Self-sealing sample compartment for a liquid chromatography system
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorsDaniel J. Gagne, Joshua A. Shreve, James E. Usowicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described is a self-sealing thermal enclosure. In various embodiments, the self-sealing thermal enclosure includes an enclosure having a wall with an opening. The enclosure is configured to surround a temperature-controlled environment. The self-sealing thermal enclosure also includes a porous seal disposed adjacent to the wall at the opening. The porous seal is compressible and is fabricated from an open cell foam material. When the porous seal has absorbed a fluid such as a condensate, the temperature-controlled environment is sealed from an ambient environment such that the flow of air into or out of the enclosure is substantially reduced or eliminated.
Claims15
A self-sealing thermal enclosure, comprising:
- an enclosure configured to surround a temperature-controlled environment, the enclosure having a wall separating the temperature-controlled environment from an ambient environment, the wall having an opening therein;
- and
- an absorbent porous seal compressed against the wall at the opening, the absorbent porous seal comprising an open cell foam material, wherein a flow of air between the temperature-controlled environment and the ambient environment through the opening is reduced when the absorbent porous seal has absorbed a liquid and wherein liquid is conducted through the opening when the absorbent porous seal is saturated with the liquid.
A self-sealing sample compartment for a liquid chromatography system, comprising:
- a thermally-insulated compartment configured to surround a temperature-controlled environment for a liquid chromatography sample, the thermally-insulated compartment having a wall separating the temperature-controlled environment from an ambient environment, the wall having an opening therein;
- a structural member attached to the thermally-insulated compartment and having a portion exposed to the temperature-controlled environment and a portion exposed to the ambient environment;
- and
- an absorbent porous seal compressed against the wall of the thermally-insulated compartment at the opening to receive a condensate formed on the portion of the structural member exposed to the ambient environment, the absorbent porous seal comprising an open cell foam material that absorbs the condensate, wherein a flow of air between the temperature-controlled environment and the ambient environment through the opening is reduced when the absorbent porous seal has absorbed the condensate and wherein the condensate is conducted through the opening when the absorbent porous seal is saturated with the condensate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.