Patent GB-956066-A (GB)
Title: Multiple grating spectrophotometer
IPC: G01J3/32
Filed: 1962-02-20
Abstract: 956,066. Infra-red spectrometers. PERKIN-ELMER CORPORATION. Feb. 20, 1962 [Feb. 23, 1961], No. 6567/62. Heading G1A. [Also in Division G2] In order that it may be used over an extended wavelength range, the spectro photometer has two diffraction gratings of the reflecting type mounted for selective positioning in the path of collimated radiation. As shown in Fig. 1, radiation from a source 14 is formed into two beams 10, 12, of which beam 10 passes through a sample in area 24 before it is recombined with beam 12 at a chopping disc 38 rotated so that the two beams are alternately incident at the chopping frequency on a mirror 36 forming an image of source 14 at the entrance slit 50 of a monochrometer. This latter includes a collimating reflector 52 directing the beams on to a reflecting diffraction grating 54, the returned beam being reflected through an exit slit 60 and focused by mirror 62 on to a thermocouple 64. The output of the thermocouple fluctuates at the chopper frequency and is used to move an attenuator into the beam 12 adjacent an aperture 28 until a null balance is attained, such displacement of the attenuator actuating a pen 66 mounted alongside a cylindrical chart drum 68. Scanning is effected by rotation of grating 54 and at the end of its scan a second reflection diffraction grating 56 is brought into use and rotated to scan a further spectral range. The two gratings 54, 56 are mounted back to back on a table 106 mounted on a shaft 100, Fig. 3, having at its lower end a range-change disc 118, actuated by a sector wheel 124 on a pulley-driven shaft connected to a range-change motor 138, Fig. 2. Energization of this motor thus causes a 180 degrees rotation of shaft 100 to change over the gratings. Shaft 100 is disposed within a cylindrical member 82 provided at its upper end with a bracket 92 carrying magnetic discs 96, 98, Fig. 5, for co-operation with permanent magnets 114, 116 on a bracket 112 attached to the underside of the grating table 106. During use of the grating 54, the disc 96 engages magnet 114 so that, by rotation of cylindrical member 82, the grating 54 is rotated to scan the spectrum. On operation of the range change disc 118 to change over the gratings, the magnet 114 is disengaged from disc 96 and magnet 116 is brought into contact with disc 98 so that, by subsequent rotation of member 82, grating 56 is rotated to scan the spectrum. Rotation of cylindrical member 82 is effected by motion of an arm 86 which is caused to follow the movement of a sine bar 215, Fig. 5, on a carriage 204 slidable on parallel tracks 214. This carriage is moved by a metal tape 202, attached to a pulley 200 on a shaft 194 which rotates the chart drum 68, the sine bar 215 ensuring that the drum position is linearly related to the wavelength appearing at exit slit 60. The shaft 194 carries a further pulley 192 which is belt-driven from a fast or slow speed scan motor 184 or 186, Fig. 2, and its rotation actuates gearing to rotate a cam 144 having different profiles 146, 148. This cam engages a follower 142 on a slit adjusting arm 140 so that the width of slits 50, 60 which are constructed as described in Specification 887, 239, is programmed to maintain the energy constant as the wavelength at the exit slit varies. The profile 146 or 148 engaged by this follower depends on the grating in use, and when motor 138 is energized to change the grating, the cam 144 is adjusted to change the profile that is engaged by the follower 142. An additional cam 174 operated manually by an external knob allows the slit openings to be enlarged beyond those provided by the cam 144. In order to remove unwanted higher order radiation, a filter changer 226, Fig. 1 is provided. One arm of a bracket 228, Fig. 6, carries four electromagnets at equal distances from a central shaft 238 carrying a radially magnetised disc 240 carrying a filter support 246 adapted to carry four filters.