Extraction cell cap assembly with toolless disassembly

An extraction cell comprising:

• a cell vessel;
• a cap assembly removably secured to the cell vessel to define a sample chamber within the cell vessel, the cap assembly including a cap body and a locking cap;
• the cap body including a threaded base releasably engaged with the cell vessel, a support member extending axially upward from the threaded base, and a bore axially extending through the support member;
• the locking cap including a plunger slidably received within the bore of the cap body, a recess disposed within a lower surface of the plunger, and a locking portion that releasably engages the support member of the cap body, wherein rotation of the locking cap in a first direction relative to the cap body engages the locking portion with the support member, and rotation in an opposite second direction disengages the locking portion from the support member;
• a filter removably received within the recess;
• and
• a seal member removably received within the bore, wherein the seal member forms a fluid-tight seal between the cell vessel and the cap assembly when the locking portion and the support member are engaged and the cap assembly is secured to the cell vessel,
• wherein the locking portion includes a locking flange and the support member includes a support flange, wherein the locking and support flanges axially overlap with one another when the locking cap is rotated in the first direction relative to the cap body and wherein the locking portion includes three circumferentially spaced locking flanges and the support member includes three circumferentially spaced support flanges, wherein respective pairs of locking and support flanges axially overlap with one another when the locking cap is rotated in the first direction relative to the cap body.

A cap assembly for an extraction cell comprising:

• a cap body including a threaded base adapted to releasably engage an end of a cell vessel, a support member extending axially upward from the threaded base, and a bore axially extending through the support member;
• a locking cap including a plunger slidably received within the bore of the cap body, a recess disposed within the plunger, and a locking portion that releasably engages the support member of the cap body, wherein rotation of the locking cap in a first direction relative to the cap body engages the locking portion with the support member, and rotation in an opposite second direction disengages the locking portion from the support member;
• a filter removably received within the recess;
• and
• a seal member removably received within the bore, wherein the seal member is adapted to form a fluid-tight seal between the cell vessel and the cap assembly when the cap assembly is secured to the cell vessel,
• wherein the locking portion includes a locking flange and the support member includes a support flange, wherein the locking and support flanges axially overlap with one another when the locking cap is rotated in the first direction relative to the cap body, and wherein the locking flange extends radially inward from a peripheral wall of the locking cap, and the support flange extends radially outward from an annular surface of the support member.