Filter Comprising a Plastic Material

Abstract

A method of providing a filter element with a thermoplastic material. The filter element is adapted for at least one of a group having filtering, conducting and influencing a medium. The thermoplastic material at least partly surrounds the filter element. The thermoplastic material is adapted for at least one of a group comprising coupling, connecting, sealing, fixing, adjusting, aligning, receiving, protecting, and positioning the filter element. The plastic material is at least partly plastified for attaching the plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments in connection with the accompanied drawings. Features that are substantially or functionally equal or similar will be referred to by the same reference sign(s).

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal view of a filter comprising a washer-shaped portion comprising a thermoplastic material and a disk-shaped portion comprising a filter element,

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal view of a filter element comprising a porous thermoplastic material,

FIG. 2 a shows a longitudinal view of a filter element embedded in a shoulder of a tube,

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal view of the filter of FIG. 1, wherein the washer-shaped portion comprises a shoulder,

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal view of a further embodiment of the filter, comprising an additional distance ring adapted for fixing the disk-shaped portion of the filter element,

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal view of another embodiment of the filter, wherein the washer-shaped portion can be formed and confined by a forming tool,

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal view of a further embodiment of the filter, wherein the filter element comprises a lens and a window,

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal view of another embodiment of the filter, wherein the filter element comprises a stationary phase of a liquid chromatographic column surrounded and confined by the thermoplastic material,

FIG. 7 a shows a schematic cross sectional view of another embodiment of the filter, wherein the filter element comprises a monolithic stationary phase of a liquid chromatographic column embedded in a U-shaped half pipe and covered by a cover comprising a thermoplastic material,

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal view of a filter comprising a filter element comprising a thin-walled capillary adapted for realizing a non reversible pressure-limiting valve,

FIG. 8 a shows a longitudinal view of a filter comprising a filter element comprising a thin-walled capillary adapted for realizing a non reversible pressure-limiting valve, wherein the capillary is coupled to couplings adapted to the diameter of a inner tube of the capillary,

FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal view of a filter, wherein the filter element comprises a plug adapted for realizing a pressure limiting valve, and

FIG. 9 a shows a longitudinal view of a filter, wherein the filter element comprises layers adapted for realizing a pressure limiting valve, and

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a fluidic system comprising two filters according to the filter shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A method of modifying or creating a filter element comprising a thermoplastic material, wherein the filter element is adapted for at least one of a group comprising filtering, conducting and influencing a medium the thermoplastic material at least partly surrounds said filter element, and said thermoplastic material is adapted for at least one of a group comprising coupling, connecting, sealing, fixing, adjusting, aligning, receiving, protecting, and positioning said filter element, the method comprising: at least partly plastifying said thermoplastic material for modifying said thermoplastic material.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising at least one of: at least partly plastifying and molding said thermoplastic material for modifying said filter element,at least partly plastifying and molding said thermoplastic material for creating said filter element.at least partly plastifying and molding said thermoplastic material for providing said filter element with said thermoplastic material,at least partly plastifying said thermoplastic material for attaching said thermoplastic material to said filter element,at least partly melting said thermoplastic material for partly closing a cellular structure of said thermoplastic material,heating said thermoplastic material beyond the softening temperature for bringing said thermoplastic material in its softening range and making it soft,surrounding an outer surface or span of said filter element at least partly with said thermoplastic material.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising at least one of: plastifying said thermoplastic material within a forming tool,exerting pressure on said thermoplastic material caused by the thermal expansion of said thermoplastic material by heating the closed forming tool comprising the thermoplastic material,exerting pressure on the thermoplastic material by closing said forming tool,plastifying said thermoplastic material by said forming tool, wherein said forming tool is part of the filter and remains after forming and serves as an reinforcement of the filter.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising at least one of: actively cooling down said thermoplastic material and\or said forming tool,cooling said thermoplastic material within said forming tool,heating said thermoplastic material within said forming tool above the melting temperature for melting said thermoplastic material,heating said thermoplastic material at least partly above the melting temperature for melting said thermoplastic material at least partly.

5. The method of claim 3, comprising at least one of: melting said thermoplastic material at least partly at a contact zone of said filter element and said thermoplastic material,melting said thermoplastic material at least partly after molding it,melting said thermoplastic material at least partly after molding it and before opening said tool,melting said thermoplastic material at least partly after removing it from said tool,

6. The method of claim 5, comprising at least one of: running a hot fluid through said filter element for melting said thermoplastic material at said contact zone,melting said thermoplastic material at said contact zone by laser radiation,melting said thermoplastic material at said contact zone by initiating an electric current flow,melting said thermoplastic material at said contact zone by inducing an electric current flow.

7. The method of claim 3, comprising at least one of: equipping said filter element with said thermoplastic material,equipping said filter element with said thermoplastic material before loading said forming tool.

8. The method of claim 2, comprising at least one of: shrinking said thermoplastic material by cooling said thermoplastic material down to ambient temperature,shrinking said thermoplastic material on said outer surface of the said filter element.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising at least one of: initiating a current flow for heating said thermoplastic material,initiating said current flow in an electric conductor embedded in said thermoplastic material,initiating said current flow in said filter element, wherein said filter element comprises a conductive material,initiating said current flow in said electric conductor, wherein said electric conductor comprises a metal rim,initiating said current flow in said electric conductor, wherein said electric conductor comprises a sheathing,initiating said current flow by inducing said current flow.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material is at least one of: a thermoplastic material, polyetheretherketone, one of a broad range of flouropolymeres, in particular perfluoroamines or flourinated ethylen-propylene copolymer, liquid crystal polymers.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising at least one of: said medium is at least on of a group comprising light, a fluid, a gas, and a liquid,said filter element is adapted for confining a stationary phase of a liquid chromatography column,said filter element is adapted for influencing the pressure of said medium,said filter element comprises a liquid chromatography column,said filter element is adapted for providing a pressure-limiting valve,said filter element comprises a layer adapted for conditional sealing a through hole,said filter element comprises said thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material is at least partly porous,said filter element comprises glass or ceramic materials.

12. A filter, comprising: a filter element adapted for at least one of: filtering, conducting and influencing a medium,a thermoplastic material adapted for at least one of: coupling, connecting, sealing, fixing, adjusting, aligning, receiving, protecting, positioning said filter element,

13. The filter of claim 12, wherein said filter comprises at least one of: the thermoplastic material was plastified at least partly for attaching said thermoplastic material to said filter element.a frit element adapted for filtering a fluid,metal,glass,ceramic,a plaiting,a porous or cellular structure,said thermoplastic material comprises a conductive rim,an optical window,a lens,a plurality of lenses,a plurality of windows,a plurality of different filter elements combined with each other.

14. The filter of claim 12, wherein said filter comprises at least one of: the filter element comprises a disk-shaped portion,the thermoplastic material comprises a washer-shaped portion.

15. The filter of claim 12, wherein said filter comprises at least one of: a tube,said tube surrounds said thermoplastic material,said thermoplastic material surrounds said filter element,said filter element comprises a chromatographic column.

16. The filter of claim 12, wherein said thermoplastic material is at least one of: polyetheretherketone, one of a broad range of flouropolymeres, in particular perfluoroamines or flourinated ethylen-propylene copolymer, liquid crystal polymers.

17. The filter of claim 12, comprising at least one of: said medium is at least on of a group comprising light, a fluid, a gas, and a liquid,said filter element is adapted for confining a stationary phase of a liquid chromatography column,said filter element is adapted for influencing the pressure of said medium,said filter element comprises a liquid chromatography column,said filter element is adapted for providing a pressure-limiting valve,said filter element comprises said thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material is at least partly porous.

18. A fluidic system adapted for handling a fluid, comprising: a filter, in particular a filter of any one of the above claims,said filter comprises a filter element adapted for at least one of: filtering, conducting and influencing a flowing medium,a thermoplastic material adapted for at least one of: coupling, connecting, sealing, fixing, adjusting, aligning, receiving, protecting, positioning said filter element,

19. The fluidic system of claim 18, adapted for analyzing a fluid, comprising a fluid separation device for housing a fluid sample and for separating components of said fluid for analysis, the fluid separation device comprising: a chromatographic column adapted for separating components of said fluid delivered by said fluid delivery system,said chromatographic column coupled to said filter element,said chromatographic column coupled to two of said filter elements,said chromatographic column coupled to two of said filter elements, wherein said two filter elements are adapted for confining a stationary phase 39 of the chromatographic column,said chromatographic column coupled to two of said filter elements, wherein said two filter elements are adapted for confining beads 41 of the chromatographic column,said chromatographic column coupled to two of said filter elements, wherein said chromatographic column provides a filter element connected in series with said two or more filter elements,said filter element providing the stationary phase of said chromatographic column, wherein said stationary phase is coupled to said thermoplastic material.

20. The fluidic system of claim 18, further comprising a detection device adapted for detecting said separated components within said fluid.

21. The fluidic system of claim 21, wherein said fluidic system is or comprises at least one of: a chromatographic system,a high performance liquid chromatographic system,an HPLC arrangement comprising a chip and an mass spectrograph,a high throughput LC/MS system,a purification system,a micro fraction collection/spotting system,a system adapted for identifying proteins,a system comprising a GPC/SEC column,a nanoflow LC system,a multidimensional LC system adapted for separation of protein digests.