Modular laboratory equipment and coupling system

A modular laboratory system comprising:

• equipment modules and associated coupling means wherein said coupling means are employed, without employing tubular nuts, to provide a compression fitting or barb fittings adapted to slide into soft tubing or threaded fittings, such as pipe fittings for sealably connecting said modules to provide an enclosed laboratory for conducting a plurality of experiments and procedures, wherein the equipment modules comprise enclosed component body means, enclosed reactor means, and interconnector means;
• a) said enclosed component body means for transferring volumes of fluids wherein said transferring is accomplished without employing beakers or flasks, said component body means having at least one access means;
• b) said enclosed reactor means for receiving and containing fluids, wherein said receiving in said enclosed reactor means is accomplished without employing beakers or flasks or graduated cylinders, said enclosed reactor means consisting of tube means having a first end and a second end constructed of transparent, or chemically nonreactive tubular material for providing an inlet or outlet, each end being provided with a removable reactor cap means, said reactor cap means for enclosing the inlet and the outlet of the reactor tube means to provide a reactor cell for conducting fluid experiments and procedures in an enclosed vessel, said reactor cap means comprising:
• i) a first reactor cap having an insertion shaft member for extending into the first end of said tube means for sealing and for anchoring the reactor cap in firm engagement with the tube means including at least two grooved rings longitudinally spaced with respect to the tube ends with each grooved ring adapted to accommodate an o-ring for compressively engaging an inner wall of the tube means, said reactor cap having a central access passage extending longitudinally through the reactor cap from a pop in/pop out female socket positioned on the reactor cap;
• ii) a second reactor cap having an insertion shaft member for extending into the second end of said tube means for sealing and for anchoring said second reactor cap in firm engagement with the tube means including at least two grooved rings longitudinally spaced with respect to the tube ends with each grooved ring adapted to accommodate an o-ring for compressively engaging an inner wall of the tube means, said second reactor cap having a central access passage extending longitudinally through the reactor cap from a pop in/pop out female socket positioned on the the reactor cap;
• said associated coupling means comprising:
• c) nipple-socket joint means for linking and un-linking equipment modules of the modular laboratory system, said nipple-socket joint means having a first nipple element provided on a first module, wherein said first nipple element is adapted to fit snugly into a socket of a second module for compressive engagement and an o-ring seal positioned in the socket adapted to fit snugly around a groove in the nipple to provide seal means without employing threaded fittings or compression rings;
• and
• d) a dispensing means for dispensing volumes of fluid solvent, wherein said fluid volumes are transferred within the equipment modules in an enclosed environment with minimal contact with a user, reduced adverse environmental impact and with smaller amounts of chemical waste produced.