight fibers, using a hollow mandrel that is either the length of the fibers in the bundle or by using two hollow mandrels, the length of which are only the length of the area of the fibers needed to be potted. [0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention. The shell or housing 1 contains a mandrel 2 having one or more layers of hollow fibers 3 wrapped around its outer surface 2A. This device is placed on a preformed block 4 that has an outer layer potting fill hole 5 and a center rod potting fill hole 6. The mandrel 2 as shown has a hollow center 2B and includes a plastic inset or plug 7 and through holes 8 in fluid communication with the inner layers of hollow fibers 3. [0020] The structure is then inserted into the preformed block 4 and the inner layer fill hole 6 is then filled with enough potting compound such as epoxy to force the compound through the through holes 8 and into the fiber bundle to form a pot of predetermined height. The outer layer fill hole 5 is also filled with potting compound preferably to that same height. Preferably, the inner hole 6 is filled first followed by the outer hole 5 to ensure that adequate flow around all fibers is achieved. Alternatively, both may be filled simultaneously if desired. Continue reading... Full patent description for Spiral wound hollow fiber potting Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Spiral wound hollow fiber potting patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Spiral wound hollow fiber potting or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Permeate spacer module Next Patent Application: High capacity filter element Industry Class: Liquid purification or separation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Spiral wound hollow fiber potting patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.19621 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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