Multipole Electrode Holder for Aligned Mass Spectrometer Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass spectrometers with multiple multipole electrodes face challenges in easy maintenance and alignment of ion optical axes during assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A mass spectrometer design that incorporates a single holding member to accommodate multiple multipole electrodes, ensuring their ion optical axes coincide, allowing for collective maintenance by moving the holding member outside the vacuum chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If multiple multipole electrodes are handled separately for maintenance, then each electrode can be maintained individually, but the maintenance process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple multipole electrodes (first, second, and third multipole electrodes) onto a single holding member, allowing them to be maintained collectively as one unit. This merging approach simplifies the maintenance process by reducing the number of separate handling operations required, directly addressing the contradiction between individual maintainability and overall maintenance complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple multipole electrodes are handled separately for assembly, then each electrode can be positioned independently, but alignment of ion optical axes becomes difficult and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple multipole electrodes onto a single holding member with pre-established geometric relationships, the patent ensures that ion optical axes are automatically aligned when the holding member is installed. This eliminates the need for complex independent positioning operations while maintaining high alignment precision, resolving the contradiction between assembly ease and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member is designed with pre-defined geometric structures that establish correct ion optical axis alignment before the electrodes are even installed. This preliminary configuration of alignment references allows for quick and accurate assembly without requiring complex adjustment operations during the assembly process itself.
3Ease of repair
If one holding member holds multiple multipole electrodes, then maintenance becomes easier and alignment is maintained, but the holding member structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed as a universal component that simultaneously performs multiple functions: mechanically supporting multiple multipole electrodes, establishing ion optical axis alignment through its geometric structure, and enabling collective removal and installation of all electrodes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, justifying the increased complexity of the holding member itself through functional consolidation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a mass spectrometer capable of easily maintaining a plurality of multipole electrodes. The mass spectrometer includes a plurality of multipole electrodes 210, 220, and 230 accommodated in a vacuum chamber 250, and one holding member 620 configured to hold the plurality of multipole electrodes 210, 220, and 230 such that ion optical axes of the plurality of multipole electrodes 210, 220, and 230 coincide with each other. The holding member 620 is configured to travel on a travel rail 610 and move the plurality of multipole electrodes 210, 220, and 230 to the outside of the vacuum chamber 250.