Suprex Corp.

Other

M Lalith Kumar

Joseph L Hedrick

The present invention is a pressure vessel device. The device is comprised of a vessel body having an open end. The device also comprises an end cap disposed on the open end of the body. A self-energizing seal is disposed between the end cap and the vessel body to seal them together. Preferably, the seal consists of a C-shaped polymeric body with a stainless steel spring or an O-ring in the middle. The spring pushes two lips of the seal out. One lip of the seal touches the body of the vessel and the other lip of the seal touches the cap. When the pressure inside the vessel increases, it acts against the seal and pushes the lips even further towards the wall. In order to eliminate bolts, the cap can be threaded to the vessel body. The threads provide an additional bonus in that a simpler motor mechanism can feed the cap into the vessel thereby providing an automated method of opening and closing the vessel. This simple automation provides considerable amount of safety to the operator. A seal retainer can be used to hold the seal from moving. The seal retainer can be designed to do more than one function. For example, it can be designed to hold a frit to retain any solids from entraining, act as a flow distributor and hold the seal in the right place.

Pressure vessel seal with self-energizing seal

The present invention is an apparatus for manipulating fluid flow. The apparatus includes a member having a channel through which fluid flows and at least one opening of a predetermined diameter in communication with the channel. The opening controls the fluid flow thereacross. At least a portion of the member is in thermal contact with the opening and is made of a material reactive with electromagnetic energy. There is also a device for providing electromagnetic energy. The providing device is in communication with the portion of the member reactive to electromagnetic energy such that the electromagnetic energy heats the portion of the member. The present invention also pertains to an apparatus for restricting fluid flow. The restricting apparatus includes a member having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface and an opening between the first and second surface for restricting the fluid flow therethrough. The member is made of sapphire or ruby. Preferably, the opening has a first diameter at the top surface and a second diameter at the bottom surface, the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The present invention also pertains to a method of manipulating fluid flow. The method comprises the first step of heating with electromagnetic radiation a fluid restrictor, followed by the step of flowing fluid through the restrictor.

Method and apparatus for manipulating fluid

A method and apparatus are disclosed for the supercritical extraction of a sample from a liquid medium. The method and apparatus provide for the recirculation of the supercritical fluid containing the sample through the liquid containing sample until at least a portion of the sample has been extracted.

Supercritical fluid extraction from liquids

In one embodiment of the invention supercritical fluid chromatographic separation may be accomplished by apparatus which includes a column, an oven for maintaining the temperature of a sample in the oven, an injector for delivering a sample containing fluid to the column and a pump for delivering carrier fluid to the injector. A discharge outlet for receiving processed fluid from the column contains one or two restrictors and a nozzle for discharge of processed fluid. The pump also delivers fluid which is the carrier fluid not containing the sample to a position in the pressure control inlet so as to alter the linear velocity of the sample containing fluid through the column. A controller controls operation of the oven and pump. A valve and a transducer may be positioned in the line between the pump and the discharge outlet in order to permit adjustment of the pressure of the unprocessed carrier fluid being introduced into the discharge outlet by the controller. The method of this embodiment may employ equipment of this type to effect chromatographic separation at the desired flow rate.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

M Lalith Kumar