Reactor with quick connects

Abstract

A modular reactor system comprises a backplane connected to a computer and a thermal control unit. The backplane includes a plurality of seats for releasably holding a plurality of modules. Each module holds a reactor vessel that may be used to conduct experiments. A plurality of laboratory instruments, such as motors, switches, sensors and pumps are included within the backplane and on the reactor modules. These laboratory instruments are utilized to perform work on the contents of the reactor vessels when the modules holding the reactor vessels are positioned in the backplane. A computer is connected to the backplane and controls the laboratory instruments within the backplane and on the reactor modules positioned within the backplane. A thermal control unit provides a thermal control fluid that is delivered to the reactors in the reactor modules when the modules are properly seated in the backplane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reactor vessel for use with a module shell releaseably positioned within a backplane, the reactor vessel comprising: 
 a. an interior wall defining a reactor chamber;    b. an exterior wall surrounding the interior wall and forming a chamber between the interior wall and the exterior wall;    c. at least one port positioned upon the exterior wall and leading to the chamber;    d. a quick connect connector rigidly attached to the at least one port.    
     
     
         2 . The reactor vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve that engages the quick connect connector and the at least one port to secure the quick connect connector to the at least one port.  
     
     
         3 . The reactor vessel of  claim 2  wherein the at least one port is threaded and the sleeve is threaded.  
     
     
         4 . The reactor vessel of  claim 3  further comprising an O-ring positioned between the quick connect connector and the port.  
     
     
         5 . The reactor vessel of  claim 3  wherein the quick connect connector includes a base portion and a stud portion extending from the base portion, wherein the base portion is connected to the at least one port.  
     
     
         6 . The reactor vessel of  claim 5  wherein the module shell includes a reactor seat for receiving the reactor vessel, and the studs of the quick connect connectors extend from the back of the module shell.  
     
     
         7 . The reactor vessel of  claim 6  wherein the backplane includes a slot for receiving the module shell and complimentary connectors that receive the quick connect connectors when the module shell is seated in the slot of the backplane.  
     
     
         8 . The reactor vessel of  claim 5  wherein the stud includes at least one O-ring groove.  
     
     
         9 . The reactor vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a lid having a plurality of ports.  
     
     
         10 . The reactor vessel of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of ports include a stirrer port centrally positioned upon the lid.  
     
     
         11 . The reactor vessel of  claim 10  further comprising a first peripheral port, a second peripheral port, a third peripheral port, and a fourth peripheral port positioned upon the lid around the stirrer port and spaced 90 degrees apart.  
     
     
         12 . The reactor vessel of  claim 11  further comprising a fifth peripheral port and a sixth peripheral port each spaced 45 degrees apart from the first peripheral port on the lid.  
     
     
         13 . A reactor vessel for use with a module shell releaseably positioned within a backplane, the reactor vessel comprising: 
 a. an interior wall defining a reactor chamber;    b. an exterior wall surrounding the interior wall and forming a chamber between the interior wall and the exterior wall;    c. at least one port positioned upon the exterior wall and leading to the chamber;    d. a connector means rigidly attached to the at least one port.    
     
     
         14 . The reactor vessel of  claim 13  further comprising a sleeve that engages the quick connect connector and the at least one port to secure the quick connect connector to the at least one port.  
     
     
         15 . The reactor vessel of  claim 14  wherein the at least one port is threaded and the sleeve is threaded.  
     
     
         16 . The reactor vessel of  claim 13  further comprising a lid having a plurality of ports.  
     
     
         17 . A method of joining a reactor vessel to a backplane, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a reactor vessel having a jacket and an inlet port and an outlet port providing openings to the jacket;    b. attaching a first quick connect connector to the inlet port and a second quick connect connector to the outlet port such that first quick connect connector is rigid with respect to the inlet port and the second quick connect connector is rigid with respect to the outlet port;    c. placing the reactor vessel in a module shell;    d. inserting the module shell into a slot of a backplane having a first complimentary connector and a second complimentary connector such that the first quick connect connector engages the first complimentary connector and the second quick connect connector engage the second complimentary connector.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of engaging a sleeve with the quick connect connector and the at least one port to secure the quick connect connector to the at least one port.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the reactor vessel includes a lid having a plurality of ports.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of clamping the lid to the reactor vessel when the reactor vessel is placed in the module shell.