US3944826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for analyzing mixtures
Assignee: APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES Ltd
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Filing: 1974-11-25
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Granted: 1976-03-16
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Expires: 1994-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing ionized material for mass analysis, in which ions are produced in a gaseous medium at high temperature in a region at substantially atmospheric pressure; the material is introduced into the medium, to be ionized, and the medium containing ions of the material is fed at low pressure to a mass analyzer.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Lyle Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/02; H01J49/10; H01J49/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of analyzing a material which comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. introducing said material into said medium; c. ionizing at least part of said medium in a first region to convert it to a plasma state, and thereby ionize said introduced material, with said plasma at substantially atmospheric pressure and substantially in a condition of thermal equilibrium; d. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing said ionized material to a second region at a pressure substantially lower than the pressure in said first region; and e. transferring said ionized material from said second region to a mass analyzer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of analyzing a material which comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. introducing said material into said medium; c. ionizing at least part of said medium in a first region to convert it to a plasma state, and thereby ionize said introduced material, with said plasma at substantially atmospheric pressure and substantially in a condition of thermal equilibrium; d. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing said ionized material to a second region at a pressure substantially lower than the pressure in said first region; and e. transferring said ionized material from said second region to a mass analyzer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, and including the step of introducing a liquid material to said first region as an aerosol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said medium is ionized by producing an electric discharge in said first region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 including the steps of producing a fine dispersion of solid particles of said material from a solid sample thereof by means of an electric arc, and introducing said dispersion into said gaseous medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of producing a fine dispersion of solid particles of said material by the impact of a pulsed laser beam on the solid sample; and introducing said dispersion into said gaseous medium.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of analyzing a compound the constitution of which changes with temperature, which method comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. ionizing at least part of said medium in a first region at a temperature above the temperature at which said compound will thermally change, the pressure of the medium in said region being substantially at atmospheric pressure; c. causing the temperature of the ionized medium to fall to a temperature which is at most slightly greater than the said temperature of thermal change of the compound, thereby providing a cooled quantity of said medium containing ions of the medium; d. introducing neutral particles of said compound into said cooled portion of the medium and thereby producing ions of said compound; e. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing ions of said compound to a second region at a pressure substantially less than atmospheric pressure, and f. transferring said ions of the compound from said second region to a mass analyzer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of analyzing a compound the constitution of which changes with temperature, which method comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. ionizing at least part of said medium in a first region at a temperature above the temperature at which said compound will thermally change, the pressure of the medium in said region being substantially at atmospheric pressure; c. causing the temperature of the ionized medium to fall to a temperature which is at most slightly greater than the said temperature of thermal change of the compound, thereby providing a cooled quantity of said medium containing ions of the medium; d. introducing neutral particles of said compound into said cooled portion of the medium and thereby producing ions of said compound; e. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing ions of said compound to a second region at a pressure substantially less than atmospheric pressure, and f. transferring said ions of the compound from said second region to a mass analyzer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of analysis of a material which comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. subjecting said gaseous medium in a first region thereof substantially at atmospheric pressure to the action of high temperature in a zone substantially in a condition of local thermal equilibrium thereby to establish a high temperature plasma state in said medium; c. embodying said material in said medium thereby to produce ionisation of said material in said medium; d. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing said ionised material to a second region at a pressure substantially lower than the pressure in said first region; and e. transferring said ionised material from said second region to a mass analyser.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of analysis of a material which comprises the steps of: a. providing a gaseous medium; b. subjecting said gaseous medium in a first region thereof substantially at atmospheric pressure to the action of high temperature in a zone substantially in a condition of local thermal equilibrium thereby to establish a high temperature plasma state in said medium; c. embodying said material in said medium thereby to produce ionisation of said material in said medium; d. transferring a portion of said gaseous medium containing said ionised material to a second region at a pressure substantially lower than the pressure in said first region; and e. transferring said ionised material from said second region to a mass analyser.
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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) | 1979-03-16 | 1979-09-15 | 1980-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-16 | 1983-09-15 | 1984-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-09-15 | 1988-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |