High speed sample transportation apparatus in a superconducting magnet and transporting method thereof

{
  "publication_number": "US9696391B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "High speed sample transportation apparatus in a superconducting magnet and transporting method thereof",
  "abstract": "A precision high-speed shuttle device for transporting samples between different positions of a superconducting magnet with different magnetic field strength is provided. The sample equilibrated at the center of the magnet, where the magnetic field is the highest and homogeneous, is shuttled to a higher position above, where the fringe field is lower, for a defined period of time and shuttled back to the center for detection. By shuttling the sample to different positions in the magnet in different experiments one can obtain a field-dependent profile of particular physical parameters. The position and timing of the sample are precisely under the experimental controlled. In this way various magnetic field-dependent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments can be conducted in a single high-field NMR spectrometer.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A shuttling device for transporting a sample into and out a space inside a superconducting magnet, comprising: a base fixed above the superconducting magnet, said base attached to a motor and a driving pulley; a rail block extending from the base to the space, and having a belt track along the rail block and a turning pulley at the end of the rail block; a flexible belt which is disposed along the belt track and engaged with the driving pulley and the turning pulley; and at least two guiding rods adjacently disposed to the belt track having a shuttle capable of holding the sample; wherein the shuttle is configured to travel between the at least two guiding rods and is engaged by a coupler with the flexible belt to move the shuttle along the rail block between the space within the superconducting magnet to a zone at or beyond the fringe of the magnetic field.",
    "2. The shuttling device of claim 1, wherein the sample is contained in a tube assembly.",
    "3. The shuttling device of claim 2, wherein the tube assembly comprises a tube holder capable of holding a sample tube with only two O-rings in direct contact with the sample tube.",
    "4. The shuttling device of claim 2, wherein the tube assembly comprises a tube plug with funnel shaped indent on the tip to confine the sample volume and to release residual air bubble in sample."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "G01R 33/307",
    "G01R 33/445"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ACADEMIA SINICA"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-05-06",
  "publication_date": "2017-07-04",
  "grant_date": "2017-07-04",
  "priority_date": "2012-05-07",
  "application_number": "US-201313887405-A",
  "family_id": "49773889",
  "citations": [
    "US4859949A",
    "US4981136A",
    "US5081991A",
    "US7535224B2",
    "US9279868B2"
  ]
}