Gas inlet for an ion source

• US 6,646,253 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gsf-Forschungszentrum Fur Umwelt Und Gesundheit GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gsf-Forschungszentrum Fur Umwelt Und Gesundheit GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Ralf, Kettrup, Antonius, Rohwer, Egmont, Heger, Hans Jörg, Dorfner, Ralf, Boesl, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnston, Phillip A
• Application Number:
  US09/718,472
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 250/282, 250/283, 250/287, 250/288, 239/708, 239/3, 204/299.R
• US Class Current: 250/288
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0404 Capillaries used for transferring samples or ions electrospray nozzles H01J49/167
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0422 for gaseous samples interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0468 with means for heating or cooling the sample

Abstract

In a gas inlet structure for an ion source, including a capillary for the admission of a sample gas, which capillary is disposed in a guide tube for discharging a sample gas into the guide tube, the guide tube has an open end disposed in the ion source. The guide tube includes a valve for the pulsed admission of a carrier gas to the guide tube. The guide tube, the valve and the capillary are supported in a sealed support housing from which the guide tube with the capillary disposed therein projects into the ion source for supplying thereto the sample gas in a pulsed manner.

Claims

1. A gas inlet for an ion source, comprising:

a capillary for the admission of a sample gas, a guide tube surrounding said capillary and having an open end disposed in said ion source, said capillary having a discharge opening disposed centrally within said guide tube, a pulse valve for the pulsed admission of carrier gas to said guide tube, and a support housing for supporting said capillary said guide tube and said valve in a gas-tight manner, said guide tube with the capillary enclosed therein projecting from said support housing.

2. A gas inlet for an ion source according to claim 1, wherein said guide tube is at least partially coated with an electrically conductive material and provided with a contacting structure for applying an electric potential thereto.

3. A gas inlet for an ion source according to claim 1, wherein said guide tube includes electric heating elements.

4. A gas inlet for an ion source according to claim 1, wherein the open end of said guide tube extending into said ion source includes a flow-constricting nozzle.

5. A gas inlet for an ion source according to claim 1, wherein the discharge opening of said capillary in said guide tube includes a constriction.