Pneumatic cable shuttle system for 2fnmr

Abstract

A transfer device is provided for shuttling an NMR sample container between at least two coaxially arranged NMR magnet systems of an NMR spectrometer comprising a guide tube positioned in a central bore of the magnet systems, a shuttle assembly arranged inside the guide tube for securely holding and shuttling the sample container and a drive system comprising a pulling drive and a winch cord attached to the drive system on one side and to the shuttle assembly on the other side, such that the shuttle assembly can travel inside the guide tube. The transfer device has a pneumatic pressurizing arrangement with an entry for pressurized gas arranged on a gas-tight body above the shuttle assembly that is adapted to maintain the winch cord under tension. The shuttle assembly comprises a piston design being moveable along the common axis of the coaxial magnet systems under the influence of the pressure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0001]This invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) spectrometer adapted for performing field-cycling techniques including two-field NMR (“2F-NMR”), with at least two coaxially arranged NMR magnet systems generating different magnetic fields and with a transfer device for shuttling an NMR sample container between the NMR magnet systems, the transfer device comprising a guide tube positioned in a central bore of the coaxial magnet systems, a shuttle assembly being arranged inside the guide tube for securely holding and shuttling the NMR sample container and a drive system comprising a pulling drive and a winch cord being attached to the drive system on one side and to the shuttle assembly on the other side, such that the shuttle assembly can travel inside the guide tube between the coaxial magnet systems.Description of the Related Art[0002]A temperature-controlled sample shuttle for field-cycling NMR is known from a sc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The technical problem of this patent is to develop a small mechanism that can quickly move a sample between two magnetic fields of different strengths without affecting the measurement. This mechanism is designed to be integrated into an NMR spectrometer and to move the sample precisely and quickly.

Problems solved by technology

The technical challenge is to develop a compact mechanism which can be integrated into an NMR spectrometer and which is able to move the sample container precisely in milliseconds at high speed without negatively affecting the measurement by shocks, vibrations, heat input or contamination by foreign objects.

In order for the device to be set up in common laboratories, the room height must be taken into account during construction, which means that the shuttle system, when installed, may only slightly increase the total height of the spectrometer.

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