Method for sampling air in proportion to respiration

• US 4,183,247 A
• Filed: 05/01/1978
• Issued: 01/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GeoMet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GeoMet, Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, Richard T., Willis, Don, Moyer, Rudolph H., Anderson, Howard H., Martner, Glen R., Sibbett, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/901,654
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 73/421.5 R, 73/24, 128/2.08, 128/2 C, 128/DIG. 29, 128/719
• US Class Current: 73/863.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2276 Personal monitors

Abstract

Method for sampling air in proportion to respiration, particularly the collection of air pollutants in proportion to the actual respiration of the wearer. The method is characterized by its use of a pump supported adjacent the thoracic cavity and activated by the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity during respiration, so as to draw air through an air sampling monitor.

Claims

1. Method for sampling air in proportion to respiration comprising:

A. Supporting an air sampling monitor upon a respirant creature such that the open end of said monitor is adjacent the creature'"'"'s mouth;

B. Pumping air through said sampler by expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity during respiration, said pumping including drawing air through said air sampling monitor, as said thoracic cavity contracts during exhalation and exhausting air, as said thoracic cavity expands upon inhalation;

C. Gauging the amount of pollutants collected within said air sampling monitor, as a function of pollutant inhaled during a given period;

D. Generating electric signals proportionate to the volume of air being pumped during each respiration;

E. Accumulating said signals as a function of total volume of air being inhaled during a given period and displaying said accumulative signals in a digital readout of total air volume inhaled; and

F. Correlating said digital readout of total air volume inhaled with the amount of pollutants collected in said air sampler, as a function of total pollutants inhaled.