The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2007
Allen Pratt, Ottawa, CA;
Allen Pratt, Ottawa, CA;
Abstract
The present invention provides a conditioning chamber device and a conditioning method for metallurgical samples which can be directly connected to an instrument having an examination chamber operable in an ultra high vacuum (UHV) condition at a selected pressure below 10Torr. The conditioning chamber comprises at least one vacuum pump means to reduce the conditioning chamber to the selected UHV condition corresponding to the selected pressure of the examination chamber; sample retaining means; at least one fracturing means to prepare an analysis surface on the sample; sample drying means for slow drying the sample in the selected UHV condition; a sealable outlet constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to the inlet of the examination chamber; and transporting means to transport the sample after surface preparation through a connecting means into the examination chamber without leaving the selected ultra high vacuum condition.