US3814253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid control apparatus for chromatography columns
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-26
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Granted: 1974-06-04
•
Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Flow control apparatus for a chromatographic fractionating column includes a liquid-pervious plate assembly adapted to float on the liquid layer overlying an ion exchange resin bed within the column and a detection device carried by the assembly responsive to the thickness of the liquid layer reaching a predetermined minimum for opening a normally closed valve to supply additional liquid to the column so as always to maintain a liquid cover over the bed. The minimum thickness of the liquid layer is such that the underside of the plate assembly, formed in part by an open-mesh net, penetrates the upper surface of the bed, thereby periodically smoothing out irregularities. A timer holds the valve mechanism open until sufficient liquid has been added to refloat the plate assembly. The plate assembly is formed with a multiplicity of holes of a cross-sectional size and obliquity to the vertical such that the liquid, added to the column from above, cannot impact directly on the resin bed surface.
Inventors
- 👤 K Forsberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/50; B; B01; B01J; B01J47/00; B01J47/02; B01J47/022; G01N30/26; G01N30/28; G01N30/60; G01N30/6004; G01N30/6017; G01N30/6021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Liquid control apparatus for a chromatographic fractionating column containing a generally horizontal ion exchange resin bed and having fresh liquid supplied thereto above the bed to form a liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the bed, comprising: a liquid-pervious plate assembly adapted to float on the liquid layer and having a horizontal cross-section generally coextensive with but smaller than the interior horizontal cross-section of the column so as to allow vertical movement of the assembly within the column; and means, carried in part by the plate assembly, responsive to the thickness of the liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the resin bed reaching a predetermined minimum amount for causing additional liquid to be supplied to the column, whereby at least a minimum quantity of liquid will be maintained above the resin bed at all times independently of whether the upper surface of the bed moves vertically within the column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Liquid control apparatus for a chromatographic fractionating column containing a generally horizontal ion exchange resin bed and having fresh liquid supplied thereto above the bed to form a liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the bed, comprising: a liquid-pervious plate assembly adapted to float on the liquid layer and having a horizontal cross-section generally coextensive with but smaller than the interior horizontal cross-section of the column so as to allow vertical movement of the assembly within the column; and means, carried in part by the plate assembly, responsive to the thickness of the liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the resin bed reaching a predetermined minimum amount for causing additional liquid to be supplied to the column, whereby at least a minimum quantity of liquid will be maintained above the resin bed at all times independently of whether the upper surface of the bed moves vertically within the column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the minimum liquid layer thickness is such that the underside of the plate asembly contacts the upper surface of the resin bed while still providing a liquid cover over the surface, whereby the plate assembly tends periodically to smooth the bed surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the underside of the plate assembly is formed at least in part by an open-mesh net that penetrates the upper surface of the resin bed upon contact of the assembly with the bed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for shutting off the supply of liquid to the column after a quantity of liquid sufficient to float the plate assembly above the upper surface of the resin bed has been added thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which: the means for causing additional liquid to be supplied to the column comprises a device carried by the plate assembly for detecting the thickness of the liquid layer above the resin bed and normally closed valve means for controlling the supply of liquid to the column, the valve means being operative to open upon the receipt of a signal from the detection device, thereby permitting liquid flow to the column; and the means for shutting off liquid supply to the column comprises timer means for returning the valve means to the normally closed position after an elapsed time from the opening of the valve means of sufficient duration to allow enough liquid to be added to the column to float the plate assembly above the resin bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the plate assembly includes means for conveying therethrough to the resin bed liquid falling onto it From above while preventing direct impacting of the falling liquid on the bed surface, thereby protecting the bed surface against disruption and unevenness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the liquid conveying means comprises means defining a multiplicity of holes communicating with the upperside and the underside of the plate assembly, the individual holes having a horizontal cross-sectional size and an obliquity to the vertical such that liquid falling from above cannot pass directly through the holes without contacting the side walls thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the plate assembly includes a multiplicity of holes communicating with the upperside and the underside thereof for conveying fresh liquid therethrough to the resin bed, the holes being uniformly distributed over the horizontal cross section of the plate assembly and occupying from 20 to 50 percent of the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the plate assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the plate assembly comprises an upper plate member, a plurality of spaced blocks secured to the underside of the plate member and an open-mesh net attached to the undersides of the blocks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a chromatographic fractionating column for carrying out ion exchange operations having a generally horizontal ion exchange resin bed and a liquid supply system for supplying fresh liquid to the column above the resin bed to form a liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the bed, the improvement comprising: a liquid-pervious plate assembly adapted to float on the liquid layer and having a horizontal cross-section generally coextensive with but smaller than the interior horizontal cross-section of the column so as to allow vertical movement of the assembly within the column; valve means in the liquid supply system for controlling the flow of liquid to the column; and means carried by the plate assembly responsive to the thickness of the liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the resin bed reaching a predetermined minimum amount for opening the valve means to supply additional liquid to the column, whereby at least a minimum quantity of liquid will be maintained above the resin bed at all times independently of whether the upper surface of the bed moves vertically within the column due to expansion or contraction of the resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a chromatographic fractionating column for carrying out ion exchange operations having a generally horizontal ion exchange resin bed and a liquid supply system for supplying fresh liquid to the column above the resin bed to form a liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the bed, the improvement comprising: a liquid-pervious plate assembly adapted to float on the liquid layer and having a horizontal cross-section generally coextensive with but smaller than the interior horizontal cross-section of the column so as to allow vertical movement of the assembly within the column; valve means in the liquid supply system for controlling the flow of liquid to the column; and means carried by the plate assembly responsive to the thickness of the liquid layer overlying the upper surface of the resin bed reaching a predetermined minimum amount for opening the valve means to supply additional liquid to the column, whereby at least a minimum quantity of liquid will be maintained above the resin bed at all times independently of whether the upper surface of the bed moves vertically within the column due to expansion or contraction of the resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 10 in which the improvement further comprises means for closing the valve means to shut off liquid flow to the column after a quantity of liquid sufficient to float the plate assembly above the bed surface has been added thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 11 in which the means for closing the valve means comprises timer means operative to close the valve means after an elapsed time from its opening of sufficient duration to allow enough liquid to be added to the column to float the plate assembly above the resin bed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 10 in which the plate assembly includes means for conveying therethrough to the resin bed liquid falling onto it from above while preventing direct impacting of the falling liquid on the bed surface, thereby protecting the bed surface against disruption and unevenness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 13 in which the liquid conveying means comprises means defining a multiplicity of holes communicating with the upperside and the underside of the plate assembly, the individual holes having a horizontal cross-sectional size and an obliquity to the vertical such that liquid falling from above cannot pass through the holes without contacting the sidewalls thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 10 in which the minimum liquid layer thickness is such that the underside of the plate assembly contacts the upper surface of the resin bed while still providing a liquid cover over the surfAce, whereby the plate assembly tends periodically to smooth the bed surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A chromatographic fractionating column according to claim 15 in which the underside of the plate assembly is formed at least in part by an open-net mesh that penetrates the upper surface of the resin bed upon contact of the assembly with the bed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |