Extraction apparatus

Claim 2

An extraction apparatus of the type wherein a selected material is to be eluted from a cation paper by mixing a predetermined volume of immiscible liquids while exposing the cation paper to the liquids and subsequently separating and dispensing a selected one of said liquids, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a carriage mounted upon said frame for selective location in any one of an initial position, a first alternate position and a second alternate position; a plurality of elongate generally tubular members carried by the carriage each extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends, said tubular members each including an extraction chamber for containing said predetermined volume of liquids when each tubular member is oriented with the longitudinal axis thereof in any position within a relatively small included angle about a horizontal position, each tubular member being oriented with the longitudinal axis thereof horizontal when the carriage is in said initial position; a charging port located intermediate the opposite ends of each tubular member for admitting said liquids into each extraction chamber and providing an opening to each extraction chamber large enough to admit said cation paper; means for selectively rocking the carriage and the tubular members carried thereby through said included angle about the horizontal position; a collection chamber adjacent one of said opposite ends of each tubular member and having a prescribed volume, each said collection chamber being spaced longitudinally from each corresponding extraction chamber such that each collection chamber lies below the corresponding extraction chamber when each tubular member is oriented in a first alternate position wherein the longitudinal axis thereof is generally vertical and said one end is below the other of the opposite ends thereof, each said tubular member being oriented in said first alternate position thereof when the carriage is in the first alternate position thereof; a filling conduit interconnecting each extraction chamber with each corresponding collection chamber, each said filling conduit having an inlet located at the end of the corresponding extraction chamber corresponding to said one end of each tubular member, and communiCating with the corresponding extraction chamber, an outlet located at the lowermost end of the corresponding collection chamber, when viewed with each tubular member in said first alternate position, and communicating with the corresponding collection chamber, and a U-shaped passage between the inlet and the outlet, said U-shaped passage including generally axially oriented legs spaced apart laterally and interconnected by a bend, said bend being located axially above the inlet and outlet when the tubular members are in the first alternate position; each said filling conduit including means for permitting said selected liquid to pass from each extraction chamber into each collection chamber when each tubular member is in the first alternate position; means for selectively passing a gas under pressure simultaneously into each collection chamber and into each corresponding filling conduit to preclude said liquids from passing through each filling conduit into the corresponding collection chamber while the tubular members are in the first alternate position thereof; a dispensing conduit for each collection chamber; the volumetric relationship among said predetermined volume of liquids, the collection chamber, the filling conduit and the dispensing conduit, and the relative location of the collection chamber, the filling conduit and the dispensing conduit serving to preclude the further flow of liquid through said filling conduit in response to the passage of a prescribed volume of said selected liquid from the extraction chamber into the collection chamber; each said dispensing conduit being located at the lowermost end of the corresponding collection chamber, when viewed with each tubular member in a second alternate position wherein the longitudinal axis thereof is generally vertical and said one end is above said other end thereof, and communicating with each collection chamber, and an outlet located such that liquid in each collection chamber will pass through the corresponding dispensing conduit to be dispensed at the outlet thereof when each tubular member is oriented in the second alternate position, each said tubular member being oriented in said second alternate position thereof when the carriage is in the first alternate position thereof; a drain conduit at said other of the ends of each tubular member and communicating with the corresponding extraction chamber such that any liquid in the extraction chamber will be drained simultaneously therefrom when the tubular members are in said second alternate position, each said drain conduit having a configuration precluding draining of said liquids when the tubular members are in said initial orientation; and means for selectively locating the carriage in the initial position thereof, the first alternate position thereof, or the second alternate position thereof.

Claim 3

The extraction apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for selectively rocking the carriage and the tubular members carried thereby rocks the carriage through an included angle no greater than approximately 15*.

Claim 4

The extraction apparatus of claim 3 including means for providing a selected duration of operation of the rocking means.

Claim 5

The extraction apparatus of claim 3 wherein the selected liquid from each collection chamber is to be dispensed into a corresponding test tube, said means for simultaneously selectively precluding said liquids from passing through each said filling conduit including: means for coupling each test tube with a corresponding conduit such that the interior of each test tube communicates with the corresponding dispensing conduit; and means for simultaneously selectively passing gas under pressure into the test tube.

Claim 6

The extraction apparatus of claim 6 including: a manifold carried by said carriage; a plurality of stopper members affixed to said carriage for engaging one stopper member with each test tube; means for selectively locating eaCh test tube on the carriage and in engagement with a stopper member; a first passage through each stopper member communicating with the corresponding dispensing conduit; a second passage through each stopper member communicating with the manifold; and means for selectively supplying gas under pressure to said manifold.

Claim 7

The extraction apparatus of claim 6 wherein each test tube when coupled with each dispensing conduit is located below the inlet of the corresponding dispensing conduit when the tubular members are in the second alternate position thereof.