FR2626978A1 - TANK FOR VERTICAL ELECTROPHORESIS - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrophoresis tanks are intended for migration media vertically located between two heat-conducting plates which are not electrically conductive, one of which is immersed in an anolyte and the other in a catholyte. Said tanks have a tank body composed of walls (1), comprising separations (2 DEG ) with apertures (3) with a vertical periphery between the compartments (4) which they separate, and/or comprising walls (1 DEG ) with apertures (3) the vertical periphery of which limits two compartments (4) which communicate by their surface. Said apertures may be closed by sandwich structures (5), consisting of a migration medium between two plates, applied at the level of the latter on one side of the separations (2 DEG ) or on the inner side of the walls (1 DEG ), the periphery of the sandwich structure (5) on the periphery of the apertures (3) with or without an inserted seal (6). Maintained by a suitable device (7), each sandwich structure (5) separates two compartments (4), the anode and cathode compartments, the electrolytes (8) of which wet each of its faces.

Description

 The present invention relates mainly to electrophoresis tanks for one or more migration media arranged vertically between two heat conducting plates but not of electricity, one being bathed by an anolyte and the other by a catholyte.

 This arrangement is undoubtedly the best for dissipating uniformly the heat produced in an electrophoresis medium by the passage of electric current. It makes the best use of the heat capacity of electrolytes. It is most satisfactory when they are symmetrical because the dissipation of heat by each face of the medium is then the same.

 However, this arrangement in its most satisfactory form has only been used so far, no doubt due to the difficulties encountered in its implementation. It was slightly more so in a less satisfactory form comprising an asymmetrical partition of the electrolytes and two migration media constituting two opposite lateral walls of a parallelepipedic tank containing one of the electrolytes. This tank is immersed in another tank containing the other electrolyte. In addition to the complication due to the two tanks, one of the electrolytes is entirely surrounded by the other except on the surface.

 Many other even less satisfactory arrangements have been used and are still used in almost all of them. For example, the two plates can be bathed by the same electrolytic leaving the heat capacity of the other unused, or only one, adding an asymmetry of cooling, or even none with very poor cooling by the only ambient air.

 The present invention overcomes these disadvantages.

 In a very simple manner, it makes it possible to construct, for one or a few migration media, tanks which have the best arrangement in the most satisfactory form, and in slightly less, but still very satisfactory, forms of tanks for many environments.

 The present invention also relates to accessories for using these tanks.

 According to the prior art, an electrophoresis tank with vertical arrangement mainly consists of walls constituting two independent tank bodies corresponding to two compartments, anodic and cathodic. Open at their upper part, and being able to be on lateral parts or at the lower part for one, they are used superimposed, or juxtaposed, or nested in whole or in part.

 According to the invention, an electrophoresis tank with a vertical arrangement also consists mainly of walls, but also of partitions and / or walls, specific, and comprises a single tank body.

 The walls constitute a single enclosure open at its upper part, the tank body, which separates the outside from the inside of the tank. The partitions, fixed internally on the vessel body, divide the interior of the vessel into two or more, compartments, anodic and cathodic on either side of each.

 But these partitions, called "open", have one or more openings with a vertical periphery which make the compartments communicate. And some walls, also called "open", have one or more openings whose periphery inside the tank is vertical, and delimits two compartments communicating by their surface.

 Each opening can be closed by a sandwich consisting of a migration medium between two conductive plates of heat but not of electricity, applied at its level, on one side of the partition or on the interior side of the wall, a strip around one of the faces of the sandwich on a corresponding strip, surrounding the opening, from the opposite face of the partition or of the wall, a tight seal which can be interposed.

 Maintained by an appropriate device, the sandwich separates two compartments, one anodic, the other cathodic. With the electrolytes in place, the anolyte bathes one side of the sandwich and the catholyte the other side.

 Non-differentiated "open" partitions and / or walls are called open elements. They are opposed to "closed" or "unopened" partitions and walls. "Partitions" and "walls" refer to both categories, or only one there is no ambiguity.

 The open elements need not be entirely vertical. It suffices that there is, on one face of the partitions and on the inner face of the walls, a band around the periphery of the opening sufficient for a band of the circumference of one side of the sandwich to be appended thereto. The open partitions can be fixed to the tank body directly and / or by means of elements which may not have any other function, but may also be other open partitions.

 A particular case is that an open element does not extend above the opening and that it is therefore open at its upper part. In addition, it may not extend on either side. The periphery of a sandwich which closes the opening of such an element is only in contact with the remaining part of its periphery.

 Another particular case consists in that an opening occupies a large part of an open element and leaves only a single band around it. This element or -green then constitutes a frame while remaining a partition or a wall, constituting as the case may be a frame-partition or a ca -dre-wall. A frame open at its upper part is said to be "U-shaped". An open element consists of several frames, superimposed or juxtaposed if they are closed at their upper part, juxtaposed if they are open there, constitutes a frame with several openings. A U-shaped frame whose lateral parts, called "branches", are missing, is called "frame-base" because it is reduced to its lower part called "base".

 Another particular case consists in that an open element is made up of two parts which, alone, would be one a frame and the other a partition or a wall. This element is said to be "case-frame" or "frame-wall" depending on the case.

 Another particular case consists in that a partition is thick enough for a compartment to be formed in its thickness if a sandwich is applied to each of its faces, at the level of an opening. This partition then counts for two open elements.

 Another particular, neighboring case consists in that a wall is thick enough for a compartment to be formed in its thickness if a sandwich is applied to its internal face, at the level of a cavity dug in its thickness, open on the inside of the tank. This wall can also be considered as consisting of a thick open partition applied to the inner face of a closed wall.

 A tank for a single migration medium has only one element open to a single opening. A tank for several media comprises an element open to several openings or several elements open to one or more openings.

 An open partition being fixed, with or without intermediate, internally on the tank body, the test on at least one wall. It can be by its lower part on the lower wall, that is to say the base of the tank.

 By its side walls, this partition can be fixed to one or two side walls. A tank comprising only such open elements is divided into as many compartments as there are elements plus one, anode and cathode on either side of each element.

 But each side part of the previous partition can be fixed to a side part of another open partition fixed like it. If a tank contains only such elements, they form a series which closes on itself, constituting a lateral enclosure closed at its lower part by the base of the tank. The tank is divided into two compartments of opposite polarities, one, central, inside the enclosure, the other outside. A special case is that the tank has only one such element which closes on itself.

 While remaining fixed by its lower part to the base of the tank, an open partition can ---- be fixed by a side part to a side part of another open partition, and by the other to a side wall. A tank comprising only such open elements, in even number, is divided into a central compartment and into as many compartments of the same polarity, opposite to that of the central compartment, as there are pairs of elements. A particular case consists in that all the elements have a common lateral fixing, the tank then being divided into as many compartments as there are elements, anodic and cathodic on either side of each element.

An open wall is fixed by its lower part to the base of the tank and by each of its side parts to a side part of two side walls, or to each of the side parts of a side wall (this or these walls can be opened or closed). A tank comprising only such open elements is divided into a central compartment and into as many compartments of the same polarity, opposite to that of the central compartment, as there are
These different open element fasteners, and others still, can be combined in a tank to obtain such a desired arrangement, taking into account the shape of the tank body.

 The most satisfactory arrangement is obtained with a single open element delimiting two symmetrical compartments.

 A slightly less, but still very satisfactory arrangement is obtained with one or more open elements delimiting compartments whose volume is proportional to the surface of their openings (without being symmetrical if there are only two).

 Thus in all cases, the same surface of migration medium has the same volume of electrolyte to dissipate the heat produced in the corresponding volume of medium (assumed to be of uniform thickness).

 A sandwich made up of a migration medium between two plates is held on an open element by an appropriate device whose action, which is preferably exerted on its periphery and which can be mechanical and / or (electro) magnetic.

and / or "contact", can push and / or attract it against the open element and / or fix it there.

 Thus a solid, rigid or deformable element, elastic or not, or a fluid element, can press on the external face of the sandwich, resting itself on a component of the tank, or a depression can be created on the internal face (in contact with the open element), which brings into play on the other side, the atmospheric thrust (direct or transmitted by an electrolyte).

 Thus again an element (lectro) magnetic or sensitive to its action can - press on the external face of the sandwich, attracting st / or attracted by another such element located in or behind the periphery of the opening, or repelling and / or repelling by another fixed in front of it Ltaction can also be exerted between such an element fixed on the tank and another constituent -tif of the periphery of the sandwich or included.

 Thus, an adhesive strip can overlap the circumference of the sandwich, half-fixed on its external face, half-fixed on the adjacent open element, or an adhesive can be inserted between the edges of the sandwich and of the opening, in which case it can seal.

 It can also be with an independent seal or fixed to only one or the other of the facing faces of the sandwich and the opening, or without seal.

 A migration medium can be in contact with the electrolytes by slices, directly or by bridges, or by portions of its surface, directly or by porous diaphragms.

 The electrodes are preferably placed in the lower part of the compartments, in order to best use the gases released therein to agitate the electrolytes. This stirring may be sufficient to ensure uniformity of the temperature. However, it can be reinforced, for example, by magnetic bars touching the bottom of the compartments, or by blades driven by rotational or reciprocating or pendulum movements, or by circulation causing the electrolytes to exit and then return to their compartment.

 The calorific capacity of the electrolytes may be sufficient to avoid excessive heating. However, in particular to operate at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature, the tank can be placed in a cold enclosure or immersed in a re-cooling bath. It can also, for example, include double walls receiving in their interval a fixed or agitated or circulating coolant, or tanks containing such a liquid or cryoprongers or Peltier elements can be immersed in the electrolytes, or a circulation combining agitation and cooling can lead these into a portion of the refrigerated circuit.

 The electrolytes can be heated by similar devices but of opposite effect.

 According to a preferred implementation of the invention, the open elements are U-shaped partition frames, planes, rectangular, identical, as well as the migration media and the plates which enclose them.

 The outer periphery of a frame with an opening is substantially the same as that of a plate, and the periphery of an opening corresponds to that of a medium. Several frames with an opening juxtaposed constitute a frame with several openings.

 The frames are fixed by their lower edge on the base, and by their side edges on two opposite side walls of the tank body, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. They are parallel to each other and to the two other side walls, called in this case front and rear walls.

 There are as many compartments as there are frames plus one, anodic and cathodic on either side of a frame.

 The tank is the length of a frame and a little higher. Its width depends on the number of frames.

 The most satisfactory arrangement is obtained with a single frame slightly offset from a vertical median plane, so that, with the migration medium in place, the two compartments that it separates are substantially symmetrical with respect to it and likewise volume.

A slightly less, but still very satisfying layout is obtained with several frames spaced so that the volume of each extreme compartment is half that of each intermediate compartment,
A migration medium, for example agarose or polyacrylamide gel, is in contact with the electrolytes by its upper and lower edges.

 It is poured, according to use, between two glass plates kept at the appropriate distance by two lateral spacers, electrically insulating, and offset relative to each other in their upper part, or one having a central notch and two lateral ears They can also be offset in its reverse in their lower part.

 After gelation, the sandwich is applied against a frame, the lower or notched plate in contact with it. If the plates are not offset at their lower part, a small space is provided between their lower edges and the bottom of the tank for the contact between the gel and the electrolyte.

The advantage of offset plates is that the plate in contact with the frame can touch the bottom of the tank, ensuring greater contact with the base of the frame.

 Sufficient sealing can result from excellent flatness of the surfaces of the frame and of the plate in contact. But the insertion between these surfaces of a seal ensures it in all cases. This joint can be flat, in the shape of the frame, or round, inserted in a groove dug in it. It can be independent or fixed to the frame or to the plate.

 Two small joints the thickness of a plate are inserted at the top of the branches of the frame, to fill the void left by the lower plate if it is not notched, and if the main joint does not is not reinforced at this location.

Two clamps in closed U which overlap it vertically at the branches of the frame, hold the assembly. They have the width of these branches and press, substantially at mid-height, on the external face of the sandwich by one of their branches and on the rear of the frame by the other, which can be a little longer. This facilitates their opening, the protruding part bearing by its inner side on the upper rear of the frame, horizontal, and carrying on its upper face the sandwich, which can itself carry, superimposed on the branches of the frame, two rigid plates of the width of its branches and its height. By their thickness these plates increase the pressure of the clamps and by their surface they distribute it. By their volume they compensate for the absence of a frame in the compartment which contains them, and they avoid moving the plates and damaging the gel by placing the clamps. According to a variant, a mobile frame replaces the plates, identical to the fixed frame except that it carries at its lower part for the contact of the gel and the electrolyte, a notch giving it the shape of an H with short lower branches. According to a variant, the branches of the pliers have the same length, but their end turns over towards the outside for a short distance, providing support for two movable levers used to open them, like certain pliers used to collect leaflets. 'Other variants of the pliers with branches extended beyond their junction are used, for example of the clothespin or clamp type, but may exclude a cpmmode closure of the tank. In general, any pin can be used, which can be introduced vertically from top to bottom into the tank, one branch pressing on the external face of the sandwich and the other on the rear part of the frame at its braches, or on another part of the tank such as its front or rear face, or on the external face of another sandwich (subject to electrical isolation of its branches). According to other variants the sandwich is maintained by a single clamp, wide the length of the frame, possibly indented in its central part, or by more than one clamp per frame branch, juxtaposed or superimposed and capable of pressing at various levels, in particular in the case of a very high tank. -dre
-dre
According to a variant, the sandwich is held against the ca by deformable elements inserted, at the branches of the cadra, between its external face or a superimposed plate and the wall of the tank or another sandwich or a facing stopper, pressing on those by pressing on them. These elements can be elastic solids such as bent or curved or wavy leaf springs, or solid or hollow blocks such as semi-rigid pipe segments, easy to lay with a blade. rigid slid at its end between their walls.

These elements may also be tubes made up of a flexible envelope closed at one end and filled with a compressible material such as cloth or paper cloths or pressurized air, or a dense material either liquid like mercury is composed of moving particles like lead shot. These tubes are easy to install before tamping the rags or inflating them with air or filling them with liquid or shot. of
According to another variant, the sandwich is held by bars or magnetic plates or sensitive to their action arranged as described above, at the branches of the frame.

 According to another variant, the sandwich is held fixed by a double-sided adhesive in the shape of the frame, inserted between it and it and which acts as a seal.

 According to another variant, the sandwich is held by a joint in the shape of the frame and forming a suction cup, either if it is independent, on its two faces, or, if it is fixed to the ca. According to another variant, the sandwich is maindry on a face. held by several previous devices.

 The electrodes, one per compartment, are arranged on the base of the cuva, over its entire length, and are parallel to the frames. They can be protected by one or two parallel rules. They exit through a side wall and are inserted into a male socket fixed to this wall. A female socket adapts to it carrying the tank cover and the connecting wires to the generator.

 According to a variant, the open elements are U-shaped partitions consisting of a rectangular partition surmounted by a previous U-shaped frame. At equal volume this allows the width of a compartment to be reduced as much as possible and the electrical - ode to the base of the gel.

 According to a variant, the tank body is a vertical cylinder of revolution, a little higher than a frame. If there is only one cadra, it is disposed substantially in a vertical diametral plane, so that the migration medium in place separates two substantially symmetrical compartments of the same volume, fixed by its lower edge on the base of the cylinder. and by its side sections on two generators. If there are two frames, they are symmetrical with respect to a diametral vertical plane, and spaced so that the volume of the central compartment is twice that of each of the other two.

 For a rectangular tank with one or two frames, a simple cooling device is that the front and rear walls are double. Their two components can be relatively close, delimiting two relatively narrow compartments closed at their upper part, traversed by a liquid circulating outside at the desired temperature.

These comoosantes can also be more distant, delimiting two relatively large compartments open at their upper part, and able to receive a quantity of liquid sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electrolytes during a migration.

 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the open elements are also U-shaped partition frames, planes, rectangular, identical, fixed by their lower edge on the base of the tank, but by each of its lateral parts, each is attached to a side part of another element, at the same angle with each adjacent element. The series of elements closes on itself and constitutes a lateral enclosure in the form of a regular straight prism, closed at its lower part by the flat base of the tank.

 The side walls of the tank also constitute a lateral enclosure similar to that of the frames, but external, because to each frame corresponds a flat, rectangular, parallel wall, at the same distance.

 The frame enclosure divides the tank into two compartments, anodic and cathodic.

The tank may also have other side walls, constituting another lateral enclosure similar to the preceding, inside that of the frames. This enclosure reduces the volume of the central electrolytic compartment, constituting in its center a new non-electrolytic central compartment
The frames and the walls, a little higher than.

these are arranged so that the two electrolytic compartments have the same volume.

 The electrodes, parallel to the frames, form on the base of the tank two polygons, one located between the polygon of the outer walls and that of the frames, the other between the latter and that of the inner walls. They exit near a vertical edge through the base of the tank and join the side walls passing under or in the thickness of this base. They are then treated as above, as are the identical migration media.

 When the number of frames increases, the "polygon" which they constitute as well as the walls, tends to approach a circle. If it is necessary to keep the polygonal character to that of the frames, it is not for those of the walls which can constitute two coaxial cylinders, which is easier to achieve. But it is even simpler to stick to the square shape for all the speakers, increasing if necessary the number of openings per frame.

Cooling is possible in a simple way according to several possibilities. One fills with a cooling liquid stirred by a magnetic bar, the non-electrolytic central compartment, the volume of which can be increased by increasing the height of its walls. Another adds to it another refrigerant -artiment formed by the enclosure of the external walls and by another similar enclosure, external to it, joined by their base. Another still combines these two compartments by removing the base from the central compartment of a tank without an external compartment, and by immersing the remaining part in a tank containing a cooling liquid, a small space being created between its base and the bottom of the tank on which a magnetic rod turns. Yet another creates a temporary non-electrolytic central compartment, by placing in a central electrolytic compartment a container of dimensi
on suitable, containing a coolant and a magnetic bar.

 According to variants, the open elements are son-cådre partitions or wall-frames or frame-walls (all in there are several open element enclosures, coaxial.

 According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the open elements are cylindrical partition-base frames.

They consist of cylinders of small height, and are fixed by their lower edge on the base of the tank body, also cylindrical, concentrically between them and at this base. However, the tank usually has only one such element, delimiting two compartments of the same volume.

 The migration medium is arranged between two cylinders which conduct heat but not electricity, held concentric by longitudinal spacers, and offset in opposite directions in their upper and lower parts. The outer cylinder is the highest, the inner one goes down the lowest (but as for the plates the lower offset is not essential). The inner cylinder with a diameter slightly below that of the frame fits onto it by its lower part, with the interposition of a cylindrical seal. The joint and its weight are sufficient to maintain the assembly.

 This tank can be considered as a particular case of the previous one: the migration medium and the two cylinders which enclose it fixed on the single open element correspond to the enclosure of open elements each carrying a migration medium between two plates. And the rest of the tank, especially the electrodes and the cooling, are treated the same way.

 The inner cylinder in the middle of migration can be made of glass, and the outer cylinder of semi-rigid plastic. The first gives the necessary rigidity and the second facilitates the recovery of the medium after migration.

 All the preceding tanks, constituted according to the invention, can be produced for the most part by machining or molding of plastic materials such as polychl-vinyl oride or polymethyl methacrylate or polyca -rbonate. With some adaptations they could also be made of other materials such as glass.

Figure 1 shows according to the invention an elec tank
-trophoresis available vertically in vertical section according to CD in A) and in horizontal section according to AB in B).

Figure 2 shows according to the invention various tanks
electrophoresis in vertical arrangement, examples of various
possible arrangements, in horizontal section similar to that
of 18), schematic.

FIG. 3 represents, according to a preferred implementation of the invention, an electrophoresis tank with vertical arrangement viewed from the front in A), in horizontal section along EF in B), in vertical section along GH in C), in vertical section according to ID in D), its socket and its cover seen from below in E), seen from the side in F), the tank and these in G), the U-shaped clamp holding in C) and D) view from the front in H), a variant of this one seen from the side in I) and from the front in
FIG. 4 represents a variant of the previous tank seen from the front in A) and its cover seen from above in B), and FIG. 5 a variant of these.

 Figure 6 shows a cooling tank for the tank of Figure 5, seen from above in A) and in vertical section along KL in B).

 FIG. 7 represents a variant of the tank of the fi gura 4 in horizontal section similar to that of 4B) in A) and its cover seen from above in B).

 Figure B shows a variant of the tank of Figure 3 front view in A), in horizontal section along MN an B) and its socket and its cover seen from below in C).

 FIG. 9 represents, according to another preferred implementation of the invention, an electrophoresis tank with vertical arrangement in horizontal section according to OP in A), in vertical section according to QR in B), its socket and its cover seen from above in C) and from side in D).

Figure 10 shows a U-shaped partition wall and a U-shaped sound partition for the tanks of Figures 3 to 11 viewed from the front.
A) and in vertical section in B).

 Figure II shows in schematic horizontal section a variant of the tank of Figure 8 in A) and this one in B).

 Figure 12 shows according to the invention an opening shutter plate, serving as a sandwich, for the tanks of Figures 3 to II viewed from the front in A) and from the side in B).

 Figure 13 shows according to the invention a shovel for introducing a sandwich into a tank of Figures 3 to 11 top view in A) and side in B).

 Figure 14 shows according to the invention a support for the mold of a migration medium of a tank of Figures 3 to 11 in A) and a support for this support in 6).

 FIG. 15 represents, according to another preferred implementation of the invention, an electrophoresis tank with vertical arrangement seen from above in A), in vertical section along ST in 5) its migration medium and its mold seen from above in C ) and in vertical section along UU in D).

 The tank of FIG. 1 is made up of a tank body itself made up of walls (1), which carries, fixed internally, an "open" partition (20) having an opening (3) with a vertical periphery between the compartments (4 ) which separates, and which has an "open" wall (1) having an opening (3) whose perimeter, vertical, delimits two compartments (4) communicating by its surface. Each opening (3) is closed by a sandwich (5 ) consisting of a migration medium between two heat conducting plates but not of electricity, aplicated on one side of the partition (20) or on the inner side of 13 wall (1) around the periphery of the opening (3), a seal (6) being inserted between the periphery of the internal face of the sandwich (5) and that facing the opening (3). Maintained by an appropriate device (7) shown diagrammatically by an arrow, each sandwich separates an anode compartment (4A) whose electrolyte (8A) is bathed on one of its faces, from a cathode compartment (4C) whose electrolyte ( 6C) bathes its other side. The opening (3) of the wall (10) is open at its upper part, that (3) of the partition (20) is closed there, but it could be the opposite, or both could be open or closed.

 The tank of Figure 2 is still made up of walls, some closed (1) others open (1 o), and open partitions (2), each opening (3) being closed as before by a sandwich (5) held by a suitable device (7), applied on its periphery with a seal (6) inserted. Each set (5 + 6 + 7), shown diagrammatically by a fox segment (9) of the opening (3), separates an anode compartment t nns (4A) from a cathode compartment (4C), but according to arrangements of different types, isolated in B) C) D) E) and combined in A), synthetic example taking up in its upper part the arrangement of FIG. 1 of which only the elements have been designated.

In all cases, the open elements (10 and 20) are fixed by their lower part to the lower wall of the tank body, ie its basa, but their lateral parts are different. In B) open partitions (20) are fixed on one or two walls (1), separating as many compartments (4) as there is one. In C) open partitions (2) are fixed together, forming a lateral enclosure separating two compartments (4), one inside and the other outside of it. In Ca) five partitions (20) form a right pentagonal prism, in Cb) a partition (20) with three openings (3) forms a cylinder as well as a partition (20) with a wide opening (3) in Cc). In Da) open compartments (20) are fixed by a lateral part on a wall (t) and by the other on a lateral part of another open partition, separating a central compartment (4) of as many side compartments (4) that their half. In Db) they (20) have a common lateral part and separate as many compartments (4) as they do. In Ea) an open wall (1) is fixed on a closed wall (1), in Eb) another is on two, separating two compartments (4) in each case. In Ec) four open walls (1) are fixed together, separating a central compartment (4) as many peripheral compartments (4) as there are.

 The tank in Figure 3 admits a plane and rectangular migration medium, in place at C) C) D). It consists of a tank body in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped whose transparent front (la) and rear (lob) walls. Its open element is a U-shaped partition frame (10), parallel to these walls, fixed on the base (tic) and the side walls (Id and the) so that the migration medium (11) in place separates two compartments (4) of the same volume. This medium (11) is between two glass plates (12) offset in opposite directions at the top and bottom, and held at a distance by two lateral spacers (13). This sandwich, with the dimensions of the frame (1û), is applied to it, a flat gasket (6) inserted, the lowest plate (12a) in contact, and two secondary seals (14) inserted in the - above this plate. Two rigid plates (15) of the height of the frame (10) and the width of its branches, are placed on the external plate (12b) above these branches.

The assembly is held in place by two U-shaped clips (16) overlapping it at this level to mid-height, one of their branches, slightly longer pressing on the rear of the frame (10), and the other on the front plate (15). The two electrodes (17) are parallel to the frame (10), and on either side over the entire length of the base (tic) of the tank, that close to the migration medium (11) protected by a strip (18 ) parallel fixed on the base (1c). They (17) come out of the tank through a side wall (le), to meet them with alla, and they are inserted into a male socket (19) parallelepipedic applied to this wall, and of its width. carries two vertical pins (20) on its upper face, and at the rear a rectangular plate (21) of the same width as and higher than the pins. The female socket (22) is also parallelepiped, the same width as the wall (le), the same thickness as the mixed socket (19), and contains two pins appearing on its underside. It carried, fixed at a right angle on its upper face, a rectangular plate (24) of the same width as it, protruding from the length of the tank. It fits above the male plug (19), between the rear plate (21) and the wall (island). The joint heights of the two sockets being slightly greater than that of the tank, the plate (24) carried by the female socket (22) then covers the tank at a short distance, hand-held at the other end by a wedge (25) thin. The clamp (16) in U shown in H) and I) is of a type to connect sheets, and opens with two levers (26) engaged externally in the curved part of the end of their branchas.

 The tank in FIG. 4 is identical to the previous one except that it includes a system of male (19) and female (22) sockets on each side wall (Id and le) for each electrode (17). The cover (24) carries a socket (22) at each end of its lower face, and moreover, on its upper face, a longitudinal plate (27) fixed at right angles which increases its stiffness and serves as a handle.

The tank of Figure 5 is identical to the previous one except that the male sockets (19) are slightly higher than the tank and that the cover (24) carries a female socket (22) at each end of its upper face in addition to the longitudinal plate (27) which unites them. In addition, the external strips (28) are fixed at the top of the plates (21) carried by the male sockets (19), for easier grip. According to a variant the plates (21) rear of the male sockets (19) are absent, but the female sockets (22) carry them, which partially cover the rear of the male sockets (19). According to another variant, there is only one system of sockets for the two electrodes on a single wall. But for maintaining the cover (24), if the plate (21) rear of the male socket (19) is present , the opposite side wall also carries one, and if it is the socket (22) which carries such a plate, another is also fixed to the other end of the cover (24),
partially covering the side wall opposite the sockets.

 The tank of FIG. 6, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, carries internally on two opposite side walls (29) two vertical plates (30) forming two holding slides for the previous tank (with plates (21) on the two male sockets ( 19)). A wedge (31) at the bottom of each slide provides sufficient space for a magnetic bar (32), between the bottoms of the tank and the tank, the latter separating two compartments of the same volume in the tank. Two other plates (33) located on either side constitute with the previous (30) four other slides, receiving two by two two vertical plates (34) pierced with holes leaving Dasser a liquid but not fragments of ice. side (29) opposite the tray extend below its base (35), providing sufficient space for the drive device of the magnetic bar (32). The cover (24) of the tank may extend beyond it to cover the tank, or the latter may have an independent cover. The upper periphery of the tank slightly exceeds that of the tank. According to a variant, it is of cylindrical shape.

 The tank of Figure 7 is identical to that of Figure 4 except that its front walls (la) and rear (lob) are double walls defining two compartments (36) open at their upper part, and can receive a quantity of liquid sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electrolytes during migration. In addition the side walls (ld and 1e) extend below the base (tic) like those of the previous tank, to admit under the tank two drive devices for two magnetic bars (32) rotating on the bottom of the compartments (36). According to a variant, the components of the double walls are closer together, delimiting more narrow compartments (36) closed at their upper part, and before a circulating external liquid.

In an exemplary embodiment of the preceding tanks for a migration medium of dimensions 85 × 70 mm, the dimensions of the tank of FIG. 3 are 155 × 110 × 37 mm. those of the tank mrn of figure 7 are 170x230x1551. The capacity of each compartment is 100 ml for the electrolytes and 600 ml for the refrigerant. The tanks are constructed from 3 and 6 mm thick polyvinyl chloride sheets cut and glued, except for the inner component of the double walled walls, only 1 mm thick. The U-shaped sandwich holding tongs are 3 mm thick plates, hot bent. The sockets each consist of two 6 mm thick plates, with the necessary recesses, applied one on top of the other. Those of the Tale socket are glued tightly. But to make them removable they could also be fixed with screws and nuts, as are those of the socket. The electrodes are platinum wires with a diameter of 2 mm passing through the side walls 6 mm thick through holes with a diameter of 0.5 mm, to the walls of which they are stuck tightly. The pins are brass cylinders, solid and 4 mm in diameter for the male socket, hollow
and internal and external diameters 4 and 6 mm for the female socket. The glass plates are 1 mm thick, as is the independent seal1 cut from a rubber plate, the dimensions of the frame. With a 1O thick 1 mm polyacrylamide gel, the migration of proteins in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate requires one hour at 150 volts, with a power of 3 watts. With the tank of Figure 3 the temperature of the electrolytes rises about 5 C above the ambient temperature. With that of FIG. 7, the temperature does not rise more than about 1 ° C. if there is a batten at room temperature in the compartments, and it is maintained at approximately 100 ° C. if there is melting ice.

 An improvement in the seal (6) if it is independent, which has the advantage of simplicity for the tank, consists, while keeping it soft, to give it a certain rigidity which facilitates its installation. . This can be achieved by constituting a (semi-) rigid core coated with flexible material. For example if it is round it may consist of a metal wire curved in the shape of the groove in front of the rece -voir, coated with elastomer. If it is flat, it can be extracted from a semi-rigid plastic or metal blade, in the shape of the frame, and carrying an elastomer coating on each side.

 The tank in Figure E is identical to that in Figure 3 except that alla admits nine migration media thanks to three - identical. U-shaped partition frames (10) with three openings (3) eachrl These frames (10) are spaced so that the volume of each extreme compartment (4) is half that of each compartment - - - - - - - - - - ent intermediate. The sandwiches installed t9J of such a compartment are all inside or outside the two frames (10) which delimit it. The electrodes are equidistant from the frames (10) in the intermediate compartments (4), and near the front (la) and rear (lb) walls in the extreme compartments (4). They are protected by one or two rods (18) oaralleles and are opposite siqnes in two comparti 1201 neighboring mentis. The male plug (19) has as many pins as there are electrodes as well as the female plug (22) where the pins (23) of the same sign are connected together. This tank has the disadvantage of cooling the extreme compartments a little faster than that of the intermediate compartments.

A simple palliative consists in reducing the volume of the extreme compartments a little and / or in insulating the front and rear walls (la and lb) which can be double walls including air. They can also receive a liquid thermostatically controlled at the temperature of the central compartment. This liquid may or may not be circulating. If not, it can be heated in situ by an immersed electrical resistance. It can also be this resistance if it is an electrolyte bathing an anode and a cathode arranged in the interval of the double walls. These resistors can also receive an electrical power per unit volume of the interval, equal to or slightly greater than that expended in each electrolytic compartment. (4).

The tank in Figure 9 admits four migraideotic media. tion plans and rectangular Eile consists of a tank body in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a square base. Its open elements are four U-shaped partition walls (10) planes and rectangular, fixed by their lower edge on the base (tic) of the tank, and between them by their lateral parts, at right angles. They are parallel to the walls (strip) of the tank and constitute an interior lateral enclosure. The tank also includes an enclosure with internal walls (lfghi) parallel to those external (1aide) and to the frames (10), but higher, delimiting a central compartment (37) non-electrolytic. This compartment (37) receives a stirred coolant by a magnetic bar (32) moved by a device located under the base (tic) of the tank, raised by two side walls (Id and le) which extend below it. The enclosure of the frames (10) separates two electrolytic compartments (4) of the same volume, the electrodes (17) of which are arranged on the base (tic) of the tank in two squares, stretched over two square frames of crimps ( 18) fixed on this base. These electrodes (17) exit from the tank in two opposite angles, through the base (il), join a wall in its thickness or under protection, and are each inserted in a system of male sockets the and female (19 and 22) identical to the previous ones, applied to two opposite walls (1d and le) near two opposite angles
The female sockets (22) carry on their upper face the neck-latch (24) of the tank, which has a central opening made to allow the enclosure to pass through the inner walls (i
The U-shaped bulkhead (30) and the U-shaped bulkhead (38) of Figure 10 receive the same flat and rectangular sandwich, the Dremier over its entire surface, the second above the stop (39) that 'it is on one side. They consist of a rectangular plate of the same thickness and width, having the same rectangular opening (3) open at its upper part, occupying lulus large part of the surface of the partition-frame (1û) of which only remains a band of the lateral periphery. and in -terior, the frame partition (38) being extended downwards by a rectangular part forming a closed partition. The stop (39) parallel to the base of the opening (3) separates the two parts. It consists of a ruler with triangular section whose upper face, perpendicular to one face of the partition, supports the base of a sandwich with the plates offset at the bottom, while the inclined face deflects from this base the gases coming from the bottom of the compartment. In addition if the tank should only receive sandwiches with plates not offset at the bottom, two shims (40) fixed on either side of the upper face of the stopper \ S nt to raise the sandwich a little and ensure contact such ectrolyte and migration medium. Under the same conditions, two such shims can also be fixed on each side of the base of a tank comprising partition frames (10).

The tank of Figure 11 shown schematically in A) is of the same type as the tank of Figure 9 shown schematically in B) for comparison
It consists of an enclosure of six U-shaped partition frames (1û) in the shape of a regular hexagonal right prism and three in - Vixed on a cicular base. side walls (1) cylindrical side, all coaxialiÇ5Ci one of the wall speakers (1), interior to the others, delimits a central compartment (37) non-electrolytic receiving a coolant. The two other wall enclosures (1), external to the enclosure of the frames (10), delimit another non-electrolytic compartment (41) also receiving a coolant. The frame enclosure (10) separates two electrolytic compartments (4) formed one with the inner wall enclosure (1), the other with the intermediate enclosure thereof (1).

 According to a variant, the principle of the single refrigerant compartment (37), with the raised walls, of the tank of FIG. 9 is applied to the single medium tank of FIG. 7.

Its front refrigerating compartment (36) is eliminated and the side walls of its rear refrigerating compartment (36) are increased in height. This has the advantage of avoiding any risk of contamination of the electrolytes and of clearing the front of the tank.

The blanking plate of figure 12 is constituted
a rectangular plate (42) with the dimensions of the sandwich which it replaces. It carries on each face a protuberance (43) advancing in the compartments (4) separated, reducing their volume by taking the place of the electrolyte corresponding to the missing sandwich, one of them, thicker, crossing the opening ( 3). Each protuberance, parallelepiped, consists of thin walls including air between them and the plate (42), to insulate those in contact with the electrolyte.

The shovel in Figure 13 consists of a plate
(44) rectangular carrying on its upper face, from back to front, a plate (45) with two perpendicular branches fixed at right angles by the end of a branch, the other branch constituting a handle with an axis parallel to the axis of the plate (44) but offset upwards, a transverse stop (46), and two lateral longitudinal strips (47) with non-slip surface. Two such strips are also fixed over the entire length of the underside of the plate (44). The part of the plate (44) anterior to the stop is of dimensions slightly smaller than the opening (3) to be used, and the distance from the stop (46) to the handle (45) sufficient for the handle to become not the introduction. The sandwich placed on the upper strips (47), in front of the stop (16 / and abutting against it, is introduced above the frame (10) in the lying tank. The shovel is lowered, depositing the sandwich on the frame. In a variant, the plate (44) is open in the center and forward and the shovel becomes a fork.

The mold support of the miqration medium of the oven - - -. reÇtonaulite 14, represented in A), consists of a ~ farm1 frame (4E) having a part identical to the U-shaped frame (10) receiving the mid-place. This part is delimited on one side by two stops (49) fixed on the lateral parts. In addition, two rectangular plates (50) forming lateral stops are fixed on the lateral edges below the stops (49), protruding like them from the face which carries them. The glass plates (12) must enclose the medium, the spacers (13), two rigid plates with the dimensions of the secondary seals (14), the rigid plates (15) superimposed on the external location (12b), are arranged as in B) C) D) of FIG. 3, on the part of the ca -dre closed (48) identical to the U-shaped frame (10). A plate of the thickness of the spacers (13) and the length of the plates (12) is slid into the lower part of the in-between plates (12) to close the mold. Another rigid plate (15) is placed on the external plate (12b) above the base of the frame
(48), and the whole is held in place by "drawing" pliers applied on the periphery. According to this technique, a part empty of gel is present at the lower part of the inter-plate (12), due to the closing plate the mold. To have an antifreeze which extends to the bottom of the plates, then obligatorily- not offset, another closed frame (48) carries stops (49) places a little lower on the lateral parts, so that the plates (12) in place slightly beyond the bottom of the frame, the spacers (13) flush with their lower edge, and the rigid plates (15) side not exceeding the bottom of the frame. The latter (48) carrying the assembly held by clamps on the lateral parts and shown diagrammatically by a plate (56) is placed on the support shown in 8).

 The support shown in 8) in Figure 14 consists of three rectangular plates (51 abc), of the same width, fixed at right angles with spacers (52) fixed on their edges. A plate (51a) is the horizontal base. Another (51b), a little higher than the previous mold support, is fixed to it in a median vertical plane. The last plate (5Tc) is fixed to the upper part of the previous one (51b), parallel to the base (SOa) and overhanging it. A flexible, flat, thick seal (53) is placed on the base (51a ) parallel to the perpendicular plate (51b), under the plate (51c) overhanging the base (51a). The previous support, carrying the open mold at its base, is inserted vertically between the plate (51c) overhanging the base (51a) and the seal (53) placed on it, this seal then closing the base of the mold.

 According to a variant, the frame (48), higher than the previous teeth, carries the stops (49) in its central part, and pl-bars (50) on either side. The distance of the stops at each end differs a little, being that of the two previous frames. This third frame (48) is thus double usaoe. Its support is of suitable height.

 The tank of Figure 15 admits a cylindrical migration medium. It consists of a tank body in the form of a cylinder of revolution comprising a circular base (tic) and a cylindrical side wall (1j). Its open element is a cylindrical bulkhead frame reduced at its base (54), consisting of a cylinder of low height, fixed concentrically on the base of the tank, delimiting two compartments (4), anodic and of the same volume. The electrodes (17) are arranged on the base Ci (c) of the tank in two concentric circles, stretched over two cylinders (18) of low height. They exit through the base (tic) and join the wall (lj) where they are inserted into a system of male (19) and female (22) parallelepipedic sockets as before, the cover (24) fixed to the upper part of the female socket (22) being however circular.

The migration medium (11) is poured between two concentric cylinders (12) offset in opposite directions at the top and at the bottom. The inner cylinder (12a) is the least tall at the top, and of a diameter slightly larger than the frame (54), it embossed on the latter at its bottom, with the interposition of a gasket (6) cylindrical, The joint and its weight maintain the whole. The two cylinders (12) are held concentric by longitudinal spacers (13), which can be overlapped by U-shaped clamps (16). A flat plug (55) fitting onto the lower part of the inner cylinder (12a) through an opening circular, closes the base of the gap between the cylinders (12) to introduce the migration medium (11).

 According to the invention the electrophoresis tanks with vertical arrangement are simple, robust, pretty. They are easy to make and easy to use and pleasant, as are their accessories. They provide rapid migration, free of artifacts. For each of these points taken in isolation, they are greater than or otherwise equal to the other tanks with vertical arrangement known in the prior art. For all of these points, they are superior to them. They can advantageously replace these other tanks, to separate the particles and molecules charged electrically, in all medical, industrial, agricultural, research, teaching ... laboratories.

Claims (8)

 1) Electrophoresis tank with vertical arrangement, characterized in that it comprises a single tank body and at least  - a partition (20) having at least one opening (3) with a vertical periphery between the compartments (4) which it separates,  - and / or a wall (1) having at least one opening (3) whose perimeter, vertical, delimits two compartments (4),  each opening (3) of these partitions (20) and / or walls (10), called "open elements", which can be closed by a san dwich (5) consisting of a migration medium (11) between two plates (12 ), applied on its periphery on one side of the partition (20) or on the interior side of the wall (1), with- or without seal (6) interposed,  and this sandwich (5), held by an appropriate device (7), then separating an anode compartment (4) (4A) of which the electrolyte (8A) bathes one of its faces, from a cathode compartment (4) (4C) whose electrolyte (8C) bathes its other face.  2) electrophoresis tank according to claim 1 charac its yes terisee in that quesses open folds are U-partition frames (10) or U-frame partitions (38) planes, identical rectangular, parallel, fixed by their edges lower and lateral:  - on the base (lc) and two opposite side walls (ld, e) of a tank body in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, parallel to the other two walls (la, b),  - Or on the base and the side wall of a tank body in the form of a cylinder of revolution, perpendicular to the base.  3) electrophoresis tank according to claim 1 characterized in that its open elements are U-shaped partition frames (10) or U-shaped partition walls (38), rectangular, identical, fixed to each other by their lateral parts so as to constitute a lateral enclosure in the form of a regular straight prism, fixed coaxially on the base of a vessel body of the same shape or in the form of a cylinder of revolution.  4) Electrophoresis tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sandwiches (5) are held on the open elements by vertical clamps (they) pressing on the periphery of their external face.  5) electrophoresis tank according to claim 4 characterized in that the tongs (16) for holding the sandwiches (5) are in the form of a closed U and that the branches of each are of unequal length, or of the same length with their end a support for an opening lever (26).  6) electrophoresis tank according to one of claims 4 or 5 characterized in that the tongs (16) for holding the sandwiches (5) press on the periphery of their external face, by means of rigid plates (15) .  7) electrophoresis tank according to claim 1 characterized in that its open element is a cylindrical bulkhead at its base (54), fixed coaxially on the base of a tank body in the form of a cylinder of revolution.  e) electrophoresis tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the compartments (4) separated by sandwiches (5) is proportional to the surface of their openings (3).  9) electrophoresis tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its electr3cases - - - - - \ OR orec, (17), parallel to the migration media (11), run on, 1 the base ( tic) from the tank from which they exit through a side wall (id, e) or the base (tic), then joining a side wall (1d, e, j) where they are inserted into a male socket ( 19) fixed on this wall, on which (19) is adapted, by their respective pins (20 and 23), a socket (22) carrying the cover (24) of the tank, which comprises a single such socket system (19 and 22) or two, arranged on either side.  10) electrophoresis tank according to claim 9 characterized in that  the sockets (19 and 22) are parallelepiped and arranged vertically, the male socket (19) under the female socket (22),  the pins (20 and 23) are vertical, those (20) of the male connector (19) projecting from its upper face, and those (23) of the female connector (20) opening on its lower face,  -the female pr-ise (20) ports the cover (24) of the tank fixed at right angles to its upper or lower face, depending on whether the joint heights of the two sockets (19 and 22) or that of the single male socket ( 19) are equal to that of the tank  - one or other of the sockets (19 and 22) carries at the rear a vertical plate (21) projecting upwards from the male socket (19) and downwards from the female socket (22).