Systems and methods for analyzing liquids under vacuum
US8555710B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N23/2204
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for supporting a liquid against a vacuum pressure in a chamber can enable analysis of the liquid surface using vacuum-based chemical analysis instruments. No electrical or fluid connections are required to pass through the chamber walls. The systems can include a reservoir, a pump, and a liquid flow path. The reservoir contains a liquid-phase sample. The pump drives flow of the sample from the reservoir, through the liquid flow path, and back to the reservoir. The flow of the sample is not substantially driven by a differential between pressures inside and outside of the liquid flow path.An aperture in the liquid flow path exposes a stable portion of the liquid-phase sample to the vacuum pressure within the chamber. The radius, or size, of the aperture is less than or equal to a critical value required to support a meniscus of the liquid-phase sample by surface tension.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.