US3881872A — Automatic analyzing device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 231 words

AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ANALYZING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID SAMPLES COMPRISING: A. A TURNTABLE IN WHICH SAMPLE CONTAINER TUBES ARE ACCOMODATED AND MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING THE TURNTABLE; B. A REACTION BATH COMPOSED OF A LOWER CHAMBER ASSOCIATED WITH MEANS TO MAINTAIN IT AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND AN UPPER CHAMBER ASSOCIATED WITH MEANS TO PRESSURIZE IT WITH INERT GAS; C. A PLURALITY OF REACTION TUBES INSTALLED IN THE SAID REACTION BATH VERTICALLY POSITIONED IN BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS AND OPENING INTO SAID UPPER CHAMBER; D. MEANS FOR DRAWING SAMPLES TO BE ANALYZED FROM SAID SAMPLE TUBES ROTATED THEREUNDER BY THE TURNTABLE; E. MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE SAMPLE TO SAID REACTION TUBES; F. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING REAGENTS TO SAID REACTION TUBES BY PRESSURIZING THE SAID REAGENTS WITH INERT GAS; G. MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE CONTENTS OF THE REACTION TUBE THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE REACTION TUBE TO AN ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT FOR DETECTING; AND, H, MEANS FOR CLEANING THE REACTION TUBES AND SAID ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT AND THE INSTRUMENT DELIVERING MEANS WITH AT LEAST ONE KIND OF CLEANING SOLUTION, SUCH THAT ALL THE FLOW LINES COMPRISING THE DRAWING MEANS, REAGENT SUPPLY MEANS, SAMPLE DELIVERY MEANS, AND CLEANING MEANS, ARE ISOLATED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND PRESSURIZED WITH INERT GAS AT A CONSTANT PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE OXIDATION OF SOLUTIONS, FORMATION OF AIR BUBBLES, OR THE RISE OF NOXIOUS FUMES.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 231 words

AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ANALYZING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID SAMPLES COMPRISING: A. A TURNTABLE IN WHICH SAMPLE CONTAINER TUBES ARE ACCOMODATED AND MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING THE TURNTABLE; B. A REACTION BATH COMPOSED OF A LOWER CHAMBER ASSOCIATED WITH MEANS TO MAINTAIN IT AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND AN UPPER CHAMBER ASSOCIATED WITH MEANS TO PRESSURIZE IT WITH INERT GAS; C. A PLURALITY OF REACTION TUBES INSTALLED IN THE SAID REACTION BATH VERTICALLY POSITIONED IN BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS AND OPENING INTO SAID UPPER CHAMBER; D. MEANS FOR DRAWING SAMPLES TO BE ANALYZED FROM SAID SAMPLE TUBES ROTATED THEREUNDER BY THE TURNTABLE; E. MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE SAMPLE TO SAID REACTION TUBES; F. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING REAGENTS TO SAID REACTION TUBES BY PRESSURIZING THE SAID REAGENTS WITH INERT GAS; G. MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE CONTENTS OF THE REACTION TUBE THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE REACTION TUBE TO AN ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT FOR DETECTING; AND, H, MEANS FOR CLEANING THE REACTION TUBES AND SAID ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT AND THE INSTRUMENT DELIVERING MEANS WITH AT LEAST ONE KIND OF CLEANING SOLUTION, SUCH THAT ALL THE FLOW LINES COMPRISING THE DRAWING MEANS, REAGENT SUPPLY MEANS, SAMPLE DELIVERY MEANS, AND CLEANING MEANS, ARE ISOLATED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND PRESSURIZED WITH INERT GAS AT A CONSTANT PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE OXIDATION OF SOLUTIONS, FORMATION OF AIR BUBBLES, OR THE RISE OF NOXIOUS FUMES.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 272 words

An apparatus for automatically analyzing a plurality of liquid samples comprising: a. a turntable in which sample containing tubes are accomodated and means for intermittently rotating the turntable; b. a reaction bath composed of a lower chamber controlled at a constant temperature and an upper chamber pressurized with inert gas; c. a plurality of reaction tubes vertically positioned in said reaction bath and opening into said upper pressurized chamber; d. a means for drawing up sample to be analyzed from the said sample tubes as they are rotated thereunder by the turntable; e. means for measuring the volume of the sample drawn and delivering the sample to the reaction tubes; f. a plurality of reagent selector valves each having a plurality of inlets in communication with reagent reservoirs and an outlet; g. a plurality of reaction tube selector valves connected to said outlet of one reagent selector valve, each of said reaction tube selector valves selectively applying reagent to the said reaction tubes; h. means for delivering the contents of the reaction tube through an opening in the bottom of the reaction tube to an analytical instrument for detecting; and, i. a cleaning means comprising a plurality of valves each of which is connected to one reaction tube and an analytical instrument, said valves having passageways for backwashing at least two kinds of cleaning solutions to the reaction tube and supplying said solutions to the analytical instrument and instrument delivering means and said valves having outlets for draining the cleaning solutions backwashed into the reaction tube; and, j. means for supplying at least two kinds of cleaning solutions to the cleaning means.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 272 words

An apparatus for automatically analyzing a plurality of liquid samples comprising: a. a turntable in which sample containing tubes are accomodated and means for intermittently rotating the turntable; b. a reaction bath composed of a lower chamber controlled at a constant temperature and an upper chamber pressurized with inert gas; c. a plurality of reaction tubes vertically positioned in said reaction bath and opening into said upper pressurized chamber; d. a means for drawing up sample to be analyzed from the said sample tubes as they are rotated thereunder by the turntable; e. means for measuring the volume of the sample drawn and delivering the sample to the reaction tubes; f. a plurality of reagent selector valves each having a plurality of inlets in communication with reagent reservoirs and an outlet; g. a plurality of reaction tube selector valves connected to said outlet of one reagent selector valve, each of said reaction tube selector valves selectively applying reagent to the said reaction tubes; h. means for delivering the contents of the reaction tube through an opening in the bottom of the reaction tube to an analytical instrument for detecting; and, i. a cleaning means comprising a plurality of valves each of which is connected to one reaction tube and an analytical instrument, said valves having passageways for backwashing at least two kinds of cleaning solutions to the reaction tube and supplying said solutions to the analytical instrument and instrument delivering means and said valves having outlets for draining the cleaning solutions backwashed into the reaction tube; and, j. means for supplying at least two kinds of cleaning solutions to the cleaning means.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 110 words

A device for cleaning the sampling system of an automatic analyzing apparatus, comprising: a. a sampler for picking up samples to be analyzed arranged to move back and forth between a sample tube containing sample and a cleaning bath; b. a means for measuring the volume of a sample picked up by said sampler; c. a constant flow pump connected to the said measuring means whereby sample is drawn from the sample tube; and, d. a means for supplying cleaning solution to the said sample measuring means and said sampler, the cleaning solution passing through the said sample measuring means and the said sampler being fed to said cleaning bath.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 110 words

A device for cleaning the sampling system of an automatic analyzing apparatus, comprising: a. a sampler for picking up samples to be analyzed arranged to move back and forth between a sample tube containing sample and a cleaning bath; b. a means for measuring the volume of a sample picked up by said sampler; c. a constant flow pump connected to the said measuring means whereby sample is drawn from the sample tube; and, d. a means for supplying cleaning solution to the said sample measuring means and said sampler, the cleaning solution passing through the said sample measuring means and the said sampler being fed to said cleaning bath.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 154 words

A reaction device for an automatic analyzing apparatus comprising a sampler, a reagent supply device, a cleaning device and an analyzer, said reaction device comprising: a. a reaction bath composed of a lower chamber and upper chamber pressurized with inert gas; b. a plurality of reaction tubes installed in the said reaction bath within both the upper and lower chambers, the top of each reaction tube opening into the upper chamber and the lower end of each reaction tube being in communication through valves with the analyzer; c. a means for providing the said lower chamber with a constant temperature circulating fluid; d. a means for supplying sample to be treated and reagents to the said reaction tube; and, e. a means including said valves for backwashing cleaning solution into the said reaction tubes such that a part of the cleaning solution is flushed into the upper chamber of reaction bath and drained therefrom.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 154 words

A reaction device for an automatic analyzing apparatus comprising a sampler, a reagent supply device, a cleaning device and an analyzer, said reaction device comprising: a. a reaction bath composed of a lower chamber and upper chamber pressurized with inert gas; b. a plurality of reaction tubes installed in the said reaction bath within both the upper and lower chambers, the top of each reaction tube opening into the upper chamber and the lower end of each reaction tube being in communication through valves with the analyzer; c. a means for providing the said lower chamber with a constant temperature circulating fluid; d. a means for supplying sample to be treated and reagents to the said reaction tube; and, e. a means including said valves for backwashing cleaning solution into the said reaction tubes such that a part of the cleaning solution is flushed into the upper chamber of reaction bath and drained therefrom.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 57 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a buffer tube is connected to the analyzer exhaust for counteracting the flow through pressure of the sample so as to position it directly in the detector and a drain valve connected to said buffer tube for draining the sample after the sample has been analyzed by said analyzer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 151 words

A reaction device according to claim 4 in which a drainage device for the uppper chamber comprises: a. a drainage reservoir which is closed from the air, and is pressurized with inert gas; b. a pipe which connects the said upper chamber of the reaction bath and the drainage reservoir whereby backwashed cleaning solution in the reaction bath may be fed to the said drainage reservoir through the said pipe; c. an exhaust pipe for draining off the drains from said drainage reservoirs; d. a drainage valve connected to the said exhaust pipe; e. level gauges for detecting the upper and lower levels of the drainage in the said drainage reservoir; and, f. a level detector which operates so as to open and close the said drainage valve after receiving the signal corresponding to upper and lower levels of the said drainage in the said drainage reservoir from said level gauges.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-05-05	1978-11-04	1979-05-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-05-05	1982-11-04	1983-05-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-05-05	1986-11-04	1987-05-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic analyzing device

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