John E Michaels

US Patent:

41326490, Jan 2, 1979

Filed:

Mar 28, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/781761

Inventors:

Gerald A. Croopnick - Laguna Hills CA
John M. Michaels - Irvine CA
Donald G. Paul - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Dresser Industries, Inc - Dallas TX

International Classification:

B01D 3100

US Classification:

210347

Abstract:

A fluid purification apparatus of the type which includes a stack of membrane packs and a stack of gaskets located at the peripheral portions of the membrane packs to keep them separated from one another, wherein the gaskets have outer lands bearing on one another and surrounding the membrane packs, inner lands pressing against the faces of the packs to seal against them, and elongated bendable middle gasket portions connecting the inner and outer lands to allow the inner lands to adjust position so as to compensate for variations in thickness of the membrane packs.

US Patent:

40254259, May 24, 1977

Filed:

Sep 29, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/617683

Inventors:

Gerald Allan Croopnick - Laguna Hills CA
John Mark Michaels - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Dresser Industries, Inc. - Dallas TX

International Classification:

B01D 5910

US Classification:

210 23H

Abstract:

Apparatus is described for purifying waste water or other feed fluid, which includes a stack of membrane packs wherein each pack contains a conduit sheet, a pair of support sheets of filter paper or the like, each lying against a face of the conduit sheet, and a pair of membranes each lying over a filter paper sheet. The pack has exit holes, and the filter paper extends up to the exit hole walls and has a region thereabout which is impregnated with an adhesive which seals the filter paper against the inflow of concentrate while also holding the filter paper to the conduit sheet and membranes. The packs are spaced apart by inner and outer gaskets, the radially inner gaskets having central holes forming a feed pipe for carrying the feed fluid to all the packs. The stack of membrane packs is rapidly rotated to provide centrifugal forces that help sweep away membrane-plugging material during radial flow of feed fluid from the feed pipe to the peripheries of the packs, and the exit holes of all of the packs are formed near their peripheries and are aligned to thereby form a concentrate-carrying "pipe" with gaps that receive the concentrate.

US Patent:

45767157, Mar 18, 1986

Filed:

Feb 13, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/234394

Inventors:

John M. Michaels - Irvine CA
Gerald A. Croopnick - Trabuco Canyon CA
Richard A. Morris - Anaheim CA

Assignee:

Dresser Industries, Inc - Dallas TX

International Classification:

B01D 1300

US Classification:

210347

Abstract:

A membrane pack is constructed, which includes a highly porous carrier sandwiched between a pair of membrane structures that must be kept continuously wet, the pack having a hole and being sealed around the hole to prevent the passage of polluting liquid lying in the hole, into the porous carrier of the pack. The membrane pack is constructed by impregnating the carrier with a flowable polymer which can solidify, to leave a thin layer of the polymer on either surface of the carrier, and by then welding the polymer layers to membranes at either face of the carrier. Ultrasonic welding of the membrane structures to the carrier is performed while the membrane structures are wet, the ultrasonic welding dissipating moisture lying at the interface between the carrier and membrane structures to permit even hydrophilic polymers to be utilized.