# US 2019/0314741 A1 · Chromatography and synthesis column apparatus and method of assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314741 A1 - Document ID: US20190314741A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/954,562 - Filed: 2018-04-16 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc. - Applicants: Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc. - Inventors: Michael D. Brandt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314741A1 ## CPC - B01D 15/22: relating to the construction of the column - G01N 30/6047: {with supporting means; Holders} - G01N 30/606: {with fluid access or exit ports} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - 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) ## Abstract Chromatography and synthesis columns, assemblies, components, and methods of assembly and disassembly are disclosed including a support assembly having lifting mechanisms in each of the legs to raise and lower a frame secured to the column, a swing arm and/or carriage guiding movement of a bottom plate of the column, a bolt-free coupling between the main tube and bottom plate of the column, and upper and lower slurry ports in the main tube of the column. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base assembly for a chromatography column having a main tube and a bottom plate, the base assembly comprising: a frame secured to the main tube of the chromatography column; legs mounted to the frame to support the chromatography column in an upright orientation; and lifting mechanisms of each of the legs configured to raise and lower the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the legs comprise a base, and the lifting mechanisms comprise hydraulic cylinders, each hydraulic cylinder supported by the base with a portion thereof engaging the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The base assembly of claim 2, wherein the frame comprises tubular leg portions extending downwardly toward the bases of the legs, the hydraulic cylinders extending within the tubular leg portions, and the legs further comprise an upstanding wall extending around a perimeter of the base, the upstanding wall configured to telescope with the tubular leg portions as the hydraulic cylinders move the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The base assembly of claim 3, wherein the legs further comprise one or more bearings configured to orient the hydraulic cylinders within the tubular leg portions of the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The base assembly of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic cylinders comprise double acting, double rod cylinders connected in series, and further comprising a control circuit configured to control operation of the hydraulic cylinders. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The base assembly of claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises an air driven hydraulic circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The base assembly of claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises a pendant having user inputs configured to lift and lower the main tube by operating the hydraulic cylinders. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The base assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rigid swing arm having a proximal end coupled to one of the legs and a distal end coupled to the bottom plate, the swing arm configured to guide pivoting of the bottom plate along a horizontal plane, and wherein the one of the legs is spaced from at least another one of the legs a distance sized so that the bottom plate can be pivoted therebetween along a radius of the swing arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The base assembly of claim 8, further comprising a carriage and wherein the bottom plate is mounted on the carriage, such that the bottom plate can be conveyed on the carriage and movement of the carriage can be directed by pivoting of the swing arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The base assembly of claim 9, further comprising one or more removable couplings disposed between the bottom plate and the legs to hold the bottom plate stationary while the lifting mechanisms raise the main tube, and wherein the proximal end of the swing arm comprises a bearing coupled to the one of the legs and configured to slide therealong. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The base assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame has a pentagon shape extending around a rectangular portion and a triangular portion, and the legs comprise two rear legs mounted at distal corners of the rectangular portion and a front leg mounted at a proximal corner of the triangular portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The base assembly of claim 11, further comprising telescoping legs mounted at intermediate corners of the frame, each of the legs and the telescoping legs comprising casters mounted on ends thereof, such that the telescoping legs are configured to cooperate with the legs to provide stable movement of the chromatography column. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The base assembly of claim 1 in combination with the chromatography column, the combination further comprising a plurality of pendulum members pivotably mounted to the main tube, each of the plurality of pendulum members comprising a stem portion and a distal, enlarged retaining portion, and wherein the bottom plate includes an array of radially opening slots, each of the slots aligned with one of the plurality of pendulum members, each of the pendulum members configured to be pivoted so that the stem portion extends through the respective slot and the retaining portion is disposed below the bottom plate and configured to abut a bottom surface of the bottom plate to retain the bottom plate on the main tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination of claim 13, wherein the bottom plate includes a plug portion configured to extend into the main tube and seal to an interior surface of the main tube, and the stem portion is sized so that the retaining portion clears the bottom plate when pivoted only when the plug portion is fully received within the main tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The combination of claim 13, wherein a lower, radially outward corner of the bottom plate is chamfered to provide clearance for the retaining portion of the pendulum. ### Claim 16 A base assembly for a chromatography column having a main tube and a bottom plate, the base assembly comprising: a frame secured to the main tube of the chromatography column; legs mounted to the frame to support the chromatography column in an upright orientation; a rigid swing arm having a proximal end mounted to one of the legs and a distal end mounted to the bottom plate, the swing arm configured to guide pivoting of the bottom plate along a horizontal plane, and wherein the one of the legs is spaced from at least another one of the legs a distance sized so that the bottom plate can be pivoted therebetween along a radius of the swing arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The base assembly of claim 16, further comprising a carriage, and wherein the bottom plate is mounted on the carriage, such that the bottom plate can be conveyed on the carriage and movement of the carriage can be directed by pivoting of the swing arm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The base assembly of claim 16, wherein the frame has a pentagon shape extending around a rectangular portion and a triangular portion, and the legs comprise two rear legs mounted at distal corners of the rectangular portion and a front leg mounted at a proximal corner of the triangular portion, wherein the proximal end of the swing arm is mounted to the front leg. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The base assembly of claim 16, wherein the frame has a rectangular shape with the legs mounted to corners of the frame. ### Claim 20 A method of servicing a chromatography column having a main tube and a bottom plate and supported by a base assembly having a frame mounted to the main tube and legs mounted to the frame, the method comprising: uncoupling the bottom plate from the main tube; operating lifting mechanisms of each of the legs to raise the frame and the main tube; and moving the bottom plate out from underneath the main tube. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein uncoupling the bottom plate from the main tube comprises pivoting a plurality of pendulum members comprising stem portion and a distal, enlarged retaining portion about pivot connections with the main tube from a first position where the retaining portions are disposed below the bottom plate to a second position where the retaining portions are disposed outwardly of or above the bottom plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein pivoting the plurality of pendulum members from the first position comprising pivoting the plurality of pendulum members from a first position where the stem portions extend through radially opening slots in the bottom plate and the retaining portions are disposed below the bottom plate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein uncoupling the bottom plate from the main tube further comprises operating the lifting mechanisms of each of the legs to lower the frame so that a plug portion of the bottom plate is fully received within the main tube. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein uncoupling the bottom plate from the main tube comprises releasably coupling the bottom plate to a plurality of the legs such that operating the lifting mechanisms of each of the legs to raise the frame and the main tube displaces a plug portion of the bottom plate from a sealing position within the main tube. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein operating the lifting mechanisms of each of the legs top raise the frame and the main tube comprises operating hydraulic cylinders of each of the legs having a portion thereof engaging the frame. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein operating the hydraulic cylinders of each of the legs comprises operating double acting, double rod cylinders connected in series with an air driven hydraulic control circuit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein operating the double acting, double rod cylinders connected in series with the air driven hydraulic control circuit comprises operating a pneumatic valve of a pendant. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein moving the bottom plate out from underneath the main tube comprises pivoting the bottom plate along a horizontal plane guided by a rigid swing arm having a proximal end coupled to one of the legs and a distal end coupled to the bottom plate between the one of the legs and another one of the legs. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the bottom plate is mounted on a carriage and pivoting the bottom plate comprises conveying the bottom plate on the carriage along a path directed by pivoting of the swing arm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the frame has a pentagon shape and the legs comprise three legs mounted to three corners of the frame and two telescoping legs mounted to intermediate corners of the frame, and further comprising shifting the telescoping legs from a raised position to a lowered position such that each of the legs and the telescoping legs support the main tube. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising: pivoting the bottom plate along the horizontal plane guided by the rigid swing underneath the main tube until the bottom plate abuts an alignment stop configured to align a plug portion of the bottom plate with the main tube. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, further comprising: operating lifting mechanisms of each of the legs to lower the frame and the main tube so that the plug portion of the bottom plate is inserted into the main tube to seal against an interior surface thereof; and coupling the bottom plate to the main tube.