Hydraulic amplifier pump for use in ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography
AssigneeWaters Investments Limited
InventorsGeoff C. Gerhardt, Bruce J. Compton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic amplifier system for an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system. The hydraulic amplifier system includes a hydraulic cylinder comprising a primary piston chamber in which a primary piston is disposed and a secondary piston chamber in which a secondary piston is disposed. The cross-sectional area of the primary piston is larger than the cross-sectional area of the secondary piston. The difference in the cross-sectional areas of the pistons creates an amplification of the pressure in the primary piston chamber and a reduction in flow rate.
Claims23
A hydraulic amplifier system for supplying solvent to a chromatographic system comprising:
- a pump which supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate a primary piston;
- and
- a hydraulic cylinder which supplies pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system wherein said hydraulic cylinder comprises:
- an inlet chamber;
- an outlet chamber;
- a primary piston disposed between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said primary piston being driven by said pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- a secondary piston chamber;
- and
- a secondary piston disposed in said secondary piston chamber, said secondary piston being activated by said primary piston for moving and pressurizing said pressurized solvent;
- wherein a cross-sectional area of said primary piston is larger than a cross-sectional area of said secondary piston, such that a pressure in said secondary piston chamber is greater than a pressure in said inlet chamber, and a flow rate through said secondary piston chamber is less than a flow rate through said outlet chamber.
A hydraulic amplifier system for supplying solvent to a chromatographic system comprising:
- a first hydraulic cylinder which supplies a first pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system;
- a first pump which supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant rate to actuate a primary piston of said first hydraulic cylinder;
- a second hydraulic cylinder which supplies a second pressurized solvent to said chromatographic system;
- and
- a second pump which supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant rate to actuate a primary piston of said second hydraulic cylinder,
- wherein said first and second hydraulic cylinders comprise:
- an inlet chamber;
- an outlet chamber;
- a primary piston disposed between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said primary piston being driven by said pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- a secondary piston chamber;
- and
- a secondary piston disposed in said secondary piston chamber, said secondary piston being activated by said primary piston for moving and pressurizing said pressurized solvent;
- wherein a cross-sectional area of said primary piston is larger than a cross-sectional area of said secondary piston, such that a pressure in said secondary piston chamber is greater than a pressure in said inlet chamber, and a flow rate through said secondary piston chamber is less than a flow rate through said outlet chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.