Separator Detail Patents (Class 73/28.04)
  • Patent number: 11519841
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter compensates or corrects for errors that otherwise would be present when a measurement is made on a condensation particle counting system with the only difference causing the errors being absolute pressure. The difference in absolute pressure may be due to, for example, a change in altitude in which the condensation particle counting system is located. Techniques and mechanisms are disclosed to compensate for changes in particle count, at a given particle diameter, for changes in sampled absolute pressure at which measurements are taken. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TSI Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Caldow, Jason Paul Johnson, Hee-Siew Han, Jacob Scheckman
  • Patent number: 11408810
    Abstract: A test device for determining the particle load of pressurized hydrogen includes a housing (2), with an inlet (4) and an outlet (8) for the inflow or outflow of hydrogen, respectively. A sampling chamber (52) has a filter holder (44) for a test filter (58). A sample amount of hydrogen can flow through the test filter during a test procedure. After the test procedure has been completed, the test filter can be removed from the sampling chamber (52) for evaluating the deposition of particles. A venting device (64, 70) for reducing the pressure in the sampling chamber (52) is arranged inside the housing (2) and discharges any remaining hydrogen, at least partially, in the direction of the inlet (4) of the test device after the hydrogen has stopped flowing from the testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HYDAC ACCESSORIES GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Strupp, Stefan Christian Sauer
  • Patent number: 11402304
    Abstract: An environmental sampling system includes a passage in an aircraft component and a removable collector disposed in the passage. The passage has an inlet at a first region and an outlet at a second region. When the aircraft component is in operation the first region is at a greater pressure than the second region such that air flows through the passage from the inlet to the outlet. The removable collector is configured to retain constituents from the air and to react with the media designed to mimic corrosion effects seen at higher temperatures on engine parts. The constituents can then be characterized and correlated to engine deterioration to predict maintenance activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel H. Wagner, Kevin W. Schlichting, Michael Joseph Murphy, Steven H. Zysman, Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott, Andrew A. Consiglio, Charles Waldo Haldeman, IV
  • Patent number: 11116421
    Abstract: A method for conditioning a breathing tube for use in lung function diagnostics and a breathing tube made by such a method. This method is characterized by heating at least a section of a fully assembled breathing tube by a heating source to a temperature of at least 40° C., wherein heating is performed during a first time period, the first time period lasting between 0.1 seconds and 5 seconds wherein the section includes at least one window covered by a mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ndd Medizintechnik AG
    Inventors: Christian Buess, Erich Kleinhappl
  • Patent number: 10960330
    Abstract: A filtration filter device that includes a filtration filter that filters an object to be filtered that a fluid contains, and a holding member that holds an outer circumferential portion of the filtration filter. An annular projecting portion that projects in a thickness direction of the holding member and that defines a channel through which the fluid flows is formed on one main surface of the holding member. A recessed portion that is recessed in the thickness direction of the holding member and that has an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the projecting portion is formed on the other main surface of the holding member. The filtration filter is disposed inside the projecting portion of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Banju, Junko Watanabe, Takashi Kondo, Shogo Tokoi, Yoshio Oda, Ayami Sawai
  • Patent number: 10675566
    Abstract: A filtration filter device that enables the sealability of a fluid channel to be improved is provided. A filtration filter device according to the present invention includes a first channel-forming member that has a first channel through which a fluid flows inside thereof, a second channel-forming member that has a second channel through which a fluid flows inside thereof, and a filtration filter that extends across the first channel or the second channel and that filters an object to be filtered that the fluid contains. The first channel-forming member includes an external thread. The second channel-forming member includes an internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Banju, Junko Watanabe, Takashi Kondo, Shogo Tokoi
  • Patent number: 10663396
    Abstract: A method and an analyzer for detecting impurities in refrigerant (e.g. methyl chloride (R40) or Chlorodifiuoromethane (R22)), wherein the refrigerant analyzer (12) includes a first sensing device (16), preferably a non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR), in flow communication with a second sensing device (18), preferably an electrochemical sensor. The first sensing device is configured to determine a first characteristic of a refrigerant (e.g. absorbance in the IR range), and the second sensing device is configured to detect a second characteristic of the refrigerant (e.g. concentration in ppmv). Preferably, the refrigerant analyzer is a part of a system for detecting impurities (10) and further preferably it comprises flow regulators (20), a scrubber (24) and a processor (22). The scrubber is preferably in flow communication with the first sensing device and it preferably comprises a packing material comprising alumina (Al2O3, aluminum oxide).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Zhiwei Yang, Farley William Postgate, Warren Clough, Ivan Rydkin
  • Patent number: 10569203
    Abstract: A filtration filter device that enables an object filtered and left on a filtration filter to be more readily observed is provided. The filtration filter device includes a filtration filter that filters an object contained in a fluid, a holding member that holds an outer circumferential portion of the filtration filter, and a tubular member that is removably mounted on the holding member such that a hollow portion that serves as a channel through which the fluid flows faces at least a part of a main surface of the filtration filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Banju, Junko Watanabe, Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 10434742
    Abstract: A venting apparatus is disclosed herein. The venting apparatus comprises a substrate, such as a metal substrate or a specialty plastic substrate, having an opening therein and a fluoropolymer membrane, such as ePTFE, disposed over said opening and thermally bonded using a thermoplastic material to said substrate. This allows the fluoropolymer membrane to be directly bonded to the said substrate without using an adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Bacino
  • Patent number: 10408751
    Abstract: A measurement method measures an amount of substance of an analyte in a sample fluid passing through a perforated structure having a pair of principal surfaces opposed to each other and having a plurality of cavity portions extending through both of the principal surfaces. An elapsed time from a time when the sample fluid begins passing through the perforated structure or a predetermined time thereafter to a time when a characteristic value of the perforated structure reaches a predetermined threshold. The elapsed time is used to determine the amount (the concentration) of substance of the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kondo, Seiji Kamba, Naoki Kawara, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10274404
    Abstract: A non-contacting aerodynamic jet tool for collecting particles and vapors associated with surfaces. Opposing planar jets or planar jet arrays are used to liberate material from surfaces so that resuspended particulate matter and vapors can be collected for analysis. In operation, high-speed valves are triggered to create waveforms of high velocity pressurized planar jet bursts. The wall jets that traverse the surfaces exhibit unexpectedly high wall surface stress with velocity spikes characteristic of a chain of shock waves. Unlike axisymmetric jets, the wall jet tool flows over the target surface for a greater distance with wall shear stress having sufficient momentum to dislodge particles submerged in the boundary layer, dramatically improving sampling efficiency by lifting the particles and vapors from the boundary layer into a sampling intake for downstream analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Igor V Novosselov
  • Patent number: 9732368
    Abstract: The device permitting an early detection, without measurement of the fluorescence, of colonies resulting from the multiplication of micro-organisms present in a sample to be tested, includes a substantially flat and horizontal detection surface, on which at least one support for growing the micro-organisms in the form of colonies is arranged immobile. The support is of the type membrane or agar medium. There is a detection system, such as a linear scanner, mounted movable and flat for scanning the whole or part of the surface, including at least one CCD sensor associated with an optical system comprised of at least one lighting and at least one optical device, such as a lens. The CCD sensor has a resolution higher than or equal to 2400 dpi. The detection system images colonies having a diameter smaller than 50 [mu]m through a useful magnification higher than or equal to 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ADVENCIS
    Inventor: Joseph Pierquin
  • Patent number: 9457301
    Abstract: A HEPA filter which utilizes spun bond scrim material and ePTFE membrane for use in an aseptic pharmaceutical filtration air handling system for installation and testing is provided. The installation and testing configuration includes the ePTFE filter with a low or ultra-low concentration of challenging aerosol in the upstream side of the filter along with a scanning device for determining the upstream concentration, all completed in situ within a pharmaceutical air handling system. At the downstream side of the ePTFE filter is positioned another scanner which may be a discrete particle scanner for calculating the penetration percentage of the aerosol through the filtering media of ultra-low concentrations. The system and configuration allows for exposure to ePTFE filtration media for certification by low or ultra-low concentrations of oil based challenging compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: American Air Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Osborne
  • Patent number: 9335236
    Abstract: It comprises a handle (1), an air flow amplifier (8) leading to a retention means (2) such as a cyclone via a passage (3), and a compressed air inlet device (7, 9) in the amplifier (8) that creates a strong suction of outside air, through the nozzle (4) capable of capturing even fine particles of low content up to a measurable quantity. Being completely devoid of electricity, this device is useful in hazardous atmospheres, in particular for detecting the presence of explosives after analysis of the particles collected by this device. It makes it possible to sample particles in extreme conditions of high or low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A l'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Alain Bry, Alexandre Forzy, Lionel Hairault
  • Patent number: 9194274
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle emissions monitoring system capable of providing an accurate, real-time estimate of an amount of particulate matter (PM) within a vehicle's exhaust. The system is capable of accurately differentiating the composition of that PM by identifying amounts attributable to soot, SOF, and sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: AVL TEST SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: William Martin Silvis, Roland Wanker
  • Patent number: 9188506
    Abstract: The present invention is one that, even while cooling exhaust gas without dilution, makes it possible to accurately measure particle concentration, and provided with: a particle concentration measurement device; a sampling cooling pipe that cools the exhaust gas collected from an exhaust gas transfer pipe to a measurable temperature of the particle concentration measurement device without dilution, and introduces the cooled exhaust gas into the particle concentration measurement device; a temperature sensor that detects temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust gas inlet; and a calculation device that, from the detected temperature by the temperature sensor and the temperature of the exhaust gas introduced into the particle concentration measurement device, corrects measured particle concentration by the particle concentration measurement device in real time to calculate the particle concentration of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas transfer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Asano, Masayoshi Shinohara, Kazuo Hanada
  • Patent number: 8978490
    Abstract: An inertial filter is placed in a fluid flow path and equipped with a particle classifying sheet having a plurality of particle classifying holes uniformly arranged. The particle classifying sheet has a sheet area larger than a fluid passage area at a site where the sheet is placed. A part of the sheet is provided in the form of a partition wall dividing the fluid flow path in two sections in a fluid passage direction to allow for classification of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nitta Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Ikeda, Yoshio Otani, Masami Furuuchi, Takafumi Seto, Masato Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8966958
    Abstract: A new installment classifies particles by their aerodynamic size This installment produces a truly monodisperse aerosol, and can produce very narrow distributions over a wide range of sizes Particles suspended in a fluid are classified by supplying particles into suspension in a carrier flow of a fluid and providing an acceleration to the flow at an angle to the velocity of the flow to cause the particles to follow trajectories determined by the acceleration and drag on the particles caused by the fluid The particles are then classified according to their trajectories The installment has a flow channel and a source of particles to supply particles into suspension in a carrier fluid in the flow channel A drive is connected to the flow channel at an angle to the flow of fluid through the carrier flow channel, and a classification system classifies the suspended particles according to their trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventor: Jason Olfert
  • Patent number: 8955368
    Abstract: An apparatus for aerosol collection and fluid analysis includes a rotary motor, an aerosol-collection disk configured for mounting on the rotary motor, and a fluid-analysis disk that is also configured for mounting on the rotary motor. The aerosol-collection disk includes at least one interior inlet, at least one peripheral outlet and a passage coupling the interior inlet with the peripheral outlet, and a particle collector opposite the peripheral outlet. The fluid-analysis disk includes at least one fluid in each of a first reservoir and in a second reservoir on or in the fluid-analysis disk and offset from a central axis of the disk, wherein each reservoir has an outlet and a stopper in the outlet of each reservoir to seal the reservoirs; and release of the fluids from the reservoirs is spin-induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: John P. D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 8925398
    Abstract: A method for classifying a powder using a fluid classifier, which comprises a mixing step of mixing a powder and an assistant agent composed of an alcohol, an input step of inputting the powder mixed in the mixing step into the fluid classifier, a heating step of heating a gas, a supply step of supplying the gas heated in the heating step into the fluid classifier, and a classification step of classifying the powder according to particle diameters in the fluid classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nisshin Seifun Group Inc.
    Inventors: Kazumi Kozawa, Satoshi Akiyama, Kosuke Ando
  • Patent number: 8919183
    Abstract: A new instrument for electrical-mobility based size segregation of particles at high resolution is described. The instrument called the high-flow dual-channel differential mobility analyzer (HD-DMA) comprises of five flows: a polydisperse aerosol flow, a clean sheath flow, two monodisperse sample flows and a residual excess flow. High resolution measurements are possible because of the large sheath flowrates that are permissible in this instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Clarkson University
    Inventors: Suresh Dhaniyala, Praney Dubey
  • Publication number: 20140260542
    Abstract: Provided is an analyzer for a substance, including: a first particle holding unit having a tubular shape; a first intake pipe for sucking a gas from an upper side of the first particle holding unit to cause a cyclonic phenomenon inside the first particle holding unit; a first supply pipe for supplying a sample containing particles, the first supply pipe being connected to a side surface of the first particle holding unit; a first flow control unit for controlling a flow rate of a gas flowing into the first particle holding unit to hold the rotationally moving particles inside the first particle holding unit for a predetermined time period and then cause the particles to settle, the first flow control unit being connected to a lower part of the first particle holding unit; a first collection heating unit for collecting and heating the settled particles; and an analysis unit for analyzing a substance vaporized from the particles through the heating by the first collection heating unit, the analysis unit being c
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi NAGANO, Yasuaki TAKADA, Yuichiro HASHIMOTO, Masakazu SUGAYA, Hideo KASHIMA, Koichi TERADA, Yasutaka SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8739602
    Abstract: The Portable Ultrafine Particle Sizer (PUPS) invention is provided. The PUPS is an instrument which can measure particle number concentration for particle sizes under 200 nanometers in-situ. The PUPS is a compact design for quick mounting on vehicles. Size discrimination is accomplished using a compact reverse Differential Mobility Analyzer (rDMA). Particle charging is accomplished using corona ionization. Concentration measurements are completed using a unique flexible printed circuit board electrode which can be removed for cleaning, disposal or chemical analysis of collected particles at the end of its in situ measurement life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Andrew Vize, Matthew Casari, Britt Holmen, Jeff Frolik
  • Patent number: 8726744
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for concentrating a fluid sample. A portable or hand-held concentrator is used to draw the fluid sample through a filter into an internal chamber, capturing target particles on the filter. An elution cartridge containing an elution fluid is used to recover the captured particles into a reduced fluid volume. The hand-held concentrator includes a tip, which, when opened, allows the hand-held concentrator to draw the fluid sample into the tip and through the filter wall into the internal chamber. The drawing occurs due to a vacuum or wicking source in the internal chamber of the hand-held concentrator. The target particles are captured on the filter. The elution fluid contains a foaming agent and is held under a head pressure of gas soluble in the elution fluid. The target particles are eluted from the filter into the reduced fluid volume using an elution foam that is formed when the elution fluid is released from the elution cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: InnovaPrep LLC
    Inventors: David Scott Alburty, Andrew Edward Page, Alec D. Adolphson, Zachary A. Packingham
  • Patent number: 8726720
    Abstract: A particulate monitoring system includes a conduit in which to a pass a fluid sample from an input port to an output port. The particulate monitoring system receives a fluid sample inputted to the conduit through the input port. The fluid sample can include different sizes of particulate matter. The particulate monitoring system controls a flow of the fluid sample through the conduit to age the particulate matter. Gravitational forces cause a portion of the particulate matter in the fluid sample to fall into a basin as opposed to being exhausted through the output port, which is disposed at a vertically higher level of the conduit than the input port. Thus, the particulate monitoring system outputs a portion of the original particulate matter in the fluid sample (e.g., particulate matter that does not drop into the basin out due to gravity) for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Goohs, Jeffrey Socha
  • Publication number: 20140083167
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sampling and measuring air born particulate matter includes an inlet for the particulate containing gas to enter. A mechanism then removes coarse particles larger than a selected size while permitting filtered particles of less than the selected size to pass through. A chamber containing a quartz crystal sensor permits the filtered particles that have passed through to deposit to create an output signal in response to the deposited particle mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Y. H. Liu, Virgil A. Marple, Francisco Romay, Lin Li
  • Publication number: 20140060155
    Abstract: A system and a method is described herein for the collection of small particles in a concentrated manner, whereby particles are deposited onto a solid surface or collected into a volume of liquid. The collected samples readily interface to any of a number of different elemental, chemical, or biological or other analysis techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TSI Incorporated
    Inventors: Susanne V. Hering, Gregory S. Lewis, Arantzazu Eiguren Fernandez, Frederick Quant, Kenneth R. Farmer
  • Publication number: 20140013823
    Abstract: A particulate mass measuring device of the beta attenuation type featuring a sheath air plenum from which a radial sheath airflow pathway extends which is in fluid communication with an ambient air chamber. The radial sheath airflow from the radial sheath airflow pathway merges with an axial ambient airflow from the ambient air chamber deflecting particulate matter from surfaces of the ambient air chamber thereby increasing the accuracy of particulate mass measurements. The radial sheath airflow is particle free or substantially particle free. In other embodiments, the radial sheath airflow is used to deflect particulate matter in other particulate mass measuring devices, such as those that measure particulate mass in liquid and gas samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Met One Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Seung-Ho Hong
  • Publication number: 20130276515
    Abstract: A measuring device (10) for dust (S0) in flue gas, includes a housing (10) and at least one sensor (45) arranged in the housing (11) for obtaining measuring data of the withdrawn sample. During operation, samples of the dust (S0) can be taken continuously. The sensor (45) is sensitive for gas (G), which arrives in the housing (11) accumulated on the dust (S1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: STEAG Powitec GmbH
    Inventor: Franz WINTRICH
  • Publication number: 20130276514
    Abstract: According to the method for controlling a filter (3) for an air intake duct of a turbine: the filter (3) is exposed to an incident flow of sprayed salt water; and parameters of the flow on either side of the filter, which are representative of the salt retention capability of the filter, are measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Philippe Claudon
  • Patent number: 8555700
    Abstract: A particulate filter particularly suited for analytical gravimetric weighing applications is disclosed. The particulate filter includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) media supported by a ring and yields stable microgram and submicrogram weighing results. The support ring may be PTFE, metal foil, or another non-hygroscopic polymer such that the mass of the filter does not vary with changes in atmospheric moisture. The filter simplifies the discharge of electrostatic charge buildup such that when a conductive filter media is combined with a conductive ring device, the discharge may be accomplished by placing the filter on a grounded weighing pan or other surface. The particulate filter can simplify filter identification by including identification symbols imprinted on each side of the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Measurement Technology Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Dikken
  • Publication number: 20130213115
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for size-specific detection of particles entrained in fluids are provided. A particle size selector separates particles entrained in a sample fluid stream using a curved channel. Shroud fluid streams are interposed between the sample fluid stream and walls of the channel. Centrifugal forces arising from fluid flow through the curved channel separate differently-sized particles into different transverse sections of the channel. A detector downstream from the particle size selector specifically detects particles in one or more transverse sections of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Winnie Chu-Hui Chu, Allison Schaap, Boris Stoeber
  • Publication number: 20130199271
    Abstract: A method for detecting explosive substance particles in a gas flow includes passing the gas flow through an adsorption net for a specified time period so as to adsorb explosive-substance particles in the gas flow on the adsorption net. The adsorption not includes a microfilter having a pore size that is smaller than the particle size of the explosive-substance particles. The adsorption net is heated to a heating temperature so as to desorb the explosive-substance particles from the adsorption net. A gas flow comprising the desorbed explosive-substance particles is supplied to a detector so as to detect the explosive-substance particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Beer, Thomas Ziemann, Alois Friedberger
  • Publication number: 20130199270
    Abstract: A sensing system and method for detecting particles in an air volume includes a main airflow path including an inlet from the air volume. Also included is a collection site within the main airflow path. The collection site is for drawing an air sample from the main airflow path. Additionally the system includes a means to induce a localized increase in particle speed at the collection site relative to air speed along the remainder of the main airflow path. The means to induce a localized increase includes an auxiliary airflow path from the main airflow path. The auxiliary airflow path has an exit upstream of the collection site. In an alternative form of the invention, the means to induce the localized increase in particle speed at the collection site comprises a venturi in the main airflow path with the collection site being disposed along the venturi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Xtralis Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Rajiv Kumar Singh, Kemal Ajay
  • Publication number: 20130192341
    Abstract: A particle separation system for separating particles in an airflow upstream of a detection chamber in an aspirating smoke detector is disclosed. The particle separation system includes an airflow path for directing the airflow from an inlet to an outlet. The airflow path includes a first airflow path section in a first direction and a second airflow path section in a second direction, the first and second directions being different relative to each other. The airflow path also includes at least one electrically charged surface such that the airflow undergoes electrostatic precipitation as it traverses the airflow path. A method of separating particles in an airflow upstream of a detection chamber in an aspirating smoke detector is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Xtralis Techhnologies Ltd 2nd Floor
    Inventors: Kemal Ajay, Brian Alexander
  • Publication number: 20130174643
    Abstract: A system and method for characterizing a totality of particles selects a class of the totality of particles having a defined mobility; determines the total particle concentration of the class of particles; filters the class of particles using the filter apparatus and determines a filtered particle concentration indicative of the particles of the class which penetrate the filter apparatus; and determines at least one morphological parameter based on the fraction of particles of a class penetrating the filter apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Jing Wang, David Y.H. Pui, Heinz Fissan, Sheng-Chieh Chen
  • Patent number: 8474304
    Abstract: A device for determination of solid particle concentration includes a primary diluter (6), a downstream heated evaporator (7), a secondary diluter (8) downstream of the evaporator (7) and a particle counter (5). The secondary diluter (8) is a porous tube diluter and is mounted between the outlet of the evaporator (7) and a stabilization chamber (14), from which the sample flow is diverted to the particle counter (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Knopf, Helmut Pongratz, Alexander Bergmann
  • Patent number: 8459098
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a physiologic sampling pump (PSP) which uses at least one valve placed near the sampling medium to modulate air sampling to follow a person's inhalation rate and to obviate the sluggishness inherent in prior art PSPs caused by varying pump speed and by the propagation time through an air tube that connects the collection medium to prior art pumps thereby also obviating limitations inherent in system response, functionality, and accuracy. Moreover, by maintaining an essentially constant air flow through a cyclone at all times and through the collection medium while sampling, the present invention operates at known collection efficiencies, and is therefore capable of size-selective sampling of particulates as opposed to prior art PSPs that by varying the magnitude of air flow, make the separation efficiencies of pre-collection devices indeterminate and the samples worthless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Larry Alan Lee, Michael Martin Flemmer
  • Publication number: 20130125623
    Abstract: A particulate filter particularly suited for analytical gravimetric weighing applications is disclosed. The particulate filter includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) media supported by a ring and yields stable microgram and submicrogram weighing results. The support ring may be PTFE, metal foil, or another non-hygroscopic polymer such that the mass of the filter does not vary with changes in atmospheric moisture. The filter simplifies the discharge of electrostatic charge buildup such that when a conductive filter media is combined with a conductive ring device, the discharge may be accomplished by placing the filter on a grounded weighing pan or other surface. The particulate filter can simplify filter identification by including identification symbols imprinted on each side of the filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventor: Measurement Technology Laboratories, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130110326
    Abstract: A measuring device for an aircraft is provided in order to determine physical properties of aerosol particles in real time. The device includes a heating device that separates volatile and solid aerosol particles, and a particle sensor that measures acquired data. The physical properties of the solid aerosol particles are determined with an analyzer. The determined analytical data is forwarded to other internal aircraft systems via a communication interface. Due to the formation of a measuring data or analytical data network with several airliners equipped with the measuring device, accurate and up-to-date information on the particle pollution, for example, along flight paths, can be obtained and used for defining no-fly zones, if so required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Airbus Operations GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130075487
    Abstract: An atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus. The apparatus has a cooler having a surface with a sharp point. The cooler generates a condensate from ambient atmosphere exposed to the cooler. A ground electrode is electrically and mechanically separated from the cooler. A high voltage power supply switchably provides a high voltage between the sharp point of the cooler and the ground electrode. A controller is electrically connected to the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The controller controls the operation of the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray ionizer apparatus generates the condensate and generates particulate spray from the condensate in response to command signals issued from the controller. In some embodiments, an analyzer is provided to analyze particles of the spray to determine the chemical composition of the condensate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Fedor D. Kossakovski, Dmitri A. Kossakovski, Jesse L. Beauchamp, Monika E. FREISER
  • Patent number: 8402815
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air pollution sensor system (1) comprising an air inlet (11), an air outlet (12), a sensor unit (2), and an air displacement device (3). The air displacement device is arranged to establish an air flow (4) from the air inlet through the sensor unit to the air outlet. The sensor unit comprises, a filter (22) for removing airborne pollutants from the air flow. The sensor unit is arranged to generate an output signal (21) based on the amount of airborne pollutants removed from the air flow by the filter. The air displacement device is arranged to be controlled by the output signal, thereby improving the lifetime of the air pollution sensor system by minimizing the amount of pollutants that will be deposited inside the sensor unit when the air pollution sensor system is operated under predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Johan Marra
  • Publication number: 20130067993
    Abstract: An apparatus for aerosol collection and fluid analysis includes a rotary motor, an aerosol-collection disk configured for mounting on the rotary motor, and a fluid-analysis disk that is also configured for mounting on the rotary motor. The aerosol-collection disk includes at least one interior inlet, at least one peripheral outlet and a passage coupling the interior inlet with the peripheral outlet, and a particle collector opposite the peripheral outlet. The fluid-analysis disk includes at least one fluid in each of a first reservoir and in a second reservoir on or in the fluid-analysis disk and offset from a central axis of the disk, wherein each reservoir has an outlet and a stopper in the outlet of each reservoir to seal the reservoirs; and release of the fluids from the reservoirs is spin-induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John P. D'Angelo
  • Publication number: 20130061659
    Abstract: There is described a filter arrangement for a particle detector for detecting particles in an environment. The particle detector can include one or more sensors for analyzing fluid in a detection region to produce sensor output. The filter arrangement includes structure defining flow paths, for conveying fluid from the environment towards the detection region, including a first flow path, which includes a filter, and a second flow path bypassing the filter. There is also provided a mechanism for controlling relative flow rates of fluid through the first flow path and the second flow path and a controller configured to receive the sensor output corresponding to at least two relative flow rates and apply logic thereto to generate an output indicative of a condition of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Xtralis Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Kemal Ajay, Nitin Vaveda
  • Patent number: 8393195
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a chemical compound, typically an impurity, and for accumulating said chemical compound on a capture mass CAPT included in at least one removable adsorbent cartridge MC over a period exceeding 2 days, with a view to the external chemical analysis thereof. The apparatus ST suitable for capturing at least one chemical compound in a fluid flow for its detection and/or quantification comprise, downstream of said cartridge or cartridges, at least one device for measuring the cumulative flow which has traversed the cartridge or cartridges over a set time period. In a preferred variation of the invention, the capture mass CAPT is fragmented into a plurality of elementary masses CAPTi which allows for the spread of an irreversible adsorption front or the displacement of a chromatographic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Olivier Ducreux, Fabienne Le Peltier, Cyril Collado
  • Patent number: 8365578
    Abstract: A rotary particle sensor assembly and an air cleaner having the rotary particle sensor assembly are disclosed. Particularly, in the present invention, regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner, the rotary particle sensor assembly can always be oriented in the direction of gravity. The rotary particle sensor assembly includes a particle sensor, which measures the pollution level of air drawn into the air cleaner. The particle sensor is supported in the air cleaner so as to be rotatable using a rotating shaft and has a weight at a predetermined position. Thus, the particle sensor can always be oriented in the direction of gravity by the weight regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner. Therefore, the present invention ensures the accuracy of measurement of the pollution level of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Hyung Bae
  • Patent number: 8357542
    Abstract: Provided are a suspended particulate matter measurement apparatus capable of automatically measuring a nitrate ion content and a sulfate ion content in the atmosphere, and a suspended particulate matter measurement method using the same. The suspended particulate matter measurement apparatus includes a filter, suction part, extraction part, measurement part, and a recording part. The suction part suctions air in the atmosphere at a constant flow rate to cause particulate matter contained therein to be adsorbed onto the filter. The extraction part extracts components of the particulate matter adsorbed onto the filter, by dissolving the particulate matter into a solvent, and collects a resultant solution. The measurement part measures at least one of a nitrate ion content and a sulfate ion content in the solution collected by the extraction part, and outputs the measurement result. The recording part records the measurement result outputted from the measurement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kimoto Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kimoto, Yoichi Mitani, Xiang Gao, Akiko Fukunaga, Saori Kitayama
  • Patent number: 8342003
    Abstract: A system for measurement and analysis of pipeline contaminants is provided. The system includes a first assembly for engaging a pipeline from which a first fluid flow sample may be isokinetically collected for measurement of aerosol contaminants. The system also includes a second assembly for engaging the pipeline from which a second fluid flow sample may be collected for chromatographic analysis of the aerosol contaminants. The system may further include a third assembly for engaging the pipeline from which a fluid flow sample may be obtained for measurement of solid contaminants. Information on aerosol contaminants and solid contaminants can subsequently be used to select an appropriate extraction technology to control the presence of aerosol and solid contaminants within the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Perry Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: David Burns, Tomas Borjon, Mark Scott
  • Patent number: 8316692
    Abstract: A particle monitor (1) including a module (3) for measuring a particle content of a sample, the module including an analysis chamber (4) for receipt of the sample and a heating unit (24) for maintaining an operating temperature of the chamber (4) and for heating the air used for purging the sample from the chamber (4). The invention also relates to a particle monitor (1) with a vibrator assembly (6) and to a particle monitor (1) with a valve assembly (8) for effecting a fast purge mode, for clearing a sample tube (5), and a slow purge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Scantech International Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth Graham Smith, Mark Triggs
  • Patent number: 8312759
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting portions of a target sample are disclosed herein. A method for detecting the presence and/or properties of a target sample can include selectively collecting a portion of a target sample with a sample collector and detecting, with the sample collector, the presence of one or more properties of the microscopic portion of the target sample. The method also includes analyzing, with the sample collector, the one or more properties of the microscopic portion of the target sample. Based on the analysis, the method further includes reporting, from the sample collector, a real-time indication of the analysis of the one or more properties of the target sample. The method can also include at least partially removing the microscopic portion of the target sample from the sample collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister