TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETER

Abstract

The present invention provides a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) taken measures for preventing a deterioration in accuracy caused at the time of transportation to an installation site. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) for performing mass separation based on the time of flight of an ion flying in a flight space includes an ion transportation unit (12, 14, 15) configured to transport an ion, an acceleration unit (expulsion electrode (161) and the like) configured to receive the ion transported by the ion transportation unit and accelerate the ion to introduce the ion into the flight space, a flight unit incorporating the flight space, a first vacuum vessel (18A) enclosing the ion transportation unit, the acceleration unit, and at least a part of the flight unit, a chassis (19) on which the first vacuum vessel (18A) is placed, and a reflector unit (20) to which a reflector (reflection (164)) and a second vacuum vessel (28) are fixed, the reflection (164) being configured to reverse the flight trajectory of the ion accelerated by the acceleration unit and introduced into the flight space, and the second vacuum vessel (28) being attachable to an end of the first vacuum vessel (18A) and enclosing the reflector. Since the reflector unit (20) is separated from other parts during transportation, the other parts are easily moved by, for example, casters (191) disposed on the chassis (19), and the reflector unit (20) is moved without being affected by the vibrations caused by the movement on the casters (191).

Claims

1. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer for performing mass separation based on a tithe of flight of an ion flying in a flight space, the time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising: a) an acceleration unit configured to accelerate an ion to introduce the ion into the flight space; b) a flight unit incorporating the flight space; c) a first vacuum vessel enclosing the acceleration unit, and at least a part of theflight unit; and d) a second vacuum vessel incorporating a reflector configured to reverse a flight trajectory of the ion accelerated by the acceleration unit attd introduced into the flight space, the second vacuum.sub. vessel being attachable to an end of the first vacuum vessel and separable from the end of the first vacuum vessel.

2. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis on which the first vacuum vessel is placed and a caster disposed on the chassis.

3. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 2, further comprising a sub-chassis fixable to the chassis and configured to fix the second vacuum vessel.

4. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 3, further coprising a damper disposed between the second vacuum vessel and the sub-chassis and confi used to absorb vibration.

5. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 3, wherein sub-chassis has a sub-chassis caster.

6. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 2, wherein the chassis has, in its bottom surface, a notch to receive the second vacuum vessel, the notch being formed at a portion of the bottom surface immediately below a positionwhere the second vacuum vessel is attached to the first vacuum vessel.

7. The time-of-flight mass spectrometeraccording to claim wherein the chassis has, in its bottom surface, a notch to receive the sub-chassis, the notch being formed at a portion of the bottom surface immediately below a position where the second vacuum vessel is attached to the first vacuum vessel.

8. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer according to claim 4, wherein the sub-chassis has a sub-chassis caster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a TOFMS according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reflector unit in the TOFMS according to this embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the reflector unit and the other parts that are separated from each other in the TOFMS according to this embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a top view of a chassis and a sub chassis in the TOFMS according to this embodiment.

[0039] FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic configuration diagrams of modifications of the reflector unit in the TOFMS according to this embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a modification of the TOFMS according to the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a conventional TOFMS.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a TOFMS according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, like the conventional TOFMS described above, a TOFMS 10 according to this embodiment includes an ion source 11, a quadrupole mass filter 12, a collision cell 13, an ion guide 14, an ion trap 15, a time-of-flight mass separator 16, and an ion detector 17. As described above, the time-of-flight mass separator 16 includes an expulsion electrode 161, a grid electrode 162, a TOFMS flight space 163, and a reflectron (reflector) 164. A portion from immediately after the ion source 11 to immediately before the time-of-flight mass separator 16 causes ions to fly almost horizontally, and the combination of the expulsion electrode 161 and the grid electrode 162 in the time-of-flight mass separator 16 accelerates the ions to make them fly downward. As described above, the TOFMS 10 according to this embodiment is an orthogonal acceleration type TOFMS that accelerates ions in a direction orthogonal to the incident direction of the ion beam.

[0044] The TOFMS 10 also includes a first vacuum vessel (upper vacuum vessel) 18A accommodating the ion source 11, the quadrupole mass filter 12, the collision cell 13, the ion guide 14, the ion trap 15, the expulsion electrode 161, the grid electrode 162, the ion detector 17, and an upper TOFMS flight space 163A that is a part of the TOFMS flight space 163. The first vacuum vessel 18A has, in longitudinal section view, such an L shape that one end of a transverse space extending in the transverse direction is connected to the upper end of a longitudinal space extending in the longitudinal direction. The ion source 11, the quadrupole mass filter 12, the collision cell 13, the ion guide 14, and the ion trap 15 are accommodated in the transverse space, and the TOFMS flight space 163 is formed in the longitudinal space. The quadrupole mass filter 12, the ion nuide 14, and the ion trap 15 correspond to the above-described ion transportation unit. The expulsion electrode 161, the grid electrode 162, and the ion detector 17 are disposed in a portion where the transverse space and the longitudinal space intersect. In the case of the first vacuum vessel 18A alone, the lower end of the longitudinal space is open.

[0045] The first vacuum vessel 18A is mounted and fixed on a chassis 19. As in the case of the conventional TOFMS, casters 191 and stoppers 192 are attached to the lower surface of the chassis 19.

[0046] The TOFMS 10 includes a second vacuum vessel (lower vacuum vessel) 28 accommodating the reflection 164 and a lower TOFMS flight space 163B that is the remaining part of the TOFMS flight space 163. In the case of the second vacuum vessel 28 alone, the upper end of the second vacuum vessel 28 is open. The lower end of the longitudinal space of the first vacuum vessel 18A and the upper end of the second vacuum vessel 28 are fastened with bolts, and a vacuum seal (not shown) for maintaining airtightness is disposed between the two vessels. This integrates the first vacuum vessel 18A with the second vacuum vessel 28 to form a vacuum space where ions fly.

[0047] The second vacuum vessel 28 is fixed to a sub-chassis 21. Sub-chassis casters 22 are attached to the lower surface of the sub-chassis 21. A damper 23 for absorbing vibrations is disposed between the sub-chassis 21 and the second vacuum vessel 28. The sub-chassis 21 is placed on the chassis 19 and fixed to the chassis 19 with bolts. In this state, the sub-chassis casters 22 are floating in the air. Note that the sub-chassis 21 may be fixed on a side portion of the chassis 19. In either case, fixing the sub-chassis 21 to the chassis 19 integrates the sub-chassis 21 with the chassis 19 (enables the sub-chassis 21 to serve as a part of the chassis 19), thereby increasing the strength of the chassis 19. The damper 23 may be disposed between the wall of the second vacuum vessel 28 and the reflection 164 from the viewpoint of not giving vibrations to the reflection 164. That is, the damper 23 may be disposed in the second vacuum vessel 28. However, the damper 23 generates a gas to cause a reduction in degree of vacuum in the second vacuum vessel 28. Hence, the damper 23 is desirably disposed between the second vacuum vessel 28 and the sub-chassis 21 located outside the second vacuum vessel 28.

[0048] The combination of the reflectron 164, the second vacuum vessel 28, the sub-chassis 21, the sub-chassis casters 22, and the damper 23 constitutes a reflector unit 20 (see FIG. 2).

[0049] The operation of the TOFMS 10 accordingto this embodiment at the time of mass spectrometry is similar to that of the conventional TOFMS; therefore, the description thereof is omitted. The following describes the operation to be performed in transporting the TOFMS 10 from the factory and then installing the TOFMS 10 in the installation site.

[0050] First, the finished TOFMS 10 is separated into the reflector unit 20 and the other parts (FIG. 3) in the factory. The parts other than the reflector unit 20 are moved by the casters 191 after releasing of the stoppers 192, and mounted on transportation means such as a truck. At that time, the vibrations received from the floor surface through the casters 191 are transmitted to the parts. However, since the reflectron 164 is separated from the parts, the reflection 164 is not affected by the vibrations. Meanwhile, the reflector unit 20 including the reflection 164 is moved to the transportation means as carefully as possible so as not to give vibrations to the reflector unit 20. At that time, the sub-chassis casters 22 may be used on the flat floor of the route to the transportation means since the damper 23 absorbs the vibrations. On the other hand, the reflector unit 20 is lifted and moved on the uneven road surface so as not to give vibrations to the reflectron 164 since the damper 23 may fail to sufficiently absorb the vibrations. Alternatively, the reflector unit 20 may be moved in such a manner that the reflector unit 20 is made to slide on rails placed on the floor surface.

[0051] Next, the reflector unit 20 and the other parts are transported to a loadinglunloading site near the installation site by the transportation means. At that time, at least the reflector unit 20 is transported by a method with special attention being paid not to give vibrations to the reflector unit 20 as much as possible, for example, using a truck equipped with an air suspension that absorbs vibrations or mounting the reflector unit 20 on a damping base.

[0052] After arriving at the loading/unloading site, the reflector unit 20 and the other parts are unloaded from the transportation means. Subsequently, as in the case of movement from the factory to the transportation means, the parts other than the reflector unit 20 are moved to the installation site by the casters 191 after releasing of the stoppers 192. In addition, as in the case of movement from the factory to the transportation means, with regard to the route to the installation site, the reflector unit 20 is moved on the flat floor by the casters 22, is moved on the uneven road surface while being lifted, or is moved by the rails placed on the floor surface.

[0053] At the installation site, first, the parts other than the reflector unit 20 are moved to the installation position of the TOFMS 10 and fixed at the installation position with the stoppers 192. Next, the reflector unit 20 is moved below the first vacuum vessel 18A, and the second vacuum vessel 28 and the first vacuum vessel 18A are fastened with bolts. Further, the sub-chassis 21 and the chassis 19 are fixed. The installation of the TOFMS 10 in the installation site is thus completed.

[0054] As shown in the top view of FIG. 4, the bottom surface of the chassis 19 has a notch 193 located immediately below the first vacuum vessel 18A and formed to receive the reflector unit 20. The notch 193 allows the sub-chassis casters 22 of the reflector unit 20 to easily move the reflector unit to immediately below the attachment position. Although this notch reduces the strength of the chassis 19, fixing the chassis 19 to the sub-chassis 21 of the reflector unit integrates the sub-chassis 21 with the chassis 19, thereby increasing the strength of the chassis 19.

[0055] In the TOFMS 10 according to this embodiment, the reflector unit 20 is separated from the other parts. Therefore, the reflector unit 20 is moved with the influence of vibrations suppressed at the time of transportation. The other parts are easily moved by the casters 191. Accordingly, the high assembly accuracy of the reflectron 164 completed in the factory is maintained in the process of transporting and moving the TOFMS 10 to the installation site.

[0056] In the TOFMS 10 according to this embodiment, since the reflector unit 20 includes the sub-chassis casters 22 and the damper 23, the sub-chassis casters 22 facilitates the movement of the reflector unit 20 on a flat floor surface. In use of the TOFMS 10, moreover, the damper 23 inhibits the vibrations generated due to a vacuum pump (not shown) or the like evacuating the interior of the vacuum vessel from being transmitted to the reflectron 164. This also contributes to maintaining high assembly accuracy of the reflectron 164.

[0057] The TOFMS according to this embodiment may be variously modified.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the damper 23 is disposed between the sub-chassis 21 and the second vacuum vessel 28. Alternatively, the damper 23 may be omitted as in the case of a reflector unit 20A shown in FIG. 5A. According to this configuration, in transporting the reflector unit 20A, the sub-chassis casters 22 are not used, and the reflector unit 20A is lifted and moved such that vibrations from the floor surface are not transmitted to the reflectron 164. However, in the situation of work at the installation site, when the floor surface is flat, the sub-chassis casters 22 may be used for a small distance to move the reflector unit 20A using the sub-chassis casters 22. This facilitates work at the installation site. Alternatively, the sub-chassis casters 22 may be omitted as in the case of a reflector unit 20B shown in FIG. 5B, or the sub-chassis 21 may be omitted as in the case of a reflector unit 20C shown in FIG. 5C, In addition, as in the case of a reflector unit 2013 shown in FIG. 5D, the sub-chassis 21 may be omitted and casters 22A may be disposed on the lower surface of the second vacuum vessel 28.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the casters 191 are disposed on the lower surface of the chassis 19. Alternatively, the casters 191 may be omitted. In this case, the chassis 19 may be mounted on a carriage having casters and moved to an installation site.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the acceleration unit is of the orthogonal acceleration type that accelerates ions in a direction orthogonal to the incident direction of the ion beam. Alternatively, the ion trap 15 may be used to accelerate the ions in the same direction as the incident direction of the ion beam. FIG. 6 shows such an example. In this example, the ion trap 15 is provided such that ions traveling in the horizontal direction are incident. In addition, a TOFMS flight space 1631 in which ions fly in the horizontal direction and a reflection 1641 for reflecting the ions are disposed at the subsequent stage of the ion trap 15. The ion trap 15, each component on the preceding stage, the detector 17, and a part of the TOFMS flight space 1631 are accommodated in a first vacuum vessel 18B. The reflection 1641 and the remaining part of the TOFMS flight space 1631 are accommodated in a second vacuum vessel 28B. The first vacuum vessel 1813 and the second vacuum vessel 28B are provided such that their openings face each other at the same height and both are fastened so that the openings communicate with each other at the installation site. The second vacuum vessel 28B is disposed on a sub-chassis 21B via support columns, and the sub-chassis 21B has, on its lower surface, sub-chassis casters 22B. The reflectron 1641, a part of the TOFMS flight space 1631, the second vacuum vessel 28B, the sub-chassis 21B, and the sub-chassis casters 22B constitute a reflector unit 20E.

[0061] Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and the above modifications, and various modifications can be made.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0062] 10 . . . TOFMS [0063] 11 . . . Ion Source [0064] 12 . . . Quadrupole Mass Filter [0065] 13 . . . Collision Cell [0066] 14 . . . Ion Guide [0067] 15 . . . Ion Trap [0068] 151 . . . Ring Electrode [0069] 152 . . . End Cap Electrode [0070] 16 . . . Time-of-flight Mass Separator [0071] 161 . . . Expulsion Electrode [0072] 162 . . . Grid Electrode [0073] 163, 1631 . . . TOFMS Flight Space [0074] 163A . . . Upper TOFMS Flight Space [0075] 163B . . . Lower TOFMS Flight Space [0076] 164, 1641 . . . Reflectron [0077] 17 . . . Ion Detector [0078] 18 . . . Vacuum Vessel [0079] 18A, 18B . . . First Vacuum Vessel [0080] 28, 28B . . . Second Vacuum Vessel [0081] 19 . . . Chassis [0082] 191 . . . Caster [0083] 192 . . . Stopper [0084] 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E . . . Reflector Unit [0085] 21, 211 . . . Sub-chassis [0086] 22, 22B . . . Sub-chassis Caster [0087] 22A . . . Caster [0088] 23 . . . Damper