US 12,752,275 B2Granted

Pressure-stepped chemical reactions and associated methods, systems, apparatuses, and articles

AssigneeCEM Corporation

InventorsTimothy Adam Zawatsky, Steven Francis Guilmette, William Edward Jennings, Ian Stuart Goldstein

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In an acid digestion reaction performed in a vessel, an elastic lid or septum can be mounted to the mouth of the vessel with a flanged band. In response to determining that a predetermined pressure has been reached in the vessel, a closing force being applied to the lid or septum can be reduced to initiate venting from the vessel. One or more parameters, including the closing force, can be monitored during the venting, and the closing force can be responsively adjusted to optimize the venting. The closing force can be provided by a clamping apparatus that may or may not include a hydraulic system. The clamping apparatus can be configured to increase the closing force in response to increased hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic system. The clamping apparatus can include an engager having an upwardly extending recess extending at least partially around a downwardly protruding portion of the engager.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A system for performing a digestion reaction;

the system comprising:
a support configured to support a reaction vessel;
a clamping apparatus configured to apply a closing force toward a mouth of the reaction vessel while the reaction vessel is supported by the support, wherein:
the clamping apparatus comprises a hydraulic system comprising a displacement member that is at least partially positioned in a chamber,
the chamber and the displacement member are cooperatively configured so that the displacement member moves outwardly relative to the chamber in response to increased hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic system, and
the clamping apparatus is configured to apply the closing force in response to the displacement member moving outwardly relative to the chamber;
a heating apparatus configured to heat contents of the reaction vessel while the reaction vessel is supported by the support;
a first sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of gas pressure in a headspace of the reaction vessel while the reaction vessel is supported by the support;
a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is a hydraulic pressure sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic system;
and
a computer configured to control, by way of the clamping apparatus, in response to inputs, the closing force and outward venting from an opening of the reaction vessel while the reaction vessel is supported by the support, wherein the inputs comprise the signal from the first sensor and the signal from the second sensor.

8 more elements

A system for performing a digestion reaction;

the system comprising:
a support configured to support a reaction vessel;
a clamping apparatus comprising a flexible engagement member, wherein:
the clamping apparatus is configured to clamp at least a portion of a closure between a lower side of the flexible engagement member and a mouth of the reaction vessel while the reaction vessel is supported by the support,
the flexible engagement member comprises both a downwardly protruding central portion and a downwardly protruding outer portion extending at least partially around the downwardly protruding central portion, and
the lower side of the flexible engagement member defines an upwardly extending recessed cavity that:
extends at least partially around the downwardly protruding central portion of the flexible engagement member, and
is positioned between the downwardly protruding central portion of the flexible engagement member and the downwardly protruding outer portion of the flexible engagement member, so that the downwardly protruding outer portion of the flexible engagement member extends at least partially around the upwardly extending recessed cavity that is defined by the lower side of the flexible engagement member;
and
a force sensor cooperatively associated with the downwardly protruding central portion of the flexible engagement member to provide a signal indicative of pressure in the reaction vessel while at least a portion of the closure is clamped between the lower side of the flexible engagement member and the mouth of the reaction vessel, the system being configured to transfer force to the force sensor by way of at least the central portion of the flexible engagement member,
wherein the upwardly extending recessed cavity defined by the flexible engagement member is configured to accommodate upward movement of a portion of the closure in a manner that enhances accuracy of signals from the force sensor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.