Liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing

Abstract

In some examples, a liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing may include an inlet assembly. Further, the cartridge housing may include an outlet jaw assembly that is slidably and rotateably engageable with the inlet assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

Description

20240067-02 LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (LC) PREPARATIVE GUARD CARTRIDGE HOUSING CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 63 / 673,055, filed July 18, 2024, titled “LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (LC) PREPARATIVE GUARD CARTRIDGE HOUSING”, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND

[0002] A liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing may be utilized to secure a cartridge. The cartridge may be sealed in the cartridge housing to provide leak free flow of LC solvent at up to a specified pressure from an inlet side of the cartridge housing, through the cartridge, and out through an outlet side of the cartridge housing. The cartridge housing may be further coupled to a preparative column.20240067-02 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which:

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a diagrammatic cutout view of a first embodiment of a liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0005] Figure 2 illustrates an inlet assembly of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0006] Figure 3 illustrates an outlet jaw assembly of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0007] Figure 4 illustrates a fitting torque limit assembly of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0008] Figure 5 illustrates an outlet assembly of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 6 illustrates cartridge installation for the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 7 illustrates a guard cartridge installed and housing closed condition for connection of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing to a preparative column for the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 8 illustrates a guard cartridge removed and housing open condition for connection of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing to a preparative column for the20240067-02 LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 9 illustrates the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 1 coupled to an LC preparative column, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 10 illustrates a diagrammatic cutout view of a second embodiment of an LC preparative guard cartridge housing, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure; and

[0014] Figure 11 illustrates an inlet assembly of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing of Figure 10, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.20240067-02 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is described by referring mainly to examples. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be readily apparent however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, some methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure.

[0016] Throughout the present disclosure, the terms "a" and "an" are intended to denote at least one of a particular element. As used herein, the term "includes" means includes but not limited to, the term "including" means including but not limited to. The term "based on" means based at least in part on.

[0017] A liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing (hereinafter “cartridge housing”) is disclosed herein and utilizes a dual thread closing mechanism and snap action LC fitting torque limiting mechanism to facilitate rapid toolless cartridge exchange, and toolless coupling of the cartridge housing to an LC preparative column.

[0018] According to examples disclosed herein, the cartridge housing may be fully closed or opened with approximately ½ turn (e.g., approximately 180° turn), which is a significantly reduced effort compared to prior such devices.

[0019] According to examples disclosed herein, the cartridge housing may provide a hybrid closure and clamping mechanism utilizing thick sectioned trapezoidal teeth and a fine pitch machine thread coupled to a torque limited LC fitting thumb wheel.

[0020] According to examples disclosed herein, the cartridge housing may include a20240067-02 hybrid closure (e.g., a hybrid clamping structure), and the sectioned trapezoidal teeth (e.g., tooth jaws) coupled with fine pitch machine threads to produce a rapid assembly requiring approximately ½ turn to fully close and compress sealing O-rings. The clamping force may be purely axial, generating zero tangential shearing forces on the O-rings. An inlet fitting as disclosed herein does not rotate during closing or opening, thus allowing a capillary column to remain connected to a port without risk of twisting.

[0021] According to examples disclosed herein, the cartridge housing may include a torque limiting assembly for tool free connection of the cartridge housing to a preparative column. In this regard, the cartridge housing may provide for tool free removal of the torque limiting assembly, for example, for exchange or service of a rigid capillary.

[0022] According to examples disclosed herein, a liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing may include an inlet assembly, and an outlet jaw assembly that is slidably and rotateably engageable with the inlet assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

[0023] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, the outlet jaw assembly may be engageable with the inlet assembly by engagement of trapezoidal threads. The trapezoidal threads may be segmented zero degree pitch trapezoidal threads.

[0024] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, the inlet assembly may be engageable to lock to the outlet jaw assembly by rotation of approximately 180° of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.20240067-02

[0025] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, the inlet assembly may include fine pitch threads on an outer diameter area that is engageable with corresponding fine pitch threads on an inner diameter area of a rotatable compression nut to provide compression of O-rings on the cartridge.

[0026] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, a fitting torque limit assembly may provide toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and an LC preparative column. The fitting torque limit assembly may include a rotatable thumb wheel that receives a nut wheel to provide the toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and the LC preparative column. The fitting torque limit assembly may include a plurality of perimeter clips that engage an undercut internal diameter of the outlet jaw assembly.

[0027] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, a compression nut may rotate the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

[0028] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, a plurality of elastomeric balls may be positioned between a compression nut and an inlet jaw of the inlet assembly to provide rotation resistance between the compression nut and the inlet jaw.

[0029] According to examples of the cartridge housing disclosed herein, the inlet assembly may include a pin that slides in a guide channel of the outlet jaw assembly to guide and limit movement of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

[0030] According to examples disclosed herein, an LC preparative guard cartridge housing may include an inlet assembly, and an outlet jaw assembly that is slidably and20240067-02 rotateably engageable with the inlet assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and rotateably and slidably disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

[0031] According to examples disclosed herein, an LC preparative guard cartridge housing may include an inlet assembly, and an outlet jaw assembly that is engageable with the inlet assembly by engagement of trapezoidal threads to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

[0032] According to examples disclosed herein, an LC preparative guard cartridge housing may include an inlet assembly, and an outlet jaw assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly. A fitting torque limit assembly may be coupled to the outlet jaw assembly to provide toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and an LC preparative column.

[0033] According to examples of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing disclosed herein, the cartridge housing may include an inlet housing driver that includes internal threads engageable with complementary threads of an inlet flow distributor to retain the inlet flow distributor to the inlet assembly.

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a diagrammatic cutout view of a first embodiment of a liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing (hereinafter “cartridge housing 1000”), in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1, components of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing 1000 may include an inlet assembly 102, an outlet jaw assembly 104, a fitting20240067-02 torque limit assembly 106, a rigid connector tube 108, and an LC fitting 110 (including nut and ferrule set). The view of the cartridge housing 1000 at the left of Figure 1 shows the cartridge housing 1000 with a cartridge (e.g., cartridge 600 of Figure 6), and the view 1000 at the right of Figure 1 shows the cartridge housing 1000 without a cartridge to illustrate sealing O-rings 136. The LC fitting 110 may be formed of stainless steel. An outlet assembly 100 as defined herein may include the outlet jaw assembly 104, the fitting torque limit assembly 106, the rigid connector tube 108, and the LC fitting 110.

[0036] The inlet assembly 102 may include an inlet jaw 112, a compression nut 114, an inlet flow distributor 116, a retainer 118, and a nut to jaw friction link 120. The nut to jaw friction link 120 may include a set of elastomeric balls as disclosed herein with reference to Figure 2.

[0037] The outlet jaw assembly 104 may include a grip 122, an outlet jaw 124, and an outlet flow distributor 126.

[0038] The fitting torque limit assembly 106 may include a removable LC fitting 128, a thumb wheel (driving) 130, a fitting retaining washer 132, and a nut wheel (driven) 134.

[0039] The cartridge housing 1000 may utilize a dual thread closing mechanism including a walled cylinder component (e.g., the inlet jaw 112) contained in an inlet half (e.g., the inlet assembly 102) of the cartridge housing 1000 with segmented zero degree pitch trapezoidal threads on an inner diameter and fine pitch machine threads on an outside diameter. The segmented trapezoidal threads may allow rapid coupling of the inlet assembly 102 to the outlet half (e.g., outlet jaw assembly 104) via like threads on the outlet jaw 124 of the outlet jaw assembly 104. Further, the fine pitch threads that mate to the compression nut 114 provide controlled compression of O-rings 136 until metal-to-20240067-02 metal contact is made between the cartridge 600 and inlet and outlet flow distributors 116 and 126.

[0040] The cartridge housing 1000 may further utilize the fitting torque limit assembly 106 (e.g., a snap action LC fitting torque limiting mechanism) to facilitate rapid toolless cartridge exchange. In this regard, the cartridge 600 (e.g., see Figure 6) may include a tube section filled with separation media between two frits. The cartridge 600 may protect the LC preparative column and may be exchanged as needed at time intervals or upon defined chromatographic performance deltas.

[0041] With respect to toolless coupling of the cartridge housing 1000 (e.g., including the inlet assembly 102 and the outlet jaw assembly 104), the fitting torque limit assembly 106 provides the toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing 1000 and an LC preparative column. In this regard, Figure 9 shows the cartridge housing 1000 coupled to LC preparative column 900.

[0042] The cartridge housing 1000 may be fully closed or opened. When fully open, the two halves of the cartridge housing 1000 (the inlet half including the inlet assembly 102, and the outlet half including the outlet jaw assembly 104) may be infinitely separable from each other axially such that a cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 600) can be inserted into or extracted from the cartridge housing 1000. When fully closed, the cartridge 600 is captured inside the two halves of the cartridge housing 1000 such that hydraulic seals are made on each end face of the cartridge 600 capable of sustaining leak free flow of LC solvent, for example, at up to 450 bar, into an inlet side of the cartridge housing 1000 through the cartridge 600 and out through an outlet side of the cartridge housing 1000. In this regard, the cartridge housing 1000 may be fully closed or opened with20240067-02 approximately ½ turn (e.g., approximately 180° turn).

[0043] The cartridge housing 1000 may be fully closed or opened to provide a hybrid closure and clamping mechanism utilizing thick sectioned trapezoidal teeth (e.g., the trapezoidal teeth 608 and 610 of Figure 6). Further, the cartridge housing 1000 may include a fine pitch machine thread (e.g., mating machine threads on inner diameter of compression nut 114 and outer diameter of inlet jaw 112), and is coupled to a torque limited LC fitting thumb wheel.

[0044] The cartridge housing 1000 may include a hybrid closure (e.g., a hybrid clamping structure), and the sectioned trapezoidal teeth coupled with fine pitch machine threads to produce a rapid assembly requiring approximatelyturn to fully close and compress sealing O-rings 136. The clamping force may be purely axial, generating zero tangential shearing forces on the O-rings 136. In this regard, an inlet fitting as disclosed herein does not rotate during closing or opening, thus allowing a capillary column to remain connected to the inlet flow distributor 116 (e.g., a port) without risk of twisting.

[0045] The cartridge housing 1000 may include a fitting torque limit assembly 106 for tool free connection of the cartridge housing 1000 to a preparative column. In this regard, with respect to the inlet assembly 102 and the outlet jaw assembly 104, the fitting torque limit assembly 106 provides the toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing 1000 and an LC preparative column. Further, the cartridge housing 1000 also provides for tool free removal of the torque limiting assembly, for example, for exchange or service of a rigid capillary (not shown).

[0046] Figure 2 illustrates the inlet assembly 102 of the cartridge housing 1000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.20240067-02

[0047] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, and particularly Figure 2, the inlet assembly 102 may be assembled such that the inlet flow distributor 116 is positioned through and retained in a top hole of the compression nut 114 by the retainer 118. The compression nut 114 may be threaded onto the inlet jaw 112 such that the bottom faces of compression nut 114 and inlet jaw 112 are coplanar. The nut to jaw friction link 120 and outlet jaw assembly 104 may be pressed into perimeter holes on the inlet jaw 112 to provide a small relative rotation resistance between the inlet jaw 112 and the compression nut 114. This rotation resistance may be accomplished by various means, such as, three elastomeric balls (e.g., that form the nut to jaw friction link 120) for the example of Figure 2.

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates the outlet jaw assembly 104 of the cartridge housing 1000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0049] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, and particularly Figure 3, the outlet jaw assembly 104 may represent a pressed assembly of the grip 122, the outlet jaw 124, and the outlet flow distributor 126. In some examples, the grip 122 and the outlet jaw 124 may be integrated into a single part.

[0050] Figure 4 illustrates the fitting torque limit assembly 106 of the cartridge housing 1000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0051] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, and particularly Figure 4, the fitting torque limit assembly 106 may be assembled such that removable LC fitting 128 is pressed into the nut wheel 134 and is retained by the fitting retaining washer 132. The fitting retaining washer 132 may be pressed onto the nut wheel 134 behind removable LC fitting 128 and retained by clips 400 of the nut wheel 134. The assembled nut wheel 134 may then be snapped into the thumb wheel 130.20240067-02

[0052] Figure 5 illustrates the outlet assembly 100 of the cartridge housing 1000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0053] Referring to Figures 1 and 5, and particularly Figure 5, the full outlet assembly 100 may be assembled by installing the rigid connector tube 108 and the LC fitting 110 into a threaded port 500 of the outlet jaw assembly 104 and tightening the LC fitting 110. The rigid connector tube 108, now fixed on the outlet jaw assembly 104, may then be inserted into the removable LC fitting 128 of the fitting torque limit assembly 106. Further, the outlet jaw assembly 104 and the fitting torque limit assembly 106 may be pushed together such that perimeter clips 502 of fitting torque limit assembly 106 engage an undercut internal diameter (ID) 504 of the outlet jaw assembly 104.

[0054] Figure 6 illustrates cartridge installation for the cartridge housing 1000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 and 6, and particularly Figure 6, with respect to cartridge installation, for an initial condition where the housing is open, a preparation cartridge 600 may be installed into pocket 602 of the outlet assembly 100. A pin 604 in the inlet jaw 112 of the inlet assembly 102 may be aligned with and inserted into a vertical section of a guide channel 606 of the outlet jaw 124 of the outlet assembly 100 to the full depth of the guide channel 606. In this manner, the inlet assembly 102 may include the pin 604 that slides in the guide channel 606 of the outlet jaw assembly 104 to guide and limit movement of the inlet assembly 102 relative to the outlet jaw assembly 104.

[0056] The compression nut 114 may be rotated, for example, 30° clockwise, causing the inlet jaw 112 to rotate in tandem due to the rotational resistance of the nut to jaw friction link 120. In this manner, the pin 604 travels the full length of horizontal section20240067-02This prevents any further rotation of the inlet jaw 112 and aligns sectioned trapezoidal zero pitch threads 608 of the inlet jaw 112 with the similar mating threads 610 of the outlet jaw 124.

[0057] The compression nut 114 may be rotated, for example, approximately 120°, to fully compress cartridge sealing O-rings 136. The inlet flow distributor 116 may be loosely captured in the compression nut 114 such that it does not rotate during the closing and O-ring compression process.

[0058] Figure 7 illustrates a guard cartridge installed and housing closed condition for connection of the cartridge housing 1000 to a preparative column, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. Figure 8 illustrates a guard cartridge removed and housing open condition for connection of the cartridge housing 1000 to a preparative column, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0059] Referring to Figures 1, 7, and 8, and particularly Figures 7 and 8, connection of the cartridge housing 1000 including the inlet assembly 102 and the outlet jaw assembly 104 to a preparative column (e.g., LC preparative column 900 of Figure 9) may be performed with the guard cartridge 600 installed and the housing closed or with the housing open with the guard cartridge removed (e.g., Figure 8). The removable LC fitting 128 of the housing assembly may be inserted into a port 700 of a preparative column end cap 702. When the thumb wheel 130 is rotated clockwise in the orientation of Figure 7, teeth 402 (e.g., see Figure 4) of torque beams 704, four in the example of the thumb wheel 130, engage the sloping face of an adjacent tooth 706 on the nut wheel 134 such that the nut wheel 134 and LC fitting 128 rotate with the thumb wheel 130. As the torque20240067-02 required to tighten the LC fitting 128 increases, the torque beams 704 ride up the sloped surface of a corresponding tooth 706 until the torque beams 704 breach the top of the tooth and snap into a relief in front of the next tooth, thus limiting the torque that is applied to the fitting.

[0060] Figure 10 illustrates a diagrammatic cutout view of a second embodiment of an LC preparative guard cartridge housing (hereinafter “cartridge housing 2000”), in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0061] Referring to Figure 10, key components of the LC preparative guard cartridge housing 2000 that differ from the LC preparative guard cartridge housing 1000 may include an inlet assembly 1002 and an outlet jaw assembly 1004. The view of the cartridge housing 2000 shows the cartridge housing 2000 without a cartridge to illustrate sealing O-rings 1036.

[0062] The inlet assembly 1002 may include an inlet jaw 1012, a compression nut 1014, and inlet flow distributor 1016. The inlet assembly 1002 may further include an inlet housing driver 1006 that is affixed to the compression nut 1014 by fasteners (e.g., screws) 1008. The inlet housing driver 1006 may be internally threaded at 1010 to engage with complementary threads 1018 of the inlet flow distributor 1016. An outer surface of the compression nut 1014 may include ridges to facilitate gripping by a hand of a user and rotary turning thereof.

[0063] The outlet jaw assembly 1004 may include a grip 1022, an outlet jaw 1024, and an outlet flow distributor 1026. An outer surface of the grip 1022 may include ridges to facilitate gripping by a hand of a user and rotary turning of the outlet jaw assembly 1004 relative to the inlet assembly 1002.20240067-02

[0064] The cartridge housing 2000 may utilize a dual thread closing mechanism including a walled cylinder component (e.g., the inlet jaw 1012) contained in an inlet half (e.g., the inlet assembly 1002) of the cartridge housing 2000 with segmented zero degree pitch trapezoidal threads 1028 on an inner diameter. The segmented trapezoidal threads 1028 may allow rapid coupling of the inlet assembly 1002 to the outlet half (e.g., outlet jaw assembly 1004) via like threads 1030 on the outlet jaw 1024 of the outlet jaw assembly 1004.

[0065] The cartridge housing 2000 may be fully closed or opened. When fully open, the two halves of the cartridge housing 2000 (the inlet half including the inlet assembly 1002, and the outlet half including the outlet jaw assembly 1004) may be infinitely separable from each other axially such that a cartridge (e.g., the cartridge 600 of Figure 1) can be inserted into or extracted from the cartridge housing 2000. When fully closed, the cartridge 600 is captured inside the two halves of the cartridge housing 2000 such that hydraulic seals are made on each end face of the cartridge 600 capable of sustaining leak free flow of LC solvent, for example, at up to 450 bar, into an inlet side of the cartridge housing 2000 through the cartridge 600 and out through an outlet side of the cartridge housing 2000. In this regard, the cartridge housing 2000 may be fully closed or opened with approximately ½ turn (e.g., approximately 180° turn) of the outlet jaw assembly 1004 relative to the inlet assembly 1002.

[0066] The cartridge housing 2000 may be fully closed or opened to provide a hybrid closure and clamping mechanism utilizing relatively thick sectioned trapezoidal teeth (e.g., the trapezoidal teeth 1028 and 1030). In this regard, the cartridge housing 2000 may require approximately ½ turn to fully close and compress sealing O-rings 1036. The20240067-02 clamping force may be purely axial, generating zero tangential shearing forces on the O- rings 1036. Further, rotation of the outlet jaw assembly 1004 relative to the inlet assembly 1002 to place the cartridge housing 2000 in a closed configuration may produce axial movement and loading of the inlet flow distributor 1016 through the mating threads 1010 and 1018 on the inlet housing driver 1006 and the inlet flow distributor 1016, respectively.

[0067] With respect to the fitting torque limit assembly 106 of Figure 1, this assembly may be eliminated from the cartridge housing 2000. In this regard, the cartridge housing 2000 and a prep column (e.g., the LC preparative column 900 of Figure 9) may be rigidly interconnected.

[0068] Figure 11 illustrates the inlet assembly 1002 of the cartridge housing 2000, in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

[0069] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, and particularly Figure 11, the inlet assembly 1002 may be assembled such that the inlet flow distributor 1016 is positioned through and retained in a top hole 1032 of the compression nut 1014 by the threaded engagement with the inlet housing driver 1006 that is affixed to the compression nut 1014 by fasteners (e.g., screws) 1008. Elastomeric balls 1020 may be pressed into perimeter holes on the compression nut 1014 to provide a small relative rotation resistance between the inlet jaw 1012 and the compression nut 1014. In this regard, this rotation resistance may be accomplished by various means, such as, the three elastomeric balls 1020.

[0070] What has been described and illustrated herein is an example along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the subject matter, which is intended to be defined by the following20240067-02 claims -- and their equivalents -- in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

20240067-02 What is claimed is:

1. A liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing comprising: an inlet assembly; and an outlet jaw assembly that is slidably and rotateably engageable with the inlet assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

2. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein the outlet jaw assembly is engageable with the inlet assembly by engagement of trapezoidal threads.

3. The cartridge housing according to claim 2, wherein the trapezoidal threads are segmented zero degree pitch trapezoidal threads.

4. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein the inlet assembly is engageable to lock to the outlet jaw assembly by rotation of approximately 180° of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

5. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein the inlet assembly includes fine pitch threads on an outer diameter area that is engageable with corresponding fine pitch threads on an inner diameter area of a rotatable compression nut to provide compression20240067-02 of O-rings on the cartridge.

6. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, further comprising: a fitting torque limit assembly to provide toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and an LC preparative column.

7. The cartridge housing according to claim 6, wherein the fitting torque limit assembly includes a rotatable thumb wheel that receives a nut wheel to provide the toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and the LC preparative column.

8. The cartridge housing according to claim 6, wherein the fitting torque limit assembly includes a plurality of perimeter clips that engage an undercut internal diameter of the outlet jaw assembly.

9. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, further comprising: a compression nut to rotate the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

10. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastomeric balls are positioned between a compression nut and an inlet jaw of the inlet assembly to provide rotation resistance between the compression nut and the inlet jaw.20240067-02 11. The cartridge housing according to claim 1, wherein the inlet assembly includes a pin that slides in a guide channel of the outlet jaw assembly to guide and limit movement of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

12. A liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing comprising: an inlet assembly; an outlet jaw assembly to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly; and a fitting torque limit assembly coupled to the outlet jaw assembly to provide toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and an LC preparative column.

13. A liquid chromatography (LC) preparative guard cartridge housing comprising: an inlet assembly; and an outlet jaw assembly that is engageable with the inlet assembly by engagement of trapezoidal threads to retain a cartridge between the inlet assembly and the outlet jaw assembly, and disengageable from the inlet assembly to release the cartridge.

14. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, wherein the trapezoidal threads are segmented zero degree pitch trapezoidal threads.

15. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, wherein the inlet assembly is20240067-02 engageable to lock to the outlet jaw assembly by rotation of approximately 180° of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

16. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, wherein the inlet assembly includes fine pitch threads on an outer diameter area that is engageable with corresponding fine pitch threads on an inner diameter area of a rotatable compression nut to provide compression of O-rings on the cartridge.

17. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, further comprising: a fitting torque limit assembly to provide toolless torque limited connection between the cartridge housing and an LC preparative column.

18. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, further comprising: an inlet housing driver that includes internal threads engageable with complementary threads of an inlet flow distributor to retain the inlet flow distributor to the inlet assembly.

19. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of elastomeric balls are positioned between a compression nut and an inlet jaw of the inlet assembly to provide rotation resistance between the compression nut and the inlet jaw.20240067-02 20. The cartridge housing according to claim 13, wherein the inlet assembly includes a pin that slides in a guide channel of the outlet jaw assembly to guide and limit movement of the inlet assembly relative to the outlet jaw assembly.

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