TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED DISCRETE SAMPLE ANALYZER

• US 3,616,264 A
• Filed: 06/30/1969
• Issued: 10/26/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Sternberg, Robert A. Ray
• Original Assignee: James C. Sternberg, Robert A. Ray
• Inventors: Ray, Robert A., Sternberg, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanenholtz, Alvin E.
• Application Number:
  US04/837,697
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 195/127,103.5 23/253A 237/3 236/2-5
• US Class Current: 435/287.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 Optical sensing apparatus

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling the temperature of discrete sample containers in analytical instrumentation. A conveyor containing discrete samples to be analyzed is located in a subcompartment within a larger enclosure. A fan is mounted in a first opening in the subcompartment to move air from the large enclosure into the subcompartment. A second opening in which a thermal energy transfer element is mounted allows the passage of the air over the thermal energy transfer element back into the larger enclosure. A temperature sensor contacts a sample container being measured to provide a control signal which is applied to a proportionally controlled power supply connected to the thermal energy transfer element.

Claims

2. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid is air.

3. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid mover is a motor-driven fan.

4. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor means is a thermistor.

5. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 wherein the thermal energy transfer means is a heating element.

6. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 wherein the thermal energy transfer means is a cooling element.

7. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 wherein the thermal energy transfer means is a heat pump.

8. The discrete sample analyzer defined in claim 1 further comprising a second uncontrolled thermal energy transfer means mounted in said enclosure means for changing the ambient temperature of said enclosure means to permit a wide range of temperature control points of the sample container.