Patent ID: 7534345

Claim:
A chromatography column distribution system ( 101 ) comprising: a set of first bed support ribs ( 107 ) extending radially from an inner, first radial position (R 1 ) near the center of a plate to an outer radial position nearer to the periphery ( 109 ) of the plate and at least one set of intermediate bed support ribs ( 117 , 119 ) starting at an intermediate radial position (R 2 , R 3 ) and extending to an outer radial position nearer to the periphery ( 109 ) of the plate ( 101 ); the first bed support rib ( 107 ) having an elongated rib body ( 111 ); whereby channels ( 113 ) are formed between at least one set of adjacent bed support ribs ( 107 , 117 , 119 ); wherein the elongated rib body ( 111 ) of said first bed support rib ( 107 ) has a front portion that extends from the first radial position (R 1 ) near the center of the plate and a back portion of the elongated rib body ( 111 ) that extends to the outer radial position nearer to the periphery ( 109 ), wherein the elongated rib body ( 111 ) has at least one tapered middle portion positioned near an intermediate radial position (R 2 , R 3 ) characterized by the rib width of the elongated rib body ( 111 ) in the tapered middle portion being smaller than a maximum width of said rib body in the front portion and being smaller than a maximum width of the rib body in the end portion.