Sample injection valve

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sample injection valve, comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator is provided with a first through hole, a second through hole, a third through hole, a fourth through hole, a fifth through hole, a sixth through hole, a seventh through hole and an eighth through hole; the inner surface of the stator is provided with a stator slot; the inner surface of the rotor is provided with a first rotor slot, a second rotor slot, a third rotor slot, a fourth rotor slot and a fifth rotor slot; the fifth rotor slot comprises a first sub-slot and a second sub-slot communicated therewith.

Description

A sample injection valve TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of protein purification, nucleic acid synthesis, liquid chromatography, etc., and in particular to a sample injection valve with functions such as sample loading. BACKGROUND

[0002] A high performance liquid chromatograph is an instrument that separates various substances to be separated in two phases based on differences in affinity such as distribution coefficients and adsorption capacities, and then detects the separated substances using a detector such as a UV detector.

[0003] When a high performance liquid chromatograph is used, air can sometimes enter a chromatographic column and a detector, causing the chromatographic column to fail or the detection result to be abnormal. In addition, when a high performance liquid chromatograph is used, different types of sample injection pumps need to be selected according to detection requirements and the amount of sample, so the sample injection pumps and the connected pipelines often need to be disassembled and replaced, which is complicated to operate, and a large amount of air is mixed in the disassembled pipelines, which in turn causes the chromatographic column to fail or the detection result to be abnormal. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present application provides a sample injection valve with a flushing function and capable of switching different types of sample injection pumps.

[0005] One object of the present application is to provide a sample injection valve comprising a stator (10) and a rotor (20), the rotor being rotatable relative to the stator about a rotation axis, characterized in that

[0006] The stator has a stator inner surface and a stator outer surface, the stator is provided with a first through hole (1), a second through hole (2), a third through hole (3), a fourth through hole (4), a fifth through hole (5), a sixth through hole (6), a seventh through hole (7) and an eighth through hole (8) penetrating the stator inner surface and the stator outer surface, the stator inner surface is provided with a stator groove (5a), the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole, the fourth through hole, the fifth through hole and the eighth through hole are arranged in sequence on a circle with the rotation axis as the center and a first radius (R1) as the radius, the sixth through hole and the seventh through hole are arranged in sequence on a circle with the rotation axis as the center and a second radius (R2) as the radius, one end of the stator groove coincides with the fifth through hole and the other end (5b) of the stator groove extends to the circle with the second radius;

[0007] The rotor comprises a rotor inner surface sealingly connected with the stator inner surface, the rotor inner surface is provided with a first rotor slot (a), a second rotor slot (b), a third rotor slot (c), a fourth rotor slot (d) and a fifth rotor slot, the fifth rotor slot comprises a first sub-slot (e-1) and a second sub-slot (e-2) in communication with the first sub-slot, the first rotor slot (a), the second rotor slot (b) and the second sub-slot (e-2) are spaced from each other, and both ends of the first rotor slot (a), both ends of the second rotor slot (b) and both ends of the second sub-slot (e-2) are located on a circle of the first radius (R1) and a circle of the second radius (R2) respectively, the third rotor slot (c), the fourth rotor slot (d) and the first sub-slot (e-1) are spaced from each other, and both ends of the third rotor slot (c), both ends of the fourth rotor slot (d) and both ends of the first sub-slot (e-1) are located on the circle of the first radius (R1).

[0008] In some embodiments, when the rotor rotates to a first state, the first rotor slot communicates the second through hole (2) with the sixth through hole (6), and the second rotor slot (b) communicates the first through hole (1) with the stator slot (5a).

[0009] In some embodiments, when the rotor rotates to a second state, the first sub-slot (e-1) of the fifth rotor slot communicates the first through hole (1) with the second through hole (2), the first rotor slot (a) communicates the eighth through hole (8) with the seventh through hole (7), and the third rotor slot (c) communicates the third through hole (3) with the fourth through hole (4).

[0010] In some embodiments, when the rotor rotates to a third state, the third rotor slot (c) communicates the first through hole (1) with the second through hole (2), the second rotor slot communicates the fifth through hole (5) with the seventh through hole (7), and the fourth rotor slot (d) communicates the third through hole (3) with the fourth through hole (4).

[0011] In some embodiments, when the rotor rotates to a fourth state, the third rotor slot (c) communicates the second through hole (2) with the third through hole (3), the fifth rotor slot communicates the seventh through hole (7) with the first through hole (1), the fourth rotor slot (d) communicates the fifth through hole (5) with the fourth through hole (4).

[0012] In some embodiments, the first through hole is used for connecting a chromatographic column, the second through hole is used for connecting a system pump, the third through hole and the seventh through hole are used for connecting a sample loop, the fourth through hole and the sixth through hole are respectively used for connecting a waste pool, and the eighth through hole and the fifth through hole are respectively used for connecting a first sample injection pump and a second sample injection pump.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first rotor slot (a), the second rotor slot (b), and the second sub-slot (e-2) are straight-line slots.

[0014] In some embodiments, the third rotor slot (c), the fourth rotor slot (d), and the first sub-slot (e-1) are circular-arc slots, and the circular-arc slots are located on a circle with the first radius.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first radius is greater than the second radius.

[0016] In some embodiments, the sample injection valve further comprises a driving member connected to the rotor, and a controller connected to the driving member, the controller being configured to control the driving member to drive the rotor to rotate around the rotation axis to the first state in response to a flushing instruction from a user.

[0017] The present application achieves the functions of flushing and switching different types of sample injection pumps when the rotor rotates relative to the stator, thereby meeting the detection requirements and detection accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the present disclosure, illustrate the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and serve to explain the present disclosure together with the description. In the drawings:

[0019] FIG. 1a shows a schematic diagram of the inner surface of the stator according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0020] FIG. 1b shows a schematic diagram of the outer surface of the stator according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0021] FIG. 1c shows a schematic diagram of the layout of the through holes and the stator slots in the stator according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0022] FIG. 2a shows a schematic diagram of the rotor according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0023] FIG. 2b shows a schematic diagram of the layout of the slots in the inner surface of the rotor according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0024] FIG. 3a shows a schematic diagram of the flow path when the sample valve is in the first state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3b shows a schematic view of the stator and rotor cooperation of the sample valve in the first state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0026] Figure 4a shows a schematic view of the flow path of the sample valve in the second state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0027] Figure 4b shows a schematic view of the stator and rotor cooperation of the sample valve in the second state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0028] Figure 5a shows a schematic view of the flow path of the sample valve in the third state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0029] Figure 5b shows a schematic view of the stator and rotor cooperation of the sample valve in the third state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0030] Figure 6a shows a schematic view of the flow path of the sample valve in the fourth state according to some embodiments of the application;

[0031] Figure 6b shows a schematic view of the stator and rotor cooperation of the sample valve in the fourth state according to some embodiments of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] So that the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application are more apparent, below, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments of the present application.

[0033] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but only represents selected embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application without creative labor are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0034] It should be noted that: similar reference numbers and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in the subsequent drawings.

[0035] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1a to 6b.

[0036] The application provides a sample injection valve, comprising a stator 10 and a rotor 20, the rotor 20 can rotate relative to the stator 10 around the rotation axis O, the stator 10 has a stator inner surface (the surface shown in Fig. 1a) and a stator outer surface (the surface shown in Fig. 1b), and the rotor 20 has a rotor inner surface (the surface with a groove shown in Fig. 2a), and the rotor inner surface is in sealing connection with the stator inner surface.

[0037] The surface of the rotor 20 opposite to the stator inner surface is the rotor inner surface. The sealing connection of the rotor inner surface with the stator inner surface can be that the rotor inner surface and the stator inner surface abut against each other and have a certain extrusion force therebetween.

[0038] For example, the stator 10 and the rotor 20 can be cylindrical or disc-shaped respectively, and the sizes of the two can be approximately equal. The rotation axis O of the rotor 20 can pass through the center (the center of the circle) of the stator 10 and the rotor 20. Of course, the shapes of the stator 10 and the rotor 20 can also be other shapes, such as square, prism, etc.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, the stator 10 is provided with first to eighth through holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 penetrating through the stator inner surface and the stator outer surface, and the stator inner surface is provided with a stator groove 5a. As shown in Fig. 1c, the first to fifth through holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the eighth through hole 8 are arranged on a circle with the rotation axis O as the center and a first radius R1 in sequence, the sixth through hole 6 and the seventh through hole 7 are arranged on a circle with the rotation axis O as the center and a second radius R2 in sequence, one end of the stator groove 5a coincides with the opening end of the fifth through hole 5 on the stator inner surface, and the other end 5b of the stator groove 5a extends to the circle with the second radius R2.

[0040] The circle with the first radius R1 (shown in Fig. 1c) and the circle with the second radius R2 (shown in Fig. 1c) are both imaginary circles, that is, the reference baseline in the design, and a feature introduced for the convenience of description, and not a real circle. Of course, the above-mentioned circles can also be marked on the inner surface of the stator 10. The first radius R1 can be greater than the second radius R2.

[0041] The one end of the stator groove 5a coincides with the opening end of the fifth through hole 5 on the stator inner surface, and the other end 5b of the stator groove 5a extends to the circle with the second radius R2 can be understood as that the stator groove 5a is a groove with a certain groove depth, and the two ends of the stator groove 5a are located on the circle with the first radius R1 and the circle with the second radius R2 respectively, and the end located on the circle with the first radius R1 coincides with the opening end of the fifth through hole 5 on the stator inner surface, and is connected to the opening end of the fifth through hole 5 on the stator outer surface through the fifth through hole 5 penetrating through the stator inner surface and the stator outer surface.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the inner surface of the rotor is provided with a first rotor slot a, a second rotor slot b, a third rotor slot c, a fourth rotor slot d, and a fifth rotor slot, the fifth rotor slot including a first sub-slot e-1 and a second sub-slot e-2 in communication with the first sub-slot e-1, the first rotor slot a, the second rotor slot b, and the second sub-slot e-2 being spaced apart from each other, and both ends of the first rotor slot a, both ends of the second rotor slot b, and both ends of the second sub-slot e-2 being located on a circle of the first radius R1 and a circle of the second radius R2, respectively, the third rotor slot c, the fourth rotor slot d, and the first sub-slot e-1 being spaced apart from each other, and both ends of the third rotor slot c, both ends of the fourth rotor slot d, and both ends of the first sub-slot e-1 being located on the circle of the first radius R1.

[0043] The first rotor slot a, the second rotor slot b, and the second sub-slot e-2 being spaced apart from each other means that the first rotor slot a, the second rotor slot b, and the second sub-slot e-2 are not in communication with each other. The third rotor slot c, the fourth rotor slot d, and the first sub-slot e-1 being spaced apart from each other means that the third rotor slot c, the fourth rotor slot d, and the first sub-slot e-1 are not in communication with each other.

[0044] The fifth rotor slot including the first sub-slot e-1 and the second sub-slot e-2 in communication with the first sub-slot e-1 means that the first sub-slot e-1 and the second sub-slot e-2 each have a free end and a connected end, which are a free end e-11 (shown in FIG. 2b) of the first sub-slot e-1 and a free end e-21 (shown in FIG. 2b) of the second sub-slot e-2, respectively, the free end e-11 and the connected end of the first sub-slot e-1 being located on the circle of the first radius R1, and the free end e-21 of the second sub-slot e-2 being located on the circle of the second radius R2.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a, the first through hole 1 can be used to connect a chromatographic column, the chromatographic column being in communication with a detector, the second through hole 2 can be used to connect a system pump, the system pump being in communication with a storage buffer for pumping the buffer, the third through hole 3 and the seventh through hole 7 can be used to communicate a sample loop, the fourth through hole 4 and the sixth through hole 6 can be used to connect a waste pool, respectively, the fifth through hole 5 and the eighth through hole 8 can be used to connect a sample injection pump, respectively, for example, the eighth through hole 8 connects a sample injection pump 1, and the fifth through hole 5 connects a sample injection pump 2, the sample injection pump 1 and the sample injection pump 2 can be different types of sample injection pumps.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, when the sample valve is in the first state, the first rotor groove a is connected with the second through hole 2 and the sixth through hole 6, and the second rotor groove b is connected with the first through hole 1 and the stator groove 5a, so that the buffer solution is sucked into the pipeline by the system pump, discharged to the second through hole 2 after the system pump, and flows into the sixth through hole 6 through the first rotor groove a and is discharged to the waste liquid pool, realizing the purge function; at the same time, the sample pump 2 injects the sample into the fifth through hole 5, and the sample flows into the first through hole 1 through the stator groove 5a and the second rotor groove b and is connected with the chromatographic column and the detector, realizing the direct sample injection function of the sample pump 2, so that two flow paths are realized at the same time.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, when the sample valve is in the second state, the first sub-groove e-1 of the fifth rotor groove is connected with the first through hole 1 and the second through hole 2, the first rotor groove a is connected with the eighth through hole 8 and the seventh through hole 7, and the third rotor groove c is connected with the third through hole 3 and the fourth through hole 4, so that the buffer solution is sucked into the pipeline by the system pump, discharged to the second through hole 2 after the system pump, and discharged from the first through hole 1 through the first sub-groove e-1 and connected with the chromatographic column and the detector, completing the system baseline detection and experimental preparation work; at the same time, the sample pump 1 injects the sample into the eighth through hole 8, and the sample flows into the seventh through hole 7 through the first rotor groove a, flows into the sample loop, flows out from the sample loop to the third through hole 3, flows into the fourth through hole 4 through the third rotor groove c, and finally flows out to the waste liquid pool, completing the sample loading work from the sample pump 1, so that two flow paths are realized at the same time.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b, when the sample valve is in the third state, the third rotor groove c is connected with the first through hole 1 and the second through hole 2, the second rotor groove b is connected with the fifth through hole 5 and the seventh through hole 7, and the fourth rotor groove d is connected with the third through hole 3 and the fourth through hole 4, so that the buffer solution is sucked into the pipeline by the system pump, discharged to the second through hole 2 after the system pump, and enters the first through hole 1 through the third rotor groove c, connected with the chromatographic column and the detector from the first through hole 1, completing the system baseline detection and experimental preparation work; at the same time, the sample pump 2 injects the sample into the fifth through hole 5, and the sample enters the seventh through hole 7 through the second rotor groove b, flows out from the seventh through hole 7 to the sample loop, flows out from the sample loop to the third through hole 3, and flows into the fourth through hole 4 through the fourth rotor groove d, and finally flows out to the waste liquid pool from the fourth through hole 4, completing the sample loading work from the sample pump 2, so that two flow paths are realized at the same time.

[0049] The above-mentioned sample pump 2 and sample pump 1 can be sample pumps in different forms (such as different output flow rates), and according to the detection needs, the sample pump 1 or the sample pump 2 is selected to load the sample by switching the sample valve to the second state or the third state, which is more flexible.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 6a and 6b, when the sample valve is in the fourth state, the third rotor slot c is in communication with the second through hole 2 and the third through hole 3, and the fifth rotor slot is in communication with the seventh through hole 7 and the first through hole 1. Specifically, the free end of the second sub-slot e-2 is in communication with the seventh through hole 7, and the free end of the first sub-slot e-1 is in communication with the first through hole 1. At the same time, the fourth rotor slot d is in communication with the fifth through hole 5 and the fourth through hole 4. Thus, the buffer solution is sucked into the pipeline by the system pump, discharged to the second through hole 2 after passing through the system pump, and enters the third through hole 3 through the third rotor slot c. After being discharged from the third through hole, the buffer solution pushes the sample in the sample ring to flow and enters the seventh through hole 7, and enters the first through hole 1 through the fifth rotor slot. After being discharged from the first through hole 1, it is connected to the chromatographic column and the detector, and the sample injection into the chromatographic column is completed. At the same time, the sample pump 2 injects the medium into the fifth through hole 5, and flows into the fourth through hole 4 through the fourth rotor slot d, so as to flow out to the waste liquid pool, and the cleaning of the flow path is completed, so that the two flow paths are simultaneously performed.

[0051] Through the layout of the through holes and slots of the stator and the rotor, when the rotor rotates relative to the stator, the functions of flushing and switching different types of sample injection pumps can be realized, so as to meet various detection requirements, without the need to disassemble the pipeline and other components, which is convenient and flexible, and helps to improve the detection accuracy.

[0052] In some embodiments, the stator slot 5a, the first rotor slot a, the second rotor slot b, and the second sub-slot e-2 are all straight-line slots.

[0053] The straight-line slot is convenient for machining and also facilitates the improvement of machining accuracy, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency and also helping to improve the reliability.

[0054] Of course, the shape of one or more of the stator slot 5a, the first rotor slot a, the second rotor slot b, and the second sub-slot e-2 can also not be straight-line, for example, arc-shaped, curved, broken-line, or other shapes.

[0055] In some embodiments, the third rotor slot c, the fourth rotor slot d, and the first sub-slot e-1 are all circular arc slots, and the circular arc slots are located on a circle with a first radius R1.

[0056] The circular arc slot is convenient for reliable machining based on the circle with the first radius R1, and also facilitates the improvement of machining accuracy, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency and also helping to improve the reliability.

[0057] Of course, the shape of one or more of the third rotor slot c, the fourth rotor slot d, and the first sub-slot e-1 can also not be circular arc-shaped, for example, straight-line, curved, broken-line, or other shapes, and can also not be located on the circle with the first radius R1.

[0058] In some embodiments, the sample injection valve further comprises a driving member (not shown in the figure) connected with the rotor 20, and a controller (not shown in the figure) connected with the driving member, the controller being configured to control the driving member to drive the rotor to rotate around the rotation axis O to the first state of the sample injection valve in response to the flushing instruction, so as to make the first rotor groove a communicate the second through hole 2 and the sixth through hole 6, and the second rotor groove b communicate the stator groove 5a and the first through hole 1.

[0059] Thus, when the flushing function is selected, the sample injection valve can be automatically switched to the first state, thereby avoiding the serious consequences such as system overpressure, damage of components such as the chromatographic column and the detector, and the like caused by forgetting to switch to the first state.

[0060] The driving member can be a stepping motor or the like driving member capable of driving the rotor 20 to rotate around the rotation axis O.

[0061] For example, the controller is further connected with the system pump, and the controller is configured to control the system pump to operate at a higher output power than the sample injection pump in response to the flushing instruction, so as to efficiently and thoroughly discharge the gas and improve the detection accuracy.

[0062] It should be noted that, in the present document, relational terms such as "first" and "second", and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between or among the entities or actions. Moreover, the terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Claims

1. A sample injection valve comprising a stator (10) and a rotor (20) capable of rotating relative to the stator about a rotation axis, characterized in that, the stator has a stator inner surface and a stator outer surface, the stator is provided with a first through hole (1), a second through hole (2), a third through hole (3), a fourth through hole (4), a fifth through hole (5), a sixth through hole (6), a seventh through hole (7) and an eighth through hole (8) penetrating through the stator inner surface and the stator outer surface, the stator inner surface is provided with a stator groove (5a), the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole, the fourth through hole, the fifth through hole and the eighth through hole are arranged in sequence on a circle with the rotation axis as the center and a first radius (R1) as the radius, the sixth through hole and the seventh through hole are arranged in sequence on a circle with the rotation axis as the center and a second radius (R2) as the radius, one end of the stator groove coincides with the fifth through hole and the other end (5b) of the stator groove extends to the circle with the second radius; the rotor comprises a rotor inner surface in sealing connection with the stator inner surface, the rotor inner surface is provided with a first rotor groove (a), a second rotor groove (b), a third rotor groove (c), a fourth rotor groove (d) and a fifth rotor groove, the fifth rotor groove comprises a first sub-groove (e-1) and a second sub-groove (e-2) in communication with the first sub-groove, the first rotor groove (a), the second rotor groove (b) and the second sub-groove (e-2) are spaced from each other and both ends of the first rotor groove (a), both ends of the second rotor groove (b) and both ends of the second sub-groove (e-2) are located on the circle with the first radius (R1) and the circle with the second radius (R2) respectively, the third rotor groove (c), the fourth rotor groove (d) and the first sub-groove (e-1) are spaced from each other and both ends of the third rotor groove (c), both ends of the fourth rotor groove (d) and both ends of the first sub-groove (e-1) are located on the circle with the first radius (R1).

2. The sample injection valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the rotor rotates to a first state, the first rotor groove communicates the second through hole (2) with the sixth through hole (6), and the second rotor groove (b) communicates the first through hole (1) with the stator groove (5a).

3. The sample injection valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the rotor rotates to a second state, the first sub-groove (e-1) of the fifth rotor groove communicates the first through hole (1) with the second through hole (2), the first rotor groove (a) communicates the eighth through hole (8) with the seventh through hole (7), and the third rotor groove (c) communicates the third through hole (3) with the fourth through hole (4).

4. The sample injection valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the rotor rotates to the third state, the third rotor slot (c) connects the first through hole (1) and the second through hole (2), the second rotor slot connects the fifth through hole (5) and the seventh through hole (7), and the fourth rotor slot (d) connects the third through hole (3) and the fourth through hole (4).

5. The injection valve of claim 4, wherein, When the rotor rotates to the fourth state, the third rotor slot (c) connects the second through hole (2) and the third through hole (3), the fifth rotor slot connects the seventh through hole (7) and the first through hole (1), and the fourth rotor slot (d) connects the fifth through hole (5) and the fourth through hole (4).

6. The injection valve of claim 1, wherein, The first through hole is used to connect a chromatographic column, the second through hole is used to connect a system pump, the third through hole and the seventh through hole are used to connect a sample loop, the fourth through hole and the sixth through hole are respectively used to connect a waste pool, and the eighth through hole and the fifth through hole are respectively used to connect a first injection pump and a second injection pump.

7. The injection valve of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The first rotor slot (a), the second rotor slot (b), and the second sub-slot (e-2) are straight-line slots.

8. The injection valve of claim 7, wherein, The third rotor slot (c), the fourth rotor slot (d), and the first sub-slot (e-1) are circular-arc slots, and the circular-arc slots are located on a circle with the first radius.

9. The injection valve of claim 1, wherein, The first radius is greater than the second radius.

10. The sample introduction valve of claim 2, wherein, The injection valve further comprises: a driving member connected to the rotor; a controller connected to the driving member, the controller being configured to control the driving member to drive the rotor to rotate to the first state around the rotation axis in response to a flushing instruction from a user.

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