Air sampler

Apparatus for separating particulates from a fluid, comprising:

• (a) a housing defining a port through which the fluid carrying the particulates passes;
• (b) an electrically energizable motor that rotates a drive shaft;
• and
• (c) a combined impact collector and fan mechanically coupled to the drive shaft and rotated thereby, said combined impact collector and fan being disposed within a cavity defined by the housing, rotation of the combined impact collector and fan drawing the fluid into the cavity of the housing through the port, the particulates in the fluid impacting the combined impact collector and fan and being retained thereon and being thus separated from the fluid.

A method for separating particulates from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a combined impact collector and fan disposed within a cavity having a port, said combined impact collector and fan being rotatable about an axis;
• (b) rotating the combined impact collector and fan about the axis;
• (c) drawing the fluid carrying the particulates into the cavity by causing the combined impact collector and fan to rotate;
• and
• (d) separating the particulates from the fluid by impacting them with the combined impact collector and fan as it rotates.

An air sampler for separating particulates from a gaseous fluid in which the particulates are entrained, comprising:

• (a) a motor having a motor shaft that is drivingly rotated;
• (b) an impeller that is mechanically coupled to the motor shaft and rotated thereby;
• and
• (c) a housing for the impeller, the housing defining a fluid passage for conveying the gaseous fluid in which the particulates are entrained to the impeller, the impeller including vanes that draw the gaseous fluid into the housing so that the particulates entrained in the gaseous fluid impact upon the impeller, being thereby separated from the gaseous fluid when impacted by the vanes of the impeller.

Apparatus for separating particulates from a fluid, comprising:

• (a) a housing defining a port through which the fluid carrying the particulates passes;
• (b) a motor that rotates a drive shaft;
• and
• (c) a combined impact collector and fan mechanically coupled to the drive shaft and rotated thereby, the combined impact collector and fan being disposed within a cavity defined by the housing, rotation of the combined impact collector and fan drawing the fluid into the cavity of the housing through the port, the particulates in the fluid impacting the combined impact collector and fan and being retained thereon and being thus separated from the fluid.

A method for separating particulates from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a combined impact collector and fan disposed within a cavity having a port, said combined impact collector and fan being rotatable about an axis;
• (b) rotating the combined impact collector and fan about the axis;
• (c) drawing the fluid carrying the particulates into the cavity by causing the combined impact collector and fan to rotate;
• and
• (d) separating the particulates from the fluid by impacting them with the combined impact collector and fan as it rotates.

An air sampler for removing target material from a gas, the air sampler comprising:

• a main body having an inlet and an outlet;
• a reservoir in communication with the main body;
• an impeller coupled to the main body, the impeller comprising two discs and vanes disposed between the discs, one of the discs having an impeller opening;
• a motor coupled to the impeller;
• conduit external to the main body, the conduit connecting the reservoir with the main body;
• and
• a pump connected to the conduit;
• where the impeller is configured to draw the gas containing target material through the inlet of the main body, through the impeller opening, across the impeller, and out the outlet, thereby stripping target material from the gas, and where the pump is configured to draw liquid containing target material from the reservoir and deliver the liquid containing target material into the main body.

An air sampler comprising:

• a main body having an inlet and an outlet;
• an impeller coupled to the main body, the impeller having surfaces;
• a motor coupled to the impeller;
• fluid circuitry configured to supply liquid to the main body;
• where the impeller is configured to draw:
• (a) gas having target material, and
• (b) liquid supplied to the main body with the fluid circuitry
• across the impeller, the liquid forming a film on the surfaces of the impeller, and target material being stripped from the gas.

An air sampling method comprising:

• drawing gas containing target material across an impeller by rotating the impeller;
• contacting liquid with the impeller by rotating the impeller;
• impacting the target material with the liquid;
• and
• collecting liquid containing the target material in a reservoir.