US 2010/0248330 A1 · Flow-Controlling Header

Abstract

An apparatus and method for holding a membrane, screen or other flexible planar body in tension, while providing a conduit for water or other liquid to flow to the membrane being held. The membrane extends from inside a manifold body that carries the liquid, and the manifold body supports the membrane at one edge while the membrane is pulled in tension. Liquid pressure builds up inside the manifold body, preferably by entering a pressure chamber at the top of the manifold body. At a feeding pressure in the pressure chamber the liquid is distributed to the membrane for microbe growth. The liquid can be elevated to a higher, microbe-harvesting pressure by increasing the pressure in the pressure chamber, thereby deflecting a shim separating the pressure chamber from the membrane. The change in pressure is carried out by manually or automatically opening and closing a conventional water valve.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An apparatus for holding a membrane and supplying fluent material to the membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a manifold having a manifold sidewall defining a main chamber with an elongated opening in the manifold sidewall;
(b) a membrane support within the main chamber to which the membrane is configured to attach in tension;
(c) a fluid inlet formed through the manifold sidewall;
(d) a shim mounted in the main chamber intermediate the elongated opening and the fluid inlet, the shim extending from the membrane support to the manifold sidewall, thereby defining a pressure chamber on an inlet side of the shim, wherein the shim is configured to deflect when a predetermined fluid pressure is reached in the pressure chamber, thereby permitting fluid to flow past the shim to the membrane.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flow-Controlling Header

Life of this patent

Flow-Controlling Header

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11