Sample injection arrangement for an analytical instrument

Claim 2

Sample injection apparatus for introducing a sample contained in a sealed vessel to a gas chromatographic instrument comprising: means for supporting a mandrel in a stationary position and a sample vessel formed of metal in an enclosed injection volume and for impelling said vessel against said stationary mandrel in a manner for causing said mandrel to effect a non-shattering piercing of said vessel; a metal sample vessel supported by said support means; said support means including a demountable elongated member adapted for supporting said vessel at an extremity thereof within said injection volume and for impelling said vessel against said mandrel to form apertures in oppositely disposed segments of the vessel, means providing a first carrier fluid flow path between said injection volume and the separating column of the gas chromatographic instrument; and, means including said elongated member for defining a carrier gas flow path between a source of carrier gas and said vessel in said injection volume for rinsing a pierced vessel of sample material.

Claim 3

Sample injection apparatus for introducing a sample contained in a sealed vessel to a gas chromatographic instrument comprising: means for supporting a mandrel in a stationary position and a sample vessel formed of metal in an enclosed injection volume and for impelling said vessel against said stationary mandrel in a manner for causing said mandrel to effect a non-shattering piercing of said vessel; a metal sample vessel supported by said support means; means providing a first carrier fluid flow path between said injection volume and the separating column of the gas chromatographic instrument; means for coupling a source of carrier gas to the analytical instrument at a coupling point in said first flow path intermediate said injection apparatus and the instrument; and, means establishing a carrier fluid flow path between said source of carrier gas and said vessel in said injection volume for rinsing a pierceD vessel of sample material.

Claim 4

Sample injection apparatus for introducing a sample contained in a sealed vessel to a gas chromatographic instrument comprising: means for supporting a mandrel in a stationary position and a sample vessel formed of metal in an enclosed injection volume and for impelling said vessel against said stationary mandrel in a manner for causing said mandrel to effect a non-shattering piercing of said vessel; a metal sample vessel supported by said support means; means providing a first carrier fluid flow path between said injection volume and the separating column of the gas chromatographic instrument; means for coupling a source of carrier gas to the analytical instrument at a coupling point in said first flow path intermediate said injection apparatus and the instrument; and, means establishing a carrier fluid flow path between said source of carrier gas and said vessel in said injection volume for rinsing a pierceD vessel of sample material.

Claim 5

The injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for providing said first carrier fluid flow path includes a fluid flow impedance positioned in said path upstream of said carrier gas coupling point, said flow impedance providing a flow passage for vaporized sample transported in said carrier gas.

Claim 6

The injection apparatus of claim 3 wherein said flow resistance comprises a plurality of particles.

Claim 7

The injection apparatus of claim 2 including means for alternatively coupling a source of carrier gas between said position in said first carrier fluid flow path intermediate said flow impedance and the instrument and to said means for conveying a carrier fluid to said vessel.

Claim 8

A sample injection apparatus for introducing a sample contained in a sealed vessel to an analytical instrument comprising: a tubular evaporator member adapted to receive an injector assembly at one end thereof and a dosing tube from an opposite end thereof; an injector assembly including a tubular insert member containing a plurality of particles forming a carrier fluid flow resistance, a closure member positioned at an inner end of said insert and having a channel formed thereon extending generally in an axial direction, a mandrel supported by said closure member and extending away from said insert member, and means supporting said assembly within said evaporator tube in fluid-tight relationship therewith; a dosing housing having a generally cylindrical bore coupled to said evaporator member; a tubular dosing member positioned in said housing and extending into said evaporator tube; an elongated generally cylindrically shaped support rod positioned within the dosing tube and adapted for relative adjustment therewith in an axial direction, said rod having an end segment thereof adapted for supporting a sample vessel at one end thereof within said evaporator tube; means for biasing said support rod in a spaced apart position from said mandrel; means for securing said dosing member to said housing and for providing displacement of said dosing member in an axial direction; said support rod having an axial channel formed therein communicating with the vessel support end segment of said rod; and means adapted for coupling to a source of carrier fluid and for providing a fluid flow path to said channel of said support rod.

Claim 9

A sample injection apparatus for introducing a sample contained in a sealed vessel to an analytical instrument comprising: a tubular evaporator member adapted to receive an injector assembly at one end thereof and a dosing tube from an opposite end thereof; an injector assembly including a tubular insert member containing a plurality of particles forming a carrier fluid flow resistance, a closure member positioned at an inner end of said insert and having a channel formed thereon extending generally in an axial direction, a mandrel supported by said closure member and extending away from said insert member, and means supporting said assembly within said evaporator tube in fluid-tight relationship therewith; a dosing housing having a generally cylindrical bore coupled to said evaporator member; a tubular dosing member positioned in said housing and extending into said evaporator tube; an elongated generally cylindrically shaped support rod positioned within the dosing tube and adapted for relative adjustment therewith in an axial direction, said rod having an end segment thereof adapted for supporting a sample vessel at one end thereof within said evaporator tube; means for biasing said support rod in a spaced apart position from said mandrel; means for securing said dosing member to said housing and for providing displacement of said dosing member in an axial direction; said support rod having an axial channel formed therein communicating with the vessel support end segment of said rod; and means adapted for coupling to a source of carrier fluid and for providing a fluid flow path to said channel of said support rod.

Claim 10

The injection apparatus of claim 6 wherein said evaporator tube and insert member are physically proportioned for providing a carrier fluid flow volume intermediate an outer surface of said insert and an inner surface of said evaporator tube and means adapted for coupling to a source of carrier fluid are provided for introducing a carrier fluid to said flow volume intermediate said insert and injector member.

Claim 11

The injection apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for securing said dosing member to said housing comprise a bayonet lock.