A COMBINED LABORATORY CONDENSOR AND VESSEL CONNECTOR

Abstract: A combined laboratory condenser and vessel connector having a conduit with an inlet/outlet adjacent its upper end with a condenser jacket around the lower part of the conduit, an upper part of the jacket formed into or provided with a connector to enable the apparatus to be mated with a vessel with at least part of the jacket extending into the vessel. The device is useful in chemical laboratory operations.

Description: A COMBINED LABORATORY CONDENSOR AND VESSEL CONNECTOR This invention relates to a novel device, being a combined gas inlet and cold finger condenser suitable for use in connection with chemical laboratory apparatus. Chemical apparatus for performing laboratory chemical reactions is becoming increasingly complex as the number of functions that laboratory apparatus is required to perform increases. Multi-necked vessels enable a multitude of devices e.g. stirrers, condensers, gas inlets to be connected to the vessel, but at the cost of increased complexity and crowding of the devices. Numerous types of connector for laboratory apparams such as flasks, reaction vessels etc. are known from the literature of classical chemical synthesis, and the patent literature also discloses some connectors of this general type. For example US 5398806, US 4333523 and US 3098800 disclose various types of condensers and distillation apparams. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device which can engage with a standard neck fitting, e.g. a ground glass neck connection, of a laboratory vessel and by means of which a number of laboratory operations can be performed. In particular it is an object of this invention to provide an apparams of this type which is advantageous for use in automated laboratory reactors, e.g. inter alia having the advantages of compactness, versatility and use in a multiplicity of functions. According to this invention an apparams is provided being a combined condenser and vessel connector part, comprising: a tubular conduit extending from an upper open end to a lower open end, with at least one inlet / outlet adjacent the upper end of the conduit, a condenser in d e form of a jacket around the lower part of the conduit and extending upwardly toward the upper end of the conduit, the upper part of the condenser being provided with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet, an upper part of the jacket, between the cooling fluid inlet and outlet and the lower end, being formed into or provided with a connector to enable the apparatus to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mouth of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel with at least part of the jacket extending into the vessel. In this description the terms "upper" and "lower" and derived terms are used relative to the normal in-use orientation of a vessel to which the apparams is mated, with the mouth of the vessel upward. In an alternative description the invention provides an apparams comprising: a condenser in the form of a conduit having an upper open end and a lower open end, at least part of the conduit being surrounded by a jacket suitable for the containment and flow therethrough of a cooling fluid, the jacket being provided with an inlet and an outlet for said cooling fluid, a part of said jacket between the inlet or outlet and the lower open end of the conduit being formed into or provided with a connector to enable the apparams to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mouth of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel, an upper part of the conduit being provided with at least one inlet and outlet in communication with the conduit by means of which substances may be introduced or removed from a vessel with which the apparams is sealingly mated. Preferably in this embodiment too at least part of the jacket extends into the vessel when the apparams is mated with the vessel. In another alternative description this invention provides an apparams comprising: a tubular conduit extending from an upper open end to a lower open end, a condenser in the form of a jacket around the conduit, the condenser being provided with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet, part of the jacket, between the cooling fluid inlet or outlet and the lower end, being formed into or provided with a connector to enable the apparams to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mouth of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel with at least part of the jacket extending into the vessel. For example in all of these embodiments at least 25 % , preferably at least 50% of the lower part of the jacket extends into the vessel, thereby comprising an effective double surfaced condenser exposed to the interior of the vessel. Preferably the entire apparams is made of glass, preferably integrally, although other materials such as metals may be used for part of or the entire apparams for particular applications. The making of such an apparams is well within the competence of a skilled glass blower using the types of glass normally used for laboratory glassware. If the apparams or parts of it are made of metals these should be inert to the substances with which the apparams is to come into contact. Alternatively the apparams may be in two or more parts, which may fit together using appropriate joints, for example of a type known in the field of laboratory apparams. The one or more inlet or outlet may be used in alternative roles each as respectively an inlet or an outlet, e.g. for a gas or for the application of a vacuum. Preferably there are two inlet / outlets so that in use one may be used as an inlet and the other as an outlet, and both may be suitable for the introduction of a flow of gas in via the inlet, and if Λe outlet is present, the outlet being suitable for the exit of the flow of gas. The said inlet and outlet may be provided with control valves to open and close off a flow of gas through them. Preferably the inlet and/or outlet are adjacent the upper end of the tubular conduit. Preferably at or adjacent the upper end of the tubular conduit there is also a mouth opening which opens generally in axial line with the tubular conduit. Such a mouth opening may comprise a standard connector for laboratory apparams, e.g. a ground glass connector, a septum cap connector, screw thread or flange connector etc. Suitable types of connector for any application will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The mouth opening may be of suitable dimensions to allow a stirrer, sampler, syringe, thermometer, probe or other device etc. to be inserted down through the conduit and into a vessel with which the apparams is mated. Preferably at the upper end of the conduit there is a chamber, in integral communication with the conduit, and into which the inlet and if present the optional outlet, and if present the optional mouth opening open. For example the upper part of the conduit may widen to define such a chamber, and the inlet and if present the optional outlet, and if present the optional mouth opening may open into this chamber. Preferably the apparams is substantially linear, along an axis which passes through the conduit, with the jacket surrounding the conduit coaxially. In such a construction the mouth opening may open in line with, e.g. coaxially with, the axis of the conduit, and the inlet and/or outlet may open into side walls of the conduit or into side walls of the above-mentioned chamber. The connector with which the jacket is provided or formed may suitably be provided by making the outside of the jacket in the form of a standard laboratory fitting, e.g. as a tapering ground glass male or female joint or a flange joint etc. Suitable other types of connector will be apparent to those skilled in the art, e.g. a glass ball joint, screw threaded connection or a flange connection etc. Below this joint the condenser may be of narrow dimensions to enable the condenser to be inserted through a corresponding mating joint in the mouth opening of a vessel, and for the connector on the apparams to connect with the mouth of the vessel. The apparams may be used for refluxing whilst introducing a flow of a gas in through the inlet, and the gas may then flow through the conduit and into a vessel to which the vessel is connected, or out through the optional outlet or the optional mouth opening. The apparams is suitable for use in connection with laboratory vessels of all types having suitable connections and dimensions. The apparams of this invention is compact and is particularly suited for use with known types of automated, e.g. robot, laboratory equipment. The invention also provides a method of use of an apparams according to any preceding claim for refluxing whilst introducing a flow of a gas in through the inlet. An advantage of the apparams of the invention is its condensing ability. When a vessel is connected to the apparams, hot vapour from inside the vessel can only gain access to the exterior via the condenser, i.e. it is not possible for hot vapour from the vessel to leave the apparams without coming into contact with the cooled surfaces of the condenser. The apparams and method of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figure 1 , which shows a longitudinal section through the apparams of the invention, in use, connected to a reaction vessel. Referring to Fig. 1, an apparams of the invention is shown overall 1, connected to a vessel 2. The apparams 1 is integrally made of glass. The apparams 1 comprises a linear cylindrical tubular conduit 3 which extends between an upper open end 4 and a lower open end 5 , these directions being defined with the vessel to which the apparams is mated being in its normal orientation with its mouth upward. Adjacent to d e upper open end 4 is an inlet tube 6, and there is, in the embodiment shown, also an outlet tube 7 bom suitable for use as gas inlets and/or outlets, either or both of which may be provided with valves (not shown). In an alternative construction the outlet 7 may be absent and only the inlet/outlet 6 may be present. Adjacent to the upper open end 4 is a chamber 8 in integral communication with the conduit 3, and into which the inlet 6 and outlet 7 lead. Adjacent to the open upper end 4 there is also a mouth opening 9 in the form of a connector for, and into which is fitted, a septum cap 10. A suitable connector for a septum cap comprises a smooth glass tube. The mouth opening 9 may comprise a connection for other devices e.g. for sampling, monitoring or addition of substances which could be inserted into mouth opening 9, for example the mouth opening 9 could comprise a standard laboratory ground glass connection. The mouth opening 9 opens into chamber 8, and opens generally in line witii the long axis of the conduit 3. Around the lower part of the conduit 3 is a condenser in the form of a cylindrical glass jacket 11 terminating and integrally joined to conduit 3 at its lower end 5, extending upwards towards the upper end 4 of the conduit, and concentrically surrounding the conduit 3. The conduit 3 could in alternative embodiments extend below the lowest part of the jacket 11. At its upper end the jacket 11 is integrally joined to the lower rim of the chamber 8 at 12. Alternatively the upper end of the jacket 11 could be joined to the conduit 3 below the chamber 8. Adjacent the upper end of the jacket 11 is a cooling fluid inlet 13 and a cooling fluid outlet 14. Below the inlet 13 and outlet 14 the outer surface of the jacket 11 is formed into a connector being a tapering ground glass joint 15 capable of engaging with a corresponding female joint 16 on vessel 2 or other apparams. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art how alternative types of connector 15 may be provided using techniques common in the field of glassblowing etc., e.g. a flange connector. The overall length of the apparams as shown is ca 12.5 cm, suitable for the joint 15 to be a CNB19 size fitting, but obviously size can be varied to suit the application. Instead of the joint 15 the jacket may be provided with for example an external flange or other kind of mating fitting so that the apparams may mate with a corresponding fitting on a vessel 2. In use, as shown in Fig. 1, the apparams 1 is inserted into a vessel 2 having a ground glass mouth opening 16 sealingly engageable with the joint 15 on the jacket 11, the relative dimensions of the vessel 2 and apparams 1 being selected such that the lower end 5 of die conduit 3 is at a convenient height above the bottom 17 of vessel 2, and above the surface of contents 18 in the vessel 2. The vessel 2 is for convenience shown as being a round bottomed mbular vessel, but obviously other types of vessel could be used, e.g. a flat bottomed mbular vessel or a multi- necked flask etc. A reaction mixture 18 in the vessel 2 may be heated. The condenser jacket 11 extends into the vessel 2 so its outer surface is exposed to the hot vapour within the vessel 2. A flow of cold water (or other cooling fluid) is passed through the condenser 11 via the inlet 13 and outlet 14, and causes liquid vapour to condense on die outside of d e jacket 1 of the condenser, and also within the conduit 3. Consequently condensation of the vapour occurs both within the vessel 2 and up the conduit 3, including die upper parts of the conduit 3 external to the vessel. At the same time a current of gas, which may be a reactive or an inert gas may be passed into the apparams via inlet 6, and exit via outlet 7. Alternatively if outlet 7 is not present or is closed off the gas may exit via a gas bubbler (e.g. a Firestone valve), a side arm or another neck (not shown) of the vessel 2. Other ways of introducing gas into the apparams 1 and vessel 2 will be apparent to those skilled in die art. Reagents may be introduced, or samples may be withdrawn, via the septum cap 10. Alternatively, if die conduit is suitably sized, stirrers, thermometers and other equipment or instruments may be inserted down the conduit 3 into the vessel 2 or reaction mixture 18. The reaction mixture 18 may conveniently be heated by heater block 19, which may include a stirrer (not shown). The inlet 6 may be connected via suitable valves (not shown) to a manifold block (not shown) by means of which me apparams 1 and vessel 2 connected to it may be evacuated or a gas introduced.

Claims: Claims: 1. An apparams being a combined condenser and vessel connector pan, comprising: a mbular conduit extending from an upper open end to a lower open end, with at least one inlet / outlet adjacent the upper end of the conduit, a condenser in the form of a jacket around the lower part of the conduit and extending upwardly toward the upper end of the conduit, the upper part of the condenser being provided with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet, an upper part of the jacket, between the cooling fluid inlet and outlet and die lower end, being formed into or provided with a connector to enable the apparams to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mourn of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel with at least part of die jacket extending into the vessel. 2. Apparams comprising: a condenser in the form of a conduit having an upper open end and a lower open end, at least part of the conduit being surrounded by a jacket for the containment and flow dierethrough of a cooling fluid, the jacket being provided with an inlet and an outlet for said cooling fluid, a pan of said jacket between die inlet or outlet and the lower open end of the conduit being formed into or provided widi a connector to enable the apparams to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mouth of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel, an upper part of the conduit being provided with at least one inlet and outlet in communication widi the conduit. 3. Apparams according to claim 2 wherein at least part of the jacket extends into die vessel. 4. Apparams according to any preceding claim integrally made of glass. 5. Apparams according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more inlet/outlet may be used in alternative roles each as respectively an inlet or an outlet for a gas or for the application of a vacuum. 6. Apparams according to any preceding claim wherein adjacent the upper end of the mbular conduit there are two inlet / outlets, so that in use one may be used as an inlet and the other as an outlet. 7. Apparams according to any preceding claim wherein adjacent the upper end of the mbular conduit diere is a mouth opening which opens generally in axial line with the mbular conduit. 8. Apparams according to claim 7 wherein the mouth opening comprises a standard connector for laboratory apparams. 9. Apparams according to any preceding claim wherein at the upper end of the conduit diere is a chamber, in integral communication with die conduit, and into which die inlet and if present die optional outlet, and if present the optional mou i opening open. 10. An apparams comprising: a mbular conduit extending from an upper open end to a lower open end, a condenser in the form of a jacket around the conduit, the condenser being provided with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet, part of the jacket, between die cooling fluid inlet or outlet and die lower end, being formed into or provided widi a connector to enable the apparams to be mated with a corresponding mating connector on the mouth of a vessel to thereby enable the apparams to be sealingly connected with the vessel widi at least part of the jacket extending into the vessel. 11. Apparams according to any preceding claim being substantially linear, along an axis which passes through the conduit, widi ie jacket surrounding die conduit coaxially. 12. Apparams according to any preceding claim wherein the upper part of the jacket, between die cooling fluid inlet and outlet and die lower end, is formed into or provided widi a connector by making the outside of the jacket in the form of a laboratory glassware fitting. 13. A method of use of an apparams according to any preceding claim for refluxing. 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein a flow of a gas is introduced in through an inlet into the apparams.

Inventors: FURLONG BRIAN HENRY, SMITH CLIVE ADRIAN, FURLONG, BRIAN, HENRY, SMITH, CLIVE, ADRIAN
Applicants: FURLONG BRIAN HENRY, SMITH CLIVE ADRIAN, SMITHKLINE BEECHAM PLC, FURLONG, BRIAN, HENRY, SMITH, CLIVE, ADRIAN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B01D5
IPC codes: B01D5, B01L7, G01N1