Ferrule chuck with surface micro-grip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267630-B2
Application number	US-201313735415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2013
Priority date	Feb 7, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A fitting for coupling a capillary to another component of a fluidic device is disclosed. The fitting includes a ferrule configured for enclosing a front part of the capillary and for contributing to a fluidic sealing between the fitting and the other component; a ferrule chuck configured for enclosing a back part of the capillary; and a housing configured for accommodating at least a part of the ferrule chuck and for pushing the ferrule chuck against the ferrule.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fitting for coupling a capillary to another component of a fluidic device, the fitting comprising
a ferrule configured for enclosing a front part of the capillary and for contributing to a fluidic sealing between the fitting and the other component;
a ferrule chuck configured for enclosing a back part of the capillary;
a housing configured for accommodating at least a part of the ferrule chuck and for pushing the ferrule chuck against the ferrule; and
a microstructure comprising multiple microprotrusions randomly distributed on at least a part of a surface of the ferrule chuck for generating, wherein upon tightening the fitting at the other component, the microprotrusions are configured to exert a gripping interaction from the surface of the ferrule chuck and penetrating into a surface of the capillary.

2. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the microstructure comprises multiple microprotrusions protruding from a surface of the ferrule chuck.

3. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein, for at least a part of the microprotrusions, a distance (d) between a pair of adjacent ones of the microprotrusions differs from a distance (D) between microprotrusions of other pairs of adjacent microprotrusions, which other pairs are adjacent to the pair.

4. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the microprotrusions are arranged over the surface of the ferrule chuck without a repeat pattern.

5. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the microstructure is formed, on a circumferential inner surface of the ferrule chuck along which the ferrule chuck circumferentially grips the capillary.

6. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the ferrule chuck has a tapering back section, wherein the tapering back section abuts against a tapering counter surface of the housing.

7. The fitting according to claim 6 , wherein the tapering back section is configured for transmitting a gripping force from the housing to the capillary.

8. The fitting according to claim 6 , wherein the microstructure is formed on a circumferential inner surface of the tapering back section.

9. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the ferrule chuck has an annular front surface, and the annular front surface abuts against an annular back surface of the ferrule.

10. A fluidic device for processing a fluidic sample, the fluidic device comprising
a capillary for conducting the fluidic sample;
another component for processing the fluidic sample; and
a fitting according to claim 1 for coupling the capillary to the other component.

11. The fluidic device according to claim 10 , wherein the other component comprises a processing element configured to interact with the fluidic sample.

12. The fluidic device according to claim 11 , wherein the processing element is configured for retaining the fluidic sample being a part of a mobile phase and for allowing other components of the mobile phase to pass the processing element.

13. The fluidic device according to claim 11 , wherein the processing element comprises a separation column.

14. The fluidic device according to claim 11 , wherein the processing element comprises a chromatographic column for separating components of the fluidic sample.

15. The fluidic device according to claim 10 , configured to conduct a liquid fluidic sample through the other component.

16. The fluidic device according to claim 10 , configured to conduct the fluidic sample through the other component with a high pressure.

17. The fluidic device according to claim 10 , configured to conduct the fluidic sample through the other component with a pressure of at least 500 bar.

18. A fitting for coupling a capillary to another component of a fluidic device, the fitting comprising:
a ferrule configured for enclosing a front part of the capillary and for contributing to a fluidic sealing between the fitting and the other component;
a ferrule chuck configured for enclosing a back part of the capillary, the ferrule chuck comprising an annular front surface, the annular front surface being separated from an annular back surface of the ferrule by a gripping element configured to promote a grip between the ferrule and the ferrule chuck;
a housing configured for accommodating at least a part of the ferrule chuck and for pushing the ferrule chuck against the ferrule; and
a microstructure comprising multiple microprotrusions on at least a part of a surface of the ferrule chuck for generating, wherein upon tightening the fitting at the other component, the microprotrusions are configured to exert a gripping interaction from the surface of the ferrule chuck and penetrating into a surface of the capillary.

19. The fitting according to claim 18 , wherein at least a part of the microprotrusions are arranged over the surface of the ferrule chuck without a repeat pattern.

20. The fitting according to claim 18 , wherein the microstructure is formed, on a circumferential inner surface of the ferrule chuck along which the ferrule chuck circumferentially grips the capillary.

21. The fitting according to claim 20 , wherein the tapering back section is configured for transmitting a gripping force from the housing to the capillary.

22. The fitting according to claim 20 , wherein the microstructure is formed on a circumferential inner surface of the tapering back section.

23. The fitting according to claim 18 , wherein the ferrule chuck has a tapering back section, wherein the tapering back section abuts against a tapering counter surface of the housing.

24. The fitting according to claim 18 , wherein the ferrule chuck has an annular front surface, and the annular front surface abuts against an annular back surface of the ferrule.

25. A fluidic device for processing a fluidic sample, the fluidic device comprising
a capillary for conducting the fluidic sample;
another component for processing the fluidic sample; and
a fitting according to claim 18 for coupling the capillary to the other component.

26. The fluidic device according to claim 25 , wherein the processing element is configured for retaining the fluidic sample being a part of a mobile phase and for allowing other components of the mobile phase to pass the processing element.

27. The fluidic device according to claim 25 , wherein the processing element comprises a separation column.

28. The fluidic device according to claim 25 , wherein the processing element comprises a chromatographic column for separating components of the fluidic sample.

29. The fluidic device according to claim 24 , wherein the other component comprises a processing element configured to interact with the fluidic sample.

30. The fluidic device according to claim 24 , configured to conduct a liquid fluidic sample through the other component.

31. The fluidic device according to claim 24 , configured to conduct the fluidic sample through the other component with a high pressure.

32. The fluidic device according to claim 24 , configured to conduct the fluidic sample through the other component with a pressure of at least 500 bar.

33. A fitting for coupling a capillary to another component of a fluidic device, the fitting comprising:
a ferrule configured for enclosing a front part of the capillary and for contributing

Assignees

• Agilent Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Dehmer Bernhard

Classifications

• G01N30/6039

  in series · CPC title

• B01L3/565

  Seals · CPC title

• B01D15/10

  characterised by constructional or operational features · CPC title

• F16L19/075

  specially adapted for spigot-and-socket joints {for pipes of the same diameter} · CPC title

• B01D15/22

  relating to the construction of the column · CPC title