Patent US3412894A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0092779A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0092779A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Miniature gas chromatograph apparatus
Assignee: Microsensor Technology Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A gas chromatography assembly has a substrate wafer (102) with grooves and a valve seat etched therein. A plate cooperates with the wafer (102) and the grooves to define gas channels: a carrier gas channel and a sample gas channel (56). each passing through the valve seat. A valve actuator is attached to the valve seat for controlling the flow of sample gas from the sample gas channel (56) into the carrier gas channel. A pump (64) is attached to the wafer (102) and is connected to the sample gas channel (56). The pump (64) cooperates with the valve actuator to inject sample gas from the sample gas channel (56) into the carrier gas channel. A modular capillary tube and a detector (46) are connected to the carrier gas channel to analyze the properties of the sample gas glowing in the carrier gas channel from the sample gas channel. A coupling device fits the capillary tube to the carrier gas channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. Terry
- 👤 John H. Jerman
- 👤 Richard Gagelin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/60; G01N30/6095; G01N30/04; G01N30/16; G01N30/20; G01N30/6091; G01N30/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A gas chromatography assembly comprising a substrate wafer having: a carrier gas groove means for containing carrier gas; a sample gas groove means for containing sample gas; and a first valve seat means, said sample gas groove means and said carrier gas groove means passing through said first valve seat means; a plate cooperating with said wafer and said groove means to define gas channel means; a first valve actuating means attached to said first valve seat means for controlling the flow of sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; a pump means attached to said wafer connected to said sample gas channel means; said pump means cooperating with said first valve actuating means for injecting sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; i a modular capillary tube means attached to said wafer; one end of said capillary tube means connected to said carrier gas channel means; and a detector means connected to other end of said capillary tube means for measuring properties of gas flowing from said capillary tube means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A gas chromatography assembly comprising a substrate wafer having: a carrier gas groove means for containing carrier gas; a sample gas groove means for containing sample gas; and a first valve seat means, said sample gas groove means and said carrier gas groove means passing through said first valve seat means; a plate cooperating with said wafer and said groove means to define gas channel means; a first valve actuating means attached to said first valve seat means for controlling the flow of sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; a pump means attached to said wafer connected to said sample gas channel means; said pump means cooperating with said first valve actuating means for injecting sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; i a modular capillary tube means attached to said wafer; one end of said capillary tube means connected to said carrier gas channel means; and a detector means connected to other end of said capillary tube means for measuring properties of gas flowing from said capillary tube means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a gas chromatography assembly having a carrier gas channel means for containing carrier gas; a sample gas channel means for containing sample gas; a first valve means; said carrier gas channel means and said sample gas channel means passing through said first valve means; said first valve means for controlling the flow of sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; a capillary tube means connected to said carrier gas channel means and a detector means connected to said capillary tube means for measuring properties of gas flowing from said capillary tube means, wherein the improvement comprising: a pump means connected to said sample gas channel means; said pump means cooperating with said first valve means for injecting gas from said sample gas channel means through said first valve means into said carrier gas channel means; and wherein the volume of said sample gas channel means between said first valve means and said pump means is such that no gas from said pump means is injected into said carrier gas channel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a gas chromatography assembly having a carrier gas channel means for containing carrier gas; a sample gas channel means for containing sample gas; a first valve means; said carrier gas channel means and said sample gas channel means passing through said first valve means; said first valve means for controlling the flow of sample gas from said sample gas channel means into said carrier gas channel means; a capillary tube means connected to said carrier gas channel means and a detector means connected to said capillary tube means for measuring properties of gas flowing from said capillary tube means, wherein the improvement comprising: a pump means connected to said sample gas channel means; said pump means cooperating with said first valve means for injecting gas from said sample gas channel means through said first valve means into said carrier gas channel means; and wherein the volume of said sample gas channel means between said first valve means and said pump means is such that no gas from said pump means is injected into said carrier gas channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of Claim 2 wherein said first valve means comprises a first valve seat means and a first valve actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of Claim 3 wherein said carrier gas channel means, said first valve seat means and said sample gas channel means are all in a substrate body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The assembly of Claim 4 wherein said substrate body comprises a substrate wafer having grooves etched therein and a plate cooperating with said wafer and said grooves to define gas channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The assembly of Claims 1 or 5 further comprising: a second valve seat means, said sample gas channel means passing through said second valve seat means; a second valve actuating means attached to said second valve seat means for controlling the flow of sample gas through said second valve seat means and into the first valve seat means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A miniature valve actuator for controlling the flow of a fluid through a valve seat, comprising: a housing with a guide; a pin means in said guide; a diaphragm for controlling the flow of gas through said valve seat; said pin means aligned to move in one direction in said.guide to impinge said diaphragm; a plunger means for moving in said one direction to impinge said pin means; and said pin means in free contact with said plunger means, whereby said pin means is moved by said plunger means only in said one direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
A miniature valve actuator for controlling the flow of a fluid through a valve seat, comprising: a housing with a guide; a pin means in said guide; a diaphragm for controlling the flow of gas through said valve seat; said pin means aligned to move in one direction in said.guide to impinge said diaphragm; a plunger means for moving in said one direction to impinge said pin means; and said pin means in free contact with said plunger means, whereby said pin means is moved by said plunger means only in said one direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The actuator of Claim 7 wherein said guide is substantially perpendicular to said diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The actuator of Claim 7 wherein said plunger means further comprises: a force activation means; a resilient force transmission means; said force transmission means in free contact with said pin means; and said force activation means for imparting a force to said resilient force transmission means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The actuator of Claim 9 wherein said force activation means is an electrically operated solenoid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The actuator of Claim 7 wherein said pin means is a pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The actuator of Claim 10, wherein said actuator is normally closed whereby in the absence of activation of said solenoid, fluid is prevented from flowing through said valve seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The actuator of Claim 12, wherein said solenoid is adapted to impart a force to said resilient force transmission means in a direction opposite to said one direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
The actuator of Claim 13, wherein said force transmission means further comprising a body, one end of said body for activation by said solenoid; a first spring, said first spring urging said body away from said solenoid; a stem; one end of said stem in free contact with said pin; a second spring; and said stem and said second spring in said body; said second spring urging said stem against said pin and away from the other end of said body; whereby the force on said pin is supplied by said second spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
15 The actuator of Claim 10, wherein said actuator is normally open whereby in the absence of activation of said solenoid, fluid can flow through said valve seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The actuator of Claim 15, wherein said solenoid is adapted to impart a force to said resilient force transmission means a in said one direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
The actuator of Claim 16, wherein said force transmission means further comprising: a stem; one end of said stem for activation by said solenoid; a first spring; said stem biased against said first spring; a body; one end of said body in free contact with said pin; a second spring; said second spring urging said body away from said pin and against said stem, whereby upon activation of said solenoid, the force on said pin is supplied by the difference in force between said first spring and said second spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A miniature pump comprising: a housing with an inlet and an outlet; said inlet for receiving fluid into said pump; a fluid passage from said inlet to said outlet; a piston assembly disposed in said housing for injecting fluid in said pump through said inlet; a valve assembly disposed in said piston assembly for closing said fluid passage; and actuating means for moving said valve assembly to close said fluid passage and then for moving said piston assembly to inject said fluid through said inlet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
A miniature pump comprising: a housing with an inlet and an outlet; said inlet for receiving fluid into said pump; a fluid passage from said inlet to said outlet; a piston assembly disposed in said housing for injecting fluid in said pump through said inlet; a valve assembly disposed in said piston assembly for closing said fluid passage; and actuating means for moving said valve assembly to close said fluid passage and then for moving said piston assembly to inject said fluid through said inlet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The pump of Claim 18 wherein said piston assembly comprises a piston having a bore, an opening in the base of said piston, and an annular groove in the outer periphery of the piston wall; said valve assembly in said bore; and said passage formed by said inlet in communication with said opening, said annular groove and said outlet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pump of Claim 19 wherein said valve assembly comprises a valve plunger; one end of said plunger for sealably engaging the opening in the base of said piston.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A coupling device for fitting a capillary tube means to a support, said device comprising: a housing having a bore for receiving said tube in one end of said bore; another end of said bore in said support; and sealing means around said another end of said bore for reducing dead volume in said support.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A coupling device for fitting a capillary tube means to a support, said device comprising: a housing having a bore for receiving said tube in one end of said bore; another end of said bore in said support; and sealing means around said another end of said bore for reducing dead volume in said support.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of Claim 21 wherein said sealing means is an O-ring.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of analyzing sample gas in a gas chromatography apparatus comprising the steps of: flowing said sample gas in one direction in a sample gas channel past an injection site to a pumping site; pumping said sample gas at said pumping site in a direction opposite said one direction to said injection site; injecting said pumped sample gas into a carrier gas channel at said injection site; buffering said pumped sample gas such that no gas from within said pump is injected into said carrier gas channel; and analyzing said sample gas in said carrier gas channel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of analyzing sample gas in a gas chromatography apparatus comprising the steps of: flowing said sample gas in one direction in a sample gas channel past an injection site to a pumping site; pumping said sample gas at said pumping site in a direction opposite said one direction to said injection site; injecting said pumped sample gas into a carrier gas channel at said injection site; buffering said pumped sample gas such that no gas from within said pump is injected into said carrier gas channel; and analyzing said sample gas in said carrier gas channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2629048A1
Cited
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