X-Ray Diffraction Sample Holder for Gas-Tight Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sample holders for X-ray diffraction experiments lack ease of filling, robustness, and gas-tightness, making them difficult to use and transport samples securely.

Innovation Solution

A sample holder design with a front and back part that can transition from an open state for easy filling to a closed, gas-tight state, using foils with polymer and metal layers to seal the cavity, ensuring robust and secure sample containment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing sample holder designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the ease of filling and gas-tightness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of fillingVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sample holder is divided into a front part and a back part that can be separated. The front part can be removed to allow easy filling of the sample cavity, while the back part remains stationary. This segmentation enables simple operation for sample loading without requiring complex filling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foils are pre-installed on the front and back parts before assembly. This preliminary preparation allows the sample cavity to be quickly sealed when the parts are joined, eliminating the need for complex sealing mechanisms during the filling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If existing sample holder designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the robustness and security for transport are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness and gas-tightnessVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Thin foils with polymer and metal layers are used to seal the sample cavity. These flexible films provide effective gas-tight sealing while maintaining a compact and robust structure suitable for secure transport of samples.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The foils are constructed as composite materials with both polymer and metal layers. This combination provides enhanced gas-tightness and mechanical strength, ensuring robust sample containment while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If foils with polymer and metal layers are used, then gas-tightness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas-tightnessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The foils are manufactured with specific thickness parameters for the polymer and metal layers to achieve the required gas-tightness. By optimizing these dimensional parameters, effective sealing is obtained while maintaining manufacturability through standard thin-film deposition processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4589288A1Sample holder, in particular for a sample analyzed by x-ray diffraction
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 MOMENTUM TRANSFER GMBH
  • EP4589288A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4589288A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4589288A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a sample holder (10), in particular for a sample (28) analyzed by X-ray diffraction, comprising a front part (12) and a back part (14), which are firmly attachable to one another by attachment means (20) and which each have a passage (22, 24), which are at least partially aligned to one another in the firmly attached state of the parts (12, 14), in which a sample cavity (26) is delimited by at least a part of the at least one passage (22, 24) and at least two foils (30, 32) closing the sample cavity (26) at its ends.