JP2008298705A - Gas chromatograph - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a gas chromatograph in which the workability in an oven work such as column replacement is improved by illuminating the inside of the oven.
A light source for illumination is provided outside the oven, and light is guided from the light source to the inside of the oven by an optical fiber. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to illuminate the inside of the oven without considering the heat resistance of the illuminating device, and the operator's hand is illuminated brightly when the column 4 is replaced or the gas leak test is performed. Workability is improved.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas chromatograph.

  The gas chromatograph includes an oven (a constant temperature bath) that houses a column that plays a role of separating sample components and controls the column to a predetermined temperature. A general gas chromatograph oven is configured by a box-shaped heat insulating container having a door on the front surface, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a conventional gas chromatograph oven.
As shown in the figure, the box-shaped oven casing 2 is composed of a tank wall 23 in which a heat insulating material is sandwiched between metal plates, and a tank chamber 24 which is an internal space surrounded by the tank wall 23 and the front door 1. The column 4 is housed, and a heater 3 (not shown) and a fan 3 for circulating the air in the tank are provided behind the column 4 (right side in the figure). A motor 31 for rotating the fan 3 is provided on the outer rear surface of the oven casing 2, and an upper part of the oven casing 2 has a sample introduction part 5 for introducing a sample to be analyzed into the column 4 and a sample component separated by the column 4. A detector 6 is provided for detecting and taking out as an electrical signal. The bottoms of the sample introduction part 5 and the detector 6 are exposed as column connection parts 51 and 61 on the inner wall lower surface (ceiling surface 25) of the oven casing 2, and both ends of the column 4 are connected to these.

JP 2001-108664 A

  In gas chromatography, columns of different types and sizes are used depending on the analysis target, so it is necessary to frequently replace the columns. The column is exchanged by opening the oven door, removing the column connection part by loosening the column, removing the column, inserting both ends of a new column into the column connection part, and tightening the screw again. Since this is a work on the ceiling surface in the oven, not only will the worker be forced to take an unnatural posture, but the laboratory is usually illuminated from above, so there is no light on the ceiling surface in the tank. Is difficult to reach and the operator's hand is dark, so workability is poor. Or even if an external illumination tool is used, it has not been possible to improve the poor workability that the operator's hand becomes dark.

A possible means to deal with such a problem is to illuminate from the upper part inside the oven, but since the temperature in the oven is a high temperature of 400 ° C or higher, considering the heat resistance of the lighting device. It is difficult to provide a lighting device in the oven. Moreover, if a part of the oven wall is made of a transparent member such as glass and is illuminated from the outside, the heat insulating property of the oven is deteriorated.
This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at providing the gas chromatograph which improved the workability | operativity of operations in ovens, such as column exchange, by illuminating the inside of an oven.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured such that a light source for illumination is provided outside the oven, and light is guided from the light source to the inside of the oven by light guiding means such as an optical fiber. By comprising in this way, it becomes possible to illuminate the inside of an oven, without considering the heat resistance of an illuminating device.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the work target is brightly illuminated during column replacement and gas leak test work, so workability is improved.

The first feature of the gas chromatograph provided by the present invention is that a light source for illuminating the inside of the oven is provided outside the oven, and the second feature is that light is emitted from the light source into the oven by an optical fiber. It is the point which constituted so that it might guide. The optical fiber referred to here is made of quartz or glass that can withstand high temperatures of 500 ° C. or higher.
Therefore, the basic configuration of the best mode is a gas chromatograph having the above-described characteristic configuration.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of the oven in FIG. 2 is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same as those in FIG. Abbreviated.
In the present embodiment, in addition to the conventional configuration of FIG. 2, the illuminating light source 7 provided on the outside rear of the oven casing 2 and the tub wall 23 so that the illuminant 7 and the tub chamber 24 inside the oven communicate with each other. And an optical fiber 8 penetrating through the optical fiber. The light source 7 incorporating an incandescent lamp or the like is fixed to the outer wall of the tank wall 23 by screws or the like. As shown in the figure, the rear surface of the oven housing 2 is considered to be suitable for the light source 7 mounting position, but any position can be used as long as the optical fiber 8 can communicate with the inside of the oven. Since the optical fiber 8 is extremely thin, it can be inserted if a small hole with a diameter of 1 mm or less is drilled in the tank wall 23, and there is almost no risk of the oven's hot air leaking through this small hole. A gap may be closed using a heat-resistant bushing (not shown). The position and direction of the end of the optical fiber 8 in the oven are adjusted so as to face the column connection portions 51 and 61 on the ceiling surface 25.

The optical fiber 8 is a material having light guiding properties and flexibility, and light is transmitted through the optical fiber 8 even in a bent state. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 7 is guided into the oven by the above configuration, and is connected to the column. The parts 51 and 61 and their surroundings can be illuminated. Moreover, since the optical fiber 8 can be bent freely, it can be adjusted so that the illumination light A emitted from the end of the optical fiber 8 properly irradiates the work target.
The optical fiber 8 is excellent in heat resistance and can withstand temperatures up to about 500 ° C., so there is no risk of being damaged by the heat of the oven.
In addition, optical fibers made of quartz or glass often do not have organic materials as materials, and therefore do not generate organic gas even when exposed to high temperatures in the oven. The gas chromatograph is an organic substance analyzer and does not generate organic gas from the inside of the oven. Therefore, the present invention does not deteriorate the analysis accuracy.

As a modification, each of the column connecting portions 51 and 61 may be illuminated by using a plurality of optical fibers 8, or other work locations in the tank may be illuminated. In addition, by using a door switch, the light source 7 can be turned on only when the door 1 is opened.
The light guiding means for guiding light from the light source 7 into the oven is not limited to the optical fiber 8, and for example, a metal duct whose inner surface is mirror-finished can be used.
At the time of sales promotions such as merchandise displays, the use of colored light sources (red, green, etc.) can be expected to attract customers.

  The present invention can be used for a gas chromatograph.

It is a figure which shows one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional oven.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Door 2 Oven case 3 Fan 4 Column 5 Sample introduction part 6 Detector 7 Light source 8 Optical fiber 23 Tank wall 24 Tank room 25 Ceiling surface 31 Motor 51 Column connection part 61 Column connection part A Illumination light

Claims (2)

  A gas chromatograph provided with an oven for accommodating a column, comprising: a light source for illumination provided outside the oven; and a light chromatograph for guiding light emitted from the light source to the inside of the oven. Graph.   2. The gas chromatograph according to claim 1, wherein an optical fiber is used for the light guiding means.

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