Patent ID: 7387731
Filing Date: 2008-06-17
Classification: B01D,F16L,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within an elongated rigid outerwrap, said coupler comprising: a center support; a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from said center support a rim coupled with said spokes and forming a circle with a radius corresponding to the radius of said outerwrap said rim having a face which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said outerwrap said rim also being adapted to be joined to said outerwrap; said rim having a plurality of receptacles circumferentially spaced along its outer surface for receiving a complementally shaped keeper, said rim further characterized by a channel in said face adapted to receive a compressible seal; whereby when two of said couplers are secured to two of said outerwraps and said seal is placed in said channel two of said elements may be joined in face-to-face relationship and locked together when a pair of aligned keepers is placed in each receptacle.