Ion mobility spectrometer drift chamber

Claim 2

A drift chamber for use with an ion mobility spectrometer comprising: a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes.

Claim 3

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes has a Z-shaped cross section.

Claim 4

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes are circular.

Claim 5

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein all of said plurality of metal ring electrodes are identical.

Claim 6

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of insulating rings is comprised of ceramic material.

Claim 7

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of insulating rings has a rectangular cross section.

Claim 8

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes is comprised of sheet metal foil.

Claim 9

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein said seal forming means comprises glue.

Claim 10

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein said seal forming means comprises solder.

Claim 11

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of discrete resistors.

Claim 12

A drift chamber according to claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of discrete resistors is comprised of resistor material vapor deposited onto one of said plurality of insulating rings.

Claim 13

A drift chamber according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises means for connecting said plurality of metal ring electrodes electrically in series with each other.

Claim 14

A drift chamber for use with an ion mobility spectrometer comprising: a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes, said connecting means comprising a resistive rod connected to each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes.

Claim 15

A drift chamber for use with an ion mobility spectrometer comprising: a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes, said connecting means comprising a resistive rod connected to each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes.

Claim 16

A drift chamber according to claim 13 wherein said resistive rod comprises an electrically insulating rod with a continuous resistive coating.

Claim 17

An ion mobility spectrometer comprising: an ion source means for generating ions; a drift chamber for receiving said ions, said drift chamber comprising a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes; an injection grid located between said ion source means and said drift chamber to control entry of said ions into said drift chamber; and an ion detector for detecting ions which have drifted through said drift chamber.

Claim 18

An ion mobility spectrometer comprising: an ion source means for generating ions; a drift chamber for receiving said ions, said drift chamber comprising a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes; an injection grid located between said ion source means and said drift chamber to control entry of said ions into said drift chamber; and an ion detector for detecting ions which have drifted through said drift chamber.

Claim 19

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes has a z-shaped cross section.

Claim 20

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes are circular.

Claim 21

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein all of said plurality of metal ring electrodes are identical.

Claim 22

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of insulating rings is comprised of ceramic material.

Claim 23

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of insulating rings has a rectangular cross section.

Claim 24

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes is comprised of sheet metal foil.

Claim 25

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein said seal forming means comprises glue.

Claim 26

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein said seal forming means comprises solder.

Claim 27

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of discrete resistors.

Claim 28

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 24 wherein each of said plurality of discrete resistors is comprised of resistor material vapor deposited onto one of said plurality of insulating rings.

Claim 29

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises means for connecting said plurality of metal ring electrodes electrically in series with each other.

Claim 30

An ion mobility spectrometer comprising: an ion source means for generating ions; a drift chamber for receiving said ions, said drift chamber comprising a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes, said connecting means comprising a resistive rod connected to each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes; an injection grid located between said ion source means and said drift chamber to control entry of said ions into said drift chamber; and an ion detector for detecting ions which have drifted through said drift chamber.

Claim 31

An ion mobility spectrometer comprising: an ion source means for generating ions; a drift chamber for receiving said ions, said drift chamber comprising a plurality of metal ring electrodes, each of said plurality of ring electrodes having a planar ring portion with an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a first flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said inside diameter and a second flange mounted perpendicular to said planar ring portion on said outside diameter; a plurality of insulating rings, each of said rings located between two of said electrodes to electrically separate said electrodes, said plurality of metal ring electrodes and said plurality of insulating rings forming a self-centering stack of alternating metal ring electrodes and insulating rings; means for forming a hermetic seal between each of said metal ring electrodes and neighboring ones of said plurality of insulating rings; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes, said connecting means comprising a resistive rod connected to each of said plurality of metal ring electrodes; an injection grid located between said ion source means and said drift chamber to control entry of said ions into said drift chamber; and an ion detector for detecting ions which have drifted through said drift chamber.

Claim 32

An ion mobility spectrometer according to claim 27 wherein said resistive rod comprises an electrically insulating rod with a continuous resistive coating.