Granted Patent B2

US 12,360,025 · App. 18/431,719 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Josh Doherty (Bozeman, MT); Jamesen Motley (Bozeman, MT); William Baker (Broomfield, CO); Joseph Evers (Bozeman, MT); Ben Linkenhoker (Bozeman, MT); Luke Mauritsen (Belgrade, MT); Ryan Murdick (Superior, CO); Anjan Reijnders (Groton, MA)

Assignee: Montana Instruments Corporation

G01N1/42F17C3/085F25D19/00F25D19/006G01N1/44G01N35/00F17C2223/0161G01N2035/00445

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. A variable temperature analytical instrument component comprising:

first and second conduits both configured to receive fluid from a cryofluid source and provide same to an analysis component;

a housing about the conduits wherein the housing is configured to maintain a vacuum about the conduits; and

one or more masses about the sections of the first and/or second conduits and/or defining sections of the first and second conduits, the masses being configured to be in thermal engagement with one or more heat or cold sources.

2. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein the resistance to flow of each of the conduits is different.

3. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 further comprising a first mass about the first conduit.

4. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 3 wherein a section of the first conduit within the first mass has a resistance to flow that is different from the remainder of the first conduit.

5. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 3 wherein the first mass is configured to be coupled to a heat source.

6. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein the first conduit provides a resistance to flow that is less than the second conduit.

7. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein first and second masses are about the first conduit.

8. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 7 wherein the first mass is configured to engage a heat source and the second mass is configured to engage a cold source.

9. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 8 further comprising a third mass about the first conduit.

10. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 9 wherein the third mass is configured to engage a cold source, the cold source being configured to provide access to different temperatures.

11. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 10 wherein the first and second conduits merge prior to the analytical component.

12. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 11 wherein the first, second, and third masses are aligned along the first conduit and provide decreasing temperatures prior to the merger.

13. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 11 wherein the third mass defines the merger of the conduits, wherein the first and second masses are aligned along the first conduit and provide decreasing temperatures prior to the merger.

14. The variable temperature analytical instrument component of claim 1 wherein the resistance to flow of the first conduit is about half the resistance to flow of the second conduit.

Continuity (4)

References Cited (86)