Sample vaporization chamber and gas chromatograph equipped with the sample vaporization chamber

Abstract

The sample vaporization chamber (1) for a gas chromatograph has a housing (2) with a built-in heater (12). An opening (18) sealed by a septum (20) is provided on the upper surface of the housing (2). The sample injected into the internal space (3) of the housing (2) by a syringe needle that penetrates the septum (20) and is inserted into the internal space (3) of the housing (2) through the opening (18) is heated by the heater (12) and vaporized to generate sample gas. The sample vaporization chamber has a cylindrical liner (16) at least at the lower end. The inner or outer circumferential surface is provided with a first thread (26); and a liner fixing part (4) is provided in the internal space (3) of the housing (2) and has a second thread that is threadedly engaged with the first thread (26) of the liner (16), for fixing the liner (16) in the state of being housed in the internal space (3) of the housing (2) by threading the first thread (26) of the liner (16) inserted from the opening (18) into the internal space (3) with the second thread.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sample vaporization chamber and a gas chromatograph equipped with the sample vaporization chamber. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, a cylindrical component called a liner is installed inside the sample vaporization chamber of a gas chromatograph (see Patent Document 1). In particular, a liner is used in the sample vaporization chamber corresponding to the cold head injection (OCI) method to accurately guide the syringe needle, inserted from above into the sample vaporization chamber, to the end of the separation column. OCI is an injection method in which the sample is directly injected into the separation column from the syringe needle after being collected at a low temperature in the sample vaporization chamber, and then the internal temperature of the sample vaporization chamber is rapidly raised to approximately 450°C, causing the injected sample to vaporize.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-92672 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] The liner in the sample vaporization chamber can become contaminated due to sample adhesion, and therefore is designed to be replaceable. In conventional sample vaporization chambers, an O-ring is installed on the upper part of the outer circumference of the liner to fix its position and prevent sample gas from meandering to the outside of the liner. However, the O-ring can melt during analysis due to heating by the heater. Therefore, the upper part of the liner from the section with the O-ring is located in a relatively low-temperature region outside the heating section of the sample vaporization chamber. Consequently, sample adhering to this relatively low-temperature region of the liner does not vaporize, making the liner prone to contamination and resulting in a high frequency of liner replacement.

[0008] In addition, there are examples of using metal springs to fix the liner to the sample vaporization chamber. In this case, no O-ring is installed on the liner, so the entire liner can be housed in the heating part of the sample vaporization chamber. However, there is a problem that the liner is not easy to remove from the sample vaporization chamber when replacing it.

[0009] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to fix the liner in the sample vaporization chamber without using O-rings and to facilitate the replacement of the liner.

[0010] Solution for solving the problem

[0011] The sample vaporization chamber of the present invention is a sample vaporization chamber for a gas chromatograph. The sample vaporization chamber has a housing with a built-in heater. An opening sealed by a septum is provided on the upper surface of the housing. The sample injected into the internal space by a syringe needle that penetrates the septum and is inserted into the internal space of the housing through the opening is heated by the heater and vaporized to generate sample gas. The sample vaporization chamber includes: a cylindrical liner with a first thread on at least the inner or outer circumferential surface at the lower end; and a liner fixing part having a second thread in the internal space of the housing that is threadedly engaged with the first thread of the liner. The second thread is used to fix the liner in a state where it is housed in the internal space of the housing by threading the first thread of the liner inserted into the internal space through the opening with the second thread.

[0012] The gas chromatograph of the present invention comprises: the sample vaporization chamber described above; a separation column, one end of which is in fluid communication with the internal space of the housing of the sample vaporization chamber for separating components in the sample gas generated by the sample vaporization chamber; and a detector, which is in fluid communication with the other end of the separation column for detecting the components separated by the separation column.

[0013] The effects of the invention

[0014] According to the sample vaporization chamber of the present invention, the sample vaporization chamber is configured such that a first thread is provided on the inner or outer circumferential surface of at least the lower end side of the liner, and a liner fixing part is provided in the internal space of the housing. The liner fixing part has a second thread that is threadedly engaged with the first thread of the liner. The liner is fixed in a state where it is received in the internal space of the housing by means of the threaded engagement between the first thread and the second thread. Therefore, the liner can be fixed in the internal space of the housing without the use of an O-ring. The liner can be disassembled and assembled relative to the liner fixing part simply by rotating the liner relative to the liner fixing part, thus facilitating the replacement of the liner.

[0015] The gas chromatograph according to the present invention is easy to maintain because it has the aforementioned sample vaporization chamber, which can be fixed in the sample vaporization chamber by rotating the liner. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber.

[0017] Figure 2 This diagram shows the state of the liner tube after it has been removed in this embodiment.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the construction of a liner. Figure 3 (A) is a diagram viewed from above. Figure 3 (B) is a picture viewed from the front.

[0019] Figure 4 This is another diagram illustrating the construction of a liner. Figure 4 (A) is a diagram viewed from above. Figure 4 (B) is a picture viewed from the front.

[0020] Figure 5 This is another example of the construction of a liner. Figure 5 (A) is a diagram viewed from above. Figure 5 (B) is a picture viewed from the front.

[0021] Figure 6 This is another example of the engagement structure of the liner.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram illustrating one embodiment of a gas chromatograph. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber and gas chromatograph of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 An embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber is shown in the figure.

[0025] The sample vaporization chamber 1 has a hollow metal shell 2. Inside the shell 2, a liner module 4, a heater module 6, and a carrier gas module 8 are arranged from the upper surface of the shell 2 within the internal space 3. The liner module 4, heater module 6, and carrier gas module 8 are all cylindrical metal components. The liner module 4 is fixed to the upper end of the vertically extending tube 10, the carrier gas module 8 is fixed to the lower end of the tube 10, and the heater module 6 is fixed to the middle section of the tube 10 (between the upper and lower ends).

[0026] The upper end of the liner module 4 is exposed on the upper surface of the housing 2, forming an opening 18 for injecting a sample from above into the internal space 3 of the housing 2 using a sampling syringe needle. The opening 18 is sealed by a septum 20. The septum 20 is held in place by a septum nut 22, which is threadedly attached to the upper end of the liner module 4. The septum nut 22 has a through hole 24 for the sampling syringe needle to pass through.

[0027] On the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the upper end of the liner module 4 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the housing 2, a metal plate 5 is mounted, for example by welding, in a horizontally extending manner. This metal plate 5 is fixed to the upper surface of the housing 2 by threaded fittings 25. However, the construction of the liner module 4 fixed to the housing 2 is not limited to this. Furthermore, if the liner module 4 is securely connected to the heater module 6 and / or the carrier gas module 8, and the heater module 6 and / or the carrier gas module 8 are fixed relative to the housing 2, then it is not necessary to fix the liner module 4 itself relative to the housing 2.

[0028] Heaters 12 are wound around the outer periphery of the liner module 4, heater module 6, and carrier gas module 8, and thin sheet-like insulating material 14 is wound around the outer side of the heater 12. The area heated by the heater 12 in the inner region of the liner module 4, heater module 6, and carrier gas module 8 is called the heating section. Furthermore, in Figure 1 In this context, heater 12 is depicted as a spiral shape, but it can also be a sheet-like heater, or a heater embedded in the liner module 4, heater module 6, and carrier gas module 8.

[0029] A cylindrical liner 16 is installed inside the liner module 4. Figure 1 In this example, a first thread is provided on the outer peripheral surface of at least the lower end side of the liner 16, and a second thread is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the liner module 4, which engages with the thread on the outer peripheral surface of the liner 16. The liner 16 is fixed in a predetermined position within the housing 2 by the threaded engagement between the first and second threads. That is, the liner 16 can be installed and removed from the liner module 4 by rotating relative to it. Thus, as... Figure 2 As shown, the liner 16 can be removed from the housing 2 with the spacer 20 and spacer nut 22 removed. The liner 16 is fixed in a predetermined position by the liner module 4 such that the entire liner 16 is housed within the heating section. The liner module 4 constitutes a liner fixing part for fixing the liner 16 in the predetermined position.

[0030] The end of the separation column 102 for gas chromatography analysis, on the sample vaporization chamber 1 side, is configured to pass through the inside of the tube 10, i.e., the inside of the carrier gas module 8 and the heater module 6, from the lower surface side of the housing 2 to the liner 16. The liner 16 is a component used to guide the tip of a syringe needle, which passes through the septum 20 and is inserted into the internal space 3 of the housing 2, to a suitable position for directly injecting the sample into the separation column 102.

[0031] In this embodiment, carrier gas for delivering the sample injected into the end of the separation column 102 is supplied into the interior of the carrier gas module 8. Septum purge gas is supplied to the space above the liner 16 in the liner module 4.

[0032] To facilitate easy rotation of the liner 16 relative to the liner module 4, a [feature / feature] can be provided on the upper surface of the liner 16. Figure 3 The locking mechanism 28 is shown. In Figure 3 In the example, the engaging structure 28 is achieved by a straight groove on the upper surface of the liner 16. With such an engaging structure 28, tools such as flathead screwdrivers can be inserted through the opening 18 of the housing 2 and the liner 16 can be rotated, making it easy to assemble and disassemble the liner 16 relative to the liner module 4.

[0033] In addition, Figure 3 In the example, the first thread 26 is only provided on the lower part of the outer circumferential surface of the liner 16, but it can also be as follows: Figure 4 As shown in the example, a first thread 26 is provided on the entire outer circumferential surface of the liner 16. Additionally, it is also possible to... Figure 5 As shown in the example, a first thread 26 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the lower part of the liner 16. In this case, the liner module 4 can be configured such that a protrusion is provided that is inserted into the inner side of the liner 16 from below and has a second thread on its outer circumferential surface that is threadedly engaged with the first thread 26 of the liner 16.

[0034] In addition, such as Figure 6 As shown, the engaging structure 28 provided on the liner 16 can also be implemented using a cross-shaped groove. Furthermore, the engaging structure 28 of the liner 16 can be any structure that allows a rod-shaped tool to be inserted into the opening 18 of the housing 2 and rotate the liner 16, or it can be a structure that engages with the top of a tool such as a hex wrench.

[0035] The above-described structure of the sample vaporization chamber 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the liner module 4, heater module 6, and carrier gas module 8 are set independently, but they can also be set as an integrated module.

[0036] use Figure 7 This describes an embodiment of a gas chromatograph equipped with the sample vaporization chamber 1 described above.

[0037] The gas chromatograph 100 includes: a sample vaporization chamber 1; a separation column 102 for separating components in a sample gas generated by the sample vaporization chamber 1 from each other; a housing 104 that houses the separation column 102 inside the housing 104; a detector 106 for detecting components in the sample gas separated by the separation column 102; and an injector 108 for injecting a sample relative to the separation column 102.

[0038] The sample vaporization chamber 1 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 104, and the detector 106 is mounted on the housing 104. One end of the separation column 102, housed inside the housing 104, extends upward and reaches the liner 16 inside the sample vaporization chamber 1 (see reference). Figure 1 The other end of the separation column 102 is connected to the detector 106.

[0039] The injector 108 is mounted on the housing 104. The injector 108 is configured to move the sampling syringe 110 up and down on the sample vaporization chamber 1. With the needle 112 of the syringe 110 inserted into the sample vaporization chamber 1, the sample drawn into the syringe 110 is ejected from the syringe 110 towards the end of the separation column 102, thereby injecting it into the separation column 102. In the sample vaporization chamber 1, after the sample is injected into the separation column 102 and the needle 112 of the syringe 110 is withdrawn from the sample vaporization chamber 1, the heater 12 is started to heat the heating section of the sample vaporization chamber 1 to about 450°C. As a result, the sample is vaporized into a sample gas, which flows within the separation column 102 to separate the components, and is detected by the detector 106.

[0040] The embodiments described above are merely one example of the implementation of the sample vaporization chamber and gas chromatograph of the present invention. The implementation of the sample vaporization chamber and gas chromatograph of the present invention is as follows.

[0041] In one embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber of the present invention, the sample vaporization chamber is a sample vaporization chamber for a gas chromatograph. The sample vaporization chamber has a housing with a built-in heater. An opening sealed by a septum is provided on the upper surface of the housing. The sample injected into the internal space by a syringe needle that penetrates the septum and is inserted into the internal space of the housing through the opening is heated by the heater and vaporized to generate sample gas. The sample vaporization chamber includes: a cylindrical liner with a first thread on at least the inner or outer circumferential surface at the lower end; and a liner fixing part provided in the internal space of the housing and having a second thread that is threadedly engaged with the first thread of the liner. The liner is fixed in a state in which the liner is housed in the internal space of the housing by threading the first thread of the liner inserted into the internal space through the opening with the second thread.

[0042] In a first embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber of the present invention, the sample vaporization chamber is configured such that the entire liner is housed within a heating section heated by the heater. According to this configuration, since the sample adhering to the liner due to contact between the syringe needle and the liner is also vaporized by the heat from the heater, the liner is less prone to contamination by the sample, thus reducing the frequency of liner replacement.

[0043] In a second embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber of the present invention, the liner has the first thread on its outer circumferential surface, and the liner fixing part is a cylindrical member having the second thread on its inner circumferential surface. According to this embodiment, the construction of fixing the liner to the liner fixing part is simplified, and component costs can be reduced.

[0044] In a third embodiment of the sample vaporization chamber of the present invention, the sample vaporization chamber is configured such that a locking structure is provided on the upper surface of the liner. By inserting an instrument having a locking mechanism at its top end into the internal space through the opening and engaging it with the locking structure, the instrument is rotated, thereby enabling the assembly and disassembly of the liner relative to the liner fixing portion. According to this configuration, the assembly and disassembly of the liner relative to the liner fixing portion is easier, reducing the workload when replacing the liner.

[0045] In one embodiment of the gas chromatograph according to the present invention, the gas chromatograph includes: the aforementioned sample vaporization chamber having a housing, an opening sealed by a septum at the upper part of the housing for generating sample gas by vaporizing a sample injected into the internal space of the housing using a syringe needle that penetrates the septum and is inserted into the internal space of the housing through the opening; a separation column having one end in fluid communication with the internal space of the housing of the sample vaporization chamber for separating components in the sample gas generated by the sample vaporization chamber from each other; and a detector having fluid communication with the other end of the separation column for detecting components separated from each other by the separation column.

[0046] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0047] 1. Sample vaporization chamber; 2. Shell; 3. Internal space; 4. Liner module; 5. Metal plate; 6. Heater module; 8. Carrier gas module; 10. Tube; 12. Heater; 14. Insulation material; 16. Liner; 18. Opening; 20. Septum; 22. Septum nut; 24. Through hole; 25. Threaded part; 26. First thread; 28. Engaging structure; 100. Gas chromatograph; 102. Separation column; 106. Detector; 108. Injector; 110. Syringe; 112. Needle (syringe needle).

Claims

1. A sample vaporization chamber for a gas chromatograph, the sample vaporization chamber having a housing with a built-in heater, an opening sealed by a septum on the upper surface of the housing, wherein a sample injected into the internal space by a syringe needle penetrating the septum and inserted into the internal space of the housing through the opening is heated by the heater and vaporized to generate a sample gas, wherein... The vaporization chamber of this sample is equipped with: A cylindrical liner having a first thread on at least the inner or outer circumferential surface at its lower end; and A liner fixing part has a second thread in the internal space of the housing that is threadedly engaged with the first thread of the liner, for fixing the liner in a state where the liner is received within the internal space of the housing by threading the first thread of the liner inserted into the internal space from the opening with the second thread. The heater is located on the outer periphery of the liner housed in the internal space.

2. The sample vaporization chamber according to claim 1, wherein, The vaporization chamber of the sample is configured such that the entire liner is housed within a heating section heated by the heater.

3. The sample vaporization chamber according to claim 1, wherein, The liner has the first thread on its outer circumferential surface. The liner fixing part is a cylindrical component with the second thread on its inner circumferential surface.

4. The sample vaporization chamber according to claim 1, wherein, The vaporization chamber of the sample is configured such that a locking structure is provided on the upper surface of the liner. By inserting an instrument with a locking structure at the top end into the internal space through the opening and locking it into the locking structure, the instrument is rotated, thereby enabling the assembly and disassembly of the liner relative to the liner fixing part.

5. A gas chromatograph, wherein, This gas chromatograph has the following features: The sample vaporization chamber of claim 1 has a shell, and an opening sealed by a septum is provided at the upper part of the shell for generating sample gas by vaporizing a sample injected into the internal space by means of a syringe needle that penetrates the septum and is inserted into the internal space of the shell through the opening. A separation column, one end of which is in fluid communication with the internal space of the shell of the sample vaporization chamber, is used to separate the components in the sample gas generated by the sample vaporization chamber from each other. as well as A detector, which is in fluid communication with the other end of the separation column, is used to detect components that have been separated from each other using the separation column.

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