Edwin R Wikfors

US Patent:

7670487, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Jul 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/490498

Inventors:

Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA, US
Kimber D. Fogelman - Hockessin DE, US

International Classification:

B01D 15/08

US Classification:

2101982, 210137, 210143, 210635, 210656

Abstract:

A depressurization process for a packed separation column is provided where the column system experiences a rapid and/or severe drop in pressure that could potentially damage column components. The process provides a safe de-pressurization of the column on the outlet side by decreasing the outlet pressure in controlled steps while allowing the inlet pressure of the column time to lower after each decreased step.

US Patent:

8215922, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Sep 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/230875

Inventors:

Terry A. Berger - Englewood FL, US
Kimber D. Fogelman - Hockessin DE, US
Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA, US
Samuel O. Colgate - Gainesville FL, US
Michael A. Casale - Hockessin DE, US

Assignee:

Aurora SFC Systems, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

F04B 13/00
F04B 25/00
F04B 53/08

US Classification:

417205, 417254, 417313, 417 53

Abstract:

An invention is claimed that enables the pumping of compressible fluids at high pressures when an accurate flow is desired. Two pressure sources, for example pumps plumbed in series, separate thermodynamic work, such as pressurization, at the first pressure source from a volumetric or matter metering function in the second pressure source. One example is a flowstream delivery for a chemical instrumentation system that is manufactured from relatively unsophisticated pumps yet delivers precise flows with low pulsation (

US Patent:

20090050568, Feb 26, 2009

Filed:

Jul 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/490499

Inventors:

Kimber D. Fogelman - Hockessin DE, US
Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA, US
Rui Chen - Newark DE, US

International Classification:

B01D 15/18

US Classification:

210659, 210 87

Abstract:

A system and process for chromatography that uses a chromatography column to separate components from a sample received into the column in a mobile phase flowstream and places a second chromatography column between a detector and a collection system that compensates the timing of fraction collection for a delay caused by processing the collection signals generated by the detector. The device and process of the preferred and alternative embodiments add a delay into the flowstream of a chromatographic system, such as LC, HPLC, and SFC. Sample fractions are collected from sample component concentration peaks based upon the chromatographic elution of the sample components.

US Patent:

20130180404, Jul 18, 2013

Filed:

Sep 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/825128

Inventors:

Kimber D. Fogelman - Hockessin, DE
Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA, US
Terry A. Berger - Englewood FL, US

Assignee:

Agilent Technologies, Inc. - Loveland CO

International Classification:

B01D 19/00

US Classification:

95266, 96193

Abstract:

An apparatus and process to effectively create an active drain for high and low pressure gas-liquid separator. The invention accomplishes a deterministic drainage rate of variable volume and viscosity liquid fractions from the separator. The mechanisms and methods thereof create a flow path from the separator that dramatically favors controlled liquid flow over a wide range of flow rates and viscosities while restricting gas flow. The invention is a superior method of drainage over conventional systems that employ pressure, vacuum, isolation valves and/or passive flow restrictors to achieve drainage of the separators. The embodiments are primarily directed to the fields of preparative supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). An advantage of one embodiment allows the economical conversion of typical HPLC systems to state of-the-art supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) systems with minimal modification to system components.

US Patent:

54760003, Dec 19, 1995

Filed:

Mar 31, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/220432

Inventors:

Robert Henderson - Avondale PA
Edwin Wikfors - Landenberg PA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01N 3032

US Classification:

73 2327

Abstract:

The effect of barometric pressure variation on the retention time stability of a chromatographic analytical system is compensated by active control of the amount of fluid flow by way of a fluid flow controller, preferably in the form of an electronic pressure control system. Control signals are derived by: receiving data representative of a desired operating condition parameter, such as column inlet pressure; sensing actual operating condition parameters such as inlet pressure p. sub. i and barometric pressure p. sub. atm ; determining a desired average linear velocity of the fluid flow according to the desired operating system parameter; determining an actual average linear velocity of the fluid flow according to the sensed plurality of actual operating condition parameters; and controlling, as a function of a predetermined relationship of the desired average linear velocity to the actual average linear velocity, the amount of fluid flow to cause the actual average linear velocity to substantially equal the desired average linear velocity.

US Patent:

59051922, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Jul 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/899420

Inventors:

Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA
Charles N. Carter - Newark DE

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01N30/02

US Classification:

73 2335

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided for peak identification of sample peaks in a chromatogram, wherein at least one group of standard peaks in standard peak series is matched to at least one group of sample peaks in a sample peak series so as to perform proper identification of the sample peaks in the sample peak group. In a preferred method, a succession of retention time windows are determined according to the characteristic retention times of the standard peaks and according to steps for determining shift, stretch, and distort parameters. The retention time windows are located with respect to the sample peak series and in accordance with the shift, stretch, and distort parameters so as to capture only certain ones of the sample peaks in the sample peak series. The shift, stretch, and distort parameters are used to position the retention time windows for improved matching of the standard peaks in the standard peak group to the captured sample peaks.

US Patent:

55240844, Jun 4, 1996

Filed:

Dec 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/366532

Inventors:

Tak K. Wang - Havertown PA
Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01F 112

US Classification:

364510

Abstract:

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is embodied in the pneumatic manifold of a gas chromatograph to provide current operating temperature and pressure compensation of inlet fluid flow. The pneumatic manifold comprises a plurality of thermally coupled mass flow, pressure and temperature sensors which generate signals related to mass flow of the fluid, fluid pressure and sensor temperature prior to the introduction of the fluid into the column. A plurality of firmware models which characterize the effects of current operating temperature and pressure variations on the mass flow and pressure sensors are stored in computer memory. Compensation is provided by determining the desired flow into the inlet, determining the control signal required to achieve this values at current operating conditions, determine the current operating conditions, implementation of firmware models to determine the effects on flow due to changes in current operating conditions and finally, generation of an adjustment to the control signal that nullifies the effects caused by changes in current operating conditions. These steps are repeated continuously to provide closed loop control of the desired detector conditions.

US Patent:

56422784, Jun 24, 1997

Filed:

Jan 3, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/367986

Inventors:

Tak Kui Wang - Havertown PA
Paul Bryce Welsh - Wilmington DE
Edwin E. Wikfors - Landenberg PA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Co. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G05B 1702

US Classification:

364149

Abstract:

A simplified method and apparatus for electronic pressure control with compensation for current operating temperature and pressures in which computer memory is employed for storing a plurality of firmware models which characterize the effects of temperature and pressure variations on (1) fluid flow through the flow restrictor, (2) the temperature sensor, and (3) the pressure sensor, so that control signals can be generated which compensate a plurality of thermally coupled sensors for changes in current operating temperatures and pressures.