Axially-driven valve controlled fluid trapping assembly

• US 5,009,778 A
• Filed: 08/31/1989
• Issued: 04/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nickerson, Mark A., Poole, John S., Frank, Lenore G. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Therkorn, Ernest G.
• Application Number:
  US07/403,024
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 210/635, 210/656, 210/659, 210/137, 210/198.2, 55/67, 55/386, 251/129.15, 251/331, 251/335.2
• US Class Current: 210/198.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/40 using supercritical fluid as mobile phase or eluent
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/085 using absorbing precolumn
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/02 Column chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/08 using an enricher
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/20 using a sampling valve

Abstract

A solenoid driven valve is disclosed which is adaptable for controlling the introduction of a high pressure fluid into a fluid trapping assembly having an absorption column topped with an annular orifice expansion nozzle. The valve has an inlet port to introduce high pressure fluid, an axially moving solenoid driven pin which engages means to restrict fluid flow into said column. A diaphragm is located within the valve to direct fluid into the column and which separates the fluid in a region of high pressure from ambient pressures.

Claims

1. In a trapping assembly for use with fluid systems having a column for removing a solute component of said fluid, the combination comprising:

inlet means for introducing said fluid under pressure into assembly,

axially driven valve means for controlling the fluid flow through said inlet means, and

an annular orifice expansion nozzle leading from said valve means to said column, wherein said valve means is driven and includes an axially moving pin adapted to restrict the flow of said fluid through said valve means by closing said orifice expansion nozzle.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said orifice expansion section leads directly from valve means to said column.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said orifice expansion nozzle includes a diverging section which is conical in shape and wherein the narrow end thereof forms the annular orifice and is also a part of said valve means.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said conical shape has an angle of from about 50 to 70 degrees.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means is solenoid driven.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said pin has a point that engages a seat adapted to close said orifice expansion nozzle.

7. In a trapping assembly for use with high-pressure fluid systems having a column for removing a solute component of said fluid, said assembly comprising:

inlet means for introducing said fluid under high pressure into said assembly,

axially driven valve means for controlling the fluid through said inlet means,

an annular orifice expansion nozzle with a conical diverging section leading from said valve means directly into said column,

said valve means comprising;

an axially-moving, solenoid-driven pin, a diaphragm for directing the flow of said fluid from said inlet means into said column, and a valve seat, said valve seat located at the narrow end of said orifice expansion nozzle, and axial movement of said pin being adapted to restrict the flow through and to close said orifice expansion nozzle.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said conical shape has an angle of from about 50 to 70 degrees.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said pin is surrounded by a hemispherical surface above said diaphragm.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the diaphragm is in the shape of a flattened cone with the apex of said cone adapted to engage said valve seat.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said pin is surrounded by a hemispherical surface above said diaphragm.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said pin has a point that engages said valve seat.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said pin passes through an aperture in said diaphragm in sealing engagement therewith.

14. In a trapping assembly for use with high-pressure fluid systems having a column for removing and collecting a solute component of said fluid, said assembly comprising:

inlet means for introducing said fluid under pressure into said assembly,

axially driven valve means for controlling the fluid flow through said inlet means,

an annular orifice expansion nozzle with a conical diverging section leading from said valve means directly into said column,

a flushing port in said orifice expansion nozzle adapted to conduct a flushing fluid into or out of said column after collecting said solute in said column,

wherein said valve means is driven and includes an axially moving pin adapted to restrict the flow of said fluid through said valve means by closing said orifice expansion nozzle.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said pin has a point that engages a seat adapted to close said orifice expansion nozzle.