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Vacuum analyzer utilizing resistance tubes to control the flow rate through a vacuum reaction chamber

  • US 9,214,327 B2
  • Filed: 07/19/2011
  • Issued: 12/15/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vacuum analyzer comprising:

  • a) a vacuum reaction chamber;

    wherein the vacuum reaction chamber is a collision chamber for collision-induced dissociation configured to be used in a mass analysis system;

    b) a gas source for supplying a gas into said vacuum reaction chamber;

    c) a flow rate restricting resistance tube, the outlet end of which is connected to said vacuum reaction chamber;

    d) a pressure detection means disposed upstream from said flow rate restricting resistance tube;

    e) a flow rate adjustment means which is disposed between said pressure detection means and said gas source and adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing out of said flow rate restricting resistance tube so that the detected value from said pressure detection means reaches a prescribed value;

    f) a split flow path which divides the gas flowing from the upstream between said flow rate adjustment means and said pressure detection means and is provided with a split resistance tube;

    g) an atmosphere release path which divides the gas flowing from the upstream between said flow rate adjustment means and said pressure detection means and releases the divided gas into the atmosphere; and

    h) a valve provided in said atmosphere release path;

    wherein said split flow path is connected immediately downstream from said valve of said atmosphere release path;

    a gas purging resistance tube is provided downstream from where said split flow path connects to said atmosphere release path; and

    a resistance to gas flow at least atmospheric pressure due to a length and an inside diameter of said gas purging resistance tube is smaller than a resistance to gas flow at least atmospheric pressure due to a length and an inside diameter of said flow rate restricting resistance tube, and is smaller than a resistance to gas flow at least atmospheric pressure due to a length and an inside diameter of said split resistance tube, such that a flow rate of gas through said split flow path is at least an order of magnitude greater than a flow rate of gas into said vacuum reaction chamber.

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