Patents by Inventor Konrad Grob

Konrad Grob has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6779379
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for vaporizing injections of samples into a gas chromatography analysis device, comprising a vaporization chamber elongated lengthways and heated, as well as a syringe equipped with a needle, the device being of the type in which the introduction of the sample is carried out without prior vaporization of the sample within the needle, and also foresees at least one stop and vaporization means for the liquid inside the vaporization chamber. To improve the conditions of vaporization and the transfer of the sample, the distance between the free end of the needle and the stated stop and vaporization means for the liquid is greater than 55 mm (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari, Paolo Magni
  • Patent number: 6638346
    Abstract: A vaporization injector for gas chromatography analysis instruments, of the type including a vaporization chamber, heated or which may be heated, with a longitudinally elongated shape, a device for hermetically inserting the needle of a syringe containing the sample (substance to be analysed and solvent) into the chamber, a connection for feeding a carrier gas into the chamber and a gas chromatography capillary column with an upstream end open inside the vaporization chamber. In order to allow the vaporization of large sample volumes, the upstream end of the gas-chromatography column and the injection point of the sample into the vaporization chamber are both arranged adjacent to one of the longitudinal ends of the vaporization chamber and the feed connection for the carrier gas is located adjacent to the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Magni, Fausto Munari, Konrad Grob
  • Patent number: 6451614
    Abstract: A method and device for vaporization injection in which there is at least one constriction between the end of the sample injection needle or tube and the interior of the heated vaporization chamber. The terminal part of the needle or tube can be heated to improve nebulisation of the sample and therefore its vaporization speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Thermoquest Italia, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari, Sorin Trestianu, Paolo Magni
  • Patent number: 6389879
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method, a device, and an apparatus to detect changes of state in a capillary tube, in particular a gas-chromatographic column or pre-column and to consequently control the conditions under which samples are injected or introduced. The detection is carried out through changes in the temperature of the capillary tube, and/or changes in pressure, or flow rate of the carrier gas. The invention further concerns a method to control gas-chromatography functions by means of a specially designed software, based on the above-mentioned detections on a sample apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Thermoquest Italia, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari, Pier Albino Colombo
  • Publication number: 20020020209
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for vaporizing injections of samples into a gas chromatography analysis device, comprising a vaporization chamber elongated lengthways and heated, as well as a syringe equipped with a needle, the device being of the type in which the introduction of the sample is carried out without prior vaporization of the sample within the needle, and also foresees at least one stop and vaporization means for the liquid inside the vaporization chamber. To improve the conditions of vaporization and the transfer of the sample, the distance between the free end of the needle and the stated stop and vaporization means for the liquid is greater than 55 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: Thermoquest Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari, Paolo Magni
  • Patent number: 6257047
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for the direct injection of large volumes (>3 &mgr;l) of samples into the column in a gas chromatography analysis apparatus comprising an oven, a gas chromatography column lodged in the oven, a means for the direct transfer into the column of the sample and a source of carrier gas upstream the column, as well as a detector downstream the column. According to the invention two or more of the parameters: nature of the solvent injection rate flow-rate and/or pressure of the carrier gas temperature at least of an initial length of the column during the injection are correlated and/or controlled to achieve a control of the length of the zone wetted by the sample during its introduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Themoquest Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari, Pier Albino Colombo, Paolo Magni
  • Patent number: 5779765
    Abstract: To inject a liquid sample with large volume into a GC column of a gas chromatograph, its volatile portion is evaporated by heat, in a non-selective way, in a vaporization chamber, the vapors thus generated being fed to pre-column located upstream of the GC column and maintained at a lower temperature to that of the vaporization chamber, where such compounds are separated from the solvent vapors, which are unloaded into the atmosphere while the compounds to be analyzed are sent to the GC column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Thermoquest Italia S.P.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari
  • Patent number: 5759234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device to control the physical conditions of the solvent within a pre-column, in a gas chromatography analysis apparatus. To achieve desired and controlled conditions of recondensation in the pre-column with vaporization injectors or of vaporation with "on-column" injectors, the dew-point of the solvent in the pre-column is calculated and the factors which influence this dew-point are varied and/or the temperature of the pre-column is varied, in order to set such temperatures in a desired correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Thermoquest Italia, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fausto Munari, Pier Albino Colombo, Konrad Grob
  • Patent number: 5347844
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for splitless vaporizing injection of samples into equipments of gas chromatographic analysis.The technique is applied specially when liquid samples generate volumes of vapors which cannot be housed inside the vaporizing chamber.Inside the vaporisation chamber, kept at high temperature, evaporation of the sample solvent forms a cool zone where the solutes are retained while the solvent vapors expand out of the vaporizing chamber and leave the injector. The sample liquid is kept in place within the vaporization chamber by suitable obstacles or by a packing material. At the end of solvent evaporation, i.e. when cooling ceases, the injection zone returns to the regulated injector temperature and the compounds to be analysed are transferred to the column by the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Fisons Instruments, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari
  • Patent number: 5174149
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and processes for the introduction of a liquid sample into an apparatus for gas chromatographic analysis. A sample is injected into a vaporization chamber positioned upstream of a gas chromatographic column. The vaporization chamber is equipped with a means to feed a carrier gas selectively into the chamber, the chamber being kept at a temperature at least equal to the boiling temperature of the solvent at the operating pressure. A separation is effectuated between the sample and its carrier solvent, the solvent vapor is exhausted through an exhaust duct. Thereafter, the flow of carrier gas is restored to the chamber and the separated solvent is exhausted from the chamber through a separate outline into a gas chromatographic column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Carlo Erba Strumentazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Konrad Grob, Fausto Munari