Automatic electrometric analysis

Claim 2

In a device for electrometric analyses of liquids comprising an analysis cell for containing a liquid to be analyzed, an electrometric sensing electrode adapted to contact liquid in said cell, means connected to the electrode for carrying out the electrometric analysis, means for introducing liquid into said cell and means for removing liquid therefrom, the improvement wherein the cell comprises: a cell housing; a cup having an open end, the cup being mounted for rotation with its open end uppermost, the open upper end of said cup being disposed within said housing in air communication therewith but spaced therefrom to provide an air gap between the open end of the cup and the housing; means on the housing for introducing liquid into the cup across the air gap; including a liquid inlet port in the housing disposed above the open end of the cup and spaced therefrom; means on the housing mounting the electrometric sensing electrode so that the electrode extends into said cup and is spaced therefrom; and means for selectively rotating the cup at a first speed sufficient to mix liquid in the cup and at a second speed sufficient to expel the liquid from the cup by centrifugal force.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the cup has a side wall extending outwardly toward the open end, the side wall terminating in a downwardly extending lip and the housing includes an upwardly extending wall surrounding the cup and spaced therefrom, said wall extending upwardly in spaced nested relation between the cup side wall and the lip.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein the side wall of the cup is slanted outwardly at an angle of from about 5* to 30* from the axis of rotation of the cup.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the cup has a side wall extending upwardly toward the open end, the side wall terminating in a lip, and wherein the housing includes a side wall portion surrounding the open end of the cup and spaced therefrom, and an inwardly extending floor portion spaced from the cup and disposed below the open end thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 further comprising a port in the housing side wall extending downwardly from the level of the housing floor.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cup has a substantially flat floor and a substantially straight side wall.

Claim 8

In a device for electrometric analyses of liquids comprising an analysis cell for containing a liquid to be analyzed, an electrometric sensing electrode adapted to contact liquid in said cell, means connected to the electrode for carrying out the electrometric analysis, means for introducing liquid into said cell and means for removing liquid therefrom, the improvement wherein the cell comprises: a cell housing; a cup having an open end, the cup being mounted for rotation with respect to the housing with the open end of the cup uppermost, the open upper end of said cup being enclosed within the housing and spaced therefrom; means for introducing liquid into the cup, including a liquid inlet port in the housing disposed above the open end of the cup and spaced therefrom; an electrometric sensing electrode mounted on the housing and extending into said cup and spaced therefrom; the housing including a side wall portion surrounding the open end of the cup, a floor portion disposed below the open end of the cup and extending inwardly from the housing and a back splash wall surrounding the cup and extending upwardly from the floor portion into the interior of the housing and toward the underside of the open end of the cup and spaced from the cup; and means for selectively rotating the cup at a first speed sufficient to mix liquid in the cup and at a second speed sufficient to expel the liquid from the cup by centrifugal force.

Claim 9

In a device for electrometric analyses of liquids comprising an analysis cell for containing a liquid to be analyzed, an electrometric sensing electrode adapted to contact liquid in said cell, means connected to the electrode for carrying out the electrometric analysis, means for introducing liquid into said cell and means for removing liquid therefrom, the improvement wherein the cell comprises: a cell housing; a cup having an open end, the cup being mounted for rotation with respect to the housing with the open end of the cup uppermost, the open upper end of said cup being enclosed within the housing and spaced therefrom; means for introducing liquid into the cup, including a liquid inlet port in the housing disposed above the open end of the cup and spaced therefrom; an electrometric sensing electrode mounted on the housing and extending into said cup and spaced therefrom; the housing including a side wall portion surrounding the open end of the cup, a floor portion disposed below the open end of the cup and extending inwardly from the housing and a back splash wall surrounding the cup and extending upwardly from the floor portion into the interior of the housing and toward the underside of the open end of the cup and spaced from the cup; and means for selectively rotating the cup at a first speed sufficient to mix liquid in the cup and at a second speed sufficient to expel the liquid from the cup by centrifugal force.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cup has a substantially flat floor and a substantially straight side wall.