Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FLUID SAMPLING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fluid sampling devices and, in particular, to
personal sampling
devices easily operable by untrained people.
Flight crews and aircraft passengers are occasionally exposed to unfavourable
air quality
conditions. These conditions typically occur during one out of one thousand
flight segments,
depending upon the airline and the maintenance of the aircraft. A large
majority of these
incidents are caused by contamination of the aircraft air from hydraulic fluid
which leaks into
the air intake of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) or from oil seal leakage into
the compressor
stages of the jet engines which are used to pressurize the aircraft and to
provide the aircraft
with fresh air.
Bleed air from these engines is exposed to elevated temperatures, often in
excess of 500
degrees C. Any oil or hydraulic fluid contaminant in this air will pyrolize,
volatize, or both.
This often results in flight crews and passengers being exposed to smoke in
the cabin. Acute
and long-term symptoms experienced by flight crews during these incidents are
consistent
with exposures to the agents associated with oil and hydraulic fluid
constituents.
It is difficult however to measure exposure levels during these incidents
because of their
sporadic nature. This makes it virtually impossible to have trained
individuals, and
specialized equipment, in aircraft when such incidents occur. The equipment
previously
available is expensive and difficult to operate for the average flight
attendant or other
member of the flight crew. Accordingly, very little exposure data is
available.
Some of these incidents have resulted in near fatal accidents, i.e. both
pilots becoming
incapacitated, as well as disabling flight attendants and pilots on a long-
term basis. It is
therefore critical to provide a practical means of measuring the exposures of
flight crews and
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passengers when such events occur. The derived information can be used to
provide a basis
for medical treatment as well as to prevent future incidents of such exposure
to contaminants.
Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved air
sampling apparatus
which is inexpensive enough so that each individual crew member or aircraft
can be provided
with the apparatus on a routine basis.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved air sampling
apparatus which is
simple to operate so that a flight attendant or other member of a flight crew
can easily operate
the apparatus with minimal training or instructions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved personal and
environmental air
sampling apparatus which is compact so that it does not occupy an inordinate
amount of the
limited space and can be carried in a purse or pocket.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved air
sampling apparatus
which is rugged in construction and reliable in operation so that it will
operate reliably
without requiring delicate handling.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved fluid
sampling apparatus
capable of sampling liquids, such as water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with these objects, there is provided a fluid sampling apparatus
which includes
a body having a filter mounted therein and a fluid moving device mounted
therein for
moving fluid through the filter. The body includes a chamber. The fluid moving
device
includes a motor and an electrical power source mounted within the chamber.
The body has
sealing means to seal the chamber from the fluid. There is a fluid inlet
communicating with
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the filter. A fluid outlet also communicates with the filter. There is a
manually operable
control which simultaneously opens the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and
operates the fluid
moving device for moving fluid from the fluid inlet, through the filter and
out through the
fluid outlet. Preferably the control can simultaneously close the fluid inlet
and the fluid
outlet and render the fluid moving device inoperative.
The control may include an outer member movably mounted on the body. The fluid
inlet
includes at least one fluid inlet opening on the body and at least one fluid
inlet opening on
the outer member. The fluid outlet includes at least one fluid outlet opening
on the body and
at least one fluid outlet opening on the outer member. Said at least one fluid
inlet opening
on the body is aligned with said at least one fluid inlet opening on the outer
member. Said
at least one fluid outlet opening on the body is aligned with said at least
one fluid outlet
opening on the outer member when the outer member is moved in a first
direction, to move
fluid through the filter. Preferably said at least one fluid inlet opening on
the body becomes
unaligned with said at least one fluid outlet opening on the outer member and
said at least
one fluid outlet opening on the body becomes unaligned with said at least one
fluid outlet
opening on the outer member, when the outer member is moved in a second
direction, to seal
the apparatus.
The control may include a switch mounted on the body which is contacted by the
outer
member, to close the switch and operate the fluid moving device when the outer
member is
moved in the first direction, and to open the switch and stop the fluid moving
device when
the outer member is moved in the second direction.
The outer member may be rotatably mounted on the body. The first direction is
then a first
rotational direction and the second direction is then a second rotational
direction which is
opposite the first direction. For example, the body may be generally
cylindrical and the outer
member may be a cylindrical shell mounted on the body.
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A fluid sampling apparatus according to the invention offers distinct
advantages compared
to the prior art. The apparatus can be operated by simply moving a manually
operable
control and this simultaneously opens the fluid inlet and fluid outlet and
operates the impeller
or other fluid moving device which moves fluid through the filter. For
example, this may
simply be accomplished by rotating a cylindrical shell mounted on a
cylindrical body
containing the principal components. When the sampling process is completed,
another
movement of the manually operable control stops the fluid moving device and
seals the
openings. This is simply accomplished by rotating the shell in the opposite
direction for this
preferred embodiment.
When the sample has been taken, the unit is economical enough to be sent to a
laboratory in
its entirety for analysis. There is no need for the flight crew or other user
to remove and store
filters which would necessitate disassembly of the apparatus and potential
contamination of
the filter.
In brief, the apparatus can be easily operated by most people without any
training at all and
with simple instructions which can accompany the unit. Also the unit is simple
and
inexpensive enough so all aircraft can carry such an apparatus for the
relatively remote
possibility that air contamination will occur during any particular flight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a fluid sampling apparatus according to an
embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 2 is a simplified, exploded side view thereof;
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Figure 3 is a simplified, diametrical section of the embodiment of Figures 1
and 2;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the lower portion of the filter cassette
thereof;
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the fluid inlet housing of the body thereof;
Figure 6 is a reduced isometric view of the filter cassette thereof;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment with a
centrifugal fan;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the embodiment of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, showing an alternative embodiment for
sampling
liquids as well as gases; and
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the embodiment of Figure 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, and first to Figure 1, this shows a fluid sampling
apparatus 20
suitable for sampling gases such as air in aircraft or other locations where
contaminants may
occur. The apparatus in this example includes a cylindrical body 22 which has
a cylindrical
outer shell 24 mounted thereon for rotation in the directions indicated by
arrows 26. The
shell tightly engages the body for a sealing fit, apart from the openings
described below.
There is a slot 28 in the shell and a screw 30 extending through the slot into
the body which
limit the amount of rotational movement of the shell on the body. The
apparatus of this
example fits within a cylinder 2.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches long
although the size may
vary in other embodiments.
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The shell has four fluid inlet openings 32 in top 33 of the shell to admit
fluid into the
apparatus as indicated by arrows 34. The number, size and positioning of the
openings can
vary in alternative embodiments. The shell also has four fluid outlet openings
36 for fluid
exiting the apparatus as indicated by arrows 40 (only three being visible in
Figure 1 ). In this
example the openings are in cylindrical side 42 of the shell near its bottom
44 and are 90
degrees apart. In alternative embodiments the number and positions of the
openings can
change. There is also a LED 50 which lights to indicate that the apparatus is
operational.
The body 22 has a lower portion which comprises fan housing 54 shown in
Figures 2 and 3.
The fan housing includes a chamber 56 which contains a battery 58, a 9-volt
battery in this
example, and a fan 60 mounted above the battery. This particular fan is an
axial flow fan
powered by a motor 62 connected to the battery 58. There is a series of four
fluid outlet
openings 64 extending about the fan housing and spaced-apart 90 degrees (only
three being
visible in Figure 3). These correspond in number and position to the fluid
outlet openings
36 in the shell. Openings 64, together with openings 36, comprise fluid
outlets for the
apparatus.
There is a standard 37 mm filter cassette 66 mounted above the fan in filter
compartment 73
and which contains a filter disk 68 as shown in Figure 4. Other types of
filters or size of
filter cassette holders could be used in other embodiments. There is an upper
filter housing
70 mounted on lower filter housing 71 of the filter cassette with an O-ring 72
compressed
therebetween as seen best in Figure 6.
The body has a fluid inlet housing 76, shown best in Figure 5, mounted on top
of the filter
housing. The fluid inlet housing has four fluid inlet openings 78 in top 79
thereof, which
correspond in position and number to the fluid inlet openings 32 in shell 24.
The openings
78 and openings 32 together comprise fluid inlets for the apparatus. A screw
80 extends
through opening 82 in the fluid inlet housing, through opening 84 in the fan
housing and
engages notch 86 on the filter cassette 66.
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There is a switch 90 mounted on the fan housing which has a button 92. The
button engages
a ramp 94, on the inside of the shell 24, shown only in Figure 3, whereby the
button is
depressed to close the switch when the shell is rotated in one direction and
is released, to
open the switch, when the shell is rotated in the opposite direction. The
switch is operatively
disposed between the fan motor and the battery and thus controls operation of
the fan.
In operation, with reference to Figure l, the fluid sampling apparatus is
operated by rotating
the shell 24 in one rotational direction, for example clockwise as shown by
arrow 100, the
figure showing the shell partially rotated. A 45-degree twist is used in this
example although
this could vary in other embodiments. This twist causes the fluid inlet
openings 32 on the
shell to align with the fluid inlet openings 78 on the body to admit fluid
into the apparatus.
At the same time, the fluid outlet openings 36 of the shell align with fluid
outlet openings
64 in the body to permit fluid to exit the apparatus. Simultaneously, the
rotation causes ramp
94 on the inside of the shell to depress button 92 and close switch 90. This
operates the fluid
moving device, in the form of fan 60, by means of battery 58 powering motor
62.
The apparatus is operated for a preset period of time and may, in some
embodiments, have
an integral timer which operates the motor 62 for the preset time. The fluid
enters the
apparatus as indicated by arrows 34 in Figure 1 to cause suction of fan 60 as
indicated by
arrows 100 in Figure 3. This draws fluid through the filter 68. Fluid expelled
by the fan
exits the apparatus through the outlet openings 64 in the body, as shown by
arrows 102 in
Figure 3. In this example the fluid flow is between 0.5 and 1.0 litres per
minute and the
device can operate from 2-5 hours, depending upon the filter used. The device
however can
be scaled upward to use a larger fan, larger battery and larger filters, or
scaled downward, for
different fluid quality applications. In addition, the filter compartment can
also be used to
incorporate other fluid contaminant capturing agents such as absorbents and
adsorbents to
target specific contaminants.
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After the apparatus has been operated for the preset time, the user rotates
shell 24 in the
opposite direction, counterclockwise in this particular embodiment, as
illustrated by arrow
103 in Figure 1. This causes the fluid inlet openings 32 in the shell to
become unaligned
with fluid inlet openings 78 in the body. Simultaneously the fluid outlet
openings 36 in the
shell become unaligned with fluid outlet openings 604 in the body. Thus the
inside of the
apparatus, including the filter, are effectively sealed. At the same time,
ramp 94 backs off
of button 92 which causes the switch 92 to open and stops the fan motor 62.
The unit can
then be placed in a suitable storage position and forwarded to a laboratory
for analysis at a
convenient time.
A centrifugal fan 60.1, shown in Figures 7 and 8, can be substituted in
alternative
embodiment for the axial fan 60 shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment where
like parts
have like numbers as in the previous embodiment, with the additional
designation ".1 ", the
fluid outlet openings 64.1 are moved upwardly to be in alignment with the fan
instead of
being below the fan as is the case with the axial fan of the previous
embodiment. Likewise
outlet openings 36.1 in shell 24.1 are correspondingly raised.
Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative embodiment generally similar to the
embodiment of
Figures 7 and 8, but adapted for sampling liquids as well as gases. Like parts
have like
numbers as in the previous embodiments with the additional designation ".2".
Since this is
substantially the same as the previous embodiments, it will be described only
with references
to the differences.
Fluid sampling apparatus 20.2 is adapted to sample liquids as well as air or
other gases. An
impeller 60.2 replaces the fan of the previous embodiment. Also sealing has
been added to
protect motor 150 of impeller 60.2, battery 58.2, switch 90.2 LED 50.2 and
associated
wiring. It is important therefore to keep chamber 56.2 sealed from water or
other liquids
passing through the filter as illustrated by arrows 100.2. O-ring 152 extends
about shaft 154
of the motor. A second O-ring 156 extends between cover 160 and body 162 of
the impeller
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housing 54.2. Note that other suitable seals could be used in place of the O-
rings. This
ensures that the chamber 56.2 is kept dry. Only the filter compartment is in
contact with the
liquid. The motor 150 has a higher torque and lower rpm compared with the
motor utilized
in the fan of the previous embodiments.
Upon activation of the device, water, or another fluid, is drawn through the
intake openings
32.2 and 78.2 and filter by means of the suction provided by the impeller.
Filtered water or
other filtered fluid is exhausted through the exhaust openings 64.2 and 36.2.
The device can
be activated incompletely submerged in a body of water which requires
analysis. It can be
left there for an appropriate time until the required volume of water has been
sampled.
It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details
provided above
are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention which
is to be interpreted with reference to the following claims.
