US 12,392,703 B2
Density gradient liquid production apparatus, density gradient liquid production method, particle diameter distribution measurement system, and particle diameter distribution measurement method
Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to HORIBA, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Appl. No. 18/256,341
Filed by HORIBA, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
PCT Filed Nov. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/041914
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/124016, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-204339 (JP), filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0035947 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 15/02 (2024.01); G01N 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 15/02 (2013.01) [G01N 15/042 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A density gradient liquid production apparatus for producing a density gradient liquid in a measurement cell for a centrifugal sedimentation type particle diameter distribution measurement device, comprising
a first solution preparation unit that prepares a first solution with a predetermined target concentration and a first density by mixing a plurality of first reference solutions each of whose concentrations of an agglomeration inhibiting component that inhibits agglomeration of particles differs, wherein the first solution preparation unit includes a plurality of first primary pumps respectively feeding the plurality of first reference solutions along first primary branch flow channels, and a first primary confluence channel in which the plurality of first reference solutions are received and mixed,
a second solution preparation unit that prepares a second solution with the predetermined target concentration and a second density that is different from the first density by mixing a plurality of second reference solutions each of whose concentrations of the agglomeration inhibiting component differs, wherein the second solution preparation unit includes a plurality of second primary pumps respectively feeding the plurality of second reference solutions along second primary branch flow channels, and a second primary confluence channel in which the plurality of second reference solutions are received and mixed, and
a mixed solution preparation unit that creates a mixed solution with the target concentration by mixing the first solution and the second solution and supplies the created mixed solution to the measurement cell while varying a density of the mixed solution, wherein the mixed solution preparation unit includes two secondary pumps that respectively feed the first solution and the second solution along secondary branch flow channels, and a secondary confluence flow channel in which the first solution and the second solution are received and mixed.