Mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device

Abstract

The invention discloses a mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device, and relates to the technical field of mass spectrometers, the mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device comprises a movable seat and an ionization assembly, the movable seat is provided with a plurality of installation positions, the ionization assembly comprises a shielding cover and a plurality of ionization mechanisms, the plurality of ionization mechanisms are correspondingly arranged at the plurality of installation positions, and the shielding cover is detachably connected to the movable seat; when the shielding cover is connected with the movable seat, the shielding cover covers the plurality of ionization mechanisms at the same time. The ionization mechanism can be used for being attached to a to-be-detected sample, the ionization mechanism can ionize the to-be-detected sample when powered on, and ionized ions enter a detection part of the mass spectrometer so that the component content in the to-be-detected sample can be measured. The device is provided with a plurality of ionization mechanisms, can detect various different to-be-detected samples, and is high in detection efficiency. The shielding cover can cover a plurality of ionization mechanisms at the same time when being connected with the movable seat, each ionization mechanism does not need to be provided with a shielding cover, the cost is saved, and time and labor are saved during disassembly and assembly of the shielding cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mass spectrometers, and particularly to a sample switching device for an ion source of a mass spectrometer. Background Art

[0002] A mass spectrometer is used to determine the composition of chemical element isotopes in a sample. The function of an ion source is to convert an element into a positive ion form and accelerate and focus it into a beam of ion beams for subsequent analysis of charged ions in a magnetic field. The function of an ion receiver is to collect the ions after being analyzed by an electromagnet. Since the movement of charged ions has an electric current, the current can be amplified by an external device to measure the ratio of the collected ions, thereby measuring the isotope ratios of different mass-to-charge ratios.

[0003] The working principle of a thermal ionization magnetic mass spectrometer is based on the spatial separation of the elements of an analyte solid sample. These elements are ionized and form an ion beam by different work functions, and then the content of each component is determined. To achieve this goal, the sample to be measured is smeared on a sample holder, and then the sample holder is electrified to ionize the sample to be measured. The ions ionized from the sample to be measured enter the ion optical lens system of the mass spectrometer to determine the component content in the sample to be measured. To avoid the influence of other components in the mass spectrometer, a shielding cover is usually provided near the sample holder.

[0004] However, the existing thermal ionization magnetic mass spectrometers still have deficiencies. Multiple ionization mechanisms included in the mass spectrometer all require corresponding shielding covers to be connected and installed, so multiple shielding covers need to be prepared, and each shielding cover is connected to the corresponding ionization mechanism, which is costly and time-consuming and laborious for disassembling and assembling the shielding covers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above technical deficiencies, and propose a sample switching device for an ion source of a mass spectrometer, so as to solve the technical problem that in the prior art, multiple ionization mechanisms included in a thermal ionization magnetic mass spectrometer all require corresponding shielding covers to be connected and installed, so multiple shielding covers need to be prepared, and each shielding cover is connected to the corresponding ionization mechanism, which is costly and time-consuming and laborious for disassembling and assembling the shielding covers.

[0006] To achieve the above technical purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The present invention provides a sample switching device for an ion source of a mass spectrometer, including: A movable seat having a plurality of mounting positions; An ionization assembly including a shielding cover and a plurality of ionization mechanisms. The plurality of ionization mechanisms are correspondingly arranged at the plurality of mounting positions, and the shielding cover is detachably connected to the movable seat; when the shielding cover is connected to the movable seat, the shielding cover simultaneously covers the plurality of ionization mechanisms.

[0007] In some embodiments, the installation position is an ionization groove formed in the movable seat. The ionization mechanism is located in the ionization groove. The shielding cover is provided with a through hole, and the through hole communicates with the ionization groove and the ion detection source, so that the ions ionized from the ionization groove can reach the ion detection source through the through hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the ionization mechanism includes a bracket body, an evaporation belt and an ionization belt. Both the evaporation belt and the ionization belt are located in the ionization groove. The movable seat is provided with a positioning pin, and the bracket body is detachably inserted into the positioning pin.

[0009] In some embodiments, both the evaporation belt and the ionization belt are U-shaped, and the bottom of the evaporation belt is arranged close to the bottom of the ionization belt.

[0010] In some embodiments, the ionization mechanism further includes a plurality of electrode columns. Each electrode column passes through the bracket body. One end of the electrode column is located in the ionization groove and is connected to the evaporation belt or the ionization belt, and the other end of the electrode column is located outside the ionization groove and is used for connecting to a power supply.

[0011] In some embodiments, a notch is formed in the part of the electrode column extending into the ionization groove, and the ends of the evaporation belt or the ionization belt are fixedly clamped with the notch.

[0012] In some embodiments, the movable seat is circular, and a plurality of the ionization grooves are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the movable seat. The shielding cover is also circular and is detachably connected to the movable seat by screws.

[0013] In some embodiments, the mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device further includes a power supply assembly. The power supply assembly includes a mounting member, a rotating member and a power supply pin. The rotating member is rotatably connected to the mounting member. The power supply pin is arranged on the rotating member, and when the rotating member rotates, it can drive the power supply pin to connect or disconnect from the electrode column.

[0014] In some embodiments, the power supply assembly further includes a locking screw. The locking screw passes through the rotating member and is threadedly connected to the mounting member. When the locking screw rotates away from the mounting member, the rotating member can rotate relative to the mounting member.

[0015] In some embodiments, the ionization assembly further includes a driving motor. The driving motor is connected to the movable seat and is used to drive the movable seat to rotate, so as to switch the electrode columns of each ionization mechanism to connect to the power supply pin.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the ionization mechanism of the ion source sample switching device of the mass spectrometer provided by the present invention can be used to attach the sample to be measured. When the ionization mechanism is powered on, it can ionize the sample to be measured, and the ions ionized enter the detection component of the mass spectrometer to measure the component content in the sample to be measured. The present invention has multiple ionization mechanisms, which can detect a variety of different samples to be measured, and the detection efficiency is high. When the shielding cover is connected to the movable seat, it can cover multiple ionization mechanisms at the same time, without the need to equip each ionization mechanism with a shielding cover, which saves costs and is time-saving and labor-saving for disassembling and assembling the shielding cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a perspective of the ion source sample switching device of the mass spectrometer provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another perspective of the ion source sample switching device of the mass spectrometer provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the movable seat provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the ionization mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the power supply pin provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the power supply component provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0019] In order to solve the technical problem in the prior art that multiple ionization mechanisms included in a thermal ionization magnetic mass spectrometer all need corresponding shielding covers to be connected and installed, so multiple shielding covers need to be prepared, and each shielding cover is connected to the corresponding ionization mechanism, which is costly and time-consuming and laborious for disassembling and assembling the shielding covers, the present invention provides an ion source sample switching device for a mass spectrometer, which can achieve using one shielding cover to cover multiple ionization mechanisms at the same time, with low cost and time-saving and labor-saving for disassembling and assembling the shielding cover.

[0020] It should be noted that the ion source sample switching device of the present invention is used for but not limited to mass spectrometers, etc. For the convenience of description, in the present invention, only the case where the ion source sample switching device is applied to a mass spectrometer is taken as an example for description, and the principle of the ion source sample switching device applied to other types of devices is substantially the same as that applied to a mass spectrometer, and will not be elaborated here one by one.

[0021] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 which is a schematic structural diagram of a sample switching device for a mass spectrometer ion source in an embodiment of the present invention. The sample switching device for the mass spectrometer ion source includes a movable seat 1 and an ionization assembly. The movable seat 1 has a plurality of mounting positions. The ionization assembly includes a shielding cover 2 and a plurality of ionization mechanisms 3. The plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 are correspondingly arranged at the plurality of mounting positions, and the shielding cover 2 is detachably connected to the movable seat 1. When the shielding cover 2 is connected to the movable seat 1, the shielding cover 2 can cover the plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 at the same time. In this embodiment, the shielding cover 2 has two main functions in the mass spectrometer: one is to shield space radiation and reduce the influence of external electromagnetic interference on the internal environment of the mass spectrometer; the other is to serve as a ground loop to weaken common-mode noise and improve the signal quality of the mass spectrometer. In addition, the shielding cover 2 also helps to maintain a high-vacuum environment inside the mass spectrometer and prevent the sample ions attached to the ionization mechanism 3 from being lost due to collision.

[0022] The shielding cover 2 is detachably connected to the movable seat 1 by screws for easy disassembly and assembly from the movable seat 1. When the shielding cover 2 is disassembled, the ionization mechanism 3 can be replaced or the liquid of the sample to be measured can be coated on the ionization mechanism 3.

[0023] The plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 in this embodiment can share one shielding cover 2, and there is no need to separately install a shielding cover 2 for each ionization mechanism 3 as in the prior art, which not only saves costs but also saves time and effort in disassembling and assembling the shielding cover 2.

[0024] In one of the embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the mounting position is an ionization groove 11 opened on the movable seat 1. The ionization mechanism 3 is located in the ionization groove 11. The shielding cover 2 is provided with a through hole 21. The through hole 21 communicates with the ionization groove 11 and the ion detection source. The ion detection source is a component on the mass spectrometer and is not shown in the figure. The sample to be measured can be coated on the ionization mechanism 3. When the ionization mechanism 3 is powered on, it can ionize the sample to be measured, and the ionized ions can reach the ion detection source from the ionization groove 11 through the through hole 21. The ion detection source detects the ions to obtain the component content in the sample to be measured.

[0025] In one of the embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 , the ionization mechanism 3 includes a bracket body 31, an evaporation zone 32 and an ionization zone 33. The evaporation zone 32 and the ionization zone 33 are both located in the ionization groove 11. The movable seat 1 is provided with a positioning pin 12. The bracket body 31 is detachably inserted into the positioning pin 12 so that the ionization mechanism 3 can be quickly disassembled and assembled from the movable seat 1. In this embodiment, first, the sample to be measured is coated on the evaporation zone 32. When the evaporation zone 32 is powered on, it can quickly evaporate the sample to be measured. The ionization zone 33 ionizes the evaporated sample to be measured to form ions, and the ions enter the ion detection source through the through hole 21 to detect the component content in the sample to be measured.

[0026] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 , both the evaporation zone 32 and the ionization zone 33 are U-shaped, and the bottom of the evaporation zone 32 is arranged close to the bottom of the ionization zone 33, so that the sample to be measured evaporated by the evaporation zone 32 can be fully ionized on the ionization zone 33 to form ions, and the mass spectrometer can measure the composition of the sample to be measured more accurately.

[0027] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 , the ionization mechanism 3 further includes a plurality of electrode columns 34. Each electrode column 34 penetrates through the bracket body 31. One end of the electrode column 34 is located in the ionization tank 11 and is connected to the evaporation zone 32 or the ionization zone 33, and the other end of the electrode column 34 is located outside the ionization tank 11 and is used to connect to a power supply. There are four electrode columns 34 in this embodiment. Two of the electrode columns 34 are connected to the positive and negative poles of the evaporation zone 32, and the other two electrode columns 34 are connected to the positive and negative poles of the ionization zone 33, respectively supplying power to the evaporation zone 32 and the ionization zone 33.

[0028] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 , a notch 341 is formed in the part of the electrode column 34 extending into the ionization tank 11, and the ends of the evaporation zone 32 or the ionization zone 33 are both clamped and fixed to the notch 341, so as to increase the contact area between the electrode column 34 and the evaporation zone 32 or the ionization zone 33, and the conductivity is strong. In addition, through the clamping method, the connection between the electrode column 34 and the evaporation zone 32 or the ionization zone 33 is stable.

[0029] Positioning holes 311 are formed at both ends of the bracket body 31. The positioning holes 311 are used for detachably plugging with the positioning pins 12 on the movable seat 1, so that the ionization mechanism 3 can be quickly disassembled and assembled from the movable seat 1. In addition, two through light-transmitting holes 312 are formed in the bracket body 31. When the evaporation zone 32 and the ionization zone 33 are energized, due to the ionization effect, the ionization tank 11 will emit light, and the light will irradiate to the outside through the light-transmitting holes 312. Therefore, the ionization effect can be judged by observing whether there is light outside the bracket body 31 and the brightness of the light.

[0030] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1, the movable seat 1 is circular, and a plurality of ionization grooves 11 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the movable seat 1. The shielding cover 2 is also circular and is detachably connected to the movable seat 1 by screws. In this embodiment, the plurality of ionization grooves 11 are arranged along the position close to the edge of the movable seat 1 so that more ionization grooves 11 can be arranged. An ionization mechanism 3 is provided in each ionization groove 11. Each ionization mechanism 3 can be used to ionize a kind of sample to be measured, and a plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 can be used to ionize a variety of different samples to be measured. One movable seat 1 can detect a variety of samples to be measured, which is beneficial to saving space. The outer diameter of the shielding cover 2 is equal to the outer diameter of the movable seat 1 so that the shielding cover 2 can completely cover all the ionization grooves 11 and shield the plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 at the same time. In other embodiments, the shape of the movable seat 1 can also be other shapes, such as a long strip shape. In this embodiment, the movable seat 1 can be provided with a plurality of ionization grooves 11 along its length direction and a plurality of ionization mechanisms 3 along its length direction.

[0031] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 , the sample switching device of the mass spectrometer ion source further includes a power supply assembly 4. The power supply assembly 4 includes a mounting member 41, a rotating member 42 and a power supply pin 43. The rotating member 42 is rotatably connected to the mounting member 41. The power supply pin 43 is provided on the rotating member 42. When the rotating member 42 rotates, it can drive the power supply pin 43 to connect or disconnect from the electrode column 34. The power supply pin 43 can be connected to a power supply. When the power supply pin 43 is connected to the electrode column 34, it can supply power to the electrode column 34, so that both the evaporation belt 32 and the ionization belt 33 are powered on to ionize the sample to be measured. When the power supply pin 43 is disconnected from the electrode column 34, at this time, the movable seat 1 can be rotated to switch the electrode column 34 of the next ionization mechanism 3 to be electrically connected to the power supply pin 43 to ionize the next ionization mechanism 3. In this way, the ionization of all the ionization mechanisms 3 on the movable seat 1 is completed, and the component detection of a variety of samples to be measured is completed.

[0032] The mounting member 41 is provided with a plurality of screw holes 411. The screw holes 411 can fix the mounting member 41 at a preset position by screws, so that the power supply assembly 4 is fixed at the preset position. In addition, it should be noted that the rotating member 42 can be driven by a specific driving component to rotate reciprocally. The driving component is a prior art and is not shown in the figure.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 5 , one end of the power supply pin 43 has a slot 431. When the power supply pin 43 is connected to the electrode column 34, it can be inserted into the electrode column 34 through the slot 431, so as to increase the contact area with the electrode column 34, stably connect with the electrode column 34, and maintain a good electrical connection with the electrode column 34.

[0034] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 2, the power supply assembly 4 further includes a locking screw 44. The locking screw 44 passes through the rotating member 42 and is threadedly connected to the mounting member 41. When the locking screw 44 rotates away from the mounting member 41, the rotating member 42 can rotate relative to the mounting member 41. In this embodiment, when the rotating member 42 rotates upward relative to the mounting member 41, the rotating member 42 can drive the power pin 43 to disengage from the electrode post 34 of the ionization mechanism 3. At this time, the movable seat 1 can be rotated to switch the next ionization mechanism 3 to be located below the rotating member 42, and then the rotating member 42 is controlled to rotate downward so that the power pin 43 is connected to the electrode post 34 of the next ionization mechanism 3.

[0035] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 , the power supply assembly 4 further includes four heating electrodes 46 provided on the rotating member 42. When the four heating electrodes 46 are connected to the power supply, they can generate heat to preheat the electrode post 34 in contact with them, thereby improving the subsequent ionization efficiency of the electrode post 34. The end of the rotating member 42 can be set to a shape consistent with the radian of the movable seat 1, so that when the four power pins 43 are connected to the four electrode posts 34 of the corresponding ionization mechanism 3, the four heating electrodes 46 can just be connected to the four electrode posts 34 of the next ionization mechanism 3 to be energized, so as to preheat the four electrode posts 34 of the next ionization mechanism 3. By rotating the movable seat 1, when the four electrode posts 34 of the next ionization mechanism 3 are connected to the four power pins 43, the ionization efficiency of the ionization mechanism 3 can be significantly improved.

[0036] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 , the mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device further includes a driving motor 45. The driving motor 45 is connected to the movable seat 1 and is used to drive the movable seat 1 to rotate, so as to switch the connection between the electrode post 34 of each ionization mechanism 3 and the power pin 43, so that each ionization mechanism 3 can be connected to the power pin 43 in turn to be energized to ionize the sample to be measured.

[0037] The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device further includes a pressure ring 47. The pressure ring 47 is threadedly connected to the movable seat 1 by screws. When the pressure ring 47 is connected to the movable seat 1, it can simultaneously press and fix the bracket bodies 31 of all the ionization mechanisms 3.

[0038] To better understand the present invention, the following will combine Figures 1 to 6 to describe the technical solution of the present invention in detail: The ionization mechanism of the sample switching device of the ion source of the mass spectrometer provided by the present invention can be used to attach the sample to be measured. When the ionization mechanism 3 is powered on, it can ionize the sample to be measured, and the ions ionized enter the detection component of the mass spectrometer to measure the component content in the sample to be measured. The present invention has multiple ionization mechanisms 3, which can detect a variety of different samples to be measured, and has high detection efficiency. When the shielding cover 2 is connected to the movable seat 1, it can cover multiple ionization mechanisms 3 at the same time, without the need to equip each ionization mechanism 3 with a shielding cover 2, saving costs, and the disassembly and assembly of the shielding cover 2 are time-saving and labor-saving.

[0039] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and deformations made according to the technical concept of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device, characterized in that: include: A movable seat with multiple mounting positions; and The ionization assembly comprises a shielding cover and a plurality of ionization mechanisms, wherein the plurality of ionization mechanisms are correspondingly arranged at the plurality of installation positions, and the shielding cover is detachably connected to the movable seat; when the shielding cover is connected to the movable seat, the shielding cover can cover the plurality of ionization mechanisms at the same time.

2. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting position is an ionization slot opened on the movable seat, the ionization mechanism is located in the ionization slot, the shielding cover is provided with a through hole, the through hole connects the ionization slot and the ion detection source, so that the ions ionized by the ionization slot can reach the ion detection source through the through hole.

3. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ionization mechanism comprises a support body, an evaporation belt and an ionization belt, wherein the evaporation belt and the ionization belt are both located in the ionization slot, and the movable seat is provided with a positioning pin, and the support body and the positioning pin are detachably plugged.

4. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The evaporation belt and the ionization belt are both U-shaped, and the bottom of the evaporation belt and the bottom of the ionization belt are arranged close to each other.

5. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The ionization mechanism also includes a plurality of electrode columns, each of which penetrates the bracket body, one end of the electrode column is located in the ionization tank and connected to the evaporation belt or ionization belt, and the other end of the electrode column is located outside the ionization tank and is used to connect to a power source.

6. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A notch is provided at the portion where the electrode column extends into the ionization tank, and the ends of the evaporation belt or the ionization belt are both fixedly connected to the notch.

7. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable seat is circular, and a plurality of ionization slots are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the movable seat. The shielding cover is also circular and is detachably connected to the movable seat by screws.

8. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device also includes a power supply component, which includes a mounting part, a rotating part and a power supply pin. The rotating part is rotatably connected to the mounting part, and the power supply pin is arranged on the rotating part. When the rotating part rotates, it can drive the power supply pin to connect to or disconnect from the electrode column.

9. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The power supply assembly also includes a locking screw, which passes through the rotating member and is threadedly connected to the mounting member. When the locking screw is rotated to disengage from the mounting member, the rotating member can rotate relative to the mounting member.

10. The mass spectrometer ion source sample switching device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The ionization assembly also includes a driving motor, which is connected to the movable seat and used to drive the movable seat to rotate so as to switch the electrode column of each ionization mechanism to connect to the power pin.

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