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  Apparatus and method for dispensing high purity materialsUSPTO Application #: 20070175537Title: Apparatus and method for dispensing high purity materials Abstract: This invention relates to a system or apparatus (10) and a method for dispensing a material (16) from a pressurized container (12) while maintaining product integrity. The system or apparatus comprises a pressurized container for holding the material and having a dispensing valve (20) provided with a dispensing conduit or stem (26) for dispensing the material from the container at the appropriate time, a syringe (42) equipped with an on/off locking mechanism (48) for permitting or preventing flow of the material into and out of the syringe by way of a stem or conduit (50) attached to the locking mechanism, and a removable adaptor (34) for connecting the stem of the syringe to the stem of the dispensing valve of the pressurized container for permitting flow of material from the pressurized container into a chamber of the syringe upon actuation of the dispensing valve. (end of abstract) Agent: Christine Rebman Cooke Mallinckrodt - St Louis, MO, US Inventor: James Farina USPTO Applicaton #: 20070175537 - Class: 141020000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fluent Material Handling, With Receiver Or Receiver Coacting Means, Filling Or Refilling Of Dispensers, Aerosols The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070175537. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to system or apparatus and a method for dispensing high purity material from a container without compromising the purity of the material. More particularly, the invention relates to a system or apparatus and a method for dispensing high purity chemicals, and particularly ultra dry solvents intended for use in laboratory scale synthesis studies, from a container, and particularly from a positive dispense container or can while maintaining the integrity of the material. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Numerous dispensing systems are known for dispensing materials from pressurized containers. The material to be dispensed in the pressurized container generally provided with a dispensing valve. Upon activation of the valve a pressure differential between the internal pressure in the container and the ambient pressure permits the dispensing of the material from the container. While such a simple system is acceptable for many applications, where the continuing purity and integrity of the material to be dispensed is a prime concern, such systems do not permit the purity and integrity of the material to be maintained upon dispensing of the material. One such material is ultra dry solvent utilized in laboratory scale synthesis studies. Such ultra dry solvents are degraded by contact with moisture and oxygen. [0003] For large scale storage and dispensing of such ultra dry solvents there is presently available a CYCLE-TAINER container for a solvent delivery system. Such system comprises a closed stainless steel container, available in 4, 8, 52, 215 and 1250 liter sizes, containing the material to be dispensed, and is provided with appropriate valving. In use, an inlet valve of the container is hooked up to a source of pressurized inert gas, such as argon or nitrogen, and the outlet valve from the container is connected to a hose leading directly to the reactor or vessel where the stored material is to be employed or used. Upon introduction of the pressurized gas into the container the material may be dispensed. Cutting off the source of inert gas and closing of the valve stops the dispensing of the material from the container and preserves the integrity of the stored material. Such a system is not suitable, practical or acceptable, however, for conditions where one desires to dispense only small quantities of the material from a positive pressurized container, such as where one desires to dispense from a pressurized container only about 10 to about 20 mL of an ultra dry solvent material for lab scale synthesis studies. One way in which the art has attempted to solve this problem is to employ a syringe and a septum sealed bottle or container that contains, under a blanket of inert gas, the desired material to be dispensed. With this type of apparatus it is necessary for the user to puncture the septum of the bottle with the needle of a syringe to extract the material from the septum container. However, this insertion of the needle into the septum container itself can be a cause of contamination of the material and destroy the integrity of the material. Additionally, the puncturing of the septum leaves a hole in the septum permitting escape of the blanket of inert gas and introduction of atmospheric gas, particularly oxygen, and moisture into the material stored in the septum container. Thus, there is a definite need for an acceptable dispensing system or apparatus for dispensing a material, especially relatively small amount of material, from a pressurized material that permits the dispensing to occur while maintaining the purity and integrity of the material being dispensed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to a system or apparatus and a method for dispensing a material from a pressurized container while maintaining product integrity. The system or apparatus comprises a pressurized container for holding the material and having a dispensing valve provided with a dispensing conduit or stem for dispensing the material from the container at the appropriate time, a syringe equipped with on/off locking mechanism for permitting or preventing flow of the material into and out of the syringe by way of a stem or conduit attached to the locking mechanism, and a removable adaptor for connecting the stem of the syringe to the stem of the dispensing valve of the pressurized container for permitting flow of material from the pressurized container into a chamber of the syringe upon actuation of the dispensing valve. [0005] In a preferred embodiment of the system or apparatus of this invention the dispensing valve comprises a reciprocatably actuated valve wherein, when the syringe stem is connected to the valve stem by way of the adaptor, and the valve stem is reciprocatably moved inward towards the interior of the pressurized container, one or more openings in the valve stem are uncovered permitting flow of material from the container to a chamber of the syringe without exposure to any contaminants or reactive materials thereby permitting dispensing of the material while maintaining its integrity. In another preferred feature of this invention, a desiccant is provided for preventing moisture from entering the pressurized container. [0006] The invention in one embodiment comprises an apparatus for storing and dispensing a material from a pressurized container while maintaining the integrity or purity of the material to be dispensed, the apparatus comprising: [0007] a) a pressurized container holding the material to be dispensed, the pressurized container having a dispensing valve with a dispensing valve stem having a distal end protruding from the pressurized container and a proximal end extending into the pressurized container; [0008] b) a syringe provided with 1) an on/off locking member for permitting/or preventing flow of the material into or out of a chamber of the syringe and 2) a stem having an end extending from the syringe for receiving material from the pressurized container; and [0009] c) a removable adaptor connecting the distal end of the dispensing valve stem protruding from the pressurized container to the end of the stem extending from the syringe so as to establish a permissible flow path from one stem to the other stem; [0010] so that upon activation of the on/off locking member to the on position, for permitting flow of material into the syringe and activation of the dispensing valve to a dispensing mode, material may flow from the pressurized container to the chamber of the syringe. [0011] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the dispensing valve comprises a reciprocatably actuated valve. [0012] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the valve stem of the dispensing valve is hollow but is closed at the proximal end in the container and is provided with one or more covered openings along the stem, the valve stem being reciprocatably movable inward into the pressurized container for uncovering the one or more openings in the valve stem for permitting the flow of material from the pressurized container through the one or more openings, into the valve stem, and into the chamber of the syringe. [0013] The invention in another embodiment comprises apparatus wherein the one or more openings in the dispensing valve stem are located circumferentially around the dispensing valve stem and are covered by a gasket until the dispensing valve stem is moved reciprocatably inward into the pressurized container for uncovering the one or more openings. [0014] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the gasket is a ring of material surrounding the dispensing valve stem in a slidable manner. [0015] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the pressurized container holding the material to be dispensed is a positive dispense container comprising a pressurized container having therein a bag containing the material to be dispensed, said bag being connected to the dispensing valve in fluid flow relationship, and said bag being surrounded by pressurizing gas, preferably such as argon or nitrogen, in the container. [0016] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the pressurized container holding the material to be dispensed is a positive dispense container comprising a pressurized container having therein a bag containing the material to be dispensed, said bag being connected to the dispensing valve in fluid flow relationship, and said bag being surrounded by pressurizing gas in the container. In a further embodiment a desiccant material may be placed in the space between the pressurized container and the bag therein holding the material to be dispensed, i.e., in the space where the pressurized gas is maintained between the wall of container and bag to prevent any moisture in the container from entering the bag containing the material to be dispensed. [0017] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the bag is connected to the dispensing valve though a valve connector, the valve connector having a central opening for permitting the material to flow out of the bag, the dispensing valve stem is seated in the valve connector in a biased manner in a direction outwardly from the pressurized container preventing flow of material out through the valve stem until actuation of the dispensing valve. [0018] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the dispensing valve stem is seated upon a biasing spring in the valve connector. [0019] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the adaptor comprises two female sockets connected by a central material flow path passageway in the adaptor, one of the female sockets connected to the distal end of the dispensing valve stem and the other female socket connected to the end of the stem of the syringe for permitting the flow of the material from the dispensing valve stem to the syringe stem so that the material may flow from the pressurized container to the chamber of the syringe without exposure to the atmosphere. [0020] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the adaptor comprises two female sockets connected by a material flow path, one of the female sockets connected to the distal end of the dispensing valve stem and the other female socket connected to the end of the stem of the syringe for permitting the flow of the material from the dispensing valve stem to the syringe stem so that the material may flow from the pressurized container to the chamber of the syringe. [0021] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the on/off locking member on the syringe is a luer lock. [0022] The invention in another embodiment comprises an apparatus wherein the syringe is provided with a reciprocatably actuated piston extending outwardly from the chamber of the syringe at an end of the syringe opposite the syringe stem. [0023] The invention in another embodiment comprises a method for storing and dispensing a material from a pressurized container while maintaining the integrity or purity of the material to be dispensed, the method comprising: [0024] a) providing a pressurized container holding the material to be dispensed, the pressurized container having a dispensing valve with a dispensing valve stem having a distal end protruding from the pressurized container and a proximal end extending into the pressurized container; [0025] b) providing a syringe provided with 1) an on/off locking member for permitting/or preventing flow of the material into or out of a chamber of the syringe and 2) a stem having an end extending from the syringe for receiving material from the pressurized container; and [0026] c) providing a removable adaptor for connecting the distal end of the dispensing valve stem protruding from the pressurized container to the end of the stem extending from the syringe so as to establish a permissible flow path from one stem to the other stem; [0027] d) connecting the adaptor to the distal end of the dispensing valve stem protruding from the pressurized container to the end of the stem extending from the syringe; and [0028] e) activating the on/off locking member to the on position for permitting flow of material into the syringe; [0029] f) activating the dispensing valve to a dispensing mode permitting material to flow from the pressurized container to the chamber of the syringe; and [0030] g) activating the on/off locking member to the off position to isolate the material in the chamber of the syringe. [0031] The invention in another embodiment comprises a method having the additional step of subsequently replacing the stem of the syringe with a needle, activating the on/off locking member to the on position and expelling material from the syringe chamber to a closed system where the material is to be employed. [0032] The invention in another embodiment comprises a method wherein the dispensing valve comprises a reciprocatably actuated valve. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for dispensing high purity materials Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for dispensing high purity materials patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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