Holder for an electrochemical process substrate

Abstract

A holder for an electrochemical process substrate includes a support member having a pair of separated substrate mounts adapted for mounting a process substrate there between, the support member including a separate trough operatively associated with each substrate mount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a process substrate.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority for U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/550,169, filed Mar. 4, 2004 and entitled HOLDER FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS SUBSTRATE.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a holder for supporting an electromolecular process, and in particular to such a holder adapted to operate in a high voltage electric field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to device for supporting an electromolecular process for exciting a chemical species to achieve mobility for orientating, repositioning and transporting the species and for separation among species achieved by operation at the appropriate conductivity range of the media and especially within the semiconductive range when induced by means of intense electrical fields at or near minimum and optimum current levels. Such a process can use a liquid medium which further complicates the safe and useful application of a high voltage electric field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment a holder for an electrochemical process substrate includes a support member having a pair of separated substrate mounts adapted for mounting a process substrate there between; and the support member including a separate trough operatively associated with each substrate mount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a process substrate. The process substrate may be a porous material, and it may be either flexible or rigid and include a separate wicking element located for placement in each trough. Each substrate mount may include a top element adapted to be located above a respective trough and adapted for maintaining a portion of a porous material within the respective trough. Each top element may include a portion adapted for extending into a respective trough for biasing a flexible portion of a process substrate into the respective trough. Each top element may include one or more openings adapted to direct a portion of a process substrate into a respective trough when said top element is located above said trough. The top elements may be adapted to be located and co-aligned directly over said troughs.

The top element and the support member each may include complementary magnetic elements adapted for maintaining the top elements in location above said troughs. The complementary magnetic elements in the top elements and the support member may both be magnetized.

The support member may include one or more elongated channels extending horizontally and adapted for allowing support and movement of the holder. The one or more elongated channels may extend perpendicularly to a direction directly between said substrate mounts

The holder may further include a separate electrical contact operatively associated with each trough and having a portion thereof located within a respective trough. The electrical contacts may include a connector extending from a side of said support member and being adapted to make contact with a complementary connector with movement of the holder in a direction of the one or more elongated channels.

The support member may include a support element extending upwardly to a horizontal imaginary plane between the substrate mounts for supporting a process substrate at one or more intermediate points between the substrate mounts.

Each trough may include a first portion adapted for receiving a portion of the process substrate and a second portion adapted for containing a portion of an electrical contact, and the first and second trough portions may be adapted to allow liquid flow there between.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustratively shown and described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support member constituting one element of the current disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side and bottom views, respectively, of a top element used in conjunction with the support member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a holder for an electrochemical process substrate including the support member of FIG. 1 and the top element of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support member for an electrochemical process substrate constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of support member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exploded elements of an electrochemical process substrate holder constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 6 having its the elements assembled for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 3 should be viewed in combination. FIG. 3 shows a side sectional view of a holder 10 for an electrochemical process substrate, which holder 10 generally includes a support member 12, also shown in FIG. 1, and a pair of top elements 14a, 14b, also shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 3 further shows an electrochemical process substrate 16 operatively installed on holder 10. Holder 10 is typically used for the electrical separation of the elements of a compound while the compound is dissolved or suspended in a reagent liquid.

Support member 12 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 1 and generally includes a pair of electrochemical reagent troughs 18a, 18b. Troughs 18a, 18b are used in combination with top elements 14a, 14b to form a pair of separated substrate mounts 20a, 20b (FIG. 3) for supporting electrochemical process substrate 16. Troughs 18a, 18b each include a first portion or reagent reservoir 22a, 22b, and a second portion 24a, 24b, respectively. Troughs 18a, 18b are adapted for liquid communication between first portions 22a, 22b and second portions 24a, 24b by means of one or more channels 26a, 26b, respectively, located there between. First trough portions 22a, 22b serve as reservoirs for reagent liquid and as an electrical connection point to respective electrical contacts (shown and described in reference to FIG. 5). Second trough portions 24a, 24b function to receive end portions 16a, 16b of process substrate 16 and thereby physically connect process substrate 16 to the liquid reagent from first trough portions 22a, 22b.

As mentioned, top elements 14a, 14b function in combination with second trough portions 24a, 24b to form a pair of separated substrate mounts 20a, 20b. This mounting is accomplished by extension 30a, 30b which are adapted to extend from respective top elements 14a, 14b into second trough portions 24a, 24b and thereby retain flexible end portions 16a, 16b of process substrate 16.

Top elements 14a, 14b are adapted to be maintained in the location of FIG. 3, above and directly over their respective second trough portions 24a, 24b, by a pair of complementary magnetic elements 32a, 32b (FIGS. 1 and 2B), respectively located in support member 12 and top elements 14a, 14b. Complementary magnetic elements may be jointly magnetized to save weight or they may be singularly magnetized.

Support member 12 further includes a multiplicity of support elements which extend to the imaginary plane represented by process substrate 16 to thereby provide support to such substrate. FIG. 3 shows a central support element 36 and a pair of side supports 38a, 38b. Support member 12 and support elements 36, 38a, 38b may further include a central recess or cutout portion 40a, 40b, 40c, respectively to accommodate a further glass slide support for reagent substrate 16. The location of support elements 36, 38a, 38b provides holder 10 with flexibility in that compounds to be separated may be placed over a particular support element 36, 38a, 38b depending upon how they will separate in relation to electrical polarity. Thus, separation in a single direction (positive or negative) is accommodated by the use of support element 38a or 38b, and unknown or bi-directional separation is accommodated by support element 36.

Process substrate 16 may be formed by any suitable material having a porous element. In the case of a rigid material, flexible wicking material 16a, 16b is attached to opposing ends for insertion into second trough portions 24a, 24b. For example, substrate 16 may be a flexible fiber such as paper or any non-porous material having a porous coating or porous layer. The non-porous material may be rigid, such as glass, or it may be flexible, such as a plastic film. Such a non-porous material is preferably an electrical insulator.

Support member 12 further includes one or more channels 42a, 42b located in lower surface 44 of support member 12 to allow support of member 12 by a complementary element. Channels 42a, 42b are directed perpendicularly to the direction between substrate amounts 20a, 20b, which arrangement allows for movement and electrical connection of holder 10 in a manner suitable for the handling of liquid reagent. This movement and mounting is discussed in greater detail below in reference to FIG. 5. Channels 42a, 42b receive horizontally oriented rods 46a 46b, respectively, for providing such support, although any suitable elements and complementary shapes may be used for channels 42a, 42b. The use of a pair of support rods minimizes the electrical hazard by reducing the amount of upwardly facing surface area upon which reagent liquid can condense or flow and support electrical conductivity.

FIG. 4 shows a support member 50 constructed in a manner similarly to support member 12 of FIG. 1. Support member 50 generally includes the same troughs 18a, 18b, magnetic elements 32a, support element 36, recesses or cutouts 40a, 40c, and channels 42a, 42b. Support member 50 is intended for use with top elements 14a, 14b (FIGS. 2A and 2B) and with rigid or glass slides.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of support member 50 and specifically shows electrical contacts 52a, 52b located in the respective first trough portions 22a, 22b. Electrical contacts 52a, 52b are generally located along the bottom of their respective first trough portions 22a, 22b and rise at one end 54a, 54b to pass through support member 50, as represented by phantom lines 56a, 56b, respectively, and couple to external electrical plugs 58a, 58b, respectively.

Also shown in phantom are channels 42a, 42b running perpendicularly to the direction between troughs 18a, 18b. In this manner, support member 50 may be moved along a pair of support rods 46a, 46b in the direction of arrows 60 to conveniently allow the coupling of insulating electrical plugs 58a, 58b to complementary connectors while minimizing the risk of spilling liquid reagent located in first trough portions 22a, 22b. The support member 12 of FIGS. 1 and 3, as well as support member 50 both include this electrical connection.

The above-described arrangement of the process substrate 16 extending perpendicularly to channels 42a, 42b and support rods 46a, 46b enables the holder 10 to safely function across a high voltage potential coupled through plugs 58a, 58b. An additional electrical safety feature resides in the side 62 from which plugs 58a, 58b extend. Side 62 is indented along central portion 64, on both support members 12, 50, to avoid the formation of a single flat surface (even a vertical one) extending between plugs 58a, 58b.

FIGS. 6 and 7 should be viewed in combination as different perspective views of the same holder 70. FIG. 6 shows holder 70 with respective support member 72 and top elements 74a, 74b in an exploded view, while FIG. 7 shows top elements 74a, 74b properly installed in combination with support member 72. Top elements 74a, 74b are retained in position on support member 72 by complementary magnetic elements 76a, 76b which may be either jointly or singularly magnetized. Top elements 74a, 74b include substantially horizontal portions 80a, 80b, respectively, each having a pair of through slots 82a, 84a and 82b, 84b, respectively, through which a porous material may be threaded. Slots 82a, 82b, are located directly above troughs 86a, 86b, respectively, to allow a porous material to extend directly into troughs 86a, 86b. Such a porous material acts as a wicking member for a process substrate having an additional porous layer otherwise supported by member 72. Troughs 86a, 86b would likewise include an electrical contacts (such as 52a, 52b, 56a, 56b, 58a, 58b, shown in FIG. 5).

Support member 70 further includes support elements 36, 38a, 38b to assist in supporting the process substrate along with the recess or cutout sections 40a, 40b, 40c to allow the use of a glass or rigid slide to provide additional support to a process substrate.

All of the materials used to construct the holders 10, 70 and support member 50 are intended to be chemically inactive or resistive to reaction with the various solvents used. Holders 10, 70 and support member 50 may be constructed from any suitable material such as, for example, TEFLON, KELEF, polypropylene, polyethylene, ceramic, glass or the like. The electrical contacts are likewise made of suitable materials such as noble metals including gold, platinum and platinum alloys.

The present invention is illustratively described above in reference to the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A holder for an electrochemical process substrate, comprising:

a support member including a pair of separated substrate mounts adapted for mounting a process substrate there between; and

said support member including a separate trough operatively associated with each substrate mount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a process substrate.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein each substrate mount includes a top element adapted to be located above a respective trough and adapted for maintaining a portion of a process substrate within said respective trough.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein each top element includes a portion adapted for extending into a respective trough for biasing a flexible portion of a process substrate into said respective trough.

4. The holder of claim 2, wherein each top element includes one or more openings adapted to direct a portion of a wicking material into a respective trough when said top element is located above said trough.

5. The holder of claim 2, wherein said top elements are adapted to be located directly over said troughs.

6. The holder of claim 2, wherein said top element and said support member each includes complementary magnetic elements adapted for maintaining said top elements in location above said troughs.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein said complementary magnetic elements in said top elements and said support member are both magnetized.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein said support member includes one or more elongated channels extending horizontally and adapted for allowing support and movement of said holder.

9. The holder of claim 8, wherein said one or more elongated channels extend perpendicularly to a direction directly between said substrate mounts.

10. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a separate electrical contact operatively associated with each trough and having a portion thereof located within a respective trough.

11. The holder of claim 10, wherein at least one of said electrical contacts includes a connector extending from a side of said support member and being adapted to make contact with a complementary connector with movement of said holder perpendicular to a direction between said substrate mounts.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein said support member includes a support element extending upwardly to a horizontal imaginary plane between said substrate mounts for supporting a process substrate at one or more intermediate points between said substrate mounts.

13. The holder of claim 1, wherein the process substrate includes porous material.

14. The holder of claim 1, wherein the process substrate is rigid and includes a separate wicking element located for placement in each said trough.

15. The holder of claim 1, wherein each trough includes a first portion adapted for receiving a portion of said process substrate and a second portion adapted for containing a portion of an electrical contact, and further wherein said first and second trough portions are adapted to allow liquid flow there between.

16. The holder of claim 1, wherein said substrate mounts and said support element are shaped to receive a rigid process substrate.