Patent ID: 8741135

Claim:
Apparatus for preparative chromatography comprising: (a) a column laterally enclosed by a lateral wall and terminating at its base in a filter plate with an upper surface, (b) an aperture in said lateral wall substantially level with said upper surface, and (c) a valve comprising (i) a bore that opens into said aperture, (ii) a plug slidably retained with said bore, wherein said bore is shaped to restrict movement of said plug to a maximum range of motion extending from a closed position in which an end surface of said plug is substantially flush with the inner surface of said column wall thereby closing said aperture, to an open position in which said end surface is recessed within said bore thereby leaving said aperture open, (iii) first and second ports in said valve body that are positioned such that both ports are open to said bore when said plug is in said closed position, thereby allowing flow communication between said first and second ports through said bore, and such that said first port is also open to said bore when said plug is in said open position, thereby allowing flow communication between said first port and said column through said bore and said aperture, wherein said second port is closed when said plug is in said open position.