High pressure seal connector

Abstract

Apparatus for making a fluid flow connection includes a pair of complementary components having respective first and second flow passages, and respective formations engageable to join the components by press-fitting them together so that the passages are in fluid flow communication and the junction between them is sealed against leakage up to a pre-determined pressure of the fluid flow. The respective formations comprise, on one hand, a spike ( 30 ) including at least a portion ( 32 ) of the first flow passage opening at a tip ( 31 ) of the spike and a first guide surface ( 29 ) about the spike, and, on the other hand, a body ( 41 ) with a pas sageway ( 42 ) that, when the components are press-fitted together, sealingly receives the spike, and a second guide surface ( 47 ) about the passageway that slidingly engages the first guide surface.

1 . An apparatus for making a fluid flow connection, comprising:
 a pair of complementary components having respective first and second flow passages, and respective formations engageable to join the components by press-fitting them together so that said passages are in fluid flow communication and the junction between them is sealed against leakage up to a pre-determined pressure of the fluid flow,   wherein the respective formations comprise,
 a spike including at least a portion of the first flow passage opening at a tip of the spike and a first guide surface about the spike, and, on the other hand, 
 a body with a passageway that, when said components are press-fitted together, sealingly receives the spike, and 
 a second guide surface about the passageway that slidingly engages said first guide surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said first guide surface is an inner surface of a tube surrounding said spike, and said second guide surface is a cylindrical surface surrounding said passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said inner surface includes a tapered entry thereof to receive the second guide surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said spike, said passageway and said first and second guide surfaces are of respective uniform cross-section and are mutually co-axially arranged. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said passageway opens at a tip of said body with a tapered entry to receive the spike. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second flow passages includes a medium selected to treat or modify sample-containing fluid flowing therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said medium is a sorbent bed selected to trap targeted compounds from said fluid as it passes through the sorbent bed, for subsequent recovery from the bed by an elution solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one passage is one of two flow paths that are configured in parallel, and the other flow path contains a one-way check valve. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said second flow passage includes said medium. 
     
     
         12 . A component for a connection apparatus, comprising:
 a body; and   a spike including at least a portion of a flow passage opening at a tip of the spike,   wherein the body defines a first guide surface about the spike, and   wherein the component is configured to be press-fitted with a complementary component having a body with a passageway that sealingly receives the spike and a second guide surface about the passageway that slidingly engages said first guide surface.   
     
     
         13 . The component according to  claim 12  wherein said first guide surface is an inner surface of a tube surrounding said spike. 
     
     
         14 . The component according to  claim 13  wherein said inner surface includes a tapered entry thereof to receive the second guide surface. 
     
     
         15 . The component according to  claim 12 , wherein said spike and said first guide surface are of respective uniform cross-section and are mutually co-axially arranged. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A syringe having an end-fitting comprising the component according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         18 . A component for a connection apparatus, comprising:
 a body with an open-ended passageway and a second guide surface about the passageway,   wherein the component is configured to be press-fitted with a complementary component having a spike that includes at least a portion of a fluid passage opening at the tip of the spike and that is sealingly received by said passageway, and further having a body that defines a first guide surface about the spike that slidingly engages said second guide surface.   
     
     
         19 . The component according to  claim 18  wherein said second guide surface is a cylindrical surface surrounding said passageway. 
     
     
         20 . The component according to  claim 18  wherein said passageway and said second guide surface are of respective uniform cross-section and are mutually co-axially arranged. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The component according to  claim 18  wherein a flow passage of said includes a medium selected to treat or modify fluid flowing therethrough. 
     
     
         23 . The component according to  claim 22  wherein said medium is a sorbent bed selected to trap targeted compounds from said fluid as it passes through the sorbent bed, for subsequent recovery from the bed by an elution solvent. 
     
     
         24 . The component according to  claim 22  wherein said passage is one of two flow paths that are configured in parallel, and the other flow path contains a one-way check valve.