US4686752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming slots in a material-retaining plate for a packed column reactor in an analytical instrument
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-12
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2005-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A slotted retaining plate for use in a tubular reactor within an analytical system. The reactor contains inert packed material which provides for the necessary flow path length for a fluid stream entering the reactor. The retaining plate is extremely thin and has an array of slots which permit the necessary flow of the stream through the reactor, but retain the packing material within the reactor. The design of the slot array in the retaining plates essentially eliminates any possible impediment to the stream flow. The slots are adjustable to provide more flexibility in slot size control to allow use of smaller packing particles within the reactor and improve the instrument resolution in, for example, an amino acid analyzer.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Sharples
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:49
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/06; B01J8/008; G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/50; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00796; B01J2208/00884; G01N30/60; G01N30/6004; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/496; Y10T29/4981; Y10T29/49812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of forming slots of a predetermined width in a material-retaining plate, said method comprising the steps of: perforating said plate in a pattern defining a selected array of slots and bending a portion of said plate within each set of slots laterally from the plane of said plate to form openings in said plate; placing a material of uniform thickness within each of said openings, said material having a thickness substantially equal to a predetermined width; re-bending said portions of said plate toward the plane of said plate to engage said material and pressing each of said portions against said material to form a slot having a width approximating the width of said material; and removing said material from said plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of forming slots of a predetermined width in a material-retaining plate, said method comprising the steps of: perforating said plate in a pattern defining a selected array of slots and bending a portion of said plate within each set of slots laterally from the plane of said plate to form openings in said plate; placing a material of uniform thickness within each of said openings, said material having a thickness substantially equal to a predetermined width; re-bending said portions of said plate toward the plane of said plate to engage said material and pressing each of said portions against said material to form a slot having a width approximating the width of said material; and removing said material from said plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said material-placing step comprises placing a selectively dissolvable material within said openings and said removing step comprises dissolving said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said first step comprises perforating said plate in a pattern defining a circular array of openings.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of forming slots of a predetermined width in a thin plate, said method comprising: coating said plate with a dissolvable material, said coating having a specified thickness; perforating said plate in a pattern defining a selected array of slots and bending a portion of said plate within each set of slots laterally from the plane of said plate by a selected amount such that the outer edge of said portion extends over said plate; and re-bending said portions of said plate toward the plane of said plate to engage said dissolvable materials and pressing each of said portions to form a slot having a width approximating twice the width of said material; and dissolving said dissolvable material from said plate (to establish the slots of a predetermined width).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of forming slots of a predetermined width in a thin plate, said method comprising: coating said plate with a dissolvable material, said coating having a specified thickness; perforating said plate in a pattern defining a selected array of slots and bending a portion of said plate within each set of slots laterally from the plane of said plate by a selected amount such that the outer edge of said portion extends over said plate; and re-bending said portions of said plate toward the plane of said plate to engage said dissolvable materials and pressing each of said portions to form a slot having a width approximating twice the width of said material; and dissolving said dissolvable material from said plate (to establish the slots of a predetermined width).
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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) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |