METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A FLUID SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring a fluid system comprising:
- a liquid chamber;
a seal for sealing a fluid within said liquid chamber;
a wash chamber adjacent said seal on the opposite side of said seal from said liquid chamber;
a reservoir for supplying a wash solution to said wash chamber;
a supply pump for supplying a unidirectional flow of wash solution from said reservoir to said wash chamber;
a return line for conveying a return flow from said wash chamber to said reservoir, said return flow including any leakage of said fluid from said liquid chamber into said wash chamber and the portion of said wash solution that returns to said reservoir; and
a detector for determining whether there is a differential between said unidirectional flow and said return flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring a fluid system particularly suited for use with high pressure liquid chromatography systems. The apparatus monitors seal leakage as well as the general wellness of the apparatus and can thus be used to provide preventive maintenance feedback. The apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a wash chamber, a reservoir, a supply pump, a return line, and a detector. The liquid chamber includes a seal for sealing a fluid within the liquid chamber. The wash chamber is located adjacent the seal. The reservoir supplies a wash solution to the wash chamber. The supply pump supplies a unidirectional flow of wash solution from the reservoir to the wash chamber. The return line conveys a return flow from the wash chamber to the reservoir, in which the return flow includes any leakage of the fluid from the liquid chamber into the wash chamber and the portion of the wash solution that returns from the wash chamber to the reservoir. The detector determines whether there is a differential between the unidirectional flow and the return flow. A method of monitoring a fluid system is also disclosed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a fluid system comprising:
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a liquid chamber;
a seal for sealing a fluid within said liquid chamber;
a wash chamber adjacent said seal on the opposite side of said seal from said liquid chamber;
a reservoir for supplying a wash solution to said wash chamber;
a supply pump for supplying a unidirectional flow of wash solution from said reservoir to said wash chamber;
a return line for conveying a return flow from said wash chamber to said reservoir, said return flow including any leakage of said fluid from said liquid chamber into said wash chamber and the portion of said wash solution that returns to said reservoir; and
a detector for determining whether there is a differential between said unidirectional flow and said return flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of monitoring leakage in a system including a liquid chamber, a seal for sealing a fluid under within said liquid chamber, and a wash chamber adjacent said seal, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a unidirectional flow of a wash solution from a reservoir to said wash chamber;
determining whether there is a differential between a return flow and said unidirectional flow, said return flow including any leakage of said fluid from said liquid chamber into said wash chamber and the portion of said wash solution that returns to said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification