Hazardous material detection system for use with mail and other objects

• US 20040026491A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Incorporated (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Terry, William S., Beckert, John T., Hutchinson, Daniel M., Rice, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,948,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 232/17
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1221 comprising means to detect or prevent a terrorist attack, e.g. to detect anthrax-laced letters
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1207 for posting letters combined with franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1209 Rural letter-boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2205 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices

Abstract

A portable detection system (10) for hazardous materials including explosives and infectious or hazardous biological agents readily adapted to conventional mail collection boxes (12), rural mailboxes (100) and the like. The system includes a fan (14) and a sensor (16). The fan (14) provides sufficient airflow to circulate the air within a mailbox such that the internal air after coming in contact with the contents is directed the sensor for analysis. The air quality can be determined visually (137), audibly (138), or electronically (139). Consequently once such detection is made and the air is verified as being safe, the contents can be removed safely. If it is determined that the air contains some type of hazardous material, further steps can be taken to specifically locate the source of such hazardous material. An alternative embodiment includes a filter (15) to improve fan efficiency. The system is further adaptable to other mail container embodiments such as a mailbag (40).

Claims

1. A mail collection receptacle hazardous material detection system for use in conjunction with a mail collection receptacle having a chamber, said system comprising:

air circulation means for creating an air-stream in the chamber of the mail collection receptacle, said air circulation means being capable of attachment to a wall of the mail collection receptacle, wherein said air-stream agitates particulates within the mail collection and conveys the particulates for analysis of a hazardous agent; and

air sampling means for analyzing air within the chamber for the hazardous agent being capable of attachment to the wall of the mail collection receptacle in fluid communication with the chamber of the mail collection receptacle.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air circulation means comprises a fan.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein said air circulation means further comprises a filter.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air circulation means is capable of being attached to an interior surface of the mail collection receptacle.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air circulation means is further capable of drawing air from the atmosphere outside the mail collection receptacle to the chamber through an air inlet affixed to the mail collection receptacle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said air circulation means is adapted to be located outside the mail collection receptacle and further adapted to force air into the chamber through an inlet port located in the wall of the mail collection receptacle.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air circulation means comprises:

a power source connection to power said air circulation means; and

an on-off switch operably connected to said power source connection.

8. The system as defined in claims 7, wherein said air circulation means further comprises a timer operably connected to said on-off switch.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air sampling means is capable of being attached to an interior surface of the mail collection receptacle.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air sampling means is capable of being attached to an exterior surface of the mail collection receptacle and further adapted to draw air from the chamber through an air outlet affixed to the mail collection receptacle, and further comprises a particulate sensor being capable of sensing the hazardous agents selected from the group consisting of biowarfare agents, chemical agents, and explosive agents, wherein said particulate sensor being further capable of providing an indication whenever said air-stream contains one or more of the hazardous agents.

11. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein said air sampling means comprises:

a power source connection to supply power to said air circulation means; and

an on-off switch operably connected to said power source connection.

12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said air sampling means further comprises a timer operably connected to said on-off switch.

13. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said air sampling means is constructed and arranged to be monitored through a transparent window affixed to the mail collection receptacle.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein said air sampling means comprises a test strip.

15. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air sampling means comprises a particulate sensor being capable of sensing the hazardous agents selected from the group consisting of biowarfare agents, chemical agents, and explosive agents, wherein said particulate sensor being further capable of providing an indication whenever said air-stream contains one or more of the hazardous agents.

16. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein said air sampling means further comprises a tube forming a fluid passage between the chamber of the mail collection receptacle and said particulate sensor.

17. A method to detect hazardous materials within a chamber of a mail collection receptacle comprising the steps of:

sensing the air in the chamber of the mail collection receptacle for hazardous materials;

indicating when the presence of hazardous material within the air of the mail collection receptacle is sensed; and

ceasing the step of sensing after the indication of the presence of hazardous material within the air of the mail collection receptacle.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the step of sensing ceases after a predetermined time has elapsed without an indication of the presence of hazardous material within the air of the mail collection receptacle.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

creating an air-stream in the chamber of the mail collection receptacle;

using the air-stream for agitating and conveying particulates within the mail collection receptacle; and

ceasing the air stream after the indication of the presence of hazardous material within the air of the mail collection receptacle.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 further comprising the step of ceasing the air stream after a predetermined time has elapsed without an indication of the presence of hazardous material within the air of the mail collection receptacle.

21. A mail collection enclosure for hazardous material detection, comprising:

a mail container having an interior and a cutout in a side thereof to view the contents of said mail container from the outside thereof;

a transparent window larger than said cutout attached to said mail container and forming a sufficiently airtight seal around said cutout; and

a particulate sensor for detecting hazardous agents and attached to said interior of said mail container adjacent to the transparent window.

22. The mail collection enclosure as defined in claim 21, wherein said mail container comprises a bag.

23. The mail collection enclosure as defined in claim 21, wherein said mail container comprises a box.

24. The mail collection enclosure as defined in claim 21, wherein said particulate sensor comprises a reactive test strip.

25. A method to detect hazardous agents in a mail collection receptacle comprising the steps of:

depositing mail articles within the mail collection receptacle;

agitating the mail collection receptacle;

sensing for the presence of hazardous agents; and

indicating the presence of hazardous agents in the mail collection receptacle when such agents are sensed.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said agitating step comprises the steps of picking up and shaking the mail collection receptacle.

27. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said agitating step comprises the step of depositing mail articles within the mail collection receptacle.

28. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said indicating step comprises changing in color of a test strip.

29. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said indicating step comprises sounding of an audio alarm.

30. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said indicating step comprises transmitting a signal to a remote monitoring station.

31. The method as defined in claim 25 wherein the method is carried out in a vehicle.

32. A hazardous material detection system for use in the collection of mail or other objects, said system comprising:

an incoming mail chamber to receive mail or other objects for hazardous material analysis;

a test chamber, said test chamber being in alignment with said incoming mail chamber such that mail or other objects deposited in said incoming mail chamber are conveyed into said test chamber; and

a detection device operably associated with said test chamber for sensing samples of air in said test chamber for the presence of hazardous material and for providing an indication when the hazardous material is present;

whereby mail or other objects are screened for hazardous material in order to make a determination of their free-of hazardous-material condition prior to removal from the mail collection receptacle to another facility.

33. The hazardous material detection system defined in claim 32 constructed and arranged for being used in conjunction with a vehicle.

34. The hazardous material detection system defined in claim 32 wherein said incoming mail chamber comprises at least one door being capable of forming a substantially airtight seal within said test chamber for containment of possibly contaminated air.

35. The mail hazardous material detection system defined in claim 32 further comprising at least one recirculating fan within said test chamber to agitate the air and loosen substances within said test chamber such that said detection device receives a sufficient air sample for testing.

36. The mail hazardous material detection system defined in claim 33, wherein said collection of mail or other objects are agitated due to the motion of said vehicle when said vehicle is in motion.