Sample vial for calorimetric measurements

Abstract

A sample ampoule for calorimetric measurements includes a vial, a lid and a sealing member. The vial, lid and sealing member are adapted to form a hermetically sealed sample ampoule. The vial has a first contact surface and the lid has a second contact surface, the first and second contact surfaces are in contact with each other in a sealed position of the ampoule, and the vial and lid are formed out of materials with different strength.

Claims

1. A sample ampoule, comprising: a vial; a lid; and a sealing member, wherein when in a sealed position, the vial, lid and sealing member form a hermetically sealed sample ampoule for isothermal calorimetric measurements that prohibits leakage of gas and/or vapor from within the vial, wherein the vial has a first contact surface and the lid has a second contact surface, wherein the first and second contact surfaces are in contact with each other and the sealing member is located between the vial and the lid in the sealed position of the ampoule, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are threaded to form a closing mechanism and locking device when interacting with each other, wherein the lid is provided with a recess at a top surface extending substantially the entire diameter of the lid and configured to receive a mechanism with a corresponding shape for applying a fixed torque to the lid when screwed to the vial, and wherein the vial has circumferentially spaced notches and wherein the notches are configured to contact a holder to fix the vial in place while threading the lid onto the vial.

2. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the first or second contact surface is coated with a low friction surface coating.

3. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the lid material is a high tensile material with a strength exceeding the strength of the vial material.

4. The sample ampoule according to claim 3, wherein the first contact surface is coated with a low friction surface coating.

5. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the vial material is a high tensile material with strength exceeding the lid material.

6. The sample ampoule according to claim 5, wherein the second contact surface is coated with a low friction surface coating.

7. The sample ampoule according to claim 2, wherein the low friction surface coating is made out of titanium nitride.

8. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

9. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is an O-ring.

10. The sample ampoule according to claim 2, wherein the lid material is a high tensile material with a strength exceeding the strength of the vial material.

11. The sample ampoule according to claim 2, wherein the vial material is a high tensile material with a strength exceeding the strength of the lid material.

12. The sample ampoule according to claim 4, wherein the low friction surface coating is made out of titanium nitride.

13. The sample ampoule according to claim 6 wherein the low friction surface coating is made out of titanium nitride.

14. The sample ampoule according to claim 2, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

15. The sample ampoule according to claim 3, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

16. The sample ampoule according to claim 4, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

17. The sample ampoule according to claim 5, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

18. The sample ampoule according to claim 6, wherein the sealing member is a gasket.

19. The sample ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the vial and lid are formed out of different materials having different tensile strengths.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A sample ampoule according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an inventive ampoule with a vial and a lid,

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged part of FIG. 1, showing contact surfaces of a vial and a lid,

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of an inventive ampoule with a vial and a lid, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of a lid.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AS PRESENTLY PREFERRED

(6) The present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing a sample ampoule 1 for calorimetric measurements comprising a vial 11, a lid 12 and a sealing member 13, where the vial 11, lid 12 and sealing member 13 are adapted to form a hermetically sealed sample ampoule 1.

(7) FIG. 2, being an enlargement of part of FIG. 1, shows that the vial 11 has a first contact surface 11a and the lid 12 has a second contact surface 12a, where the first and second contact surfaces 11a, 12a are in contact with each other in a sealed position of the ampoule.

(8) The invention teaches that the vial 11 and lid 12 are formed out of materials 11, 12 with different tensile strength.

(9) It is proposed that the first or second contact surface 11a, 12a is coated with a low friction surface coating (not shown).

(10) According to one proposed embodiment the lid material 12 is a high tensile material with strength exceeding the vial material 11, in which case it is proposed that the first contact surface 11a may be coated with a low friction surface coating.

(11) It is also possible that the vial material 11 is a high tensile material with strength exceeding the lid material 12, in which case the second contact surface 12a may be coated with a low friction surface coating.

(12) One proposed embodiment teaches that the low friction surface coating is made out of titanium nitride, such as be the BALINIT A of Oerlicon Balzers.

(13) The sealing member 13 can be a gasket or, as indicated in FIG. 1, an O-ring.

(14) A closing mechanism and a locking device can be formed in different ways, and one proposed way, as shown in the figures, is that the first contact surface 11a and the second contact surface 12a are threaded thereby enabling the closing and locking of the ampoule 1 when interacting with each other.

(15) It is proposed that the ampoule 1 is adapted to an interaction with a means for applying a fixed torque to the lid 12 when screwed to the vial 11. This can be done in many different ways, FIGS. 1 and 3 shows an example where the vial 11 has a notch 11b which will grip into a holder to keep the vial 11 still while applying the lid 12. FIGS. 1 and 4 shows that the lid 12 has a recess 12b to which a means for applying a fixed torque can grip the lid 12, which will enable the use of a controlled torque release for tightening of the lid 12 on the vial 11.

(16) It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying Claims.