Technical Field

The invention relates to a membrane filter plate assembly and to a membrane filter assembly comprising the same.

Background of the Invention

From DE 20 2006 007 248 Ul, a membrane filter plate assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

In such a membrane filter plate assembly, an electrical connection for connecting a membrane filter plate of the membrane filter plate assembly to an external electrical potential, such as a ground potential, may be formed by a separate stainless steel cable. In such a configuration, there may occur a problem in that the stainless steel cable may be exposed to an exterior and, therefore, may be prone to damage.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a membrane filter plate assembly and a membrane filter assembly comprising the same, which can be easily and reliably connected to an external electrical potential.

The membrane filter plate assembly according to the present invention comprises a membrane filter plate, which comprises at least one membrane chamber, and which is provided with a membrane chamber connector which has a first end and a second end, with the first end being fluidly connected to the membrane chamber, a pressure hose connector, which is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material (e.g. a stainless steel material), and which comprises a first pressure hose connector fitting portion for being fluidly connected to the second end of the membrane chamber connector, a second pressure hose connector fitting portion (e.g. an electrically conductive second pressure hose connector fitting portion) for being fluidly (and thereby also electrically) connected to a pressure hose and a radially protruding engagement shoulder (e.g. a radially protruding engagement shoulder formed as a hexagonal nut which can be engaged by a wrench) which is axially (e.g. axially along a longitudinal axis of the pressure hose connector) arranged between the first pressure hose connector fitting portion and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion (e.g. so as to be directly adjacent to said pressure hose connector fitting portions, e.g. so as to be separated from said pressure hose connector fitting portions by a respective further axial portion), a clamping part (e.g. a clamping plate, e.g. a(n) (essentially) U-shaped clamping plate, e.g. a clamping sheet, e.g. a(n) (essentially) U-shaped clamping sheet), which is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material (e.g. of a stainless steel material), and which comprises a central portion (e.g. a plate portion) and two lateral leg portions which are oppositely arranged to each other with regard to the central portion and which extend from the central portion on a same first side thereof and transverse to the central portion, wherein the pressure hose connector with its first pressure hose connector fitting portion penetrates the central portion of the clamping part (e.g. through an opening/a through-opening formed in the central portion of the clamping part), whereby the first pressure hose connector fitting portion protrudes from the central portion in manner so as to extend between the lateral leg portions (e.g. in a manner parallel to the leg portions, e.g. in a manner enclosing a respective predetermined angle with the leg portions), and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion oppositely protrudes from the central part, and the engagement shoulder abuts against the central portion on a second side thereof, opposite to the first side, thereby allowing the clamping part, in a clamping state thereof, to be clamped with its lateral leg portions against the membrane filter plate at a position adjacent to the membrane chamber connector (e.g. in regions corresponding to the lateral leg portions) and to establish an electrical connection between the lateral leg portions and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion by the pressure hose connector being fluidly connected with its first pressure hose connector fitting portion to the second end of the membrane chamber connector.

The second end of the membrane chamber connector may be provided as a threaded second end (e.g. with an inner thread, e.g. with an outer thread), and the first pressure hose connector fitting portion may be provided as a threaded first pressure hose connector fitting portion (e.g. with an outer thread, e.g. with an inner thread) for being fluidly and threadedly connected to the threaded second end of the membrane chamber connector.

The second pressure hose connector fitting portion may be provided as a threaded second pressure hose connector fitting portion (e.g. with an outer thread, e.g. with an inner thread) for being fluidly and threadedly (and thereby also electrically) connected to a pressure hose.

The membrane chamber connector may be provided on a front face of the membrane filter plate, whereby the lateral leg portions of the clamping part abut (e.g. abut (partly) directly and/or (partly) indirectly) against said front face (e.g. in a manner such that said front face serves as a counter bearing).

The membrane filter plate assembly may further comprise a filter cloth at least partially encompassing the membrane filter plate and extending on said front face of the membrane filter plate, on which the membrane chamber connector is provided, such that the filter cloth, in the clamping state of the clamping part, is clamped between (e.g. directly between, e.g. directly with physical contact between) one or both of the lateral leg portions of the clamping part and said front face.

The filter cloth may be formed by at least two filter cloth parts, each filter cloth part encompassing the membrane filter plate at least partially and extending at least partially on said front face of the membrane filter plate, on which the membrane chamber connector is provided, such that each filter cloth part, in the clamped state of the clamping part, is clamped between one or both of the lateral leg portions of the clamping part and said front face.

The filter cloth, in the clamping state of the clamping part, may be clamped between a respective end face of the one or both lateral leg portions and the said front face of the membrane filter plate, on which the membrane chamber connector is provided.

The filter cloth (and/or each filter cloth part) may be provided with an electrically conductive structure thereon, and the one or both lateral leg portions, in the clamping state of the clamping part, is/are electrically connected to the conductive structure of the filter cloth (and/or of each filter cloth part) by the filter cloth (and/or each filter cloth part) being clamped between the respective lateral leg portion of the clamping part and the front face, on which the membrane chamber connector is provided. In other words, an electrical connection between the respective lateral leg portion of the clamping part and the electrically conductive structure on the filter cloth (and/or each filter cloth part) is established by a direct physical contact of the respective lateral leg portion of the clamping part and the electrically conductive structure on the filter cloth (and/or of each filter cloth part) (or at least a part thereof). The electrically conductive structure may be formed as at least one conducting path, optionally as a mesh of conductive paths.

The mesh of conductive paths may be an electrically interlinked mesh of conductive paths.

The electrically conductive structure may cover the entire filter cloth (and/or the filter cloth part).

The filter cloth/each filter cloth part may be an antistatic filter clot/filter cloth part.

The membrane filter plate assembly may further comprise a pressure hose provided with a first pressure hose connector on one end thereof and an electrically conductive structure, wherein the first pressure hose connector is fluidly (and thereby also electrically) connected to the second pressure hose connector fitting portion, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrically conductive structure of the pressure hose and the lateral leg portions of the clamping part.

The first pressure hose connector and the electrically conductive structure of the pressure hose may be electrically connected.

The pressure hose may be made of an electrically conductive material forming the electrically conductive structure thereof.

The pressure hose may be made of a stainless steel material forming the electrically conductive structure thereof.

The pressure hose may be formed by a pressure pipe. The first pressure hose connector may be provided as a threaded first pressure hose connector (e.g. with an inner thread, e.g. with an outer thread) for being fluidly and threadedly (and thereby also electrically) connected to the threaded second pressure hose connector fitting portion.

The electrically conductive structure of the pressure hose may be connected to an (external) electrical potential, thereby applying said electrical potential to the lateral leg portions of the clamping part (and also to the electrically conductive structure on the filter cloth/the respective filter cloth part).

The electrical potential may be a ground potential.

The above described membrane filter plate assembly may be/may form an antistatic membrane filter plate assembly.

The membrane filter assembly according to the present invention comprises a plurality of membrane filter plate assemblies as described in this application, and a plurality of intermediate filter plates.

The plurality of membrane filter plate assemblies and the plurality of intermediate filter plates may be stacked and arranged in an alternating manner.

The above described membrane filter assembly may be/may form an antistatic membrane filter plate assembly.

In the membrane filter plate assembly according to the present invention, an electrical connection between the membrane filter plate assembly (e.g. the electrically conductive structure of the filter cloth) and the external electrical potential (e.g. via the pressure hose and its electrically conductive structure) can be/is realized via the clamping plate, which forms a rigid and, hence, reliable part. Therefore, a mechanical stability and a durability of the membrane filter plate assembly may be improved. Thereby, also a reliability of the electrical connection between the electrically conductive structure on the filter cloth and the external electrical potential may be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, the invention will be described based on embodiments with reference to drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a membrane filter plate assembly according to an embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the membrane filter plate assembly of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the membrane filter plate assembly of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a clamping part according to an embodiment,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clamping part of Fig. 4 with a pressure hose connector,

Fig. 6a is a schematic view of a filter cloth according to an embodiment,

Fig. 6b is a schematic view of the filter cloth of Fig. 6a in electrical contact with a clamping part according to an embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a membrane filter assembly according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

As can be seen from the figures, a membrane filter plate assembly 10 comprises a membrane filter plate 20, a pressure hose connector 30 and a clamping part 40.

The membrane filter plate 20 comprises at least one membrane chamber (not explicitly shown), and is provided with a membrane chamber connector 50. The membrane chamber connector 50 has a first end (not explicitly shown) and a second end 65. The first end is fluidly connected to the membrane chamber.

The pressure hose connector 30 is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material. The pressure hose connector 30 comprises a first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 for being fluidly connected to the second end 65 of the membrane chamber connector 50. The pressure hose connector 30 comprises a second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75 for being fluidly connected to a pressure hose 80. The pressure hose connector 30 comprises a radially protruding engagement shoulder 90 which is axially arranged between the first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75.

The clamping part 40 is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material. The clamping part 40 comprises a central portion 100 and two lateral leg portions 105. The two lateral leg portions 105 are oppositely arranged to each other with regard to the central portion 100. The two lateral leg portions 105 extend from the central portion 100 on a same first side 110 thereof and transverse to the central portion 100. The pressure hose connector 30 with its first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 penetrates the central portion 100 of the clamping part 40, whereby the first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 protrudes from the central portion 100 in manner so as to extend between the lateral leg portions 105, and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75 oppositely protrudes from the central part 100, and the engagement shoulder 90 abuts against the central portion 100 on a second side 115 thereof, opposite to the first side 110, thereby allowing the clamping part 40, in a clamping state thereof, to be clamped with its lateral leg portions 105 against the membrane filter plate 20 at a position 120 adjacent to the membrane chamber connector 50 and to establish an electrical connection between the lateral leg portions 105 and the second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75 by the pressure hose connector 30 being fluidly connected with its first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 to the second end 65 of the membrane chamber connector 50.

The second end 65 of the membrane chamber connector 50 is provided as a threaded second end 65', and the first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70 is provided as a threaded first pressure hose connector fitting portion 70' for being fluidly and threadedly connected to the threaded second end 65' of the membrane chamber connector 50.

The second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75 is provided as a threaded second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75' for being fluidly and threadedly connected to a pressure hose 80.

The membrane chamber connector 50 is provided on a front face 130 of the membrane filter plate 20, whereby the lateral leg portions 105 of the clamping part 40 abut against said front face 130. The membrane filter plate assembly 10 further comprises a filter cloth 140. The filter cloth 140 at least partially encompasses the membrane filter plate 20 and extends on said front face 130 of the membrane filter plate 20, on which the membrane chamber connector 50 is provided, such that the filter cloth 140, in the clamping state of the clamping part 40, is clamped between both of the lateral leg portions 105 of the clamping part 40 and said front face 130.

The filter cloth 140, in the clamping state of the clamping part 40, is clamped between a respective end face 150 of both lateral leg portions 105 and the said front face 130 of the membrane filter plate 20, on which the membrane chamber connector 50 is provided.

The filter cloth 140 is provided with an electrically conductive structure 160 thereon. Both lateral leg portions 105, in the clamping state of the clamping part, are electrically connected to the conductive structure 160 of the filter cloth 140 by the filter cloth 140 being clamped between the respective lateral leg portion 105 of the clamping part 40 and the front face 130, on which the membrane chamber connector 50 is provided.

The electrically conductive structure 160 is formed as a mesh of conductive paths 165.

The membrane filter plate assembly 10 further comprises a pressure hose 80. The pressure hose 80 is provided with a first pressure hose connector 170 on one end 175 thereof and an electrically conductive structure 180. The first pressure hose connector 170 is fluidly connected to the second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrically conductive structure 180 of the pressure hose 80 and the lateral leg portions 105 of the clamping part 40.

The pressure hose 80 is made of a stainless steel material forming the electrically conductive structure 180 thereof.

The first pressure hose connector 170 is provided as a threaded first pressure hose connector 170' for being fluidly and threadedly connected to the threaded second pressure hose connector fitting portion 75'.

The electrically conductive structure 180 of the pressure hose 80 is connected to a ground potential 190, thereby applying said ground potential 190 to the lateral leg portions 105 of the clamping part 40.

A Membrane filter assembly 500 comprises a plurality of membrane filter plate assemblies 10 as described above, and a plurality of intermediate filter plates 510.

The plurality of membrane filter plate assemblies 10 and the plurality of intermediate filter plates 510 are stacked and arranged in an alternating manner.

List of Reference Signs

10 membrane filter plate assembly

20 membrane filter plate

30 pressure hose connector

40 clamping part

50 membrane chamber connector

65 second end (of membrane chamber connector 50)

65' threaded second end

70 first pressure hose connector fitting portion

70' threaded first pressure hose connector fitting portion

75 second pressure hose connector fitting portion

75' threaded second pressure hose connector fitting portion

80 pressure hose

90 radially protruding engagement shoulder

100 central portion 105 lateral leg portion

110 first side (of central portion 100)

115 second side (of central portion 100)

120 position (adjacent to the membrane chamber connector 50) 130 front face (of membrane filter plate 20)

140 filter cloth

150 end face (of lateral leg portion 105)

160 electrically conductive structure (on filter cloth 140)

165 mesh of conductive paths

170 first pressure hose connector

170' threaded first pressure hose connector

175 end (of pressure hose 80)

180 electrically conductive structure (of pressure hose 80)

190 ground potential

500 membrane filter assembly

510 intermediate filter plate