A device for rapid loading of a sample for helium content analysis

Abstract

The application provides a device for quickly loading a helium content analysis sample, which comprises an L-shaped support plate, a hollow rectangular frame, a U-shaped plate and a sample disc, a driving motor is installed on the front side of the vertical end of the L-shaped support plate, a plurality of first through holes are arranged above the hollow rectangular frame, a plurality of butt joints are respectively fixed in the plurality of first through holes, a plurality of auxiliary buckling rings are respectively fixed on the lower ends of the plurality of butt joints, a plurality of taper transition pipes are respectively fixed on the upper ends of the plurality of butt joints, a plurality of sample guide pipes are respectively fixed above the plurality of taper transition pipes, threaded rods are respectively rotatably installed on the upper ends of the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate, rectangular blocks are respectively threadedly connected to the outer sides of the two threaded rods, and the device solves the problem that in the prior art, samples are generally added to the hole positions of the sample disc one by one by manual operation, and a group of samples cannot be put in place at one time, which is time-consuming and labor-consuming.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples, belonging to the field of sample processing technology. Background Technology

[0002] (U-Th) / He isotope dating is a radioisotope dating method that uses U and Th as parent elements and He as daughter elements. This dating method primarily analyzes minerals containing U and Th, such as zircon and apatite. It is mainly used to reveal processes such as mountain uplift and exposure, thermal evolution of oil and gas basins, exposure of metal deposits, geomorphic evolution, and the timing of neotectonic activity. The (U-Th) / He isotope dating method mainly consists of two analytical steps. The first step involves heating the sample using a helium isotope mass spectrometer to extract radiogenic He gas and analyze its precise content. The second step involves dissolving the sample after He gas analysis and analyzing the U and Th content of the dissolved solution using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Helium content analysis is an essential step in the (U-Th) / He isotope dating method.

[0003] Conventional helium content analysis of single-particle samples such as zircon and apatite using a helium isotope mass spectrometer requires sequentially unloading the metal sample capsules containing the single particles from the sample vials and transferring them to the hemispherical holes in a sample tray. The sample tray has 25 holes, numbered from 1 to 25, requiring 25 loading operations for each sample, while simultaneously recording the sample number and its corresponding hole number. This loading process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and frequently results in sample capsules being lost or falling into holes already containing sample capsules, causing sample confusion. Therefore, a rapid sample loading device for helium content analysis is urgently needed to solve these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples, comprising an L-shaped support plate, a rectangular slotted frame, a U-shaped plate, and a sample tray. A drive motor is mounted on the front vertical end of the L-shaped support plate. Multiple first through holes are provided above the rectangular slotted frame, and connecting pipes are fixed inside each of the first through holes. Auxiliary fastening rings are fixedly sleeved at the lower ends of each of the connecting pipes. Conical transition tubes are fixed at the upper ends of each of the connecting pipes, and sample guide tubes are fixed above each of the conical transition tubes. Threaded rods are rotatably installed on the upper ends of the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate. Rectangular blocks are threadedly connected to the outer sides of two of the threaded rods, and semi-circular anti-detachment rings are fixed to the inner ends of two of the rectangular blocks. Multiple sample holes are provided above the sample tray, and positioning holes are symmetrically provided below the sample tray. A threaded hole penetrates the right end of the sample tray. The number of sample guide tubes is equal to the number of sample holes.

[0006] Furthermore, a silicone buffer pad is installed above the horizontal end of the L-shaped support plate, and the output shaft of the drive motor is fixedly connected to the rear side of the hollow rectangular frame.

[0007] Furthermore, gears are fixed to the outer ends of both threaded rods, and torsion shafts are rotatably mounted on the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate. Gear rings are fixedly sleeved on the outer sides of the two torsion shafts, and the two gear rings are respectively meshed with the two gears.

[0008] Furthermore, L-shaped guide rods are fixed to the upper ends of the two rectangular blocks respectively, and the two L-shaped guide rods are slidably connected to the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate respectively. Multiple second through holes are provided through the bottom surface of the U-shaped plate, and the outer sides of the multiple sample conduits are fixedly connected to the inner walls of the multiple second through holes respectively.

[0009] Furthermore, a support plate is fixed to the inner wall of the rectangular frame of the slot, and multiple cylinders and multiple reset springs are slidably installed on the upper part of the support plate, with the multiple reset springs sleeved on the outer side of the multiple cylinders, and anti-detachment caps are fixed to the lower ends of the multiple cylinders.

[0010] Furthermore, a movable plate is jointly mounted on the upper end of the plurality of cylinders, and the upper ends of the plurality of reset springs are fixed to the movable plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the movable plate has protrusions at its left and right ends, and the rectangular frame with empty slots has limiting slots on its left and right inner walls, with the two protrusions slidably installed inside the two limiting slots.

[0012] Furthermore, a placement tray is placed above the movable plate, and multiple tube grooves are provided above the placement tray, with sample placement tubes placed in some of the tube grooves.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the sample placement tube is equal to the inner diameter of the connecting tube, and the wall thickness of the sample placement tube is equal to the wall thickness of the connecting tube.

[0014] Furthermore, a metal rod is threadedly connected to the upper right end of the sample tray via a threaded hole.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to this invention, by adding a rectangular frame with an empty slot, a drive motor, a U-shaped plate, a moving plate, a support plate, a protrusion, a cylinder, a return spring, a semi-circular anti-detachment ring, a torsion shaft, a gear ring, a rectangular block, a threaded rod, a gear, and an L-shaped guide rod, facilitates stable clamping of the sample tray and the placement tray, and also facilitates the rotational adjustment of the positions of the sample tray and the placement tray. This ensures the stability of the position of the sample tray and the placement tray during flipping, making the sample transfer process more stable. It solves the problem in the prior art that it is inconvenient for operators to integrate the sample tray and the placement tray together before sample transfer, thus improving the functionality of this invention.

[0016] Because this invention adds a connecting tube, an auxiliary snap ring, a tapered transition tube, and a sample guide tube, this design facilitates the smooth and precise transfer of multiple samples simultaneously. Compared to the method of transferring samples one by one, it greatly saves time and improves transfer efficiency. It solves the problem in the prior art where operators need to transfer multiple samples one by one, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient, thus improving the convenience of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention, showing the connection between the empty slot rectangular frame and the U-shaped plate.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the empty slot rectangular frame structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the U-shaped plate structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the structure of multiple connecting tubes of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting pipe structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the placement disk structure of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the structure above the sample tray of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the structure below the sample tray of the device for rapidly loading helium content analysis of the present invention.

[0027] In the diagram: 1-L-shaped support plate, 2-Silicone buffer pad, 3-Empty groove rectangular frame, 4-Drive motor, 5-U-shaped plate, 6-Sample tray, 7-Placement tray, 8-Limiting groove, 9-Moving plate, 10-Support plate, 11-Protrusion, 12-Connecting tube, 13-Cylinder, 14-Reset spring, 15-Auxiliary fastening ring, 16-Conical transition tube, 17-Sample guide tube, 18-First through hole, 19-Second through hole, 20-Semi-circular anti-detachment ring, 21-Torsion shaft, 22-Gear ring, 23-Rectangular block, 24-Threaded rod, 25-Gear, 26-L-shaped guide rod, 27-Tube groove, 28-Sample placement tube, 29-Metal rod, 30-Sample hole, 31-Positioning hole, 32-Threaded hole. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0029] Please see Figures 1-9 This invention provides a technical solution: a device for rapidly loading helium content analysis samples, comprising an L-shaped support plate 1, a rectangular slot frame 3, a U-shaped plate 5, and a sample tray 6. A drive motor 4 is installed on the front of the vertical end of the L-shaped support plate 1. The rectangular slot frame 3 has multiple first through holes 18 above it. Connecting pipes 12 are fixed inside the multiple first through holes 18. Auxiliary fastening rings 15 are fixedly sleeved at the lower ends of the multiple connecting pipes 12. Conical transition tubes 16 are fixed at the upper ends of the multiple connecting pipes 12. Sample guide tubes 17 are fixed above the multiple conical transition tubes 16. Threaded rods 24 are rotatably installed on the upper ends of the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate 5. Rectangular blocks 23 are threadedly connected to the outer sides of the two threaded rods 24. Semicircular anti-detachment rings 20 are fixed at the inner ends of the two rectangular blocks 23. Multiple sample holes 30 are provided above the sample tray 6. Positioning holes 31 are symmetrically provided below the sample tray 6. A threaded hole 32 is provided through the right end of the sample tray 6. The number of sample guide tubes 17 is equal to the number of sample holes 30.

[0030] As an embodiment of the present invention: A silicone buffer pad 2 is installed above the horizontal end of the L-shaped support plate 1. The silicone buffer pad 2 is set to facilitate the support of the sample tray 6 and protect the sample inside the sample hole 30 from falling out of the sample tray 6. The output shaft of the drive motor 4 is fixedly connected to the rear side of the empty slot rectangular frame 3. The direct fixed connection between the drive motor 4 and the empty slot rectangular frame 3 provides a stable and reliable power transmission, ensuring that the empty slot rectangular frame 3 can rotate smoothly.

[0031] Two threaded rods 24 are fixed with gears 25 at their opposite outer ends. Torsion shafts 21 are rotatably mounted on the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate 5. Gear rings 22 are fixedly sleeved on the outer sides of the two torsion shafts 21. The two gear rings 22 are meshed with the two gears 25 respectively. Through the meshing of the gears 25 and the gear rings 22, the rotational motion of the two torsion shafts 21 is synchronously transmitted to the two threaded rods 24. This makes it easier for the operator to drive the threaded rods 24 by simply rotating the larger torsion shafts 21.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention: a support plate 10 is fixed to the inner wall of the rectangular frame 3 with a slot. Multiple cylinders 13 and multiple return springs 14 are slidably mounted on the support plate 10, with the return springs 14 sleeved on the outer sides of the cylinders 13. Anti-detachment caps are fixed to the lower ends of the cylinders 13. The support plate 10 provides the mounting base and support for the cylinders 13 and return springs 14. A movable plate 9 is mounted on the upper ends of the cylinders 13, and the upper ends of the return springs 14 are fixed to the movable plate 9. Protrusions 11 are provided at the left and right ends of the movable plate 9, and limiting grooves 8 are provided on the left and right inner walls of the rectangular frame 3 with slots. The two protrusions 11 are slidably mounted inside the two limiting grooves 8. The cylinders 13 serve as guide rods, ensuring that the movable plate 9 rises and falls smoothly along a straight line. The return spring 14 provides an upward elastic force that can hold the placement tray 7 in place, so that the multiple sample tubes 28 and the multiple connecting tubes 12 are not easily dislodged. The anti-dislodgement cap prevents the cylinder 13 from coming out of the support plate 10. The cooperation between the protrusion 11 and the limiting groove 8 further restricts the movement trajectory of the moving plate 9, preventing it from moving or rotating horizontally during lifting and lowering. This ensures that the placement tray 7 is always precisely aligned with the connecting tubes 12 above, increasing the reliability and safety of the device.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention: two rectangular blocks 23 are respectively fixed with L-shaped guide rods 26 at their upper ends. The two L-shaped guide rods 26 are slidably connected to the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate 5. The inner bottom surface of the U-shaped plate 5 is provided with multiple second through holes 19. The outer sides of multiple sample guide tubes 17 are respectively fixedly connected to the inner walls of the multiple second through holes 19. The L-shaped guide rods 26 provide precise guidance for the movement of the rectangular blocks 23, preventing them from deflecting or getting stuck during movement, and ensuring smooth and accurate clamping action. The second through holes 19 are used to fix the sample guide tubes 17, ensuring that the sample guide tubes 17 are accurately and stably positioned on the U-shaped plate 5, so that they can be accurately aligned with the sample holes 30 below.

[0034] A placement tray 7 is placed above the movable plate 9. Multiple tube slots 27 are provided above the placement tray 7, and sample placement tubes 28 are placed in some of the tube slots 27. The inner diameter of the sample placement tube 28 is equal to the inner diameter of the connecting tube 12, and the wall thickness of the sample placement tube 28 is equal to the wall thickness of the connecting tube 12. The consistency of the dimensions ensures that the sample placement tube 28 can be smoothly and unobstructedly connected to the connecting tube 12 to form a continuous sample channel, avoid the sample getting stuck at the interface, and ensure the smoothness of batch sample transfer.

[0035] A metal rod 29 is threadedly connected to the upper right end of the sample tray 6 via a threaded hole 32. The metal rod 29 can serve as a handle or a point of force, making it convenient for operators to pick up, place, or fine-tune the position of the sample tray 6. The threaded connection allows the metal rod 29 to be easily installed and removed, and it can be removed when not in use to save space or avoid interference.

[0036] As an embodiment of the present invention: when it is necessary to transfer the samples in multiple sample tubes 28 to multiple sample holes 30 above the sample tray 6, first place the L-shaped support plate 1 on the worktable to make the L-shaped support plate 1 stable. Then, gently press down the moving plate 9 to make the moving plate 9 move down and squeeze multiple return springs 14. At this time, the position of the sample tube placement tray 7 can be moved so that multiple sample tubes 28 correspond one-to-one with multiple connecting tubes 12. Then, gradually reduce the downward pressure on the moving plate 9 so that the multiple return springs 14 drive the moving plate 9 to move up slowly, thereby making the sample tube placement tray 7 move up slowly, thereby making multiple sample tubes 28 insert into multiple auxiliary fastening rings 15 respectively and dock with multiple connecting tubes 12 respectively. Then, release the moving plate 9. Under the elastic force of multiple return springs 14, multiple sample tubes 28 will tightly abut against multiple connecting tubes 12. At this time, the positioning of the sample tube placement tray 7 is completed.

[0037] Next, the sample tray 6 is removed so that the multiple sample holes 30 face downwards. Then, the multiple sample guide tubes 17 are inserted into the multiple sample holes 30, so that the multiple sample guide tubes 17 support the sample tray 6. At this time, the initial positioning of the sample tray 6 is completed. Then, the two torsion shafts 21 are rotated in sequence, so that the gear ring 22 drives the gear 25 to rotate, which in turn drives the threaded rod 24 to rotate. This causes the rectangular block 23 to drive the semi-circular anti-detachment ring 20 to move linearly under the guidance of the L-shaped guide rod 26. When both semi-circular anti-detachment rings 20 have moved to their maximum stroke, the sample tray 6 is clamped, and the positioning of the sample tray 6 is completed.

[0038] Then, connect the drive motor 4 to the external power supply and start the drive motor 4, so that the drive motor 4 drives the U-shaped plate 5 to rotate 180 degrees, so that the sample tray 6 and the sample tube placement tray 7 can be interchanged. At this time, under the action of gravity, the samples inside the multiple sample tubes 28 fall into the corresponding connecting tube 12, and then smoothly enter the sample guide tube 17 through the tapered transition tube 16, and finally enter the multiple sample holes 30 of the sample tray 6. At this time, the torsion shaft 21 can be rotated in the opposite direction to release the clamping effect on the sample tray 6. The sample tray 6 will fall directly onto the silicone buffer pad 2. The staff can also lift the sample tray 6 by hand while releasing the clamping effect. Finally, the sample tray 6 can be lifted by the metal rod 29 and transferred to the sample chamber. The two positioning holes 31 are engaged with the positioning protrusions inside the sample chamber to lock the sample tray 6 out. Then, rotate and remove the metal rod 29 to separate it from the sample tray 6, and then the subsequent analysis work can be carried out.

[0039] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or basic characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within the present invention.

[0040] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for loading a sample for helium content analysis, comprising an L-shaped support plate (1), a hollow rectangular frame (3), a U-shaped plate (5) and a sample disc (6), characterized in that: The vertical end of the L-shaped supporting plate (1) is provided with a driving motor (4), the output shaft of the driving motor (4) is fixedly connected with the rear side of the hollow rectangular frame (3), a plurality of first through holes (18) are arranged on the upper side of the hollow rectangular frame (3), a plurality of butt joints (12) are fixedly arranged in the first through holes (18), a plurality of auxiliary buckling rings (15) are fixedly arranged on the lower ends of the butt joints (12), a plurality of taper transition pipes (16) are fixedly arranged on the upper ends of the butt joints (12), and a plurality of sample guide pipes (17) are fixedly arranged on the upper ends of the taper transition pipes (16); a plurality of second through holes (19) are arranged in the inner bottom surface of the U-shaped plate (5), and the outer sides of the sample guide pipes (17) are fixedly connected with the inner walls of the second through holes (19). Threaded rods (24) are rotatably arranged on the upper ends of the left and right sides of the U-shaped plate (5), rectangular blocks (23) are threadedly connected with the outer sides of the threaded rods (24), half-circle anti-falling rings (20) are fixedly arranged on the opposite inner ends of the rectangular blocks (23), a plurality of sample holes (30) are arranged on the upper side of the sample disc (6), positioning holes (31) are symmetrically arranged on the lower side of the sample disc (6), a threaded hole (32) is arranged on the right end of the sample disc (6), and the number of the sample guide pipes (17) is equal to the number of the sample holes (30); wherein the two half-circle anti-falling rings (20) can clamp the sample disc (6), the plurality of sample guide pipes (17) can be inserted into the plurality of sample holes (30), so that the plurality of sample guide pipes (17) can support the sample disc (6). A supporting plate (10) is fixedly arranged on the inner wall of the hollow rectangular frame (3), a plurality of cylinders (13) and a plurality of return springs (14) are slidably arranged on the upper side of the supporting plate (10), the return springs (14) are sleeved on the outer sides of the cylinders (13), and half-circle anti-falling covers are fixedly arranged on the lower ends of the cylinders (13); a moving plate (9) is arranged on the upper ends of the cylinders (13), and the upper ends of the return springs (14) are fixedly connected with the moving plate (9); a placing disc (7) is arranged on the upper side of the moving plate (9), a plurality of pipe grooves (27) are arranged on the upper side of the placing disc (7), and sample placing pipes (28) are arranged in part of the pipe grooves (27); the inner diameter of the sample placing pipes (28) is equal to the inner diameter of the butt joints (12), and the wall thickness of the sample placing pipes (28) is equal to the wall thickness of the butt joints (12); wherein the plurality of sample pipes (28) can be inserted into the plurality of auxiliary buckling rings (15) and butt-jointed with the plurality of butt joints (12), and the driving motor (4) can drive the U-shaped plate (5) to rotate by 180 degrees, so that the sample disc (6) and the placing disc (7) are exchanged.

2. An apparatus for loading a sample for helium content analysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper side of the horizontal end of the L-shaped supporting plate (1) is provided with a silica gel buffer pad (2).

3. An apparatus for loading a sample for helium content analysis as defined in claim 1, wherein: Both said threaded rods (24) are fixed with gears (25) at opposite outer ends, both sides of said U-shaped plate (5) are respectively rotatably installed with twist shafts (21), both sides of two said twist shafts (21) are respectively fixed with toothed rings (22) in sleeve connection, two said toothed rings (22) are respectively connected in meshing connection with two gears (25).

4. An apparatus for loading a sample for helium content analysis as defined in claim 1, wherein: Both sides of two said L-shaped guide round rods (26) are respectively connected in sliding connection with both sides of the U-shaped plate (5).

5. The apparatus for loading a sample for helium content analysis of claim 1, wherein: Both ends of said moving plate (9) are respectively provided with protrusions (11), both inner walls of said hollow slot rectangular frame (3) are respectively provided with limiting grooves (8), both said protrusions (11) are respectively slidably installed in both limiting grooves (8).

6. An apparatus for loading a sample for helium content analysis as defined in claim 1, wherein: Said sample disc (6) is threadedly connected with a metal rod (29) at the right end above through a threaded hole (32).

Images