Patent ID: 7300582

Claim:
An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank comprising, a) a plurality of elements, each having, (i) an upper header; (ii) a lower header; (iii) a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the headers, the membranes having each at least one open end and an outer surface, the outer surface of the open ends of the membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection; and, (iv) one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting permeate; b) a frame for holding the plurality of elements with the upper header generally directly above the lower header while the membranes are immersed in the liquid in the tank; wherein the frame comprises cross bars and upright including an upper cross bar located above the upper headers of the elements and a lower cross bar below the lower headers of the elements.