US 11,875,984 B2
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer assembly with a secondary flange
Mario Weder, Manlius, NY (US); Michael Vollero, Manlius, NY (US); and Nigel Sousou, Liverpool, NY (US)
Assigned to INFICON, Inc., East Syracuse, NY (US)
Appl. No. 18/018,926
Filed by INFICON, Inc., East Syracuse, NY (US)
PCT Filed May 10, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/028494
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 31, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/240813, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/187,054, filed on May 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0215718 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. H01J 49/40 (2006.01); H01J 49/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 49/40 (2013.01) [H01J 49/0495 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer assembly for installation into a vacuum chamber, the time-of-flight mass spectrometer assembly comprising:
a flange configured to be secured to an opening of the vacuum chamber, the flange comprising a body including a vacuum chamber facing surface and an environment facing surface, wherein the body further defines a cut-out portion that extends between the vacuum chamber facing surface and the environment facing surface;
a plurality of stacked spectrometer components supported by the vacuum chamber facing surface of the flange and configured to be positioned inside the vacuum chamber;
a secondary flange configured to be removably secured within the cut-out portion to close-off the cut-out portion, wherein the secondary flange comprises a vacuum chamber facing surface and an environment facing surface; and
a supported component configured to be coupled to the vacuum chamber facing surface of the secondary flange,
wherein removal of the secondary flange from the flange acts to remove the supported component from the vacuum chamber while keeping the flange secured to the opening of the vacuum chamber.