Patent ID: 8070088

Claim:
A permeate tube device for spirally wrapped membrane elements comprising: (a) a hollow substantially cylindrical stainless steel tubular element having an inside wall and an outside wall and a first end and a second end; (b) a first positive traction device having a longitudinal opening with an anti-telescoping device opening disposed at or near one end of the longitudinal opening and a polygonal-shaped mating opening disposed at or near the other end of the longitudinal opening, the polygonal-shaped mating opening with a cross section being defined by at least one internal side surface of the first positive traction device, said first positive traction device being affixed to said first end of said tubular element; (c) a second positive traction device having a longitudinal opening with an anti-telescoping device opening disposed at or near one end of the longitudinal opening and a polygonal-shaped mating opening disposed at or near the other end of the longitudinal opening, the polygonal-shaped mating opening with a cross section being defined by at least one internal side surface of the second positive traction device, said second positive traction device being affixed to said second end of said tubular element; and (d) a plurality of holes connecting said inside wall with said outside wall of said tubular element, and (e) an inner central bar being accommodated by the longitudinal openings of the first and second positive traction devices, the central bar having a polygonal-shaped cross section that mates with the polygonal-shaped mating openings of the longitudinal openings, the central bar having an axial hole therethrough for drawing a vacuum through radial holes therein.