Carlo Erba Strumentazione S.p.a.

Bruno Tosi

Sorin Trestianu

Giorgio Sisti

Fausto Munari

Giovanni Ostan

Ermete Riva

Pietro Italiano

Mario Galli

Carlo Saravalle

Adriano Trisciani

Bruno Colombo

Enzo Montagner

This invention concerns a method and a device to perform the adjustment of the cooling temperature of a trap for samples in an apparatus of gas chromatographic analysis. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the cooling fluid flow fed to the trap is adjusted by varying the vacuum caused by a suction device downstream the trap, which is capable of sucking the cooling fluid from a vessel upstream the trap itself. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a suction means placed downstream the trap and connected by means of a first duct to an end of the trap itself, the other end of the trap being connected, by a second duct, to a vessel containing the refrigerating fluid.

Method and device for adjusting the cooling temperature of a sample trap

This invention concerns a chamber for chromatographic analyses, in which capillary columns, in particular columns of fused silica, are thermally conditioned. The chamber comprises a thermally insulated space which can be perfectly sealed towards the outside and which houses means for heating the air and at least a fan for air circulation inside said space. In order to make the air flow going to the column(s) within the chamber as homogeneous and stable as possible from the thermal viewpoint the heating means are positioned on the suction side of the fan or of each fan, so to cause a perfect mixing of cold and hot fluid flow threads or lines in correspondence with the fan itself, and thereby obtain a uniform and stable air current from the fan towards the column.

Chamber for chromatographic analyses

A device for heating sample containing vials, in a gas-chromatographic apparatus provided with an automatic sampler, which includes a shroud in which a depression is made by a fan which sucks external air and conveys it under pressure into a Venturi tube shaped duct. This depression causes more external air to be sucked through separate openings of the shroud and to follow a different path along the resistors, the sampler, the tray and the vials and to be eventually exhausted through the vent together with air coming from the fan duct.

Heating device in particular for automatic samplers

A method for performing porosimetric analyses and apparatus therefor are disclosed. In particular, a method for performing porosimetric anaylses by the so-called mercury method is disclosed, wherein volumetric variations of mercury placed in a vessel are recorded. These variations are due to mercury penetration into the pores of a solid sample placed in the vessel under the mercury pressure variations. In the method disclosed, additional porosimetric information is obtained by reducing the pressure from a maximum value as a predetermined function of time. For example, the pressure reduction can be at a constant rate. Simultaneously, volume variations of the mercury exiting the sample pores are detected as the pressure decreases. This additional detection, when performed in relation to and/or in addition to the traditional measurement during pressure increase, provides a pressure/volume mercury curve which gives further data on the porosimetric characteristics of the sample, in particular related to the shape of the pores in the sample.

Method and equipment to perform porosimetric analyses

The present invention relates to an automatic sampling apparatus for sample injection into a gas chromatographic column. In order to allow automatic injection with a non-vaporizing direct on-column injector, the apparatus includes a switch valve, an on-column injector, and a pre-column each having a passage with a diameter greater than 0.5 mm for receiving the injection syringe. The present invention also relates to a device provided with a series of small arms for driving the needle during injection, a switch valve constructed and arranged in a manner to prevent any contamination of the injector by the sample during the injection step, as well as an injection method which can be used with the apparatus and switch valve.

Automatic sample apparatus, valve and sampling method

The invention relates to a direct on column non-vaporizing injector for gas chromatographic analyses and comprising an accessory device capable of allowing injection with sample vaporization and possible splitting. The accessory device is formed by a tubular element which, at one end, can be fixed to the injector body coaxially to the passage for the injection syringe needle, while its opposite end is closed by an insert provided with an axial hole in which the gas chromatographic capillary column head is pneumatically inserted, said insert being provided with at least one other hole for splitting the vaporized sample. The tubular element houses a vaporization tube which under conditions of thermal exchange with heating means, is pneumatically connected to said passage for the injection syringe needle and to said insert holes and receives the upper end of the gas chromatogaphic column. Gas is employed countercurrently to strip off undesired components while the liquid sample is held in the vaporization chamber.

Multi purpose on column injection

An apparatus for controlling the injection passage of on-column injector is disclosed. The apparatus includes a valve having at least one channel inside it and leading to the injection passage for the injection syringe needle. The channel is connected outside the injector to a source for carrier gas introduction, when the valve is open, or to the atmosphere, when the valve is closed, so as to allow a quick-type injection without the drawbacks of this injection type, as well as to have a solvent exhaust after injection.

Control valve for a direct on-column injector and injection method

The invention relates to a sampler for analytical detection systems, comprising a slide sealingly housed between two guide walls and movable to put a housing thereof from a sample receiving position to a sample delivering position and viceversa, said housing being washed by an inert gas into the sample receiving position in order to completely eliminate the environmental atmosphere from said housing notwithstanding such housing is opened to said atmosphere in the sample receiving position thereof.

Sampler for analytical detection systems

A device is disclosed for coordinating the position of an injection syringe needle in a gas chromatographic apparatus with at least one other operation of the gas chromatographic apparatus downstream of the device. The device comprises a first channel for introducing the injection syringe. The first channel is substantially aligned with the injection channel of a gas chromatographic injector. The device also includes a position sensor and a lever rotatable around a lever axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first channel, wherein the lever has an arm and a shaped appendix, wherein the shaped appendix protrudes into the first channel when the lever is in its rest position, and wherein the appendix is positioned so that, when an injection syringe is introduced into the channel past said point, the injection syringe contacts said appendix and causes rotation of the lever about the lever axis from its rest position so that the arm acts on the position sensor to indicate detection of the presence of the injection syringe in the first channel at said point. The device further includes at least one servomechanism actuatable in response to the detection of the syringe in the channel for controlling the other operation depending on whether or not the injection syringe is detected in the channel.

Device for the automation of at least one operation in an injector for

The invention concerns a device for picking up liquid samples to be analyzed, especially in automatic samplers, said device comprising a needle connected to a sucking pump and supported by a support which moves said needle downwards to pick up the sample from a vial containing same and upwards from said vial. In order to perform a washing step after one aspiration and before the subsequent one, the needle support is designed to perform an oscillating movement when the support is in its upward position with respect to the vial. The oscillating movement is performed by the cooperation of cam means and a control rod having at least a pivot axis controlling the alternative movements. The oscillating movement makes the needle plunge into a sidewardly positioned trough containing a washing liquid.

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Carate Brianza, Italy

Bruno Tosi