US3917404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluorometer assembly including a flow cell
Assignee: SLM Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A fluorometer assembly consisting of a basic photometer unit having a photomultiplier tube and an excitation lamp projecting from its top wall. A flow cell block assembly is adapted to be mounted over and receive the photomultiplier tube and excitation lamp in cavities provided therefor in the block assembly. The block assembly includes a transparent flow cell and conduits are provided to pass a liquid sample through the flow cell. An optical passage is provided between the lamp cavity and flow cell, including a suitable excitation filter. Another optical passage at right angles to the first passage is provided between the flow cell and the photomultiplier tube cavity. A suitable emission filter is provided on the photomultiplier tube in the path of fluorescent light emitted by the sample liquid. The lamp has a manually rotatable slotted cover sleeve for at times blocking the lamp relative to the flow cell. The cell is held in place by a manually adjustable pressure screw, which also acts to exert a sealing force on a top plug element of the flow cell. The flow cell block assembly also includes a temperature-controlling cavity through which temperature-control liquid may be circulated.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Robert Heiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/05; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N2021/6482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A flow cell block assembly for use with a photometer of the type having an upstanding photosensitive element and an upstanding excitation lamp adjacent to each other, said flow cell block assembly having respective vertical bores spaced to receive said photosensitive element and excitation lamp and including a transparent vertical flow cell with inlet and outlet conduits connected to the ends thereof for passing a liquid sample therethrough, and means to exert adjustable retaining force on the top end of said flow cell, said block assembly being formed with passage means at right angles and leading respectively from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell and from the flow cell to the photosensitive bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A flow cell block assembly for use with a photometer of the type having an upstanding photosensitive element and an upstanding excitation lamp adjacent to each other, said flow cell block assembly having respective vertical bores spaced to receive said photosensitive element and excitation lamp and including a transparent vertical flow cell with inlet and outlet conduits connected to the ends thereof for passing a liquid sample therethrough, and means to exert adjustable retaining force on the top end of said flow cell, said block assembly being formed with passage means at right angles and leading respectively from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell and from the flow cell to the photosensitive bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 1, and wherein said block assembly includes a detachable flow cell block provided with a vertical bore at the intersection of said right-angled optical paths, and wherein said flow cell comprises a transparent tube supportingly received in said last-named bore, aand wherein Said inlet and outlet conduits extend through said detachable flow cell block and said flow cell is provided with respective sealing means to connect said inlet and outlet conduits to opposite ends of said transparent tube, said force-exerting means being applied at the top sealing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 2, and wherein said sealing means comprises respective plug elements sealingly secured to the conduits and engaged in said opposite ends of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 3, and wherein said retaining force-exerting means comprises an externally exposed clamping member threadedly engaged in the top end of said detachable flow cell block and clampingly engaging one of said plug elements and urging it inwardly in the tube, the other plug element bearing against the bottom end of the last-named bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The flow cell assembly of claim 4, and wherein said clamping member comprises a screw with an axial passage, one of the conduits extending through said axial passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 1, and excitation filter means in the optical path leading from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 1, and a rotatable apertured shutter sleeve of opaque material in the excitation lamp bore for performing dark current measurements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flow cell block assembly of claim 1, and wherein said block assembly is formed with a cavity to receive temperature-controlled liquid, and means to circulate temperature-controlled liquid through said cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
In combination, a photometer including a housing having a horizontal top wall and having a photosensitive element and an excitation lamp projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relationship from said top wall, a fluorometer flow cell block assembly detachably mounted on said top wall and having respective vertical bores receiving said photosensitive element and excitation lamp, said block assembly having an additional vertical bore containing a vertical transparent flow cell, said block assembly being formed with passage means defining optical paths at right angles and leading respectively from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell and from the flow cell to the photosensitive element bore, inlet and outlet conduits, respective sealing means connecting said conduits to the opposite ends of said flow cell for passing a liquid sample therethrough, and adjustable clamping means at the top end of said additional bore exerting downward retaining force on the top sealing means and the flow cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
In combination, a photometer including a housing having a horizontal top wall and having a photosensitive element and an excitation lamp projecting upwardly in spaced parallel relationship from said top wall, a fluorometer flow cell block assembly detachably mounted on said top wall and having respective vertical bores receiving said photosensitive element and excitation lamp, said block assembly having an additional vertical bore containing a vertical transparent flow cell, said block assembly being formed with passage means defining optical paths at right angles and leading respectively from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell and from the flow cell to the photosensitive element bore, inlet and outlet conduits, respective sealing means connecting said conduits to the opposite ends of said flow cell for passing a liquid sample therethrough, and adjustable clamping means at the top end of said additional bore exerting downward retaining force on the top sealing means and the flow cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structural combination of claim 9, and excitation filter means in the optical path leading from the excitation lamp bore to the flow cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structural combination of claim 10, and emission filter means between the flow cell and the photosensitive element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structural combination of claim 11, and a rotatable apertured shutter sleeve of opaque material having a vertical slot registrable with the optical path leading to the flow cell in the excitation lamp bore for performing dark current measurements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The strucutral combination of claim 12, and wherein said shutter sleeve is provided with an external opaque top cover cap rigid therewith having a transparent index window spaced from the center of the cap to indicate the position of the slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structural combination of claim 13, and wherein said block assembly is formed with a cavity to receive temperature-controlled liquid, and means to circulate temperature-controlled liquid through said cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structural combination of claim 9, and wherein said connecting means comprises respective plug elements sealingly secured to the conduits and engaged in said opposite ends of the cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structural combination of claim 15, and wherein said clamping means comprises a clamping member threadedly engaged in said block assembly and clampingly engaging one of said plug elements and urging it inwardly in the cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structural combInation of claim 16, and an opaque sleeve in the bore surrounding said cell, said sleeve being formed with respective longitudinal slots registering with the right-angled optical paths.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structural combination of claim 17, and an excitation filter member mounted in said block assembly in the optical path between said excitation lamp bore and said flow cell-receiving bore.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structural combination of claim 18, and an emission filter element interposed in the optical path between said flow cell-receiving bore and the photosensitive element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |