Purging of optical spectrometer accessories
AssigneeHarrick Scientific Corp.
InventorsMilan Milosevic, Nicolas J. Harrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Optical spectroscopy in a purging atmosphere wherein an optical accessory is gas-tight coupled in the spectrometer sample compartment to the open beam port of the spectrometer, whereby the same purging gas used by the spectrometer can be employed to purge the accessory. Where the accessory allows external sample placement or external adjustments, rapid sample changing or adjustment is possible without breaking the purge seal. In another embodiment, the accessory has its own purge inlet and sealed windows for receiving the spectrometer beam.
Claims8
The combination of:
- (a) an optical spectrometer having a fixed sampling compartment bounded by walls containing at least one port for an optical beam, said port being open whereby a purging gas supplied within the spectrometer can exit the port to the sampling compartment, said sampling compartment being open,
- (b) an independent changeable optical accessory configured to fit within the sampling compartments of plural spectrometers and having means for receiving a sample to be analyzed by means of the spectrometer optical beam and an entrance port for the optical beam, said accessory being enclosed and being configured to seat within the open sampling compartment,
- (c) means for coupling in a substantially gas-tight manner the accessory entrance port to the spectrometer exit port whereby the accessory can be purged while seated in the open sampling compartment by the same purging gas used for the spectrometer.
An optical accessory for use in reflection optical spectroscopy with a standard spectrometer, comprising:
- a gas-tight enclosure for optics,
- a port for receiving an optical beam, said port being sealed off,
- an inlet for a purge gas,
- means on the outside of the enclosure for manipulating the optics inside the enclosure without having to break the gas-tightness of the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.