Analysis system

• US 5,521,698 A
• Filed: 01/23/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Thermo Jarrell ASH Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Thermo Jarrell ASH Corporation
• Inventors: Belmore, Richard J., Kunselman, Garry C., Carroll, Charles E., Tobey, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGraw, Vincent P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANTIS, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US08/377,127
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 356/70-73, 356/313, 356/440
• US Class Current: 356/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/69 specially adapted for fluids , e.g. molten metal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample that includes structure defining an analysis region with an inlet and an outlet, a spectrometer system disposed in sensing relation to the analysis region, structure defining a sample inlet port, and structure connecting the sample inlet port to the inlet of the analysis region. The analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of the electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to the inlet of the analysis region, and the other electrode having a lower surface of annular configuration in spaced juxtaposition to the upper surface of the one electrode. The one metal electrode is disposed with the passage structure extending to an outlet port in its upper surface, and that electrode includes structure in the upper surface defining a plurality of channels extending away from the outlet port for discharge of excess quantities of a liquid sample to be analyzed that has been flowed through the passage structure. Control structure flows a sample to be analyzed from the sample inlet port through the analysis region, and output structure responsive to the spectrometer system provides output data as a function of the liquid sample flowed into the sample excitation apparatus.

Claims

1. An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample comprising

structure defining an analysis region having an inlet and an outlet, a spectrometer system disposed in sensing relation to said analysis region,

structure defining a sample inlet port, structure connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet of said analysis region,

said analysis region including sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of said electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to said other electrode and passage structure connected to said inlet of said analysis region, and the other electrode having a lower surface of annular configuration in spaced juxtaposition to said upper surface of said one electrode, said one metal electrode being disposed with said passage structure extending to an outlet port in its said upper surface, said one electrode including structure in said upper surface defining a plurality of channels extending away from said outlet port for discharge of excess quantities of a liquid sample to be analyzed that has been flowed through said passage structure,

control structure for flowing a sample to be analyzed from said sample inlet port through said analysis region, and

output structure responsive to said spectrometer system for providing output data as a function of the liquid sample flowed into said sample excitation apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said structure connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet of said analysis region includes a sample transport tube and structure for introducing gas bubbles into the sample to be analyzed for flow with the sample through said transport tube to said analysis region.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said structure for introducing gas bubbles includes a supplemental tube disposed concentrically with said sample transport tube and said tubes have ports disposed adjacent one another for submergence in the liquid sample to be analyzed so that, during a cleaning interval, gas bubbles may be flowed through said sample transport tube concurrently with the sample or cleaning liquid for cleaning said sample transport tube.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said spectrometer system includes entrance slit structure, exit slit structure composed of a plurality of exit slit regions, and radiation dispersing structure for dispersing radiation passing through said entrance slit structure into a spectrum for application to said exit slit regions.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each said metal electrode contains at least ninety-nine percent of a particular metal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said particular metal of each said electrode is silver.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said sample excitation apparatus is disposed in an enclosed chamber, said chamber having an outlet port across which filter structure is disposed, and structure for flowing gas from said chamber through said filter structure for exhaust outside said system.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said sample excitation apparatus includes a pair of trigger electrodes disposed in spaced relation to said metal electrodes in said analysis region such that the breakdown of the gap between said trigger electrodes is adapted to generate ultraviolet radiation to preionize the gap between said main electrodes.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said control structure for flowing a sample includes a pump that has forward and reverse modes of operation, and said control structure operates said pump in a reverse flow mode during a first part of a spectrometer analysis cycle to remove excess sample material from said analysis region and then in a relatively low forward flow rate mode during a second part of said spectrometer analysis cycle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said system includes housing structure in which said analysis region and said spectrometer system are disposed, said sample excitation apparatus is disposed in an enclosed chamber, said chamber having an outlet port across which filter structure is disposed, and structure for flowing gas from said chamber through said filter structure for exhaust outside said housing structure.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said spectrometer system includes entrance slit structure, exit slit structure composed of a plurality of exit slit regions, and radiation dispersing structure for dispersing radiation passing through said entrance slit structure into a spectrum for application to said exit slit regions.

12. The system of claim 11 and further including wheel structure on which said housing structure is mounted so that said analysis system is relatively mobile.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each said metal electrode contains at least ninety-nine percent of a specific metal.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said specific metal is silver.

15. An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample comprising

structure defining an analysis region having an inlet and an outlet, a spectrometer system disposed in sensing relation to said analysis region,

structure defining a sample inlet port, structure connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet of said analysis region, said structure connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet of said analysis region including a sample transport tube and structure for introducing gas bubbles into the sample to be analyzed for flow with the sample through said transport tube to said analysis region,

said analysis region including sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of said electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to said other electrode and passage structure connected to said inlet of said analysis region, and the other electrode having a lower surface in spaced juxtaposition to said upper surface of said one electrode, said one metal electrode being disposed with said passage structure extending to an outlet port in its said upper surface, control structure for flowing a sample to be analyzed from said sample inlet port through said passage structure and said outlet port, and output structure responsive to said spectrometer system for providing output data as a function of the liquid sample flowed into said sample excitation apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said spectrometer system includes entrance slit structure, exit slit structure composed of a plurality of exit slit regions, and radiation dispersing structure for dispersing radiation passing through said entrance slit structure into a spectrum for application to said exit slit regions.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said structure for introducing gas bubbles includes a supplemental tube disposed adjacent said sample transport tube and said tubes have ports disposed adjacent one another for submergence in the liquid sample to be analyzed so that, during a cleaning interval, gas bubbles may be flowed through said sample transport tube concurrently with the sample or cleaning liquid for cleaning said sample transport tube and other regions of the analysis sample flow path.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said control structure for flowing a sample includes a pump that has forward and reverse modes of operation, and said control structure operates said pump in a reverse flow mode during a first part of a spectrometer analysis cycle to remove excess sample material from said analysis region and then in a relatively low forward flow rate mode during a second part of said spectrometer analysis cycle.

19. A process for analyzing liquid sample material such as a lubricating oil comprising the step of:

providing structure defining an analysis region with a polychromater system disposed in sensing relation to said analysis region,

said polychromator system including entrance slit structure, exit slit structure composed of a plurality of exit slit regions, and radiation dispersing structure for dispersing radiation passing through said entrance slit structure into a spectrum for application to said exit slit regions,

flowing a liquid sample to be analyzed through a sample flow path into said analysis region at a first flow rate, flowing gas bubbles concurrently with said liquid sample for cleaning said sample flow path, reversing the flow direction to remove excess liquid sample from said analysis region, resuming flow in the forward direction at a low flow rate and concurrently subjecting said liquid sample in said analysis region to an electric discharge to excite the liquid sample to spectroemissive levels for sensing by said polychromator system.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein said analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus that includes a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of said electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to said inlet of said analysis region, said one metal electrode being disposed with said passage structure extending to an outlet port in said upper surface, structure in said upper surface defining a plurality of channels extending away from said outlet port of said passage structure for discharge of excess quantities of a liquid sample to be analyzed flowed through said passage structure, and the other said electrode having a lower surface of annular configuration in spaced juxtaposition to said upper surface of said one electrode.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein said liquid sample is a lubricating oil material, and said spectrometer system senses metal constituents in said lubricating oil material.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein each said metal electrode contains at least ninety-nine percent silver.

23. The process of claim 19 wherein said relatively low forward flow rate is less than one-half said first flow rate.