Particle size sampler
AssigneeNew York University
InventorNaomi Harley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A particle size sampler includes a cylindrical housing with an inlet end and an outlet end. A pump, connected to an outlet pipe at the outlet end, draws air through the particle size sampler. Aerosols or other particles are removed from the air during a series of filtering steps. The filtering steps include an impactor, a plurality of mesh screens, and a backup filter to remove any particles remaining after the previous filtering steps. The particle size sampler may operate for long periods of time providing a size distribution and concentration of small particles in the air.
Claims23
A particle size sampler comprising:
- a housing having
- a base formed as a unitary structure and including an outlet, a bottom and a first peripheral wall, and
- a cap formed as a unitary structure and including an inlet end and a second peripheral wall, the base being attached to the cap;
- an impactor positioned within the housing and proximate the inlet end;
- a filter positioned within the housing and proximate the outlet end;
- and
- a first mesh screen configured to capture particles thereon and positioned within the housing between the impactor and filter, wherein the capture particles are separated according to size.
A particle size sampler comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet side, an outlet side and an air flow path therethrough;
- an impactor positioned within the housing and proximate the inlet side;
- a first mesh screen configured to capture particles thereon positioned within the housing, abutting a wall of the housing, and extending substantially across the entire flow path;
- and
- a second mesh screen configured to capture articles thereon positioned within the housing, abutting a wall of the housing, and extending substantially across the entire flow path,
- wherein the air flow path travels from the first mesh screen to the second mesh screen substantially along an axial direction, and wherein the captured particles are separated according to size.
A particle size sampler comprising:
- a housing having an inlet side and an outlet side;
- an impactor positioned within the housing and proximate the inlet side;
- a filter positioned within the housing and proximate the outlet side;
- and
- a first mesh screen positioned within the housing between the impactor and filter, the mesh screen comprising:
- an outer ring including:
- a base,
- an outer ridge extending up from the base, and
- an overhang extending inward from the outer ridge;
- an inner ring including:
- a cutout section on an outer edge thereof, and
- a projection extending outward and within the cutout section;
- and
- mesh held between the base and inner ring, wherein the projection is disposed under the overhang to hold the inner ring and outer ring together.
A particle size sampler comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet side, an outlet side and an air flow path therethrough;
- an impactor positioned within the housing and proximate the inlet side;
- and
- a plurality of mesh screens configured to capture particles thereon, each mesh screen positioned within the housing, abutting a wall of the housing, and extending substantially across the entire flow path, the mesh screens having different capturing efficiencies, wherein the captured particles are separated according to size.
A method of making a particle size sampler comprising the steps of:
- placing an impactor ring in spaced apart relation from an inlet side of a particle size sampler housing and within the housing abutting a wall of the housing;
- placing a plurality of mesh screens configured to capture particles thereon within the housing abutting a wall of the housing, the mesh screens having different capturing efficiencies;
- placing a filter within the housing;
- and
- closing the housing, wherein the captured particles are separated according to size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.