Portable air sampler
Inventors
KOCHER, Nathan G. • VELLUTATO, JR., Arthur L. • Churchvara, Jeffrey • Phillips, Mark A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11662279-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
An air sampling device and method of sampling air. The device has a housing body and a retaining assembly for a sampling device. A plenum has a top end coupled to the housing body about an opening such that the plenum is in flow communication with the opening and receives air flow generally from the top end to the bottom end generally along the longitudinal length thereof. A flow connection is coupled to the bottom end of the plenum. A mass flow meter has an input coupled to the flow connection and is in flow communication with the plenum via the flow connection. A blower is configured to draw air past the sampling device, through the opening, and through the plenum, such that a measuring portion of the air flows through the flow connection and through the mass flow meter, which measured the flow rate of the measuring portion.
Core Innovation
An air sampling device is provided for sampling air in which a housing body includes a top and an opening at the top, and a retaining assembly located at the top retains a sampling device about the opening. A plenum has a top end coupled to the housing body about the opening and a bottom end that is open, so the plenum is in flow communication with the opening and receives air flow generally along its longitudinal length. A flow connection is coupled to the bottom end of the plenum to direct air flow away from the plenum.
The device further includes a mass flow meter having an input and an output, with the input coupled to the flow connection so the mass flow meter is in flow communication with the plenum via the flow connection. A blower in association with the plenum draws air past the sampling device through the opening, through the plenum, and through the open bottom end of the plenum. A measuring portion of the air in the plenum flows through the flow connection and through the mass flow meter, where the mass flow meter is configured to measure the flow rate of the measuring portion of the air drawn through the flow connection.
In dependent refinements, a processing device receives a detected flow rate from the mass flow meter and controls blower speed in response to it. The processing device receives detected flow rate and regulates blower speed relative to a desired flow rate, optionally using PID control, and can also support remote monitoring and logging. Structural embodiments refine flow-connection geometry and positioning, including U-shaped conduit flow-connection geometry, and can include an exhaust in the housing body located remote from the flow connection.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage centers on one independent claim that defines the core portable air sampling device architecture using a housing with a top opening, a retaining assembly, a plenum in flow communication with the opening, a flow connection to a mass flow meter, and a blower that draws air through a measuring portion measured by the mass flow meter. Dependent claims refine the flow connection geometry and placement, define coupling endpoints, and add closed-loop control and remote exhaust features.
Plenum-coupled air sampling with mass flow measurement of plenum measuring portion
A housing body having a top and an opening at the top, a retaining assembly at the top retaining a sampling device about the opening, a plenum coupled to the housing body about the opening so the plenum receives air flow generally from the top end to the bottom end along its longitudinal length, a flow connection coupled to the bottom end of the plenum, a mass flow meter in flow communication with the plenum via the flow connection, and a blower configured to draw air past the sampling device through the opening, through the plenum, and through the open bottom end so that a measuring portion flows through the flow connection and through the mass flow meter for measuring flow rate.
Closed-loop blower speed control using detected flow rate
A processing device connected to receive a detected flow rate from the mass flow meter and to control blower speed based on the detected flow rate.
Blower speed regulation relative to desired flow rate
The processing device regulates blower speed based on comparison of the detected flow rate to a desired flow rate.
U-shaped flow connection geometry
The flow connection is configured in a generally U-shaped form.
Flow connection receiving and exit end coupling to plenum and mass flow meter
The flow connection has a receiving end coupled to the bottom end of the plenum and an exit end coupled to the input of the mass flow meter.
Remote exhaust located away from flow connection
An exhaust is located in the housing body remote from the flow connection.
Across the inventive features, the claim set focuses on measuring a measuring portion drawn through a plenum using a mass flow meter coupled via a flow connection, with blower-driven airflow through the sampling device. Additional dependent features refine flow-connection structure and coupling, add processing-device control using detected flow rate relative to a desired flow rate, and specify an exhaust located remote from the flow connection.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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