Patent ID: 9004449
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A conical rotary chromatography valve comprising: a valve stator having inner and outer surfaces, and having a conical cavity therein; a conical valve rotor provided within the conical cavity and rotatable therein about an axis of rotation, the conical valve rotor having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the valve stator, defining a interface; a plurality of grooves provided on the outer surface of the valve rotor, the grooves defining channels on said interface between the inner surface of the valve stator and the outer surface of the conical valve rotor; a plurality of ports provided on the outer surface of the valve stator, the ports being connectable through alignment of the channels upon rotation of the conical valve rotor; a drive adaptor comprising a body rotatable about the axis of rotation and coupled to the valve rotor for transmitting a rotating force thereto, the drive adaptor further comprising a pair of radial arms projecting from the body radially outward from the axis of rotation on opposite sides thereof, each radial arm of the pair being movable along a respective arcuate travelling course with respect to the stator, the drive adapter comprising a circular base and a stem projecting therefrom; a pair of stoppers extending from the stator at a position to obstruct one radial arm of the pair at an end of the corresponding travelling course, the stoppers being positioned to simultaneously engage the radial arms at a first equal radial distance from the axis of rotation, balancing the sealing forces on the interface when the radial arms reach the end of their corresponding travelling course; a bushing provided concentrically between the circular base of the drive adaptor and the stator, radially isolating the drive adaptor from the stator, the stem of the drive adaptor and the stoppers defining an annular space adjacent the bushing to receive a drive coupling.