Abstract: A wrap spring clutch syringe ram pushes at least one syringe with virtually instantaneous starting and stopping, and with constant motion at a defined velocity during the intervening push. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram includes an electric motor, a computer, a flywheel, a wrap spring clutch, a precision lead screw, a slide platform, and syringe reservoirs, a mixing chamber, and a reaction incubation tube. The electric motor drives a flywheel and the wrap spring clutch couples the precision lead screw to the flywheel when a computer enables a solenoid of the wrap spring clutch. The precision lead screw drives a precision slide which causes syringes to supply a portion of solution into the mixing chamber and the incubation tube. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram is designed to enable the quantitative study of solution phase chemical and biochemical reactions, particularly those reactions that occur on the subsecond time scale.

Abstract: There are several preferred methods for analyzing chemical and biochemical reactions with an electrospray mass spectrometer. The hardware required for analyzing enzymes includes, an electrospray ionization inlet, mass spectrometer, at least two syringes, at least one pushing ram, a mixing device, and monitoring equipment. The pushing ram includes a platen for pushing the plunger of at least one syringe. The platen is preferably actuated by rotation of a stepper motor, or the like. The rotation of the stepper motor is preferably microprocessor controlled. The output of each syringe is connected to the mixing device which mixes the reactant in each syringe and starts a chemical reaction. The output of the mixing device is connected to the input orifice of the electrospray ionization inlet with a reaction tube having a specific volume. The mixed reaction solution is input through the input orifice of the electrospray ionization inlet.

Abstract: A wrap spring clutch syringe ram pushes one or more syringes precisely, rapidly, reproducibly, and reliably, with virtually instantaneous starting and stopping, and with constant motion at a defined velocity during the intervening push. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram includes an electric motor, a computer, a flywheel, a wrap spring clutch, a precision lead screw, a slide platform, and syringe reservoirs, a mixing chamber, and a reaction incubation tube. The electric motor drives a flywheel and the wrap spring clutch couples the precision lead screw to the flywheel when a computer enables a solenoid of the wrap spring clutch. The precision lead screw drives a precision slide which causes syringes to supply a portion of solution into the mixing chamber and the incubation tube. The wrap spring clutch syringe ram is designed to enable the quantitative study of solution phase chemical and biochemical reactions, particularly those reactions that occur on the subsecond time scale.