Pressurized gas purge seal for combustion furnace
US8491841B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N31/12
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An analytical combustion furnace has an input port for receiving a holder for an analytical sample. A purge block is coupled to the input port of the combustion furnace and has an input end for receiving the holder and a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A door selectively closes the input end of the purge block, and a pressurized seal is coupled between the purge block and the door. A source of purging gas is coupled to the gas inlet of the purge block for pressurizing the seal. The gas outlet of the purge block communicates with the seal to allow purging gas to escape the area of the seal. In one embodiment, a pressurized seal surrounds a push rod, which seal is pressurized by a purging gas to continuously purge the entry of the push rod into the purge block, thereby eliminating atmospheric contamination.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.