Allied Corporation

Thermo Jarrell Ash Corporation

Mario A Sainz

Stanley B Smith, Jr

Richard J Belmore

Richard C Anderson, Jr

An analysis system includes a sample inlet, a diluent inlet, and a mixing chamber that has an outlet through which a mixture of the sample and diluent is flowed and in which a mechanical mixing member is housed. Positive displacement pumps preferably concurrently flow diluent to the mixing chamber and draw diluted sample to be analyzed from the mixing chamber. Bubble separation apparatus has a first branch connected to a drain and a second branch connected to the analyzer input. In a particular embodiment, the analyzer apparatus includes a nebulizer that controls the flow rate of the bubble-free stream through the second branch, sample excitation apparatus in the form of an induction coupled plasma (ICP) torch for exciting the sample to spectroemissive levels, and means for spectroanalysis of the excited sample at the output of the torch.

Sample analysis apparatus

A method and apparatus for measuring the constituent elements of a liquid, electrically conductive material includes a probe housing, which delimits a sampling chamber constructed to contain a non-reactive gas, and includes an entry mechanism for introducing aliquot of the liquid material into the sampling chamber. An inner housing is located within the probe housing and is moveable longitudinally relative thereto. A housing adjustment mechanism selectively positions the inner housing longitudinally relative to the probe housing. A spark electrode is disposed within the inner housing and is in communication with the sampling chamber. This electrode is longitudinally moveable relative to the inner housing and is constructed to spark an electrical arc discharge between the spark electrode and the free surface of the liquid aliquot, thereby producing a aerosol sample composed of particles of the material in the gas. A spark electrode adjustment mechanism selectively positions the spark electrode longitudinally relative to the inner housing to selectively locate an electrical discharge portion of the spark electrode farther from the liquid free surface than from the sampling end portion of the inner housing. A gas entry mechanism provides an atmosphere of non-reactive gas at a selected pressure in the sampling chamber and provides a flow of the gas through the inner housing, through the region of the electrical arc and through the sampling chamber. An exit mechanism directs a flow of the gas and the aerosol sample out from the sampling chamber.

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Londonderry, NH, United States of America

Mario A Sainz