Portable multi-tube air sampler unit

• US 8,196,479 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Ludwick, Richard K., Wilson, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US12/582,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20110088490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233.7, 73 2341- 2342, 73/280.1, 73/280.4, 73/310.2, 73/310.7, 7386301-86302, 7386311-86321, 738/632.3, 7386325-86331, 738/633.3, 738/637.1, 738/643.4, 738/648.1, 738/648.3, 738/648.5
• US Class Current: 73/863.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling

Abstract

A portable multi-tube air sampler device for capturing samples of trace elements in a suspected contaminated environment which includes a plurality of sample tubes for collecting sample trace elements, parallel inlet and outlet manifolds which minimize the length of the sample inlet path while utilizing short straight sample tubes, a hinged retainer bar mechanism which allows for easy removal and replacement of the various sample tubes, and a removably attachable controller unit which can be installed on the exterior portion of the carrying case for controlling the operation of the sampling protocol. Other embodiments include heated inlet manifold and sample intake paths to prevent contamination accumulation and carryover, a clean cycle option with a filter valved into the inlet flow path to enhance the purging cycle, and a mechanism for converting the present device to a desorbing auto sampler configuration. The present system likewise incorporates a purging cycle prior to each sampling cycle.

Claims

1. A sampling device for collecting a plurality of separate samples of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere wherein one sample of trace elements is collected per sampling cycle, said sampling device comprising:

a carrying case;

an inlet probe for drawing a sample flow of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere to the sampling device during a particular sampling cycle;

a plurality of removably attachable sample tubes, each sample tube having opposite end portions;

an inlet manifold having a plurality of inlet valves associated therewith, each inlet valve being associated with a corresponding sample tube;

an outlet manifold having a plurality of outlet valves associated therewith, each outlet valve being associated with a corresponding sample tube;

said plurality of sample tubes being operatively connected to said inlet and outlet manifolds and to said corresponding inlet and outlet valves;

an electronic control system operable for controlling the operation of said inlet and outlet valves for selectively directing a sample flow of trace elements from said inlet probe to one of a selected sample tube during a particular sampling cycle;

a pump for sequentially drawing a sample flow of trace elements into one of said sample tubes at a time as directed by said electronic control system;

a removably attachable controller unit operatively connected to said electronic control system, said controller unit being removably attachable to a port located on the exterior of said carrying case for allowing a user to selectively choose any one of a plurality of different sampling protocols; and

a battery for supplying power to said sampling device.

2. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a hinged retainer bar assembly for holding one end portion of each of said sample tubes in a fixed position within said carrying case.

3. The sampling device defined in claim 2 wherein said hinged retainer bar assembly includes at least one pivotally movable member, said at least one pivotally movable member being movable between a first closed position wherein the one end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are held in a fixed position within said carrying case and a second open position wherein the one end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are free from attachment within said carrying case.

4. The sampling device defined in claim 2 wherein said hinged retainer bar assembly includes first and second pivotally movable members, said first pivotally movable member being movable between a closed position wherein the one end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are held in a fixed position within said carrying case and an open position wherein the one end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are no longer held in a fixed position within said carrying case, and wherein said second pivotally movable member is movable between a closed position wherein the one end portion of at least one of said plurality of sample tubes is held in a fixed position within said carrying case and an open position wherein the one end portion of said at least one sample tube is no longer held in a fixed position within said carrying case.

5. The sampling device defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second pivotally movable members include spaced apart cutout portions for respectively engaging the one end portion of said respective sample tubes.

6. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols includes a sampling cycle of three seconds and a sampling cycle of sixty seconds.

7. The sampling device defined in claim 6 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols further includes a sixty second sampling cycle wherein 1 liter of a sample flow is passed through a type 5 cartridge tube in sixty seconds.

8. The sampling device defined in claim 6 including a pair of indicator lights associated with at least some of said plurality of sample tubes, one indicator light being illuminated when a three second sampling cycle has been used with a respective sample tube, and the other indicator light being illuminated when a sixty second sample cycle has been used with a respective sample tube.

9. The sampling device defined in claim 8 wherein the states of the respective pair of indicator lights are latched for preservation during power down so that upon reapplication of power said indicator lights will again display the current state of each respective tube.

10. The sampling device defined in claim 8 including a reset button positionable within said carrying case, said reset button allowing a user to cancel the illumination of said indicator lights when activated.

11. The sampling device defined in claim 10 wherein activation of said reset button resets said controller unit and said electronic control system for sequentially selecting said sample tubes.

12. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein the operation of said sampling device includes a purging cycle, said purging cycle directing a sample flow through the inlet manifold and through the inlet portion of each respective inlet valve for purging any residual trace elements therefrom prior to initiating a particular sampling cycle.

13. The sampling device defined in claim 12 wherein said inlet manifold includes a pump valve, said pump valve being operative for controlling said purging cycle, said pump valve being operatively controlled by said electronic control system.

14. The sampling device defined in claim 12 wherein said electronic control system automatically initiates a purging cycle prior to any sampling cycle when any one of said plurality of sampling protocols are activated through said controller unit.

15. The sampling device defined in claim 12 including a filter positioned upstream from said plurality of inlet valves for purging the incoming sample flow to remove ambient contaminants therefrom, an incoming sample flow being diverted through said filter during a purging cycle.

16. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of said sample tubes are constructed and configured for compatible attachment to a HAPSITE field portable mass spectrometer.

17. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet manifold includes a heating element.

18. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a plurality of spare sample tubes, said spare sample tubes being housed within said carrying case.

19. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of sample tubes includes a plurality of tri-bed concentrator tubes and at least one type 5 cartridge tube.

20. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a voice recorder operable from said control unit for the audible collection of information during a sampling cycle.

21. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet probe is removably attachable to an inlet port located on the exterior portion of said carrying case.

22. The sampling device defined in claim 21 including a sample retrieval and desorption mode for evacuating said sample tubes for analysis wherein said sampling device further includes an inlet port associated with said outlet manifold for attaching an inert gas source thereto, a desorption valve associated with the outlet manifold for controlling the flow of inert gas through the outlet manifold to a selected sample tube for desorption, a heat control unit for individually heating at least some of the sample tubes for desorption, the inlet port of said sampling device being operatively configured to receive an external analytical instrument for receiving the sample of trace elements collected within the selected sample tube for desorption, and a heat control unit for heating the inlet manifold and the flow path between the inlet manifold and an external analytical instrument, said electronic control system controlling said desorption valve and said inlet and outlet valves so as to direct the flow of inert gas from the inlet port of said outlet manifold through a selected sample tube and through said inlet manifold to an external analytical instrument.

23. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a heat control unit for heating the inlet manifold and the flow path between the inlet probe and the inlet manifold during a sampling cycle.

24. The sampling device defined in claim 1 wherein said controller unit includes an indicator light, said indicator light being illuminated in a steady condition when said sampling device is ready for collecting samples of trace elements, said indicator light being illuminated in a flashing condition during a particular sampling cycle, and said indicator light being unlit when all of said sample tubes have been used.

25. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a main system plate positionable within said carrying case, said inlet manifold and said sample tubes being positioned on one side of said main system plate and said outlet manifold being positioned in parallel relationship to said inlet manifold on the opposite side of said main system plate.

26. The sampling device defined in claim 1 including a filter positioned upstream from said plurality of inlet valves for purging the incoming sample flow to remove ambient contaminants therefrom, an incoming sample flow being diverted through said filter during a sampling cycle to establish a base line contamination level associated with said sampling device.

27. A sampling device for collecting a plurality of separate samples of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere wherein one sample of trace elements is collected per sampling cycle, said sampling device comprising:

a portable carrying case;

an inlet probe for drawing a sample flow of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere to the sampling device during a particular sampling cycle, said inlet probe being removably attachable to an inlet port located on the exterior portion of said carrying case;

an inlet manifold having a plurality of inlet valves associated therewith;

an outlet manifold having a plurality of outlet valves associated therewith;

a plurality of sample tubes operatively connected to said inlet and outlet manifolds and to said corresponding inlet and outlet valves;

an electronic control system operable for controlling the operation of said inlet and outlet valves for selectively directing a sample flow of trace elements from said inlet probe to one of a selected sample tube during a particular sampling cycle;

a pump for sequentially drawing a sample flow of trace elements into one of said sample tubes at a time as directed by said electronic control system;

a battery for supplying power to said sampling device; and

said electronic control system being further operable to control and to automatically initiate a purging cycle prior to any sampling cycle, said purging cycle directing a sample flow through the inlet manifold and through the inlet portion of each respective inlet valve for purging any residual trace elements therefrom prior to initiating a particular sampling cycle.

28. The sampling device defined in claim 27 wherein said electronic control system includes a controller unit, said controller unit being removably attachable to said electronic control system through a port located on the exterior of said carrying case, said controller unit allowing a user to selectively choose any one of a plurality of different sampling protocols.

29. The sampling device defined in claim 28 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols includes a sampling cycle of three seconds and a sampling cycle of sixty seconds.

30. The sampling device defined in claim 27 including at least one pivotally rotatable retainer bar member for holding one end portion of each of said sample tubes in a fixed position within said carrying case, said at least one pivotally rotatable retainer bar member being movable between a closed position wherein the one end portion of each of said sample tubes is held in a fixed position within said carrying case and an open position wherein the one end portion of each of said sample tubes is no longer held in a fixed position within said carrying case.

31. The sampling device defined in claim 27 wherein said inlet manifold includes a pump valve, said pump valve being operative for controlling said purging cycle and said sampling cycles, said pump valve being operatively controlled by said electronic control system.

32. The sampling device defined in claim 27 including a filter positioned upstream from said plurality of inlet valves, an incoming sample flow being diverted through said filter during a purging cycle to remove ambient contaminants therefrom.

33. A sampling device for collecting samples of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere comprising:

a portable carrying case;

an inlet probe for drawing a sample flow of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere to the sampling device;

an inlet manifold having a plurality of inlet valves associated therewith;

an outlet manifold having a plurality of outlet valves associated therewith;

a plurality of sample tubes each having opposite end portions, one end portion of each of said sample tubes being attachable to said inlet manifold and to a corresponding inlet valve, the opposite end portion of each of said sample tubes being fixedly retained within a hinged retainer bar assembly, said hinged retainer bar assembly being movable between a closed position wherein the opposite end portion of each of said sample tubes is held in a fixed position and an open position wherein the opposite end portion of each of said sample tubes is no longer held in a fixed position, the opposite end portion of each of said sample tubes being operatively connected to said outlet manifold;

an electronic control system for controlling the operation of said inlet and outlet valves for selectively directing a sample flow of trace elements from said inlet probe to one of a selected sample tube;

a pump for sequentially drawing a sample flow of trace elements into one of said sample tubes at a time as directed by said electronic control system; and

a battery for supplying power to said sampling device.

34. The sampling device defined in claim 33 wherein said hinge retainer bar assembly includes first and second pivotally movable members, said first pivotally movable member being movable between a closed position wherein the opposite end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are held in a fixed position and an open position wherein the opposite end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are no longer held in a fixed position, and wherein said second pivotally movable member is movable between a closed position wherein the opposite end portion of at least one of said plurality of sample tubes is held in a fixed position and an open position wherein the opposite end portion of said at least one sample tube is no longer held in a fixed position.

35. The sampling device defined in claim 33 including a removably attachable controller unit operatively connected to said electronic control system, said controller unit being removably attachable to a port located on the exterior of said carrying case for allowing a user to selectively choose any one of a plurality of different sampling protocols.

36. The sampling device defined in claim 35 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols includes a sampling cycle of three seconds and a sampling cycle of sixty seconds.

37. The sampling device defined in claim 33 wherein the operation of said sampling device includes a purging cycle, said purging cycle directing a sample flow through the inlet manifold and through the inlet portion of each respective inlet valve for purging any residual trace elements therefrom prior to initiating a sampling cycle.

38. The sampling device defined in claim 37 wherein said electronic control system automatically initiates a purging cycle prior to any sampling cycle.

39. The sampling device defined in claim 38 including a filter positioned upstream from said plurality of inlet valves, an incoming sample flow being diverted through said filter during a purging cycle for purging the incoming sample flow to remove ambient contaminants therefrom.

40. The sampling device defined in claim 33 including a sample retrieval and desorption mode for evacuating said sample tubes for analysis wherein said sampling device further includes an inlet port associated with said outlet manifold for attaching an inert gas source thereto, a desorption valve associated with the outlet manifold for controlling the flow of inert gas through the outlet manifold to a selected sample tube for desorption, a heat control unit for individually heating at least some of the sample tubes for desorption, the inlet port of said sampling device being operatively configured to receive an external analytical instrument for receiving the sample of trace elements collected within the selected sample tube for desorption, and a heat control unit for heating the inlet manifold and the flow path between the inlet manifold and an external analytical instrument, said electronic control system controlling said desorption valve and said inlet and outlet valves so as to direct the flow of inert gas from the inlet port of said outlet manifold through a selected sample tube and through said inlet manifold to an external analytical instrument.

41. A sampling device for collecting a plurality of samples of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere during a plurality of sampling cycles, each sampling cycle collecting one sample of trace elements, said sampling device comprising:

a portable carrying case;

a removably attachable inlet probe for drawing a sample flow of trace elements from an ambient atmosphere to the sampling device during a particular sampling cycle, said inlet probe being removably attachable to an inlet port located on the exterior portion of said carrying case;

a plurality of removably attachable sample tubes, each sample tube having opposite end portions;

an inlet manifold having a plurality of inlet valves associated therewith, each inlet valve being associated with the corresponding sample tubes;

an outlet manifold having a plurality of outlet valves associated therewith, each outlet valve being associated with the corresponding sample tubes;

said plurality of sample tubes having one end portion fixedly connected to said inlet manifold and to said corresponding inlet valves and having their opposite end portions operatively connected to said outlet manifold and to said corresponding outlet valves;

a hinged retainer bar member for holding the opposite end portion of each of said sample tubes in a fixed position within said carrying case, said hinged retainer bar member including first and second pivotally movable members, said first pivotally movable member being movable between a closed position wherein the opposite end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are held in a fixed position within said carrying case and an open position wherein the opposite end portion of at least some of said plurality of sample tubes are free from attachment within said carrying case, and wherein said second pivotally movable member is movable between a closed position wherein the opposite end portion of at least one of said plurality of sample tubes is held in a fixed position within said carrying case and an open position wherein the opposite end portion of said at least one sample tube is free from attachment within said carrying case;

an electronic control system operable for controlling the operation of said inlet and outlet valves for selectively directing a sample flow of trace elements from said inlet probe to one of a selected sample tube during a particular sampling cycle;

a pump for sequentially drawing a sample flow of trace elements into one of said sample tubes at a time as directed by said electronic control system;

a controller unit operatively connected to said electronic control system, said controller unit being removably attachable to a port located on the exterior of said carrying case for allowing a user to selectively choose any one of a plurality of different sampling protocols; and

a battery for supplying power to said sampling device.

42. The sampling device defined in claim 41 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols includes a sampling cycle of three seconds and a sampling cycle of sixty seconds.

43. The sampling device defined in claim 42 wherein said plurality of sampling protocols further includes a sixty second sampling cycle wherein one liter of a sample flow is passed through a type 5 cartridge tube in sixty seconds.

44. The sampling device defined in claim 42 including a pair of indicator lights associated with at least some of said plurality of sample tubes, one indicator light being illuminated when a three second sampling cycle has been used with a respective sample tube, and the other indicator light being illuminated when a sixty second sample cycle has been used with a respective sample tube.

45. The sampling device defined in claim 41 wherein the operation of said sampling device includes a purging cycle, said purging cycle directing a sample flow through the inlet manifold and through the inlet portion of each respective inlet valve for purging any residual trace elements therefrom prior to initiating a particular sampling cycle.

46. The sampling device defined in claim 44 wherein said electronic control system automatically initiates a purging cycle prior to any sampling cycle when any one of said plurality of sampling protocols are activated through said controller unit.

47. The sampling device defined in claim 41 wherein said plurality of sample tubes includes a plurality of tri-bed concentrator tubes and at least one type 5 cartridge tube.

48. The sampling device defined in claim 41 including a sample retrieval and desorption mode for evacuating said sample tubes for analysis wherein said sampling device further includes an inlet port associated with said outlet manifold for attaching an inert gas source thereto, a desorption valve associated with the outlet manifold for controlling the flow of inert gas through the outlet manifold to a selected sample tube for desorption, a heat control unit for individually heating at least some of the sample tubes for desorption, the inlet port of said sampling device being operatively configured to receive an external analytical instrument for receiving the sample of trace elements collected within the selected sample tube for desorption, and a heat control unit for heating the inlet manifold and the flow path between the inlet manifold and an external analytical instrument, said electronic control system controlling said desorption valve and said inlet and outlet valves so as to direct the flow of inert gas from the inlet port of said outlet manifold through a selected sample tube and through said inlet manifold to an external analytical instrument.

49. The sampling device defined in claim 41 wherein said controller unit includes an indicator light, said indicator light being illuminated in a steady condition when said sampling device is ready for collecting samples of trace elements, said indicator light being illuminated in a flashing condition during a particular sampling cycle, and said indicator light being unlit when all of said sample tubes have been used.

50. The sampling device defined in claim 41 wherein said first and second pivotally movable members include spaced apart cutout portions for respectively engaging the one end portion of said respective sample tubes.