# US 2014/0196524 A1 · Pipe containing a metal casing with a plastics material inlay for use in low and high pressure applications, in particular as an hplc column

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- Number: US 2014/0196524 A1
- Document ID: US20140196524A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/239,256
- Filed: 2012-08-09
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-15
- Assignees: Moller Medical GmbH
- Inventors: Frank Hirmer; Michael Frank
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196524A1

## CPC

- G01N 30/60: Construction of the column
- F16L 9/147: comprising only layers of metal and plastics with or without reinforcement
- F16L 15/008: {with sealing rings}
- F16L 19/00: Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on, or into, one of the joint parts (F16L17/00 takes precedence; if using bolts or equivalent connecting means F16L23/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00 {; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/06})
- G01N 30/6004: {end pieces}
- G01N 30/6026: {Fluid seals}
- G01N 30/6039: {in series}
- G01N 30/6052: {body}
- G01N 30/6073: {in open tubular form}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A chromatography column comprises a pipe that contains a tubular metal casing with an inlay and sealing ring. The inlay is configured as a plastics material tube and is pushed or drawn into the metal casing and a sealing ring of plastics material is connected to the inlay at the end. Because of this structure, a connection to further system parts is possible, which is carry-over-free, inert on the inside, liquid-tight, optionally gas-tight, and pressure-tight. A connection element and connection connect the pipe to feed and/or discharge lines of a capillary system. Pipes, connection elements and connections of this type are advantageously used in low and high pressure systems, such as, for example, in an HPLC column. The use of such systems is advantageous in in-vitro diagnostics and in liquid handling applications.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-29. (canceled)

### Claim 30

A pipe for a chromatography column, comprising:
a tubular metal casing having a first end and a second end;
an inlay comprising a plastic material tube having a first end and second end configured to be insertable into the metal casing; and
a first plastic material sealing ring connected to the inlay proximate the first end of the inlay.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the inlay extends through the first sealing ring and connected thereto in a sealing manner.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the pipe comprises a high performance liquid chromatography column.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, further comprising a second plastic material sealing ring connected to the second end of the inlay.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the pipe is configured for use in at least one of an in-vitro diagnostic system, a chemical analysis system and a preparative instrument.

### Claim 35 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, further comprising first and second annular depressions recessed on the inside of the casing on first and second end faces of the metal casing, the first and second annular depressions receiving a respective one of the first and second sealing rings.

### Claim 36 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the first end of the inlay extends from the first end of the metal casing and the first sealing ring adjoins the inlay on an outside of the inlay.

### Claim 37 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the first sealing ring is applied to at least one of the metal casing and the inlay by injection-molding.

### Claim 38 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the inlay and first sealing ring are welded together to produce an integral material bond between the inlay and the first sealing ring.

### Claim 39 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the inlay and the sealing ring are comprised of a thermoplastic material.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The pipe of claim 39, wherein the inlay and the sealing ring are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of fluoroplastics, polyaryletherketones, polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone, polyetherketoneketone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyetheretherketone and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 41 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein inlay and the first sealing ring are formed from the same plastic material.

### Claim 42 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein a wall thickness of the inlay is in a range from about 0.05 mm to 2 mm.

### Claim 43 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the metal casing is comprised substantially of high-grade steel.

### Claim 44 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein an internal diameter of the metal casing is in the range from about 0.5 mm to 10 mm.

### Claim 45 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein an internal diameter of the first sealing ring substantially corresponds to an external diameter of the inlay proximate the first end thereof.

### Claim 46 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, wherein the inlay is attached by at least one of a weld or glue proximate the first end of the inlay to an inner wall of the first sealing ring.

### Claim 47 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, further comprising a thread formed on an outside of the casing on an end portion thereof at the first end.

### Claim 48 (depends on 30)

The pipe of claim 30, further comprising a connection element coupled to a first end of the tubular metal casing with a feed or discharge line.

### Claim 49

A connection element for connecting a chromatography column with a feed or discharge line, comprising:
a first tubular metal casing having a first end, a second end, a cavity at the first end defining first and second internal shoulders and an internal thread formed in the cavity, the second end being configured as a connector for a feed or discharge line;
a first center piece comprising a first plastic material pressed body with a through-opening to receive one end of the feed or discharge line, the first plastic material pressed body insertable into the cavity from the first end and abuttable against the first internal shoulder of the first metal casing, the plastic material pressed body and the second internal shoulder of the tubular metal casing forming an abutting face.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The connection element of claim 49, further comprising a filter inserted in a first end of the plastic material pressed body.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The connection element of claim 49, wherein the first end of the first tubular metal casing is configured to attach to a first end of a second tubular metal casing and wherein the second tubular metal casing is configured for receiving an inlay comprising a plastic material tube having a first end and second end insertable into the second tubular metal casing, and wherein a first plastic material sealing ring is connected to the inlay at the first end of the inlay.

### Claim 52

A chromatography column configured for connecting between a feed line and a discharge line, comprising:
a first tubular metal casing having a first end and a second end;
an inlay comprising a plastic material tube having a first end and second end configured to be insertable into the first metal casing;
a first plastic material sealing ring connected to the inlay proximate the first end of the inlay;
a second plastic material sealing ring connected to the inlay proximate the second end of the inlay;
a first connection element configured for connecting the first end of the first tubular metal casing to a feed line comprising:
a second tubular metal casing having a first end, a second end, a cavity at the first end defining first and second internal shoulders and an internal thread formed in the cavity, the second end being configured as a connector for the feed line;
a first center piece comprising a first plastic material pressed body with a through-opening to receive one end of the feed line, the first plastic material pressed body insertable into the cavity from the first end and abuttable against the first internal shoulder of the second metal casing, the plastic material pressed body and the second internal shoulder of the second tubular metal casing forming a first abutting face;
a second connection element configured for connecting the second end of the first tubular metal casing to a discharge line comprising:
a third tubular metal casing having a first end, a second end, a cavity at the first end defining first and second internal shoulders and an internal thread formed in the cavity, the second end being configured as a connector for the discharge line;
a second center piece comprising a second plastic material pressed body with a through-opening to receive one end of the discharge line, the first plastic material pressed body insertable into the cavity from the first end and abuttable against the first internal shoulder of the third metal casing, the second plastic material pressed body and the second internal shoulder of the third tubular metal casing forming an second abutting face.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The chromatography column of claim 52, further comprising a first filter inserted in the first end of the plastic material pressed body of the first connection element.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The chromatography column of claim 53, wherein the first filter is positioned between the inlay and the first plastics material pressed body.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein the first filter is comprised of at least one of a filter fabric, a screen and a frits.

### Claim 56 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein an external diameter of the first plastics material pressed body substantially corresponds to the external diameter of the first sealing ring.

### Claim 57 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein a first seal of plastic on plastic is formed between the first and second connection elements and the inlay and a second seal of metal on metal is formed between each of the first and second connection elements and the first tubular metal casing.

### Claim 58 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein the feed line and discharge line each comprise a plastic material tube having a metal surround.

### Claim 59 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein a first plastic on plastic seal and a first metal on metal seal is formed between the first connection element and the feed line and a second plastic on plastic seal and a second metal on metal seal is formed between the second connection element and the discharge line.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The chromatography column of claim 57, wherein the first and second plastic on plastic seals each form an inner seal and the first and second metal on metal seals each form an outer seal.

### Claim 61 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein the chromatography column comprises a high performance liquid chromatography column.

### Claim 62 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein the chromatography column is a component of an in-vitro diagnostic system or a liquid handling system.

### Claim 63 (depends on 54)

The chromatography column of claim 54, wherein the chromatography column is a component of at least one of a low and high pressure line system.