Mass Spectrometer Rod Holder Thermal Radiation Fixation Band
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mass spectrometers with quadrupole mass filters face issues with thermal expansion of rod holders due to heat generation, leading to deterioration in mass accuracy and resolution, and existing solutions are either costly or complex.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of emissivity improvement processing on fixation and connecting members made from conductive materials, such as aluminum or stainless steel, to enhance heat radiation and reduce temperature rise in rod holders, allowing for improved heat releasing properties without the need for expensive low-thermal-expansion materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rod holder made from an insulating material such as ceramic is used to hold rod electrodes, then the rod electrodes can be positioned with high accuracy, but the rod holder generates heat due to dielectric loss and undergoes thermal expansion, deteriorating mass accuracy and resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat radiation member as an intermediary between the rod holder and the surrounding environment. This member has high heat radiation capability and is positioned to receive heat from the rod holder, then radiate it away. The heat radiation member acts as a thermal mediator that decouples the rod holder from direct thermal coupling with temperature-sensitive components, allowing the rod holder to dissipate heat effectively without transferring it to critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional approach of relying solely on material selection (low thermal expansion materials) with a thermal radiation-based heat dissipation system. Instead of mechanically selecting materials with specific thermal properties, the system uses radiative heat transfer to actively manage temperature, substituting a passive material property approach with an active thermal management mechanism.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a material with low coefficient of thermal expansion is used for the rod holder, then thermal expansion effects are reduced, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a heat radiation member that can be made from inexpensive materials with good thermal radiation properties. Rather than requiring the entire rod holder to be made from expensive low-expansion materials, a separate, relatively simple heat radiation component is added to achieve the thermal management function, significantly reducing overall system cost while maintaining dimensional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal management approach from controlling thermal expansion parameters (material selection) to controlling heat radiation parameters (emissivity, surface area, temperature). By adjusting the heat radiation characteristics of the radiation member, the system achieves dimensional stability through active thermal control rather than passive material properties.
3Device complexity
If conventional rod holders are used without heat radiation enhancement, then the structure remains simple, but mass accuracy and resolution deteriorate due to thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The heat radiation member serves as a thermal intermediary that protects the measurement system from thermal effects. It is positioned between the heat-generating rod holder and the temperature-sensitive ion detection region, radiating heat away before it can affect mass measurement accuracy, thus maintaining simple overall structure while improving measurement 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 approach minimizes thermal expansion effects, maintaining mass accuracy and resolution while offering a cost-effective solution by allowing the use of materials with larger thermal expansion coefficients and reducing temperature differences between rod electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of a portion of the fixation member, the portion facing the region defined by the boundary member, is subjected to an emissivity improvement processing
Implementation Method 2
the rod holder 51 itself generates heat due to dielectric loss of the material of the rod holder 51, and distances between the rod electrodes 50a to 50d change due to thermal expansion
Data Source
AI summary
Four rod electrodes (50a to 50d) for separating ions according to a mass-to-charge ratio are held by a rod holder (51). The rod holder (51) is placed on a metal holder sustaining stand (52) provided on a bottom surface of a vacuum housing (1), and is fixed while being pressed by a fixation band (53) fixed to the holder sustaining stand (52) with screws (56). The fixation band (53) has a coating film layer (532) formed by a black nickel plating process on the entire surface of a main member (531) made from phosphor bronze. The coating film layer (532) has high emissivity, and thus heat transferred from the rod holder (51) to the fixation band (53) is efficiently radiated into the vacuum housing (1). Therefore, heat generated in the rod holder (51) due to dielectric loss is efficiently dissipated, and deformation of the rod holder can be reduced.