Novel injector mechanism

Claim 2

In a complex valve apparatus of the type comprising a main inlet valve, a main outlet valve, a primary conduit between said main inlet and outlet valves, an auxiliary inlet port, a sample loop of fixed volume connecting said auxiliary inlet port with said main inlet valve, and valve means to divert at least a major part of flow from said primary conduit through said sample loop, valving means to vent said sample loop from said system the improvement wherein said sample loop communicates with both (1) said main outlet valve and (2) said auxiliary inlet port at a position immediately adjacent the inlet to said outlet valve, said sample loop forming means to receive a liquid sample in a direction from its terminal point adjacent said outlet valve towards said vent means and wherein said means to divert sample loop also forms means to eject substantially all of sample liquid from the apparatus through said main outlet valve.

Claim 3

A complex valve apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sample loop is increased in diameter from a point adjacent said outlet valve as it extends toward said inlet valve.

Claim 4

A complex valve apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to divert flow through said sample loop comprises static flow-resisting means in said primary conduit and said primary conduit is free of moveable valving parts.

Claim 5

A complex valve apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means to divert flow through said sample conduit comprises static flow-resisting means in said primary loop and said primary loop is free of moveable valving parts.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the average diameter of said primary conduit is less than about one-half the smallest diameter of any segment of said sample loop.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the average diameter of said primary conduit is less than about one-half the smallest diameter of any segment of said sample loop.

Claim 8

In a chromatography apparatus of the type comprising (1) a separation column to which is connected a supply of carrier liquid to establish continuous flow thereof through said column, (2) and means to inject liquid samples into said continuously flowing carrier liquid that said liquid sample may be carried into said column, the improvement wherein said injection means is a complex valve of the type comprising a main inlet valve, a main outlet valve, a primary conduit between said main inlet and outlet valves, an auxiliary inlet port, a sample loop of fixed volume connecting said auxiliary inlet port with said main inlet valve, and valve means to divert at least a major part of flow from said primary conduit through said sample loop, valving means to vent said sample loop from said system, and wherein said sample loop communicates with both (1) said main outlet valve and (2) said auxiliary inlet port immediately adjacent said outlet valve, said sample loop forming means to receive a liquid sample from its terminal point adjacent said inlet valve towards said vent means relatively remote from said outlet valve, and wherein said means to divert also forms means to eject substantially all of sample liquid from the apparatus through said main outlet valve.

Claim 9

In a chromatography apparatus of the type comprising (1) a separation column to which is connected a supply of carrier liquid to establish continuous flow thereof through said column, (2) and means to inject liquid samples into said continuously flowing carrier liquid that said liquid sample may be carried into said column, the improvement wherein said injection means is a complex valve of the type comprising a main inlet valve, a main outlet valve, a primary conduit between said main inlet and outlet valves, an auxiliary inlet port, a sample loop of fixed volume connecting said auxiliary inlet port with said main inlet valve, and valve means to divert at least a major part of flow from said primary conduit through said sample loop, valving means to vent said sample loop from said system, and wherein said sample loop communicates with both (1) said main outlet valve and (2) said auxiliary inlet port immediately adjacent said outlet valve, said sample loop forming means to receive a liquid sample from its terminal point adjacent said inlet valve towards said vent means relatively remote from said outlet valve, and wherein said means to divert also forms means to eject substantially all of sample liquid from the apparatus through said main outlet valve.

Claim 10

Chromatography apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said sample loop is generally increased in diameter from a point adjacent said outlet valve as it extends toward said inlet valve.

Claim 11

Chromatography apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means to divert flow through said sample loop comprises static flow-resisting means in saiD primary loop and said primary loop is free of moveable valving parts.

Claim 12

Chromatography apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means to divert flow through said sample loop comprises static flow-resisting means in said primary conduit and said primary conduit is free of moveable valving parts.

Claim 13

Chromatography apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the average diameter of said primary conduit is less than about one-half the smallest diameter of any segment of said sample loop.

Claim 14

Chromatography apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the average diameter of said primary conduit is less than about one-half the smallest diameter of any segment of said sample loop.

Claim 15

In a process for injecting a relatively small sample of liquid into a continuous stream of liquid wherein a continuous stream of liquid is adapted to carry the sample into a liquid chromatograph apparatus and wherein the process comprises the steps of placing said sample in an elongate sample-holding conduit and diverting flow of the carrier fluid from a normal flowpath through said elongate conduit to carry said sample into the chromatograph apparatus, the improvement comprising the steps of (a) injecting said sample in a volume smaller than that of said sample-holding conduit into said sample-holding conduit so that it flows from that end of said sample conduit closest to said chromatograph towards the opposite end of said sample conduit, partially filling said sample conduit, and venting said sample-holding conduit from said system at an opposite end of said sample conduit.

Claim 16

In a process for injecting a relatively small sample of liquid into a continuous stream of liquid wherein a continuous stream of liquid is adapted to carry the sample into a liquid chromatograph apparatus and wherein the process comprises the steps of placing said sample in an elongate sample-holding conduit and diverting flow of the carrier fluid from a normal flowpath through said elongate conduit to carry said sample into the chromatograph apparatus, the improvement comprising the steps of (a) injecting said sample in a volume smaller than that of said sample-holding conduit into said sample-holding conduit so that it flows from that end of said sample conduit closest to said chromatograph towards the opposite end of said sample conduit, partially filling said sample conduit, and venting said sample-holding conduit from said system at an opposite end of said sample conduit.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said flow of carrier fluid is diverted through said sample conduit by the step of opening a valve between the normal flow path of said carrier fluid and said sample conduit and between the sample conduit and said column and without any positive steps to block the normal flow of said carrier fluid.

Claim 18

A complex valve apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus has a diaphragm valve which comprises A. A first housing member comprising inlet and outlet conduits and ports communicating therewith; B. A second housing member forming means to guide a diaphragm-operating rod; C. A thin metallic diaphragm adapted to be held snugly in sealing contact with said first housing member and in compression between both said housing members, said diaphragm comprising a flow channel in the face thereof adapted to be held against said first housing member; D. wherein said operating rod forms means to flex said diaphragm and to position a sealing face of said diaphragm and to position a sealing face of first housing member; and E. wherein substantially all fluid volume between inlet and outlet conduits of said valve in its closed position, is formed by said flow channels in said diaphragm.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein a ductile coating of a material selected from a metal or a plastic, said coating being less than about 0.002 inches in thickness, forms means to promote said sealing contact between said first housing member and said diaphragm.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said diaphragm comprises an annular flow path, forming with said first housing member a means for bypassing said sealing face, said annular flow path connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit in said first housing member.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said diaphragm comprises an annular flow path, forming with said first housing member a means for bypassing said sealing face, said annular flow path connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit in said first housing member.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said diaphragm is removeable from said apparatus by the separation of said first housing member and said valving member and said valve comprising no additional means for retaining said diaphragm.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said diaphragm is removeable from said apparatus by the separation of said first housing member and said valving member and said valve comrising no additional means for retaining said diaphragm.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said diaphragm is removeable from said apparatus by the separation of said first housing member and said valving member and said valve comprising no additional means for retaining said diaphragm.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said diaphragm valve is said main outlet valve communicating with said sample loop.

Claim 26

Apparatus adapted for use in feeding a discrete sample into a chromatographic column, said apparatus comprising a primary conduit for transporting liquid to said column; a supplementary conduit of fixed volume forming means to bypass said primary conduit; valve means for isolating said supplementary conduit from said primary conduit; a valve forming means to admit a liquid sample into said supplementary conduit at an end of said supplementary conduit nearest said chromatographic column; a vent valve in said supplementary conduit, said vent valve being at a position in said supplementary conduit that is more remote from said column than said valve forming means to admit and said vent valve forming means to vent said conduit of fixed volume to a point outside said apparatus, and; flow restriction means in said primary conduit forming means to divert said primary conduit through said supplementary conduit in a direction from said vent position toward said valve forming means to admit and thence to said chromatographic column, and wherein said liquid flow diversted from said primary conduit forms means to eject substantially all of said sample from said apparatus at end of said supplementary conduit nearest said chromatographic column.

Claim 27

Apparatus adapted for use in feeding a discrete sample into a chromatographic column, said apparatus comprising a primary conduit for transporting liquid to said column; a supplementary conduit of fixed volume forming means to bypass said primary conduit; valve means for isolating said supplementary conduit from said primary conduit; a valve forming means to admit a liquid sample into said supplementary conduit at an end of said supplementary conduit nearest said chromatographic column; a vent valve in said supplementary conduit, said vent valve being at a position in said supplementary conduit that is more remote from said column than said valve forming means to admit and said vent valve forming means to vent said conduit of fixed volume to a point outside said apparatus, and; flow restriction means in said primary conduit forming means to divert said primary conduit through said supplementary conduit in a direction from said vent position toward said valve forming means to admit and thence to said chromatographic column, and wherein said liquid flow diversted from said primary conduit forms means to eject substantially all of said sample from said apparatus at end of said supplementary conduit nearest said chromatographic column.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said supplementary conduit is increased in diameter from a point adjacent said valve forming means to admit liquid as said supplementary conduit extends toward said vent valve.

Claim 29

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said flow restriction means is a static flow-resisting means.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said flow restriction is a static flow-resisting means.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said restriction forms means to reduce flow in said primary conduit to less than 25 percent of flow in said supplementary conduit.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said static flow resisting means forms means to reduce flow in said primary conduit to less than about 25 percent of flow in said sample loop.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said static flow resisting means forms means to reduce flow in said primary conduit to less than about 25 percent of flow in said sample loop.