US3934456A — Solvent gradient generator for chromatography sys…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 229 words

A liquid chromatography system having a controlled component solvent comprising: a. a pumping means for supplying under pressure a first solvent; b. a multi-compartmented solvent gradient generating means comprising a vessel having a substantially cylindrically configured bore, said vessel being adapted to have a second solvent in one said compartment, said one compartment having a first input port and a first output port, and another said compartment having a second input port and a second output port, first stopper means being provided for sealing said first input port, and second stopper means being provided for sealing said second output port; c. substantially cylindrically configured piston means, including sealing means, disposed within said bore and sealably extending outside said vessel, said piston means having a piston head slidably contained within said gradient generating means for defining in combination with said vessel said one compartment adjacent one side of said head and said another compartment adjacent the other side thereof; d. column means, including injector means, for selectively interacting said controlled component solvent with a stationary reactive element disposed within said column means; e. control means for controlling the rate of movement of said piston head within said bore; and f. mixing means coupling said first output port commonly with said second input port and with said pumping means for supplying said solvent having controlled component mixtures to said column means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 229 words

A liquid chromatography system having a controlled component solvent comprising: a. a pumping means for supplying under pressure a first solvent; b. a multi-compartmented solvent gradient generating means comprising a vessel having a substantially cylindrically configured bore, said vessel being adapted to have a second solvent in one said compartment, said one compartment having a first input port and a first output port, and another said compartment having a second input port and a second output port, first stopper means being provided for sealing said first input port, and second stopper means being provided for sealing said second output port; c. substantially cylindrically configured piston means, including sealing means, disposed within said bore and sealably extending outside said vessel, said piston means having a piston head slidably contained within said gradient generating means for defining in combination with said vessel said one compartment adjacent one side of said head and said another compartment adjacent the other side thereof; d. column means, including injector means, for selectively interacting said controlled component solvent with a stationary reactive element disposed within said column means; e. control means for controlling the rate of movement of said piston head within said bore; and f. mixing means coupling said first output port commonly with said second input port and with said pumping means for supplying said solvent having controlled component mixtures to said column means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The chromatography system according to claim 1 and further including third stopper means for sealing said second output port, and including means commonly coupling said first input port and said second input port to said pumping means, said first output port being coupled to said injector means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 171 words

A liquid chromatograph system for providing a controlled mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid, said system comprising: a vessel having movable wall means for defining therewithin a first compartment and a second compartment; said second compartment, in operation of said system, being a container for said second liquid; sealing means adjacent said movable wall means for isolating the contents of said second compartment from said first compartment; each of said first and second compartments having an inlet port; pump means for supplying said first liquid via a common conduit to said first and second compartments through the respective inlet ports thereof; said second compartment having an outlet port; and control means for controllably moving said movable wall means, thereby causing a controlled mixture of said first and second liquids to flow out of said outlet port of said second compartment, the rate of flow of said mixture out of said second compartment being substantially determined by the rate of flow of said first liquid from said pump means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 171 words

A liquid chromatograph system for providing a controlled mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid, said system comprising: a vessel having movable wall means for defining therewithin a first compartment and a second compartment; said second compartment, in operation of said system, being a container for said second liquid; sealing means adjacent said movable wall means for isolating the contents of said second compartment from said first compartment; each of said first and second compartments having an inlet port; pump means for supplying said first liquid via a common conduit to said first and second compartments through the respective inlet ports thereof; said second compartment having an outlet port; and control means for controllably moving said movable wall means, thereby causing a controlled mixture of said first and second liquids to flow out of said outlet port of said second compartment, the rate of flow of said mixture out of said second compartment being substantially determined by the rate of flow of said first liquid from said pump means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said vessel is of substantially cylindrical configuration, and said movable wall means comprises a piston head.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said piston head is connected to a shaft slidably mounted within said first compartment, said shaft extending through an aperture in a fixed wall of said vessel to said control means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 5 further comprising high-pressure sealing means disposed adjacent said aperture in said fixed wall of said vessel in contact with said slidably mounted shaft to accommodate the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of said first compartment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said high-pressure sealing means comprises an O-ring disposed circumjacent said shaft, said shaft being in sliding contact therewith.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said sealing means adjacent said movable wall means comprises an O-ring affixed to said piston head in sliding contact with a fixed wall of said vessel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said second compartment, in operation of said system, can initially be filled with said second liquid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said sealing means adjacent said movable wall means comprises a low-pressure sealing means affixed to said movable wall means in contact with a fixed wall of said vessel to accommodate substantially equal pressures on either side of said movable wall means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said common conduit for supporting said first liquid from said pump means to said first and second compartments comprises a tee junction for dividing the outflow from said pump means into the inflow to said first compartment and the inflow to said second compartment.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 3 further comprising stirring means disposed within said second compartment.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said stirring means is metallic and is operated by a magnetic member disposed externally of said vessel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said control means is programmable to selectively provide a desired gradient from a range of gradients for one of said liquids in said mixture flowing out of said second compartment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 227 words

A liquid chromatograph system for providing a controlled mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid, a vessel having movable wall means for defining therewithin a first compartment and a second compartment; said second compartment, in operation of said system, being a container for said second liquid; sealing means adjacent said movable wall means for isolating the contents of said second compartment from said first compartment; said first compartment having an inlet port; a mixing chamber located externally of said vessel; said mixing chamber having a first inlet port and a second inlet port; pump means for supplying said first liquid via a common conduit to said first compartment of said vessel through said inlet port thereof and to said mixing chamber through said first inlet port thereof; said second compartment having an outlet port; means for providing liquid communication from said second compartment through said outlet port thereof to said mixing chamber through said second inlet port thereof; said mixing chamber having an outlet port; and control means for controlling moving said movable wall means, thereby causing a controlled mixture of said first and second liquids to flow out of said outlet port of said mixing chamber, the rate of flow of said mixture out of said mixing chamber being substantially determined by the rate of flow of said first liquid from said pump means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 227 words

A liquid chromatograph system for providing a controlled mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid, a vessel having movable wall means for defining therewithin a first compartment and a second compartment; said second compartment, in operation of said system, being a container for said second liquid; sealing means adjacent said movable wall means for isolating the contents of said second compartment from said first compartment; said first compartment having an inlet port; a mixing chamber located externally of said vessel; said mixing chamber having a first inlet port and a second inlet port; pump means for supplying said first liquid via a common conduit to said first compartment of said vessel through said inlet port thereof and to said mixing chamber through said first inlet port thereof; said second compartment having an outlet port; means for providing liquid communication from said second compartment through said outlet port thereof to said mixing chamber through said second inlet port thereof; said mixing chamber having an outlet port; and control means for controlling moving said movable wall means, thereby causing a controlled mixture of said first and second liquids to flow out of said outlet port of said mixing chamber, the rate of flow of said mixture out of said mixing chamber being substantially determined by the rate of flow of said first liquid from said pump means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said vessel is of substantially cylindrical configuration, and said movable wall means comprises a piston head.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said piston head is connected to a shaft slidably mounted within said first compartment, said shaft extending through an aperture in a fixed wall of said vessel to said control means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 17 further comprising highpressure sealing means disposed adjacent said aperture in said fixed wall of said vessel in contact with said slidably mounted shaft to accommodate the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of said first compartment.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said second compartment, in operation of said system, can initially be filled with said second liquid.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said sealing means adjacent said movable wall means comprises a lowpressure sealing means affixed to said movable wall means in contact with a fixed wall of said vessel to accommodate substantially equal pressures on either side of said movable wall means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said common conduit for supplying said first liquid from said pump means to said first compartment of said vessel and to said mixing chamber comprises a tee junction for dividing the outflow from said pump means into the inflow to said first compartment port thereof.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said control means is programmable to selectively provide a desired gradient from a range of gradients for one of said liquids in said mixture flowing out of said mixing chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-01-26	1979-07-28	1980-01-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-01-26	1983-07-28	1984-01-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-01-26	1987-07-28	1988-01-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Solvent gradient generator for chromatography systems

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