Particle collection system and method
AssigneeVivonics, Inc.
InventorLeonid Krasnobaev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A particle collection system and method including a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected, and a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface. The rotatable fixture is rotated to generate, as the nozzles rotate about the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.
Claims39
A particle collection system comprising:
- a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected;
- a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface;
- and
- a subsystem for rotating the rotatable fixture to generate, as the nozzles rotate about the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.
A particle collection method comprising:
- aiming a collection inlet at a surface from which particles are to be collected;
- aiming at least a pair of nozzles oriented about the collection inlet at the surface;
- providing a compressed fluid to the nozzles in order to dislodge particles from the surface;
- and
- rotating the nozzles to generate a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.
A particle collection system comprising:
- a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected;
- a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of adjustable nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface;
- a subsystem for rotating the rotatable fixture to generate, as the nozzles rotate above the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet;
- a distance sensor for measuring the distance from the collection inlet to the surface;
- and
- a controller subsystem, responsive to the distance sensor, configured to adjust the adjustable nozzles based on the distance from the collection inlet to the surface.
A particle collection method comprising:
- aiming a collection inlet at a surface from which particles are to be collected;
- aiming at least a pair of nozzles oriented about the collection inlet at the surface;
- providing a compressed fluid to the nozzles in order to dislodge particles from the surface;
- rotating the nozzles about the collection inlet to generate a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet;
- measuring the distance from the collection inlet to the surface;
- and
- adjusting the adjustable nozzles based on the distance from the collection inlet to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.