Flexible NMR Sample Tube for Vibration-Isolated Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing NMR spectrometers face challenges in minimizing vibrations during sample transport due to rigid mechanical coupling between the sample storage means and the NMR magnet system, which limits design flexibility and increases the risk of sample disturbance during measurement.
Innovation Solution
A mechanically flexible transport tube composed of interconnected sub-members with gastight ball joint segments allows passive decoupling from vibrations, enabling precise and rapid sample transport without active monitoring or readjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid transport tube is used to pneumatically transport samples, then the structural stability and sealing are improved, but the vibration isolation from the NMR magnet system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport tube is divided into multiple rigid sub-members connected by flexible joints (ball joints or universal joints). This segmentation allows each rigid segment to maintain structural stability and sealing, while the flexible joints between segments provide vibration isolation and accommodate relative movements between the sample storage means and NMR magnet system.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport tube combines rigid materials for the tube segments (to ensure stability and sealing) with flexible joint mechanisms (ball joints or universal joints) that provide vibration isolation. This composite structure integrates both rigid and flexible properties in a single transport system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mechanical coupling is used between sample storage means and NMR magnet system, then the mechanical stability is improved, but the design flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transport tube incorporates flexible joints (ball joints or universal joints) that allow dynamic adjustment and relative movement between the rigid segments. This enables the system to adapt to different positions and orientations of the NMR magnet system while maintaining mechanical stability during sample transport.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the transport tube into multiple rigid segments connected by flexible joints, the system achieves both mechanical stability (through rigid segments) and design flexibility (through the ability to configure segments in different arrangements and accommodate various NMR system layouts).
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible transport tube is used to isolate vibrations, then the vibration isolation is improved, but the structural stability and sealing deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transport tube is segmented into rigid sections connected by flexible joints, allowing the system to achieve vibration isolation through the joints while maintaining structural stability and gastight sealing through the rigid segments. This segmentation enables both flexible and stable properties to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible joints (ball joints or universal joints) act as flexible connection elements that isolate vibrations between rigid segments, while the rigid segments themselves maintain structural stability and provide gastight sealing for the sample transport pathway.
4Manufacturing precision
If rigid tube sections are used for sample transport, then the manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to accommodate relative movements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport tube is divided into rigid segments that can be manufactured with high precision and dimensional stability, connected by flexible joints (ball joints or universal joints) that accommodate relative movements between the sample storage means and NMR magnet system during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible joints enable the rigid segments to move relative to each other, accommodating changes in position and orientation of the NMR magnet system while the rigid segments themselves maintain their dimensional stability and manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures robust, fast, and gentle sample transport, reducing malfunctions and maintenance needs while maintaining measurement quality, allowing for shorter measurement cycles and improved automation.
Implementation Method 1
The sub-members (16') have, in their end portion with which they connect to an immediately adjacent sub-member, the shape of either a positive or a negative ball joint segment, wherein the positive ball joint segment engages precisely in the negative ball joint segment of the adjacent sub-member in such a way that the two ball joint segments in question lie against one another surface-to-surface and exert a sealing function
Implementation Method 2
a continuous, pneumatically bidirectionally operable gastight transport tube
Data Source
AI summary
An NMR spectrometer having an NMR magnet system which is mounted on a device for isolating the vibrations of the NMR magnet system from the environment includes a sample storage means for providing and temporarily storing NMR measurement samples to be measured, and a transport device for transporting one NMR measurement sample at a time from the sample storage means to a measurement volume within the NMR magnet system. The transport device comprises a continuous, pneumatically bidirectionally operable, gastight transport tube that is mechanically flexibly constructed from a plurality of interconnected sub-elements in the form of separate rigid tube sections that can move relative to one another and are dimensionally stable relative to a flow cross-section of the transport tube. This allows a passive mechanical decoupling from the NMR magnet system, without the need to actively monitor the position of the NMR magnet system relative to the sample storage means.