# US 5,702,506 A · Method and device for aerosol size-selective sampling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,506 A - Document ID: US5702506A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/733,081 - Filed: 1996-10-16 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-10-16 - Assignees: Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan - Inventors: Tung-Sheng Shih; Wen-Yu Yeh; Chih-Chieh Chen; Chane-Yu Lai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702506A ## CPC - B01D 46/12: in multiple arrangements - G01N 1/2205: {with filters} - G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling} - G01N 15/0272: {with screening; with classification by filtering (B01D takes precedence)} - G01N 15/0618: {of the filter type (G01N15/0643 takes precedence)} - G01N 1/24: Suction devices {(G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence)} - G01N 1/34: Purifying; Cleaning {(processes or apparatus for extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An aerosol size-selective sampling device is composed of pre-filter, a base housing, and a collector. The device is intended to take an aerosol sample from a given atmospheric air. The pre-filter is composed of two or more porous filtration materials arranged in one end of the base housing in a parallel manner for allowing the atmospheric air to pass therethrough in a parallel and diverting pattern before the atmospheric air is allowed to pass in a converging manner through the collector which is located in another end of the base housing. The pre-filter is able to attain a desired penetration rate profile as a function of an aerodynamic diameter of aerosol contained in the atmospheric air within a predetermined range of aerodynamic diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol size-selective sampling method comprising taking an aerosol sample from a given atmospheric air by using an aerosol size-selective sampling device comprising a pre-filter, a base housing and a collector, wherein said pre-filter comprises two or more porous filtration materials disposed in an air inlet end of said base housing in a parallel manner, and said collector disposed in an air outlet end of said base housing, and wherein said atmospheric air is passed through said two or more porous filtration materials of said pre-filter in a parallel and diverting pattern before it is allowed to pass in a converging manner through said collector located in said air outlet end of said base housing, and said pre-filter is able to attain a desired penetration rate profile as a function of an aerodynamic diameter of aerosol contained in the atmospheric air within a predetermined range of said aerodynamic diameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said air inlet end of said base housing comprises two or more branched tubes for disposing said two or more porous filtration materials, and said air outlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said collector therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said pre-filter is composed of two porous filtration materials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said pre-filter is made up of a plurality of concentric rings surrounding a center disk, said air inlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said pre-filter therein, and said air outlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said collector therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as defined in claim 4, wherein said pre-filter is composed of two porous filtration materials. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said porous filtration materials are made of a foam material, a sintered glass material, or a porous ceramic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said porous filtration materials are made of a foam material. ### Claim 8 An aerosol size-selective sampling device comprising: a base housing provided at one end thereof with an air inlet end and at another end thereof with an air outlet end, said air outlet end adapted to accommodate a collector therein; and a pre-filter located in said air inlet end of said base housing, said pre-filter comprising two or more porous filtration materials arranged in a parallel manner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said air inlet end of said base housing comprises two or more branched tubes for disposing said two or more porous filtration materials, and said air outlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said collector therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device as defined in claim 9, wherein said pre-filter is composed of two porous filtration materials. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said pre-filter is made up of a plurality of concentric rings surrounding a center disk, said air inlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said pre-filter therein, and said air outlet end of said base housing is a monotube for disposing said collector therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said pre-filter is composed of two porous filtration materials. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said porous filtration materials are made of a foam material, a sintered glass material, or a porous ceramic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device as defined in claim 13, wherein said porous filtration materials are made of a foam material.