US 12,488,973 B2
Flow control device
David Sultana, Port Melbourne (AU); Danny Brezni, Port Melbourne (AU); Terrance Hettipathirana, Port Melbourne (AU); Bill Farrell, Port Melbourne (AU); and Anthony Le Breton, Port Melbourne (AU)
Assigned to GLASS EXPANSION PTY. LIMITED, Port Melbourne (AU)
Filed by GLASS EXPANSION PTY. LIMITED, Port Melbourne (AU)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/297,303.
Claims priority of application No. 2022900927 (AU), filed on Apr. 8, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0335385 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. H01J 49/04 (2006.01); H01J 49/10 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 49/045 (2013.01) [H01J 49/105 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow control device for aerosolised sample delivery in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analytical system, the device including:
a body that at least in part defines a sample flow separating region, the sample flow separating region having a longitudinal flow direction and having an upstream end through which the aerosolised sample enters and a downstream end through which a modified aerosolised sample exits,
the body including an injection duct having an opening adjacent to the sample flow separating region, the injection duct configured to direct a stream of gas in an injection direction to the sample flow separating region, the injection direction angled relative to the longitudinal flow direction such that, upon introduction of the stream of gas through the opening, a vortex flow is generated in the sample flow separating region, the vortex flow having a direction counter to the direction of flow of the aerosolised sample to provide control of droplet size in the modified aerosolised sample.