System and method for air sampling in controlled environments
First Claim
1. A method for collecting a volume of air from a controlled environment within a facility, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one air sampling device within the controlled environment;
providing a first air sampling controller port outside the controlled environment in fluid communication with the at least one air sampling device;
providing at least one touchpad controller within the controlled environment in wireless communication with the first air sampling controller port;
providing a vacuum source in fluid communication with the first air sampling controller port;
communicating a signal from the at least one touchpad to the first controller port to control the source to draw a predetermined volume of air through the at least one air sampling device at an actual flow rate; and
outputting a signal when the predetermine volume of air has been collected or when a flow rate through the at least one air sampling device falls below or above a programmed value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sampling system for quantifying the amount of contaminants in a controlled environment within a facility, the controller having a plurality of ports, each port having a timer circuit, a flow rate circuit, a flow switch, and a vacuum tube, wherein the flow rate circuit controls the flow switch and maintains a fluid flow through the vacuum tube at about 1 cfm. The system also includes a plurality of air sampling device located within the controlled environment, each connected to one of the plurality of ports by way of the vacuum tube. A touchpad input/output device is connected to a base station, wherein the base station comprises a communications device for wirelessly sending a start and stop signal from the touchpad to the controller.
12 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for collecting a volume of air from a controlled environment within a facility, comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one air sampling device within the controlled environment; providing a first air sampling controller port outside the controlled environment in fluid communication with the at least one air sampling device; providing at least one touchpad controller within the controlled environment in wireless communication with the first air sampling controller port; providing a vacuum source in fluid communication with the first air sampling controller port; communicating a signal from the at least one touchpad to the first controller port to control the source to draw a predetermined volume of air through the at least one air sampling device at an actual flow rate; and outputting a signal when the predetermine volume of air has been collected or when a flow rate through the at least one air sampling device falls below or above a programmed value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling the flow rate of a fluid collected from a controlled environment within a facility, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first air sampling controller port outside the controlled environment in fluid communication with at least one air sampling device inside the controlled environment, the controller port including a timer circuit and a flow rate control circuit; outputting a signal from the timer circuit to a solenoid to initiate a vacuum pump cycle; receiving a signal at the flow rate control circuit representing a fluid flowing through the controller port to determine the flow rate of the fluid, wherein the fluid is one of a gas, a vapor, a particulate matter, or a combination of a gas, a vapor, and a particulate matter; and outputting a signal from the timer circuit to the solenoid to stop the vacuum pump cycle when a predetermine time period has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A sampling system for collecting a volume of air in a controlled environment within a facility, comprising:
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a controller located outside the controlled environment, the controller comprising a timer circuit, an flow rate circuit for providing a fluid flow, a flow switch, a power source, and a tube port in fluid communication with at least one air sampling device located within the controlled environment, wherein the flow rate circuit controls the flow switch and maintains the fluid flow at about a preprogrammed flow rate value; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the air flow switch; and a touchpad wirelessly connected to the controller, wherein the touchpad comprises a communications device for sending a start signal to the controller to collect the volume of air, and sending a stop signal to the controller when the volume of air has been collected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sampling system for quantifying the amount of contaminants in a controlled environment within a facility, comprising:
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a controller, comprising a plurality of ports, each port comprising a timer circuit;
a flow rate circuit;
a flow switch; and
a vacuum tube,a plurality of air sampling devices located within the controlled environment, each connected to one of the plurality of ports by way of the vacuum tube; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with each of the air flow switches; a purge pump in fluid communication with each of the air flow switches; a touchpad connected to at least one of the plurality of ports and controlling the air sampling devices connected to the at least one port. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification