US3783694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Punch for piercing sample capsules
Assignee: PE Manufacturing GmbH
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Filing: 1972-03-03
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A punch assembly for releasing individual samples contained in metallic capsules into an analytical instrument includes a punch for piercing the capsule. The punch has a generally cylindrical piercing front end having a chamfered front surface formed by a plane cutting the front surface at an oblique angle and a central longitudinal channel extending from the front surface through the length of the punch. The cylindrical front end has a diameter which is only moderately smaller than the interior diameter of the capsule, so that the punch acts at least in part as a piston to push the sample material into the longitudinal channel which is connected to the analytical instrument. A relatively rapid flow of transfer gas is caused to flow around the surface of the punch into the capsule to both avoid sample loss and to carry the rest of the sample into the longitudinal channel. The punch assembly thus tends to inject all of the sample into the analytical instrument (e.g., a gas chromatograph) rapidly as a discrete relatively compact ''''packet'''' or ''''slug'''' of sample material.
Inventors
- 👤 E Otte
- 👤 D Jentzsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/04; G01N30/16; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A punch assembly for piercing metallic sample-containing capsules and to inject the sample into an analytical instrument, comprising: a punch having a chambered cylindrical piercing end, formed by a plane obliquely cutting the front surface of the basically cylindrical piercing end, said piercing end having an outer portion with a diameter slightly smaller than the interior diameter of a cylindrical sample capsule; a tubular throat portion directly behind said cylindrical piercing end, said throat portion having an outer diameter which is slightly less than the outer diameter of said cylindrical end; and a longitudinal central channel extending from said front surface through the entire length of said punch, whereby as said punch piercingly enters a sample capsule, said cylindrical end acts, at least in part, as a piston for forcing at least part of the sample material into the longitudinal channel toward the sample-receiving inlet of the analytical instrument, and after the punch has substantially entered the sample capsule, a transfer gas will readily enter between the pierced end of the capsule and the throat portion to assist in sweeping the sample material into the longitudinal channel into the analytical instrument, so that the sample tends to be injected as a compact packet into the analytical instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A punch assembly for piercing metallic sample-containing capsules and to inject the sample into an analytical instrument, comprising: a punch having a chambered cylindrical piercing end, formed by a plane obliquely cutting the front surface of the basically cylindrical piercing end, said piercing end having an outer portion with a diameter slightly smaller than the interior diameter of a cylindrical sample capsule; a tubular throat portion directly behind said cylindrical piercing end, said throat portion having an outer diameter which is slightly less than the outer diameter of said cylindrical end; and a longitudinal central channel extending from said front surface through the entire length of said punch, whereby as said punch piercingly enters a sample capsule, said cylindrical end acts, at least in part, as a piston for forcing at least part of the sample material into the longitudinal channel toward the sample-receiving inlet of the analytical instrument, and after the punch has substantially entered the sample capsule, a transfer gas will readily enter between the pierced end of the capsule and the throat portion to assist in sweeping the sample material into the longitudinal channel into the analytical instrument, so that the sample tends to be injected as a compact packet into the analytical instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A punch assembly according to claim 1, in which: the diameter of said longitudinal central channel is greater than the radial width of the annular channel defined between the outer surface of said cylindrical piercing end of said punch and the inner walls of the sample capsule pierced thereby, whereby escape of the sample around the punch through the annular channel is inhibited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A punch assembly according to claim 2, in which: said punch further comprises a relatively large diameter cylindrical base portion connected to the rear of said throat portion, and a relatively small diameter axially extending collar portion connected to the rear of said cylindrical base; said longitudinal central channel extending continuously through said cylindrical piercing end, said throat portion, said cylindrical base portion and said collar portion; said assembly also comprising a gas tube sealingly connected to the collar portion of said punch to receive the sample from said longitudinal channel and convey it to the analytical instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A punch assembly according to claim 3, in which: said entire punch, including said cylindrical piercing end, said throat portion, said cylindrical base portion and said collar portion, consists of oxidized zirconium; and said gas tube consists of glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A punch assembly according to claim 4, in which: said assembly further comprises a cylindrical chromium steel jacket surrounding and supporting said gas tube and at least said cylindrical base portion of said punch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |