Patent ID: 7752930
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A portable microbial gaseous-fluid sampler for collecting microbial particles from gaseous fluid, the sampler comprising: a structure; a gaseous-fluid flow system at least partially supported by the structure, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower having a motor operable to drive the blower and a gaseous-fluid exhaust portion positioned downstream of the blower, the gaseous-fluid exhaust portion having an exhaust port and an exhaust filter operable to substantially filter a totality of a gaseous fluid flowing through the sampler prior to exhausting the gaseous fluid; and a control system including a mass-flow sensor to sense a characteristic relating to a gaseous-fluid flow and operable to at least in part control the blower to selectively adjust the gaseous-fluid flow through the sampler based on a signal indicative of the gaseous-fluid flow generated by the mass-flow sensor, wherein the gaseous-fluid flow system further includes a sensor portion having a gaseous-fluid collecting tube extending from the exhaust portion, the gaseous-fluid collecting tube directing a portion of the gaseous-fluid flow to the mass-flow sensor of the control system, and wherein the gaseous-fluid collecting tube is coupled to the exhaust portion in a downstream position of the gaseous-fluid flow system with respect to the exhaust filter.