Patent ID: 6484594
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An air sampler; wherein said air sampler is adapted to strip a target material from an air flow with a stripping liquid; wherein said air sampler comprises:a cyclonic cup comprising a cyclonic cup housing and a radial flow air impeller means mounted for rotation within said cyclonic cup housing; wherein said air impeller means is for creating said air flow and comprises an air impeller axial air inlet, an air impeller inner surface, an air impeller air chamber located within said air impeller, and an air impeller peripheral air outlet; wherein said cyclonic cup housing comprises a cyclonic cup end wall and a cyclonic cup air chamber located within said cyclonic cup housing between said air impeller peripheral air outlet and said cyclonic cup end wall; wherein said air sampler further comprises an air inlet means for permitting said air flow to enter said air impeller axial air inlet; an air outlet means for permitting said air flow to exit said cyclonic cup air chamber; a liquid inlet means for permitting said stripping liquid to enter said air impeller axial air inlet; and a liquid outlet means for permitting said stripping liquid to exit said cyclonic cup air chamber; wherein, during operation of said air sampler, said air impeller spins within said cyclonic cup housing and said air flow passes sequentially through said air inlet means, said air impeller axial air inlet, said air impeller air chamber, said air impeller peripheral air outlet, said cyclonic cup air chamber, and said air outlet means; wherein as said air impeller spins, said air impeller urges said stripping liquid from said liquid inlet means to form a thin liquid film on a stripping portion of said air impeller inner surface, and urges said thin liquid film to flow across said air impeller inner surface to said air impeller peripheral air outlet; wherein said air impeller flings said stripping liquid from said air impeller peripheral air outlet onto said cyclonic cup end wall; wherein said air flow, while within said cyclonic cup air chamber, urges said stripping liquid on said cyclonic cup end wall to form a thin liquid film on said cyclonic cup end wall; wherein said air flow, while within said cyclonic cup air chamber, urges said thin liquid film on said cyclonic cup end wall to flow to said liquid outlet means; and wherein said thin liquid film on said stripping portion of said air impeller inner surface and said thin liquid film on said cyclonic cup end wall strip a film-stripped part of said target material from said air flow while said air flow passes through said air impeller air chamber and passes through said cyclonic cup air chamber.