# US 11,896,933 B2 · Non-nesting, non-deforming patterns for spiral-wound elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,933 B2 - Document ID: US11896933B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/368,625 - Filed: 2021-07-06 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-20 - Assignees: Aqua Membranes Inc. - Applicants: Aqua Membranes Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Roderick; Rodney Herrington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896933B2 ## CPC - B01D 63/101: {Spiral winding} - B01D 63/1031: {Glue line or sealing patterns} - B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties - B01D 2313/143: on the feed side - B01D 2313/146: on the permeate side - B01D 2325/08: Patterned membranes - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention provide for the deposition of spacing elements for spiral wound elements that prevent nesting of adjacent spacer layers and occlusion of feed space during element rolling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spiral wound permeable membrane system, comprising a membrane spirally wound about a center tube, wherein the membrane has spacing features disposed on a surface of the membrane, wherein the spacing features are configured such that they do not nest with spacing features on adjacent windings when spirally wound, wherein the spacing features comprise a plurality of substantially parallel line segments spaced apart from each other by nonuniform spacing distances, and wherein each spacing feature has a long axis oriented non-parallel to the direction of spiral winding, wherein the spacing features are more closely spaced near the edges of the membrane than in portions of the membrane distant from the edges. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 1, wherein a first subset of the plurality of substantially parallel line segments are spaced apart from each other by nonuniform spacing distances thereby forming a pattern, and wherein other subsets of the plurality of substantially parallel line segments comprise repeats of the pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 2, wherein the first subset extends over at least 6 inches measured from a first line segment in the subset to a last line segment in the subset. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 3, wherein the first subset extends over at least 12 inches measured from the first line segment to the last line segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 2, wherein the nonuniform spacing distances comprise a plurality of spacing distances, and wherein the largest spacing distance of such spacing distances minus the smallest spacing distance of such spacing distances is less than 15% of the average of all such spacing distances. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 1, wherein the spacing features are made of one or more of thermoplastics, reactive polymers, waxes, or resins; deposited directly onto the membrane surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 1, wherein the spacing features are made of one or more of high-temperature thermoplastics, metals, or ceramics; formed apart from the membrane surface and then adhered to the membrane surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 1, wherein the edges of the membrane are defined as the region within three inches of the edge of the membrane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 1, wherein the edges of the membrane are defined as the region within one inch of the edge of the membrane. ### Claim 10 A spiral wound permeable membrane system, comprising a membrane spirally wound about a center tube, wherein the membrane has spacing features disposed on a surface of the membrane, wherein the spacing features are configured such that they do not nest with spacing features on adjacent windings when spirally wound, wherein the spacing features comprise a plurality of substantially parallel line segments spaced apart from each other by nonuniform spacing distances, and wherein each spacing feature has a long axis oriented non-parallel to the direction of spiral winding, wherein the nonuniform spacing distances comprise a plurality of spacing distances, and wherein the largest spacing distance of such spacing distances minus the smallest spacing distance of such spacing distances is less than 15% of the average of all such spacing distances. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 10, wherein the spacing features are made of one or more of thermoplastics, reactive polymers, waxes, or resins; deposited directly onto the membrane surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The spiral wound permeable membrane system of claim 10, wherein the spacing features are made of one or more of high-temperature thermoplastics, metals, or ceramics; formed apart from the membrane surface and then adhered to the membrane.