CA2684757A1

CA2684757A1 - Sealing means for electrically driven water purification units and method of manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: CA2684757A1
Application number: CA002684757A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ian Glenn Towe; Mathew J. Yagar; Eduard Erbiceanu; Tazim Jinnah; Neil Smith; Thomas Moffett; Bill Cotton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: E Cell Corp
Priority date: 1999-06-08
Filing date: 2000-06-08
Publication date: 2000-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-08
Also published as: CA2684757C

Abstract

An electrically driven membrane process apparatus is provided comprising a first spacer having a perimeter having a surface with an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, and a recess formed on the inner peripheral edge, and an ion exchange membrane having an outer edge fitted within the recess. The spacer can further comprise a plurality of bosses and an ion exchange membrane having a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the bosses. The spacer can include a plastic mesh consisting essentially of polypropylene or polyethylene, and a perimeter surrounding the plastic mesh, the perimeter comprising material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic elastomeric olefins. The spacer can have an upstanding seal member depending therefrom, received by groove within a corresponding frame member. A second spacer is also provided having a continuous flange depending from its surface and surrounding a throughbore, for pinching a portion of the first spacer. A method of injection molding a thin plastic part comprising a perimeter having an inner peripheral edge and a mesh joined to the inner peripheral edge is also provided including the steps of (a) providing first and second mold halves, each of the mold halves having an interior surface and a continuous ridge depending therefrom; and (b) pinching opposite side of the mesh between the ridges to form a flow barrier.

Claims

1. A method of injection molding a thin plastic part comprising a perimeter having an inner peripheral edge and a mesh joined to said inner peripheral edge, including the steps of (a) providing a mold having a cavity and a core, the cavity having a first interior surface and a first continuous ridge depending from the first interior surface, the core having a second interior surface and a second continuous ridge depending from the second interior surface conterminous with the first continuous ridge; (b) disposing a mesh having opposite sides between the cavity and the core; and (c) pinching opposite side of the mesh between the ridges to form a flow barrier.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perimeter and the mesh are comprised of different materials.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the perimeter is comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic olefins, and fluoropolymers.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the perimeter is comprised of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mesh is comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mesh is comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mesh is not slack.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavity further includes hanging pins depending from the first interior surface, and additionally comprising, in step (b), suspending the mesh from the hanging pins.