Adjustable apparatus for flame ionization and flame emission detection

Claim 2

Apparatus according to claim 2 including, means for precisely measuring displacement of said flame barrel and said flame nozzle relative said holding member.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said barrel includes: a central conduit terminating in a central orifice in said flame nozzle for introducing said sample into said combustion chamber; and a plurality of secondary conduits terminating in secondary orifices in said flame nozzle spaced about said central orifice for introducing selected amounts of control gases into said combustion chamber to sheath said flame.

Claim 4

Apparatus for detecting constituents in a gaseous sample comprising: a detector block; a combustion chamber in said detector block having a window; a flame nozzle for providing a flame produced by the combustion of said sample introduced through said nozzle; a photometric device having a field of view within said combustion chamber through said window for forming an optical connection with said flame; and means for selectively varying the relative position of said flame nozzle with respect to said field of view for varying said optical connection between said flame and said photometric device.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said photometric device includes: a photomultiplier tube and an interchangeable fixed wavelength interference filter; said photomultiplier tube having a field of view within said combustion chamber through said filter for forming a filtered optical connection with said flame.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said photometric device includes: a photomuLtiplier tube, and an adjustable monochromator for selecting the wave length of light passable through said monochromator, said photomultiplier tube having a field of view within said combustion chamber through said adjustable monochromator for forming a selectively filtered optical connection with said flame.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein, said combustion chamber has a first and second window, said photometric device includes: a first and second photomultiplier tube; an interchangeable fixed wavelength interference filter; and an adjustable monochromator for selecting a wavelength of light to be viewed, said first photomultiplier tube having a field of view through said first window through said adjustable monochromator for forming a selectively filtered first optical connection with said flame, said second photomultiplier tube having a field of view through said second window through said filter for forming a filtered second optical connection with said flame.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means includes: a holding member in said detector block having a threaded inner wall, and a threaded flame barrel connected to said flame nozzle disposed in said inner wall of said holding member; said threaded flame barrel cooperating with said threaded inner wall of said holding member to translate rotation said flame barrel to axial displacement of said flame barrel and said flame nozzle for selectively varying said optical connection with said photometric device.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said flame barrel is axially retractable in said holding member to remove said flame nozzle from said field of view for partially shielding said flame from said optical connection with said photometric device.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 9 including: first precision micrometer means connected to said flame barrel for measuring displacement of said flame barrel and said flame nozzle relative said holding member.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5 including: an optical shield selectively positionable relative said flame nozzle for partially shielding said flame from said optical connection with said photometric device.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said optical shield comprises: a threaded shield barrel coaxial with said flame barrel disposed in a threaded bore in said detector block; said threaded shield barrel cooperating with said threaded bore in said detector block to translate rotation of said shield barrel to axial displacement, said shield barrel being selectively positionable relative said flame nozzle for partially shielding said flame from said optical connection with said photometric device.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 13 including, second precision micrometer means connected to said shield barrel for measuring axial displacement of said shield barrel relative said flame nozzle.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flame barrel includes: a central conduit terminating in a central orifice in said flame nozzle for introducing said sample into said combustion chamber; and a plurality of secondary conduits terminating in secondary orifices in said flame nozzle spaced about said central orifice for introducing selected amounts of control gases into said combustion chamber to sheath said flame.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 15 including, means to supply said sample to said central conduit comprising: a first cylindrical recess in said flame barrel having a first aperture in the wall of said first recess communicating with said central conduit; a second cylindrical recess in said shield barrel having a second aperture in the wall of said second recess communicating with said first recess; a sample inlet port in said detector block communicating with said second cylindrical recess; the height of said first recess being such that said second aperture remains in communicatioN with said recess during axial displacement of said flame barrel, the height of said second recess being such that said sample inlet port remains in communication with said second recess during axial displacement of said shield barrel.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 16 including, means to supply control gases to said secondary conduits comprising: a third cylindrical recess in said flame barrel communicating with said secondary conduits; a fourth cylindrical recess in said shield barrel having a third aperture in the wall of said fourth recess communicating with said third recess; and a control gas inlet port in said detector block communicating with said fourth recess; the height of said third cylindrical recess being such that said third aperture remains in communication with said third recess during axial displacement of said flame barrel, the height of said fourth recess being such that said control gas inlet port remains in communication with said fourth recess during axial displacement of said shield barrel.

Claim 17

Apparatus for detecting constituents in a gaseous sample comprising: a detector block; a combustion chamber in said detector block having a window; an ion collector electrode positioned within said combustion chamber; a flame nozzle for providing a flame produced by the combustion of said sample introduced through said nozzle; a photometric device having a field of view within said combustion chamber through said window for forming an optical connection with said flame; means for selectively positioning said flame nozzle for moving said flame relative said electrode and for varying said optical connection between said flame and said photometric device; and an optical shield selectively positionable relative said flame nozzle for partially shielding said flame from said optical connection with said photometric device.

Claim 18

A gas chromatographic system comprising: a column for eluting a gaseous sample; means for detecting constituents in said sample, said means including: a detector block; a combustion chamber in said detector block having a window; an ion collector electrode positioned within said combustion chamber; a flame nozzle for providing a flame produced by the combustion of said sample introduced through said nozzle; a photometric device having a field of view within said combustion chamber through said window for forming an optical connection with said flame; means for selectively positioning said flame nozzle for moving said flame relative said electrode and for varying said optical connection between said flame and said photometric device; an optical shield selectively positionable relative said flame nozzle for partially shielding said flame from said optical connection with said photometric device; means to measure the retention time of said constituents of said sample in said column; means connected to said ion collector electrode to measure the intensity of ion current from said flame; and means connected to said light sensitive element to measure at selected wavelengths the intensity of light emission from said flame.