US3740145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for sample analysis by atomic spectroscopy
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-14
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-09-14
Abstract
Abstract New and improved method and apparatus for the analysis of samples by atomic spectroscopy are provided and comprise sample atom production means taking the form of body means having a generally central sample chamber extending generally longitudinally therethrough, and heating means for heating said chamber and adjacent areas to convert said sample to atoms. Sample stream generation means in the nature of drop generator means are operably associated with said body means at the lower extremity thereof and are effective to generate a stream of sample drops of substantially uniform size for upward passage through said body chamber to result in a formation of a concentrated atom cloud or sample volume of the sample atoms of interest above said body means. Means are provided to modulate the formation of said sample volume by said sample drop stream to provide for more accurate read-out of the sample atom concentration of interest. Means are also provided to enable the simultaneous multielement analysis of a sample by atom spectroscopy and comprise a plurality of drop generator means which are operable to generate a plurality of sample drop streams for passage through said body chamber to form said sample volume, and means are provided to periodically and alternately deflect said sample drop streams from passage into said sample volume to substantially eliminate signal interference. As disclosed, the new and improved method and apparatus of the invention are particularly adaptable for use in automatically operable sample supply, treatment and analysis means which are operable to automatically analyze a series stream of a large plurality of different samples on a continuous flow basis.
Inventors
- 👤 D Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/71; G01N21/72; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/3103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for the conversion of a sample to atoms for sample analysis by atomic spectroscopy comprising, body means having an elongated chamber extending therethrough for passage of said sample through said body means, drop generator means associated with said body means to direct said sample as a stream of successive discrete drops of substantially uniform size for passage of the latter through and axially along said chamber in avoidance of contact with the walls of said chamber, so as to form a relatively concentrated volume of sample atoms without said body means and adjacent one extremity of said chamber, and heating means to heat said sample attendant the passage thereof through said chamber, so as to effect at least partial desolvation of said sample prior to passage of said drops from said chamber and into said concentrated volume, and means independent of and exterior of said chamber for effecting the analysis of said sample atoms in said concentrated volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for the conversion of a sample to atoms for sample analysis by atomic spectroscopy comprising, body means having an elongated chamber extending therethrough for passage of said sample through said body means, drop generator means associated with said body means to direct said sample as a stream of successive discrete drops of substantially uniform size for passage of the latter through and axially along said chamber in avoidance of contact with the walls of said chamber, so as to form a relatively concentrated volume of sample atoms without said body means and adjacent one extremity of said chamber, and heating means to heat said sample attendant the passage thereof through said chamber, so as to effect at least partial desolvation of said sample prior to passage of said drops from said chamber and into said concentrated volume, and means independent of and exterior of said chamber for effecting the analysis of said sample atoms in said concentrated volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said heating means comprise means to maintain a flame at one extremity of said body means in substantial alignment with said one extremity of said chamber for passage of said sample drops from said chamber into said flame, said maintaining means including air-fuel mixing chamber means independent of said chamber along which said sample drops are passed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said body means are oriented in generally vertical manner with said chamber extending generally vertically therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
In apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, said drop generator means are operably disposed adjacent the other extremity of said body means whereby said sample drop stream will pass generally upwardly from said drop generator means through said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising, means to modulate the concentration of atoms in said sample volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
In apparatus as in claim 5 wherein, said modulation means comprise means to periodically deflect said sample drop stream from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
In apparatus as in claim 6 wherein, said deflecting means comprise charging electrode and deflecting plate means which are operatively associated with said drop generator means and are respectively operable to charge said sample drops and deflect the same from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising, means to direct first and second sample streams of successive discrete drops for passage through said chamber to form a readily observable and relatively concentrated volume of said sample atoms without said body means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In apparatus as in claim 8 wherein, said means to direct first and second sample streams comprise first and second drop generator means which are respectively operatively associated with said body means and are respectively operable to provide first and second sample drop streams for passage through said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
In apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising, means to periodically and alternately interrupt the passage of said first and second sample streams to said sample volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
In apparatus as in claim 10 wherein, said drop stream passage interrupting means comprise means to periodically and alternately deflect said first and second drop streams from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
In apparatus as in claim 11 wherein, said deflecting means comprise charging electrode and deflecting plate means which are operatively associated with said first and second drop generator means and are respectively operable to alternately and periodically charge said samplE drops from said first and second drop streams and deflect the same from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a method for the conversion of a sample to atoms for sample analysis by atomic spectroscopy through the use of body means having an elongated chamber extending therethrough, the steps of, passing a sample through and axially along said chamber as a stream of successive discrete drops of substantially uniform size in avoidance of contact with the walls of said chamber, and heating said sample drops attendant the passage thereof through said chamber to effect at least partial desolvation of said sample drops prior to passage from said chamber, so as to form a readily observable and relatively concentrated volume of sample atoms without said body means and adjacent one extremity of said chamber, and analyzing said sample in said concentrated volume by means independent of and located exteriorly of said chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a method for the conversion of a sample to atoms for sample analysis by atomic spectroscopy through the use of body means having an elongated chamber extending therethrough, the steps of, passing a sample through and axially along said chamber as a stream of successive discrete drops of substantially uniform size in avoidance of contact with the walls of said chamber, and heating said sample drops attendant the passage thereof through said chamber to effect at least partial desolvation of said sample drops prior to passage from said chamber, so as to form a readily observable and relatively concentrated volume of sample atoms without said body means and adjacent one extremity of said chamber, and analyzing said sample in said concentrated volume by means independent of and located exteriorly of said chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a method as in claim 13 further comprising, the steps of, modulating the concentration of atoms in said sample volume.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a method as in claim 14 wherein, the modulation of the atom concentration in said sample volume is effected by periodically deflecting of said sample drop stream from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a method as in claim 15 wherein, the step of periodically deflecting said sample drop stream is effected by passing said stream through charging electrode means to charge the same, and subsequently passing said stream through deflecting plate means to deflect the charged sample drop stream from passage into said sample volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a method as in claim 13 wherein, the step of passing said sample through said body means chamber comprises passing first and second sample streams therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a method as in claim 17 wherein, the step of passing said first and second sample streams through said body means chamber is effected by generating first and second sample drop streams adjacent an extremity of said chamber for passage of said drop streams through said chamber to form said sample volume.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a method as in claim 17 further comprising, the steps of, periodically and alternately interrupting the passage of said first and second sample streams to said sample volume.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |