Sampling devices
AssigneeAir Dispersions Ltd
InventorsAlan Tallentire, Colin Samuel Sinclair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sampling device samples gas from a gas stream flowing through a tube to means utilizing the gas to detect the presence or otherwise of particulate contaminants. The device ensures that the sampled flow has at least as many particulate contaminants/unit volume as the main flow. The device divides the flow into two parallel flows and then decelerates one flow before providing the sampled flow. The other flow passes to the utilizing means. The device is particularly useful in the sterile packaging of product to detect microorganisms and other culturable contamination.
Claims26
A sampling device for sampling gas from a gas stream flowing from a source to means utilizing said gas to determine the presence of particulate contamination comprising a pipe through which the gas stream is flowed;
- a flow divider receiving the gas stream from the pipe and separating the gas stream into first and second flows, the first flow passing to said gas utilizing means and the second flow passing to a contamination detector for determination of the number of particulate contaminants per unit volume present in the gas stream;
- and comprising a deceleration volume disposed downstream of the flow divider and arranged to decelerate the second flow before the second flow exits for contamination detection.
A sampling device for sampling gas from a gas stream flowing from a source to means utilizing said gas to determine the presence of particulate contamination comprising an inlet tube through which the gas stream is flowed, a housing for receiving a portion of the gas flowing through the inlet tube, and an exit pipe for receiving another portion of the gas flowing through the inlet tube, wherein the housing includes an outlet for connecting to contamination sampling means and wherein the volume of the housing is such as to decelerate the portion of the gas received therein.
A sampling device for sampling gas from a gas stream flowing from a source of gas to means utilizing the gas to determine the presence of particulate contamination comprising a housing for receiving and decelerating a portion of the flow, an exit tube for conveying the remainder of the flow and a sampling tube leading from the housing for connection to contamination detection means.
A method of sampling an air stream to test for the presence of particulate contaminants comprising dividing the air stream into first and second flows, decelerating the second flow, passing the decelerated second flow to contamination detection means and passing the first flow for utilization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.