Hollow Fiber Bundle Sealing Structure Without Wrapping Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing hollow fiber membrane bundles often result in defects such as loops, kinks, and fractures, and require additional wrapping materials, which complicates the production process and increases defects.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base and a lid connected via hinges, with troughs forming a full cylinder in a closed configuration, featuring periodic curve edges that form a tight seal without the need for additional wrapping material, allowing efficient production of defect-free bundles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional wrapping materials are used to contain hollow fiber bundles, then the bundles can be formed and transported, but the production process becomes more complex and defects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wrapping material step from the production process entirely. Instead of adding wrapping materials to contain the fiber bundles, the invention uses the hollow fiber membranes themselves to form the containing structure through their arrangement and sealing, thereby eliminating the complex wrapping process while maintaining bundle integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber membranes serve dual functions: as the filtration medium and as the containing structure for the bundle. By designing the bundle configuration where fibers are arranged in a circular pattern and sealed at ends, the fibers themselves provide the containment function that would otherwise require separate wrapping materials
2Productivity
If traditional winding methods are used to form hollow fiber bundles, then bundles can be produced, but loops, kinks, and fractures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the hollow fiber membranes into their final bundled configuration before sealing. The fibers are arranged in the correct circular pattern and positioned precisely before the sealing operation, ensuring that loops, kinks, and fractures are prevented from forming during the bundling process itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical winding methods with a sealing-based formation process. Instead of mechanically winding and twisting fibers which causes defects, the invention uses sealing mechanisms to lock the fibers into their final positions, thereby producing defect-free bundles with superior arrangement quality
3Reliability
If wrapping materials are applied to hollow fiber bundles, then bundles are secured, but production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the wrapping material step from the production process. By using the hollow fiber membranes themselves to form the containing structure through their arrangement and sealing, the invention removes the time-consuming wrapping operation while maintaining bundle security
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber membranes self-contain the bundle through their own arrangement and sealing. The fibers are configured to form the containing structure themselves without requiring external wrapping materials, thereby simplifying the process and improving production efficiency while maintaining bundle security
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to devices and processes for the production of hollow fiber membrane bundles. The bundles are used for the manufacture of filtration and/or diffusion devices, e.g., capillary dialyzers.