Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Chromatographic apparatus adapted to contain a bed of particulate adsorbent material in column form, said apparatus comprising a tube; a lid removably mounted at one end of the tube, said lid being permeable to liquids and gases while retaining particulate adsorbent material; a slidable element movably mounted within said tube so as to provide a chamber of variable volume for particulate adsorbent material between said lid and said slidable element, said slidable element being permeable to gases and liquids while retaining particulate adsorbent material and movable the length of the tube; and means for communicating a force to said slidable element to displace said slidable element along the axis of the tube, said force being sufficient to compress particulate adsorbent material contained in said tube into the consistency of a solid body and said means being effective to maintain said particulate adsorbent material under compression and being capable of providing sufficient force to extrude all the solid body of adsorbent material from the end of the tube when the lid is removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Chromatographic apparatus adapted to contain a bed of particulate adsorbent material in column form, said apparatus comprising a tube; a lid removably mounted at one end of the tube, said lid being permeable to liquids and gases while retaining particulate adsorbent material; a slidable element movably mounted within said tube so as to provide a chamber of variable volume for particulate adsorbent material between said lid and said slidable element, said slidable element being permeable to gases and liquids while retaining particulate adsorbent material and movable the length of the tube; and means for communicating a force to said slidable element to displace said slidable element along the axis of the tube, said force being sufficient to compress particulate adsorbent material contained in said tube into the consistency of a solid body and said means being effective to maintain said particulate adsorbent material under compression and being capable of providing sufficient force to extrude all the solid body of adsorbent material from the end of the tube when the lid is removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the removable lid permeable to liquid and gases comprises a member having a porous plate at its base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means of communicating a force to the slidable element is a pneumatic or hydraulic jack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the slidable element is in the form of a piston having at its head a porous plate permeable to liquids and gases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the lid member is provided with a fluid distribution chamber adjacent said porous plate and wherein said fluid distribution chamber communicates by means of a plurality of passageways to a distribution cell which in turn communicates to the exterior of the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slidable element in piston form is provided with an evacuation cavity under the porous plate in the head of said piston and wherein said evacuation cavity is provided with an evacuation passageway leading to an outlet conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the distribution chamber is provided with radially placed bars of a height equal to the depth of the chamber and wherein said chamber is linked to the distribution cell by a central passageway and radially placed passageways converging on said cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the evacuation cavity is in sink form having radially placed bars of a height corresponding to the profile of the sink and converging on a central evacuation passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chromatographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube has a diameter of from 10 to 250 mm.