Unitary distribution plate and configurable diaphragm
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorsMichael J. May, Jason Aaron Lawrence
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A unitary distribution plate of a Gas chromatograph (GC) module having a plurality of valve bores disposed on a bottom surface of the unitary distribution plate and a least one sensor cell and at least one column port machined into the top surface of the unitary distribution plate. The valve bores and sensor cells are connected by fluid pathways within a thickness of the distribution plate. The pathways include a combination of planar, longitudinal, diagonal, and radial fluid pathways relative to the top surface of the distribution plate. The fluid channels are formed by diffusion bonding or more generally laminating multiple plates into the unitary distribution plate.
Claims29
A distribution plate of a gas chromatograph module comprising:
- a unitary top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness;
- a plurality of apertures disposed on the top surface extending partially into the thickness;
- a plurality of valve bores disposed on the bottom surface extending partially into the thickness,
- wherein the plurality of valve bores are arranged in a series of ring-shaped grouping patterns about a center axis of the distribution plate;
- and
- a plurality of fluid pathways disposed within the thickness fluidly connecting the plurality of valve bores to the plurality of apertures,
- wherein the plurality of fluid pathways comprises pathways positioned both longitudinally and in-plane relative to the top surface, and pathways positioned radially about the center axis,
- and wherein at least one valve fluid pathway of the plurality of fluid pathways fluidly connects adjacent valve bores of the plurality of valve bores.
A modular valve subassembly of a GC module comprising:
- a pilot plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of control holes disposed coaxially on the top surface of the pilot plate;
- a diaphragm having an upper diaphragm membrane disposed against the top surface of the pilot plate;
- and
- a distribution plate having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness;
- a plurality of apertures disposed on the top surface extending partially into the thickness, a plurality of valve bores disposed on the bottom surface extending partially into the thickness, and at least one planar fluid pathway disposed within the thickness fluidly connecting the plurality of valve bores to the plurality of apertures;
- wherein the plurality of control holes of the pilot plate are coaxial with a first valve bore and an adjacent second valve bore of the distribution plate;
- wherein the plurality of control holes are configured to at least partially deflect the upper diaphragm membrane upon venting of pressure from the plurality of control holes;
- wherein the upper diaphragm membrane deflects into the plurality of control holes, opening a fluid path between the first valve bore and the adjacent second valve bore.
A diaphragm for opening and closing valve bores of a distribution plate of a GC module comprising:
- an upper diaphragm membrane positioned against a bottom surface of the distribution plate, the upper diaphragm membrane configured to deflect at least partially into a plurality of apertures of a body disposed under the upper diaphragm membrane upon venting of pressure from the upper diaphragm membrane, the upper diaphragm defining one or more apertures,
- wherein deflection of the diaphragm membrane opens a fluid pathway between a first valve bore and a second valve bore disposed on the bottom surface of the distribution plate disposed against the upper diaphragm membrane such that gas flows from the body into the distribution plate through the one or more apertures of the upper diaphragm, the first valve bore positioned adjacent to the second valve bore, the upper diaphragm membrane, first valve bore and second valve bore defining a valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.