US5637209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Field-portable supercritical CO2 extractor
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-18
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2016-01-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an apparatus for extracting organic compounds from solid materials. A generator vessel has a removable closure for receiving a solid or liquid solvent which is heated with a resistive heating element to a gaseous or supercritical phase. The removable closure is unencumbered because the side wall is penetrated with an outlet for the gaseous or supercritical solvent. The generator vessel further has a pressure transducer that provides an electronic signal related to pressure of the gaseous or supercritical solvent. The apparatus of the present invention further includes at least one extraction cell having a top and a bottom and a wall extending therebetween, wherein the bottom is sealably penetrated by an inlet for gaseous or supercritical solvent received through a manifold connected to the outlet, the top having an easy-open removable closure cap, and the wall having an outlet port. Finally, a permeable sample cartridge is included for holding the solid materials and to provide radial-flow of the extraction fluid, which is placed within the extraction cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Bob W. Wright
- 👤 Thomas S. Zemanian
- 👤 William H. Robins
- 👤 Leslie J. Woodcock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:54
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for extracting organic compounds from solid materials, comprising: (a) a generator vessel for receiving a solid or liquid solvent, said generator vessel having a first end closed and penetrated with a sealed electrical feedthrough to a resistive heating element, a second end having a removable closure, said closure removed for placing the solid solvent into the generator vessel then replaced to seal said fill end, and a wall extending from said first end to said second end and penetrated with an outlet for gaseous or supercritical solvent, said generator vessel further having a pressure transducer that provides an electronic signal related to pressure of the gaseous or supercritical solvent; (b) at least one extraction cell having a top and a bottom and a wall extending there between, wherein said bottom is penetrated by an inlet for gaseous or supercritical solvent received through a manifold connected to said outlet, said top having a removable closure cap, and said wall having an outlet port; and (c) a sample cartridge having a wall that is solvent permeable for holding the solid materials, said sample cartridge placed within said extraction cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for extracting organic compounds from solid materials, comprising: (a) a generator vessel for receiving a solid or liquid solvent, said generator vessel having a first end closed and penetrated with a sealed electrical feedthrough to a resistive heating element, a second end having a removable closure, said closure removed for placing the solid solvent into the generator vessel then replaced to seal said fill end, and a wall extending from said first end to said second end and penetrated with an outlet for gaseous or supercritical solvent, said generator vessel further having a pressure transducer that provides an electronic signal related to pressure of the gaseous or supercritical solvent; (b) at least one extraction cell having a top and a bottom and a wall extending there between, wherein said bottom is penetrated by an inlet for gaseous or supercritical solvent received through a manifold connected to said outlet, said top having a removable closure cap, and said wall having an outlet port; and (c) a sample cartridge having a wall that is solvent permeable for holding the solid materials, said sample cartridge placed within said extraction cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator receiving the gaseous or supercritical solvent from said outlet and regulating pressure to said manifold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pressure controller that receives the electronic signal from the pressure transducer and controls said resistive heating element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sample cartridge further comprises a bayonet tube having holes, said bayonet tube connected through an end cap attached to a bottom end of said sample cartridge, thereby receiving said solvent into said bayonet tube and directing said solvent through said holes into said sample and out of the solvent permeable wall of the sample cartridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said inlet has a seat and said sample cartridge has a tip that is held against said seat by a spring placed in compression between a top of said sample cartridge and said closure cap wherein excess pressure between said manifold and said extraction cell overcomes the spring and lifts the sample cartridge permitting solvent to bypass said sample cartridge and flow through the extraction cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said extraction cells has at least two "rabbit-ears" on a top of the extraction cell, and wherein said removable closure cap has at least two tabs that lock with said rabbit ears wherein a high pressure seal is obtained with less than a full rotation of said removable closure cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising an assembly that prevents removal of the closure cap when the extraction cell is pressurized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said assembly comprises at least one rabbit ear having a dog-leg groove on an outer face wherein a locking pin is inserted through a hole in said removable closure cap thereby preventing said removable closure cap from being removed while the extraction cell is pressurized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inlet has a seat and said sample cartridge has a tip that is held against said seat by a spring placed in compression between a top of said sample cartridge and said closure cap wherein excess pressure between said manifold and said extraction cell overcomes the spring and lifts the sample cartridge permitting solvent to bypass said sample cartridge and flow through the extraction cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said extraction cells has at least two "rabbit-ears" on a top of the extraction cell, and wherein said removable closure cap has at least two tabs that lock with said rabbit ears wherein a high pressure seal is obtained with less than a full rotation of said removable closure cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising an assembly that prevents removal of the closure cap when the extraction cell is pressurized.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said assembly comprises at least one rabbit ear having a dog-leg groove on an outer face wherein a locking pin is inserted through a hole in said removable closure cap thereby preventing said removable closure cap from being removed while the extraction cell is pressurized.
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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) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |