Automatic multi-sorbent tube air sampler
AssigneeRoger Peterson Family Limited
InventorRoger Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sampling system for capturing samples of trace elements in ambient air comprises a multi-port valve coupled to a plurality of sorbent tubes. Each tube is connected to the multi-port valve by means of pairs of the valve ports. The multi-port valve is constructed and operated in a predetermined sequence to create a flow path through the multi-port valve. The flow path directs an air sample to only one connected sorbent tube at a given time and for a given time interval.
Claims24
A system for capturing samples of trace constituents of ambient air comprising:
- a. a source of ambient air from which samples are to be taken;
- b. a multi-port valve coupled to the source;
- c. plurality of sorbent tubes coupled to the multi-port valve, each of the sorbent tubes containing a sorbent inside the tube;
- d. a pump to sequentially draw air from the source through one of the sorbent tubes at a time as directed by the multi-port valve;
- and
- e. an actuator coupled to the multi-port valve to move the multi-port valve between a first position and a second position, wherein in one of the first position and the second position, the valve is set between ports isolating all sorbent tubes.
A method of capturing a sample of a trace element form ambient air comprising the step of:
- a. connecting a source of ambient air into an inlet port of a multi-port valve;
- b. connecting a plurality of sorbent tubes to the multi-port valve, each of the sorbent tubes containing a sorbent to absorb a trace element from ambient air;
- c. connecting a pump to an outlet port of the multi-port valve;
- d. orienting the multi-port valve to direct a flow path through a selected one of the plurality of sorbent tubes;
- e. activating the pump to draw a quantity of ambient air through the selected sorbent tube;
- and
- f. orienting the multi-port valve so the valve is set between ports.
A system for capturing samples of trace constituents of ambient air comprising:
- a. a source of ambient air from which samples are to be taken;
- b. a multi-port valve coupled to the source;
- c. a plurality of sorbent tubes coupled to the multi-port valve, each of the sorbent tubes containing a sorbent inside the tube;
- and
- d. a pump to sequentially draw air from the source through one of the sorbent tubes at a time as directed by the multi-port valve, wherein the multi-port valve includes a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports and each of the plurality of sorbent tubes is coupled to one of the inlet ports and one of the outlet ports of the multi-port valve and wherein each of the sorbent tubes forms a loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.