Impactor Automation
AssigneeAstech Projects Limited
InventorsMichael James Bridge, Dominic Ewan Harvey, Christopher Ian Hansford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The application describes an automated system for carrying out tests using a cascade impactor 10 of the type having multiple impactor stages each comprising a respective stage body 30, the stage bodies being shaped to enable them to be assembled in a stack in which they locate one upon another. The system includes an expander device 90 having respective arms for supporting each of the stage bodies, and a mechanism for separating the arms along the axial direction to disassemble the impactor 10.
Claims40
An expander device for expanding and a cascade impactor of the type comprising multiple impactor stages each comprising a respective stage body, the stage bodies being shaped to enable them to be assembled in a stack, locating one upon another, to form a conduit for through-flow of an aerosol sample, the stack having an axis, the expander device comprising a respective arm member for supporting each stage body, an arrangement for supporting the arm members such that they are movable along the direction of the said axis, and a mechanism for moving the arm members away from each other along the direction of the said axis to expand the impactor stages, and for moving them together along the direction of the said axis to re-assemble the impactor stages.
A recovery device for recovering material collected upon working surfaces of components of a cascade impactor of the type comprising multiple impactor stages each comprising a respective stage body, the stage bodies being shaped to enable them to be assembled in a stack, locating one upon another, to form a conduit for through-flow of an aerosol sample, the stack having an axis, and the recovery device comprising multiple recovery stages separated vertically one from another and each adapted to receive a component from a respective impactor stage, each station comprising relatively movable upper and lower receptacle parts each shaped to receive the impactor component between themselves and having peripheral sealing surfaces, the device further comprising a drive mechanism for moving the upper and lower parts apart, so that the impactor components are able to be introduced between them along a lateral direction, and for subsequently moving the upper and lower receptacle parts together, causing the peripheral sealing surfaces to seat upon each other or upon the impactor parts, so that each recovery stage forms a closed recovery chamber containing its impactor part, the recovery device further comprising conduits for circulating liquid through each of the recovery chambers.
A system for automatic recovery of test material from a cascade impactor of the type comprising multiple impactor stages each comprising a respective stage body, the stage bodies being shaped to enable them to be assembled in a stack, locating one upon another, to form a conduit for through-flow of an aerosol sample, the stack having an axis, and the system comprising:
- an expander device for separating the impactor stages from one another along the axial direction and supporting them in the resulting expanded configuration,
- at least one recovery station having multiple recovery stages separated along the axial direction for receiving respective components of the impactor stages,
- means for concurrently moving multiple components of the expanded impactor stages to the recovery station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.