Particle collector

A hard disc drive assembly apparatus comprising:

• a purge component, configured and arranged to dislodge particulates from a hard disc drive and to generate a flow of particulate-laden gas therefrom;
• a flow direction structure having an interior sidewall configured and arranged to direct the flow of particulate-laden gas along a flow path;
• a flow sampler in the flow path and within the interior sidewall to create a gap between an exterior wall of the flow sampler and the interior sidewall, the flow sampler having an inlet and being configured and arranged with the flow direction structure to sample a portion of the particulate-laden gas at a reduced velocity;
• wherein the flow sampler is arranged such that a portion of the particulate-laden gas enters the inlet while another portion of the particulate-laden gas enters the gap and passes around the flow sampler;
• and
• a particle collector having a collecting surface, the flow sampler being configured and arranged with the particle collector to direct the sampled portion of the particulate-laden gas to the collecting surface and to adhere particulates from the particulate-laden gas to the collecting surface.

A method comprising:

• directing the flow of particulate-laden gas along a flow path within an interior sidewall of a flow direction structure;
• directing a portion of the particulate-laden gas through an inlet of a flow sampler positioned in the flow path within the interior sidewall;
• sampling, at a reduced velocity, the portion of the particulate-laden gas that passes through the inlet;
• directing another portion of the particulate-laden gas away from the inlet to exhaust around an exterior wall of the flow sampler;
• directing, via the flow sampler, the sampled portion of the particulate-laden gas to a collecting surface of a particle collector;
• and
• adhering particulates from the particulate-laden gas to the collecting surface.