Plasma chromatograph with internally heated inlet system

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said chamber is heated during the foregoing steps.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the chamber is heated to a temperature of from approximately 100* C. to approximately 200* C.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sample is caused to flow through said pipe under turbulent flow conditions.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heated sample is passed through a filter for removing particulates from said sample before the same is introduced into said chamber and heat is transferred from said sample to said filter for elevating the temperature of the latter.

Claim 7

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, means for introducing said sample into said chamber, means adjacent to one of said electrodes for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, and means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, said means for introducing said sample into said chamber comprising an inlet pipe having means inside the pipe for heating the sample from within the pipe.

Claim 8

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, means for introducing said sample into said chamber, means adjacent to one of said electrodes for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, and means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, said means for introducing said sample into said chamber comprising an inlet pipe having means inside the pipe for heating the sample from within the pipe.

Claim 9

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, means for introducing said sample into said chamber, means adjacent to one of said electrodes for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, and means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, said means for introducing said sample into said chamber comprising an inlet pipe with a filter therein and means within said means for introducing said sample for heating said filter.

Claim 10

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, means for introducing said sample into said chamber, means adjacent to one of said electrodes for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, and means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, said means for introducing said sample into said chamber comprising an inlet pipe with a filter therein and means within said means for introducing said sample for heating said filter.

Claim 11

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, one of said electrodes having a plurality of spaced walls defining a tortuous path through the electrode, means for introducing said sample into said chamber along said tortuous path, means adjacent to said one electrode for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, and means for heating the sample before introduction into said chamber, whereby the heat is transferred from said sample to said one electrode.

Claim 12

Apparatus for detecting a trace substance in a gaseous sample by ion analysis, comprising a chamber having a pair of electrodes spaced apart therein, one of said electrodes having a plurality of spaced walls defining a tortuous path through the electrode, means for introducing said sample into said chamber along said tortuous path, means adjacent to said one electrode for providing reactant ions to form product ions of different mobility by reaction of said reactant ions with molecules of said sample, means for applying a drift field between said electrodes for causing said ions to drift toward the other electrode, means for maintaining the pressure in said chamber at a level such that the length of the mean free path of said ions is substantially less than the dimensions of said chamber, means for segregating said ions in said chamber in accordance with their mobility in the drift field, means for providing an electrical output from said other electrode in response to at least a portion of the segregated ions, and means for heating the sample before introduction into said chamber, whereby the heat is transferred from said sample to said one electrode.