Patent ID: 6257757
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A thermal analysis apparatus comprising: a gas-tight container defining an internal sample-containing area for maintaining a sample under a controlled atmosphere; gas inlet and outlet ports formed in the gas-tight container for charging and discharging a gas into and out of the sample-containing area to control the atmosphere therein; a sample chamber having a convex-shaped portion formed in the gas-tight container; a heating oven provided outside the sample chamber for heating the sample chamber; a detector provided inside the gas-tight container for detecting a change in a physical property of the sample during an analysis of the sample; a sample holding section having a sample holder provided on the detector; and a movement mechanism arranged within the gas-tight container for movably supporting the detector within the gas-tight container so that the sample holding section is movable between a first position at which a sample disposed on the sample holder is located within the sample chamber and a second position at which a sample disposed on the sample holder is not located within the sample chamber so that the sample may be placed on the sample holder when the sample holder is outside the sample chamber, and thermal analysis may be conducted on the sample by temperature control with the heating oven and detection with the detector when the sample holder is inside the sample chamber; whereby the atmosphere surrounding the sample can be controlled throughout, before and after measurement while the sample is disposed within the gas-tight container.