Outer Source Lens Assembly With Keyed Contacts for Fast Reassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mass spectrometers require regular maintenance and cleaning, which can be complex and error-prone, leading to downtime and potential misalignment of components during reassembly.

Innovation Solution

A lens assembly for the outer source of a mass spectrometer featuring a cylindrical housing with radially extending electrically conductive protrusions and an interface connector, along with spacers and keying features, allowing for precise alignment and easy assembly, and a housing for a resistance temperature detector with secure fastening mechanisms to ensure accurate thermal contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional maintenance procedures are used for mass spectrometer components, then maintenance can be performed with standard tools, but the process becomes complex and error-prone leading to misalignment and downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lens assembly is divided into modular components (lens elements, spacers, housing) that can be independently handled and reassembled. Each lens element has standardized protrusions that interface with corresponding sockets in the housing, allowing systematic assembly without complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lens elements incorporate asymmetric keying features including radially extending protrusions with specific orientations and positions. These asymmetric features ensure that components can only be assembled in the correct orientation, preventing misalignment errors during maintenance reassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If lens elements are held at different electrical potentials, then proper ion guidance is achieved, but electrical connection reliability becomes critical during assembly and disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion guidance reliabilityVSAvoidassembly reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Electrical contacts are pre-configured on lens elements with conductive protrusions that automatically engage with corresponding sockets in the housing during assembly. This preliminary configuration ensures proper electrical connections for differentiating electrical potentials are established before the assembly is put into service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Conductive protrusions serve as intermediary elements between the lens elements and the housing electrical contacts. These protrusions facilitate reliable electrical connection while allowing mechanical assembly and disassembly, acting as a mediator that maintains electrical reliability throughout the maintenance cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If multiple lens elements and spacers are assembled together, then complete optical path is formed, but alignment precision becomes difficult to maintain during reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lens assembly combines different materials with complementary properties: electrically insulating housing material (e.g., ceramic or polymer) with electrically conductive lens element protrusions. This composite approach allows the housing to provide mechanical alignment precision while the conductive elements ensure electrical connectivity, achieving both precision and assembly efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Facilitates straightforward and error-proof maintenance and assembly of mass spectrometer components, reducing downtime and ensuring accurate thermal contact for temperature measurements.

Implementation Method 1

an interface connector having a plurality of sockets to receive the protrusions therein and create an electrical connection between the protrusions and sockets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The lens elements are electrostatic. At least a first lens element is held at a different electrical potential to a second lens element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic lensing: Electrostatic Lens

Data Source

PatentUS12106952B2Outer source assembly and associated components

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 MICROMASS UK LTD

AI summary

A lens assembly for an outer source of a mass spectrometer, the assembly comprising: a housing; a plurality of lens elements, each lens element comprising a radially extending electrically conductive protrusion, the lens elements being linearly arranged in the housing such that the protrusions are aligned with one another; and an interface connector having a plurality of sockets to receive the protrusions therein and create an electrical connection between the protrusions and sockets. A housing for a resistance temperature detector is also disclosed.