초록

A separation column assembly for a gas chromatograph and the like is provided. The assembly is a self contained unit which allows very rapid heating and cooling of the column.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A chromatograph column assembly comprising: a first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber; a column support, wherein the column support is ring-shaped about an axis and comprises a circumferential outer surface oriented about the axis and a plurality of ax

The invention claimed is: 1. A chromatograph column assembly comprising: a first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber; a column support, wherein the column support is ring-shaped about an axis and comprises a circumferential outer surface oriented about the axis and a plurality of axially oriented bridges, the bridges extending radially from the outer surface of the column support, and wherein the column support is positioned within the first chamber; and column tubing wound around the column support, wherein the column tubing is in contact with the plurality of bridges and is separated from the outer surface of the column support, the chromatograph column assembly further comprising an intake port and an exhaust port, wherein the intake port is in fluid communication with the exhaust port along a fluid communication path within the chromatograph column assembly and wherein the column tubing is between the intake port and the exhaust port along the fluid communication path, the first housing comprising a column housing having an inner side wall, wherein the column tubing is between the inner side wall of the column housing and the outer surface of the column support and wherein the fluid communication path passes between the column tubing and the inner wall of the column housing and the column tubing and outer surface of the column support. 2. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 1, further comprising a heating element, the heating element being in communication with an energy source, wherein the heating element is in direct contact with the column tubing. 3. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 2, wherein the portions of the column tubing that are wound around the column support are only in contact with the heating element and the bridges. 4. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 1, wherein the column support is made from low density rigid foam. 5. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 4, wherein the low density rigid foam is light weight polymethacrylimide. 6. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 5, wherein the first housing is made from light weight polymethacrylimide. 7. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing further comprises a bottom plate, the column housing having a top plate connected to the side wall of the column housing, wherein the bottom plate and the column housing define the first chamber. 8. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 7, wherein the bottom plate, the column support and the top plate of column housing define an inner chamber, wherein the inner chamber is between the column tubing and the exhaust port along the fluid communication path. 9. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of exhaust vents formed between the bottom plate and the column support, wherein the fluid communication path travel through the exhaust vents into the inner chamber. 10. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 9, the top plate of the column housing further comprising a central opening, wherein the fluid communication path exits from the inner chamber through the central opening. 11. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 10, the top plate of the column housing further comprising a plurality of intake vents, wherein the column tubing is in fluid communication with the intake port through the plurality of intake vents. 12. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 11, the first housing further comprising a port plate, wherein the column housing is between the port plate and the bottom plate and wherein the top plate of the column housing and the port plate define an intake chamber, the intake chamber being between the intake port and the intake vents along the fluid communication path. 13. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 12, wherein the intake chamber and plurality of intake vents extend 360° around and separated from the central opening of the top plate of the column housing. 14. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 13, the port plate comprising the intake port and the exhaust ports, wherein the fluid communication path begins at the intake port and travels into the intake chamber, through the intake vents, over the column tubing, through the exhaust vents, into the inner chamber, through the central opening in the top plate, and out of the exhaust port. 15. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 14, the assembly further comprising an internal fan, wherein the fan draws air into the intake port and along the fluid communication path and out of the exhaust port. 16. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 1, the upper surface of the column support having a first side edge and an axially opposite second side edge and the bridges having a first lateral end and a second lateral end, wherein the first lateral end of the bridges extend axially beyond the first side edge of the upper surface forming lateral posts. 17. The chromatograph column assembly of claim 16, the bridges having a first radial post extending radially from the first lateral end and a second radial post extending radially from the second lateral end, wherein the first and second radial posts extend beyond the wound column tubing relative to the outer surface of the column support and wherein the column tubing is wound on the column support between the first and second radial posts. 18. A chromatograph column assembly comprising: a first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber; a column support, wherein the column support is ring-shaped about an axis and comprises a circumferential outer surface oriented about the axis and a plurality of axially oriented bridges, the bridges extending radially from the outer surface of the column support, and wherein the column support is positioned within the first chamber, the bridges having a first lateral end and a second lateral end and a first radial post extending radially from the first lateral end and a second radial post extending radially from the second lateral end; and column tubing wound around the column support, wherein the column tubing is in contact with the plurality of bridges and is separated from the outer surface of the column support and wherein the first and second radial posts extend beyond the wound column tubing relative to the outer surface of the column support. 19. A portable multi-dimensional gas chromatograph, the gas chromatograph comprising: a first pre-concentrator; a first chromatograph column assembly comprising: a first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber; a column support, wherein the column support is ring-shaped about an axis and comprises a circumferential outer surface oriented about the axis and a plurality of axially oriented bridges, the bridges extending radially from the outer surface of the column support, and wherein the column support is positioned within the first chamber; and column tubing wound around the column support, wherein the column tubing is in contact with the plurality of bridges and is separated from the outer surface of the column support, the chromatograph column assembly further comprising an intake port and an exhaust port, wherein the intake port is in fluid communication with the exhaust port along a fluid communication path within the chromatograph column assembly and wherein the column tubing is between the intake port and the exhaust port along the fluid communication path, the first housing comprising a column housing having an inner side wall, wherein the column tubing is between the inner side wall of the column housing and the outer surface of the column support and wherein the fluid communication path passes between the column tubing and the inner wall of the column housing and the column tubing and outer surface of the column support; a first detector; and a reference chemical. 20. The portable multi-dimensional gas chromatograph of claim 19, further comprising: a second pre-concentrator; a second chromatograph column assembly comprising: a first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber; a column support, wherein the column support is ring-shaped about an axis and comprises a circumferential outer surface oriented about the axis and a plurality of axially oriented bridges, the bridges extending radially from the outer surface of the column support, and wherein the column support is positioned within the first chamber; and column tubing wound around the column support, wherein the column tubing is in contact with the plurality of bridges and is separated from the outer surface of the column support; and a second detector.