Apparatus for rotating an NMR test tube
AssigneeElbit-ATI, Ltd.
InventorUri Rapoport
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for rotating a test tube in an NMR device which allows sufficient frictional force to be applied to the test tube to rotate it at a desired speed and which allows the test tube to be inserted in and removed from the NMR device while the motor is rotating.
Claims14
Apparatus for rotating a test tube containing a sample at a predetermined rotational speed in a magnetic field in an NMR apparatus comprising:
- a motor driving a hollow shaft in the NMR apparatus;
- friction means for flexibly and substantially circumferentially coupling the test tube to the hollow shaft with sufficient friction to rotate the test tube with the hollow shaft while allowing the test tube to be removed from and inserted in the hollow shaft during rotation of the shaft;
- and
- control means coupled to the motor for operating the motor at said predetermined rotational speed.
Apparatus for rotating a test tube containing a sample for NMR analysis in a magnetic field in an NMR device comprising:
- an electric motor driving a hollow shaft that is substantially cylindrical about the axis of rotation, the hollow shaft being substantially equal to but sufficiently larger in diameter than the test tube to receive and allow free rotation of the test tube, the hollow shaft disposed so that its axis intersects said magnetic field;
- friction means disposed in the hollow shaft for substantially circumferentially and resiliently engaging said test tube in a frictional manner at a multiplicity of individual points such that said test tube can be grasped during rotation without damage to the test tube;
- an electric power supply coupled to said motor;
- and
- means connected to the power supply to control the power from the power supply to drive said motor in a predetermined pattern of speeds while rotating said test tube.
A method for rotating a test tube containing a sample at a predetermined rotational speed in a magnetic field in an NMR apparatus comprising the steps of:
- rotating a hollow shaft in the NMR apparatus with a motor;
- coupling the test tube to the hollow shaft with flexible and substantially circumferential frictional contact to rotate the test tube with the hollow shaft while allowing the test tube to be removed from and inserted in the hollow shaft while the hollow shaft is rotating;
- and
- operating the motor at said predetermined rotational speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.