Abstract: A simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry system includes a light source, a furnace, a spectrometer, and a random access charge transfer device. The furnace creates vapors of a sample contained within the furnace. The light source passes a light beam through the furnace so that wavelengths of the light beam corresponding to spectral lines of multiple elements contained in the vapors are absorbed by the vapors. The spectrometer receives the light beam after the light beam has passed through the furnace, and disperses the light beam into a spectrum. The random access charge transfer device receives the light beam after the light beam has passed through the spectrometer, integrates and stores charge corresponding to the intensity of the light beam, and randomly accesses for readout subarrays of the random access charge transfer device corresponding to spectral lines of the multiple elements.

Abstract: An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample includes structure defining an analysis region with an inlet and an outlet, a polychromator system disposed in sensing relation to the analysis region, structure defining a sample inlet port, and structure connecting the sample inlet port to the inlet of the analysis region. The analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of the electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to the inlet of the analysis region. The one metal electrode is disposed with the passage structure extending to an outlet port in the upper surface, and structure in the upper surface defines a plurality of channels extending away from the outlet port of the passage structure for discharge of excess quantities of a liquid sample to be analyzed flowed through the passage structure.

Abstract: An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample that includes structure defining an analysis region with an inlet and an outlet, a spectrometer system disposed in sensing relation to the analysis region, structure defining a sample inlet port, and structure connecting the sample inlet port to the inlet of the analysis region. The analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of the electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to the inlet of the analysis region, and the other electrode having a lower surface of annular configuration in spaced juxtaposition to the upper surface of the one electrode.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system includes housing structure with vent structure open to the atmosphere; radiation dispersing apparatus in the housing structure for dispersing radiation into a spectrum for application to sensor apparatus; sample excitation apparatus for exciting sample material to be analyzed to spectroemissive levels for generating a beam of radiation for dispersion by the dispersing structure; a source of gas; structure for flowing gas from the source into the housing structure for exhaust from the housing structure through the vent structure at a flow rate that is less than one percent of the volume of the housing structure per hour; first control structure for maintaining the pressure of the gas in the housing structure at a constant (within about one millibar) pressure independent of atmospheric pressure; and second control structure for maintaining the temperature of the gas within the housing structure constant within about 0.1.degree. F. during system operation.

Abstract: An analysis system includes induction coupled plasma apparatus into which sample material to be analyzed is introduced for excitation in the plasma, optical measuring apparatus coupled to the induction coupled plasma apparatus for analyzing the sample material, and mass spectrometer apparatus also coupled to the induction coupled plasma apparatus for analyzing the sample material. The mass spectrometer apparatus includes structure defining a first region, a sampling member adjacent the induction coupled plasma apparatus that has an orifice through which at least some ions characteristic of the sample material may pass into the first region, structure defining a second region, and a gate valve between the first and second regions. The gate valve is open when the analysis system is operating in mass spectrometer mode, and is closed when the system is operating only in optical measuring mode.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system with radiation dispersing apparatus for dispersing radiation into a spectrum for concurrent application to an array of exit ports; sample excitation apparatus for exciting sample material to be analyzed to spectroemissive levels for generating a beam of radiation for dispersion by the dispersing structure; the exit port array including a corresponding array of detectors including a first detector positioned adjacent a first exit port positioned to sense first order radiation from an element of interest and a second detector positioned adjacent a second exit port to sense second order radiation from the same element of interest; and processing apparatus for responding to outputs of the first and second detectors to provide a compensated output as a function of the quantity of the element of interest in the sample material.

Abstract: A spectrometer system with structure defining an entrance aperture, dispersing structure, structure defining a plurality of exit apertures, detector structure associated with each exit aperture and a post disperser assembly disposed between an exit aperture and its detector structure.

Abstract: A sample processing system for use with analysis apparatus includes tubular structure that defines a continuous elongated flow chamber. The tubular structure has an inlet port at one end, an outlet port at the other end, and a sample inlet port in communication with the continuous elongated flow chamber between the inlet and outlet ports. A first pump flows diluent at a first rate through the inlet port for flow through the continuous elongated flow chamber, and a second pump flows a liquid mixture from the continuous elongated flow chamber through the outlet port at a rate greater than the first rate. With the sample inlet port submerged in a sample to be analyzed, the sample is aspirated through the sample inlet port into the flowing diluent stream in the continuous elongated flow chamber for dilution and application of the diluted sample mixture to sample analysis apparatus for analysis.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system with radiation dispersing apparatus having structure for dispersing radiation into a spectrum for concurrent application to a plurality of exit ports; a plurality of radiation sensor channel circuits, each circuit being optically coupled to a corresponding exit port for monitoring radiation at that exit port; sample excitation apparatus for exciting sample material to be analyzed to spectroemissive levels for generating a beam of radiation for dispersion by the dispersion structure; and controller structure for triggering the excitation apparatus to excite the sample material and for generating a gating interval by the channel circuitry for accumulating radiation data during an interval that commences subsequent to application of maximum energy to the sample by the excitation apparatus.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism support structure mounted for movement between first and second predetermined positions in a spectroanalytical system includes relative to a reference member by a plurality of stabilizing coupling assemblies, and drive structure for producing motion of the support structure relative to the reference structure between first and second stop structures that define the first and second predetermined positions, respectively. Interlock structure responds to the drive force generated by the drive structure and de-energizes the drive structure in response to the drive force applied to that support structure exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system with a plurality of radiation sources and structure defining an analysis region that includes means for thermally energizing a sample material to be analyzed. Analysis beam path defining structure includes means for passing a radiation beam from a radiation source along the analysis beam path through the analysis region for modification by sample material in the analysis region. Analysis structure includes radiation dispersing structure arranged to disperse radiation in the analysis beam path with a spectrum and a radiation sensor. First transducer structure moves the dispersing structure relative to the beam path to apply a selected portion of the radiation dispersed by the dispersing structure to the radiation sensor.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system includes entrance aperture defining structure for receiving radiation to be analyzed along a first path; collimating structure in the first path for providing collimated radiation along a second path; fixed refraction structure in the second path for spatially separating (refracting) radiation in the second path in a first direction as a function of wavelength; fixed echelle grating structure in the second path for spatially separating the refracted radiation as a function of wavelength in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and directing the orthogonally dispersed radiation in a beam along a third path that does not pass through the first refraction structure; and two-dimensional array detector structure for detecting the beam of orthogonally refracted radiation.

Abstract: 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.