Patent ID: 6121609
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: F16K,H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the operation of a valve system that includes a portion of a mass spectrometer, comprising:a. an electrically actuated force transfer element that when actuated opens said valve system;b. another force transfer element that closes said valve system when said electrically actuated force transfer element is no longer actuated;c. a force receiving element that is in operative association with both said electrically actuated and said another force transfer elements, said valve system including a portion of a mass spectrometer operatively associated with said force receiving element, the operation of said valve system being controlled by said force receiving element, said valve system controlling the flow of fluid into an ionization chamber of said mass spectrometer; andd. a circuit for providing a signal that rapidly changes from a first predetermined amplitude to a second predetermined amplitude to actuate said electrically actuated force transfer element, said circuit providing said signal initially with an amplitude that rapidly changes from said second predetermined amplitude towards said first predetermined amplitude to a third predetermined amplitude which is not equal to said first predetermined amplitude when it is desired to terminate said electrically actuated force transfer element actuation and thereafter with an amplitude that is controlled to slowly change from said third predetermined amplitude to said first predetermined amplitude to thereby allow said another actuated force element to close said valve system.