US2013340609A1PendingUtilityA1

Pump head outlet port

46
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 10, 2011Filed: Mar 9, 2012Published: Dec 26, 2013
Est. expiryMar 10, 2031(~4.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Joshua A. ShreveNeil AlmeidaJohn Angelosanto
F04B 53/06G01N 2030/326G01N 30/32F04B 53/164F04B 13/00F04B 53/007
46
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Pumps used in liquid chromatography applications employ actuators for pressurizing and moving liquid. An actuator includes a pump head having a chamber, a gland, a movable rod extending through the gland into the chamber of the pump head, and a plunger seal disposed in the gland around the rod for sealing against fluidic leakage from the chamber. The plunger seal has an annular flange that provides an OD (outer diameter) seal against the gland. The flange defines a seal cavity. The pump head further includes an outlet port and an outlet channel. One end of the outlet channel is in communication with the outlet port and the other end of the outlet channel opens into the seal cavity of the plunger seal. The outlet channel provides a flow path for liquid in the chamber to travel towards the outlet port in response to movement of the rod.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a pump head having a chamber;   a gland;   a movable rod extending through the gland into the chamber of the pump head; and   a plunger seal disposed in the gland around the rod for sealing against fluidic leakage from the chamber, the plunger seal having an annular flange that provides an OD (outer diameter) seal against the gland, the flange defining a seal cavity, the pump head further including an outlet port and an outlet channel, one end of the outlet channel being in communication with the outlet port and the other end of the outlet channel opening into the seal cavity of the plunger seal, the outlet channel providing a flow path for liquid in the chamber to travel towards the outlet port in response to movement of the rod.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel opens into the seal cavity near a highest point in the seal cavity to which a gas bubble in the liquid can escape. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel extends substantially parallel to the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet channel extends at substantially a right angle to the outlet port. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein a wash housing coupled to the pump head comprises the gland. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the pump head comprises the gland. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the rod in the chamber is a reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the pump head further comprises a secondary outlet channel extending from the outlet port to the chamber, the secondary outlet channel providing an additional flow path for the liquid to travel from the chamber to the outlet port in response to the movement of the rod. 
     
     
         9 . A pump comprising:
 a plurality of actuators cooperating to pump solvent, at least one of the actuators comprising:
 a pump head having a chamber; 
 a gland; 
 a movable rod extending through the gland into the chamber of the pump head; and 
 a plunger seal disposed in the gland around the rod for sealing against fluidic leakage from the chamber, the plunger seal having an annular flange that provides an OD (outer diameter) seal against the gland, the flange defining a seal cavity, the pump head further including an outlet port and an outlet channel, one end of the outlet channel being in communication with the outlet port and the other end of the outlet channel opening into the seal cavity of the plunger seal, the outlet channel providing a flow path for liquid in the chamber to travel towards the outlet port in response to movement of the rod. 
   
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet channel opens into the seal cavity near a highest point in the seal cavity to which a gas bubble in the liquid can escape. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet channel extends substantially parallel to the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet channel extends at substantially a right angle to the outlet port. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein a wash housing comprises the gland. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the pump head comprises the gland. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the movement of the rod in the chamber is a reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the pump head further comprises a secondary outlet channel extending from the outlet port to the chamber, the conduit providing an additional flow path for the liquid to travel from the chamber to the outlet port in response to the movement of the rod. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid chromatography system comprising:
 a pump with a plurality of actuators cooperating to pump solvent, at least one of the actuators comprising:
 a pump head having a chamber; 
 a gland; 
 a movable rod extending through the gland into the chamber of the pump head; and 
 a plunger seal disposed in the gland around the rod for sealing against fluidic leakage from the chamber, the plunger seal having an annular flange that provides an OD (outer diameter) seal against the gland, the flange defining a seal cavity, the pump head further including an outlet port and an outlet channel, one end of the outlet channel being in communication with the outlet port and the other end of the outlet channel opening into the seal cavity of the plunger seal, the outlet channel providing a flow path for liquid in the chamber to travel towards the outlet port in response to movement of the rod. 
   
     
     
         18 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the outlet channel opens into the seal cavity near a highest point in the seal cavity to which a gas bubble in the liquid can escape. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the outlet channel extends substantially parallel to the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the outlet channel extends at substantially a right angle to the outlet port. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein a wash housing comprises the gland. 
     
     
         22 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump head comprises the gland. 
     
     
         23 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the movement of the rod in the chamber is a reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         24 . The liquid chromatography system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump head further comprises a secondary outlet channel extending from the outlet port to the chamber, the conduit providing an additional flow path for the liquid to travel from the chamber to the outlet port in response to the movement of the rod.

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