Foldable metallic gauze pack and segment

Abstract

This invention relates to a laminated article, particularly to such an article comprising a gauze pack containing two or more gauzes such as are typically used as catalyst catchment or getter means in nitric acid production plants. Specifically, this invention provides a gauze pack segment suitable for locating in planar contiguous relationship with one or more further gauze pack segments to provide a gauze pack having a predetermined, for example, a regular geometric shape comprises a plurality of superposed gauze segments having at least when assembled substantially identical shape and area and held in fixed relationship one with another.

We claim: 
     
       1. A .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.gauze pack segment for use in an assembly of a foldable gauze pack, the said segment being suitable for locating in a plane with similar segments and in edge to edge contiguous relationship with at least one adjacent segment to form a gauze pack having a predetermined geometric shape, .Iadd.in which at least two adjacent segments are connected; .Iaddend.the .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.pack segment .Iadd.having the form of a part of said predetermined geometric shape and .Iaddend.comprising a plurality of .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.superposed gauze segments having.Iadd., .Iaddend.at least when assembled .Iadd.into a pack segment, .Iaddend.substantially identical shape and area and .Iadd.being .Iaddend.held in fixed relationship one with another, .[.in which at least two adjacent segments are hingeably connected,.]. alternate gauze segments being woven from a first metallic material with a gauze segment woven from a second metallic material being interleaved between said alternate gauze segments.[., each said gauze segment having the form of a sector of a circle.].. 
     
     
       2. A gauze pack segment according to claim 1 and suitable for use in an ammonia oxidation reactor in which the first material comprises a support material and the second material comprises a getter material. 
     
     
       3. A gauze pack segment according to claim 2 in which the support material comprises an oxidation-resistant stainless steel. 
     
     
       4. A gauze pack segment according to claim 2 in which the getter material comprises an alloy consisting essentially of gold and palladium. 
     
     
       5. A gauze pack segment according to claim 1 in which the .[.sector.]. .Iadd.part .Iaddend.is a hemisphere. 
     
     
       6. A gauze pack segment according to claim 1 in which the .[.sector.]. .Iadd.part .Iaddend.is a quadrant. 
     
     
       7. A gauze pack having a regular geometric shape and comprising two or more .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.gauze pack segments according to claim 1 .Iadd., said gauze pack segments being located in a plane in edge to edge contiguous relationship with at least one adjacent segment, at least two adjacent segments being connected.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       8. A gauze pack according to claim 7 in which the segments have substantially identical shape and area. 
     
     
       9. A gauze pack according to claim 7 in which at least two of the segments have a different shape and area from each other. 
     
     
       10. A foldable gauze pack having a regular geometric shape and comprising at least two .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.pack segments in which at least two adjacent segments are .[.hingeably.]. connected, comprising a plurality of superposed .Iadd.noncircular .Iaddend.gauze segments having at least when assembled substantially identical shape and area and held in fixed relationship one with another, alternate gauze segments being woven from a first material with a gauze segment woven from a second material being interleaved between said alternate gauze segments, the said first material comprising an oxidation-resistant stainless steel support material and the second material comprising a getter alloy consisting essentially of gold and palladium.