Coupling of air samples to a sampler

• US 5,691,487 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Tekmar Company (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tekmar Company (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Green, Thomas B., Wolsing, Todd A., Borer, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/556,666
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 73/863.86, 73/863.31, 73/863.33, 73/864.51, 73/864.91, 73/864.63, 73/864, 73/863.71, 73/863.72
• US Class Current: 73/863.86
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2078 Pre-evacuated bottle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/248 Evacuated containers

Abstract

An air sampler includes a stand for supporting a plurality of sample enclosures from which samples can be randomly and selectively obtained. In a first embodiment, a bracket adjustably fixed to the stand supports each of the sample enclosures. In a second embodiment, an inlet line fluidly couples each of the sample enclosures to a valve carried by the stand. The inlet line has a flexible portion adjacent the end coupleable to the sample enclosure to allow limited misalignment between the sample enclosure and the stand.

Claims

1. An air sampler, comprising:

a stand;

a bracket adjustably fixed to the stand for supporting a sample enclosure, wherein the bracket is adjustable between a first position to support a relatively small sample enclosure and a second position to support a relatively large sample enclosure;

a valve carried by the stand for controlling samples taken from the sample enclosure, the valve having an inlet and an outlet; and

an inlet line having a first end coupleable to the sample enclosure and a second end fluidly coupled to the valve.

2. The air sampler of claim 1 wherein the stand includes a plurality of mounting apertures and the bracket includes posts insertable in selected apertures of the plurality of mounting apertures.

3. The air sampler of claim 2 wherein the bracket includes an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the sample enclosure.

4. The air sampler of claim 1 wherein the inlet line includes a flexible portion adjacent the first end.

5. The air sampler of claim 4 wherein the flexible portion is disposed on an exterior side of the stand.

6. The air sampler of claim 5 wherein the flexible portion comprises a tube forming a coil.

7. The air sampler of claim 1, wherein the stand has a first and second pair of apertures, and wherein the bracket mates with the first pair of apertures in the first position and mates with the second pair of apertures in the second position.

8. An air sampler, comprising:

a stand having a plurality of mounting apertures;

a bracket adjustably fixed to the stand for supporting a sample enclosure, the bracket having posts insertable in selected apertures of the plurality of mounting apertures;

a valve carried by the stand for controlling samples taken from the sample enclosure, the valve having an inlet and an outlet; and

an inlet line having a first end coupleable to the sample enclosure and a second end fluidly coupled to the valve.

9. The air sampler of claim 8 and wherein the inlet line includes a flexible portion adjacent the first end.

10. An air sampler, comprising:

a stand having a plurality of side panels, each side panel having a plurality of mounting apertures;

a plurality of brackets adjustably fixed to the stand, wherein each bracket is capable of supporting a sample enclosure and each bracket includes a post insertable in selected apertures of the plurality of mounting apertures;

a valve carried by the stand for controlling samples taken from the sample enclosures, the valve having an inlet portion and an outlet portion; and

a plurality of inlet lines, wherein each inlet line has a first end coupleable to a sample enclosure and a second end fluidly coupled to the inlet portion of the valve.

11. The air sampler of claim 10, wherein each bracket is adjustable between a first position to support a relatively small sample enclosure and a second position to support a relatively large sample enclosure.

12. The air sampler of claim 10 wherein the side panels are vertical and the plurality of mounting apertures are vertically spaced on the side panels.