Figure 10. Lxq Ion Source Interface (Cross Section) - Thermo Scientific LTQ Series Hardware Manual

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Functional Description
Mass Spectrometer
LXQ and LTQ XL
16 LTQ Series Hardware Manual
The heater block contains two heater cartridges, surrounds the ion transfer tube, and heats the
tube to temperatures up to 400 °C (752 °F). A probe sensor measures the temperature of the
heater block. A decreasing pressure gradient draws ions into the ion transfer tube in the
atmospheric pressure region and transports them to the ion transfer
transfer tube–S-lens region, as applicable, of the vacuum manifold. The vent prevent ball
stops air from entering the vacuum manifold when the tube is removed so that you can
remove the ion transfer tube for cleaning without venting the system.
The ion source interface in the LXQ and LTQ XL includes an ion sweep cone, an ion transfer
tube, two cartridge heaters, a heater block, a sensor, an
prevent ball (Figure 10 and
interface cage.

Figure 10. LXQ ion source interface (cross section)

Ion sweep
cone
Spray cone
(immediately behind
the sweep cone)
Figure 11). The tube lens and skimmer mount to the ion source
Vent prevent ball
Ion transfer tube
Heater block
tube–skimmer
API tube lens, a skimmer, and a vent
Tube lens
Skimmer
or ion
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