Method and apparatus for introducing samples into a gas chromatographic column

Claim 1

A METHOD OF INJECTING A SAMPLE IN VAPORIZED FORM INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN WHICH METHOD COMPRISING; INTRODUCING A CARRIER GAS INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN TO IMPART AN AXIAL COEFFIIENT OF VELOCITY TO SAMPLE MATERIAL IN THE COLUMN; INTRODUCING A VAPORIZED SAMPLE INTO AN EMPTY SAMPLE CHAMBER EXTERNAL OF THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN, THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAMBER CHARACTERIZED AND DESIGNED TO PREVENT FLOW DISTURBANCE TO THE FLOW OF VAPORIZED SAMPLE FROM THE CHAMBER; INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF CARRIER GAS DIRECTLY INTO THE COLUMN; INTRODUCING CARRIER GAS UPSTREAM OF THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AND PERMITTING THE CARRIER GAS TO SWEEP THE VAPORIZED SAMPLE FROM THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AND INTO THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN; CLOSING THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AFTER INJECTION OF THE VAPPORIZED SAMPLE AND REINTRODUCING THE CARRIER GAS DIRECTLY INTO THE COLUMN; REMOVING CARRIER GAS FROM THE SAMPLE CHAMBER; AND REPEATING THIS SEQUENCE OF STEPS THEREBY PROVIDING FOR THE INJECTION OF A VARPOIZED SAMPLE INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN IN NON-DILUTED, CONCENTRATED PLUG-LIKE FORM.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF INJECTING A SAMPLE IN VAPORIZED FORM INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN WHICH METHOD COMPRISING; INTRODUCING A CARRIER GAS INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN TO IMPART AN AXIAL COEFFIIENT OF VELOCITY TO SAMPLE MATERIAL IN THE COLUMN; INTRODUCING A VAPORIZED SAMPLE INTO AN EMPTY SAMPLE CHAMBER EXTERNAL OF THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN, THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAMBER CHARACTERIZED AND DESIGNED TO PREVENT FLOW DISTURBANCE TO THE FLOW OF VAPORIZED SAMPLE FROM THE CHAMBER; INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF CARRIER GAS DIRECTLY INTO THE COLUMN; INTRODUCING CARRIER GAS UPSTREAM OF THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AND PERMITTING THE CARRIER GAS TO SWEEP THE VAPORIZED SAMPLE FROM THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AND INTO THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN; CLOSING THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AFTER INJECTION OF THE VAPPORIZED SAMPLE AND REINTRODUCING THE CARRIER GAS DIRECTLY INTO THE COLUMN; REMOVING CARRIER GAS FROM THE SAMPLE CHAMBER; AND REPEATING THIS SEQUENCE OF STEPS THEREBY PROVIDING FOR THE INJECTION OF A VARPOIZED SAMPLE INTO A CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN IN NON-DILUTED, CONCENTRATED PLUG-LIKE FORM.