Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention can sample particulates, aerosols, vapors, and/or biological components of ambient air utilizing spherical air-sampling filters. Components of the embodiments may include a storage magazine for holding a plurality of spherical air-sampling filters, an air-sampling manifold configured to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to a sampling location, and an air compressor to perform an air sampling operation and to transport a used air-sampling filter away from the sampling location. Operation of some embodiments may begin by rotating a slotted drum within the air-sampling manifold to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to the sampling position. Operation may continue by using the air compressor to draw air from an ambient environment through the air-sampling filter. After sampling is complete, the air compressor may be utilized to pneumatically transport the used air-sampling filter away from the sampling position to a filter retrieval location via a transport tube. These operations can be pre-programmed locally or triggered by remote communication. Operation may continue uninterrupted due to a plurality of unused air-sampling filters retained in the storage manifold. Because operations can be triggered remotely and air samples are autonomously transported off site, embodiments of this invention eliminate unnecessary risks to human health created by other air-sampling devices, which require an operator to be present at a potentially hazardous sampling site to activate the device or retrieve air samples. Embodiments of the invention can be installed pre-emptively to eliminate risks to human health created when an operator must deliver a portable air-sampling device to a potentially contaminated sampling site. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow rapid retrieval of air samples following sample collection, which can expedite analysis and identification of aerosols and consequently help minimize human exposure to potentially dangerous and life-threatening chemical and biological contaminants.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/098,405, filed on Apr. 14, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/466,132, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,341,547, filed on Aug. 22, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/959,659, filed on Aug. 29, 2013. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/297,785, filed on Oct. 19, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/466,132. All of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention is related to the field of air sampling. More particularly, the present invention is related to systems that automatically collect samples of air and optionally transport those samples away from a sampling site. Still more particularly, the present invention is related to methods, systems, and devices that use a storage magazine with a rotatable slotted drum to supply spherical or ball-shaped porous air-sampling filters to an air-sampling system that can use the spherical air-sampling filters to automatically collect air samples and transport the samples to a retrieval location. 
       Description of Related Art 
       [0003]    Systems that sample air for aerosols, including suspensions of solid or liquid particles, have been used in a wide range of applications. For example, systems have been used to sample and analyze vehicle exhaust to ensure conformance with state pollution regulations. Systems have also been used to analyze the air surrounding suspected targets of biological warfare in order to identify hazardous airborne microorganisms, such as anthrax, and to determine appropriate medical responses. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency routinely samples air around the United States, not only to monitor atmospheric levels of ozone and carbon monoxide, but also to collect representative samples of airborne biological and radiological contaminants. Since aerosols typically diffuse in the air, it is often necessary to first concentrate the aerosols before the samples can be analyzed. 
         [0004]    In order to concentrate aerosols, many air-sampling devices pull air through or over a filter, or other sampling medium, over a period of time. While some sampling media can selectively concentrate specific aerosols, other sampling media can concentrate many aerosols collectively, to be separated and analyzed later. Some air-sampling devices can analyze collected samples autonomously, while others require the samples to be retrieved for off-site analysis at a laboratory. The utility of air-sampling devices that can analyze samples autonomously is often constrained by costly and delicate instrumentation needed for specialized analysis of the air samples. For example, coupling a Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) device to an air-sampling device would allow many aerosols to be identified at the DNA level, but would require a significant investment. Automated PCR/Aerosol Sampling machines cost up to several hundred thousand dollars, are difficult and costly to maintain properly, and may not be cost effective given the high maintenance cost in the field. A known example of such a system is the microfluidic bio-agent autonomous networked detector (“M-BAND”) produced by PositiveID Corporation, which was one of two candidates in development for use in the Department of Homeland Security&#39;s (“DHS”) BioWatch Gen 3 program. The DHS program subsequently was canceled due to high costs, false positive results, and frequently required maintenance. A more practical and more cost-effective approach separates sample collection from analysis, but requires air samples to be manually retrieved from the sampling site and transported off-site to a laboratory. This is the current ongoing DHS BioWatch Gen 2 program. 
         [0005]    All known air-sampling devices that collect and store air samples require an operator to retrieve air samples from the device at the sampling site. For example, the Portable Multi-Tube Air Sampler Unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,479 encases multiple air sample-collection tubes into a portable container and requires an operator not only to deliver and activate the device at the sampling site, but also later to return in order to retrieve the entire unit, including the air samples contained within. 
         [0006]    The Automatic Multi-Sorbent Tube Air Sampler (“AMTAS”) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,906 can be installed at a sampling site to collect air samples autonomously at a later time, but it also requires an operator to retrieve the air samples whenever analysis is needed. Although the AMTAS is capable of allowing individual air samples to be removed during continued operation, the Portable Multi-Tube Air Sampler Unit and most other air-sampling devices require an operator to wait until the end of operation before the collected air samples can be retrieved. 
         [0007]    Despite the benefits provided by the prior art systems, they nevertheless fall short of providing a system that eliminates the necessity for an operator to be present at the sampling site, either for the loading of individual air-sampling cartridges, the retrieval of individual used air-sampling cartridges at the end of operation, or for the retrieval of individual used air-sampling cartridges during continued operation. Instead, prior art systems require a human operator to enter the sampling site wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and to risk contamination to install the device, activate collection, and retrieve air samples. Additionally, prior art systems fall short of providing a system where used air-sampling cartridges can be rapidly retrieved from an air-sampling system while the system continues to operate uninterrupted. Prior art systems rely on a human operator to retrieve samples at the end of an operation or to interrupt an operation to retrieve air-sampling cartridges prior to the end of operation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    This Summary is provided to introduce certain concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended in any way to limit the scope of the claimed invention. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the invention can sample aerosols by utilizing a vacuum pump to pull ambient air through an air inlet tube and an air-sampling cartridge aligned with the inlet tube, and then transport a used air-sampling cartridge through an aligned outlet tube to a cartridge retrieval location using pneumatic pressure supplied by a compressor. The vacuum pump and the compressor may be the same device. 
         [0010]    Some embodiments of the invention can utilize air-sampling cartridges comprising one or more sampling media to collect and concentrate a number of different aerosols and/or vapors. For example, an air-sampling cartridge containing fibrous, membranous, and/or perforated or porous solid filter media can concentrate and collect solid airborne particulates, whereas an air-sampling cartridge containing an adsorbent, such as activated charcoal, can concentrate and collect vapors. Embodiments of the invention can also utilize an air-sampling cartridge comprising a combination of two or more sampling media to collect combinations of aerosols and vapors simultaneously. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, an air-sampling cartridge may comprise an air-sampling filter. For purposes of these embodiments, an air-sampling filter (or simply a filter) is a type of air-sampling cartridge that is made entirely of sampling media, with no separate covering, wrapper, or containing material. In the context of these embodiments, wherever an air-sampling cartridge is utilized, an appropriately configured air-sampling filter may be used instead. 
         [0012]    Some embodiments of the invention may have a “sampling position,” where an air-sampling cartridge retained in a chamber can collect aerosols and/or vapors from ambient air during a “sampling operation.” Additionally, some embodiments of the invention may have a “transport position,” where a used air-sampling cartridge can be subjected to pneumatic pressure during a “transporting operation” to be transported away from the transport position in a transport tube. In some embodiments, the sampling position may occupy the same location as the transport position. In other embodiments, there may be a plurality of sampling positions and/or transport positions. In still other embodiments, some or all of the sampling positions may occupy the same location as some or all of the transport positions. 
         [0013]    Some embodiments of the invention can arrange a plurality of chambers for retaining air-sampling cartridges in a circular pattern in a wheel assembly and can utilize a rotation mechanism, such as a Geneva drive, to rotate the wheel assembly and change the positions of the plurality of chambers. In such embodiments, the rotation mechanism can also hold the wheel assembly in a stationary position while an air sample is taken in an unused air-sampling cartridge at the sampling position (i.e., during a sampling operation) while, at the same time, a used air-sampling cartridge at the transport position is subjected to pneumatic pressure and transported to a cartridge retrieval location (i.e., during a transport operation). 
         [0014]    Alternatively, some embodiments of the invention can arrange a plurality of chambers in a linear arrangement in a rectangular assembly and can utilize a translation mechanism, such as a piston or solenoid, to change the positions of the plurality of chambers. In such embodiments, the translation mechanism can also hold the rectangular assembly in position while an air sample is taken in an unused air-sampling cartridge at the sampling position and while a used air-sampling cartridge at the transport position is subjected to pneumatic pressure and transported to a cartridge retrieval location. 
         [0015]    Some embodiments of the invention can move an air-sampling cartridge, such as a spherical air-sampling cartridge, from a storage magazine (i.e., hopper) to a sampling position, and then subsequently to a transport position. The storage compartment and sampling position can be separated by a first gate, or other dividing mechanism, to create a substantially airtight seal between the storage compartment and the air-sampling cartridge in the sampling position. The sampling position and transport position may be separated from each other by a second gate, or other dividing mechanism, to create a substantially airtight seal around the air-sampling cartridge in the transport position. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the sampling position may occupy substantially the same location as the transport position within an integrated air sampling and transport manifold. In such embodiments, a one-way check valve in an air-sampling tube and/or a one-way check valve in an outlet tube may work separately or together to ensure that air moving through the sampling-transport position is flowing in the proper direction, either to pull ambient air to an unused air-sampling cartridge during a sampling operation or to push a used air-sampling cartridge away from the sampling-transport position and into the outlet tube toward a cartridge retrieval location during a transport operation. 
         [0017]    Some embodiments of the invention can permit manual loading of air-sampling cartridges into a plurality of chambers prior to operation, for example by using a hand-held push tool. Other embodiments of the invention can utilize a storage magazine or hopper containing unused air-sampling cartridges, from which an unused air-sampling cartridge can be loaded into an empty chamber by automated mechanical means known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, some embodiments of the invention can utilize a combination of a ball hopper and a filter manifold containing a rotatable slotted drum in order to deliver spherical air-sampling cartridges, one at a time, to a sample pipe located in front of a wheel assembly, and then utilize a vacuum pump to pull a spherical air-sampling cartridge from inside the sample pipe into an empty chamber in a wheel assembly. 
         [0018]    Some embodiments of the invention can autonomously align a first one of a plurality of chambers retaining an air-sampling cartridge with a sampling position while simultaneously aligning a second one of the plurality of chambers with a transport position. Such autonomous aligning can be triggered by a pre-programmed set of instructions or on demand via remote communication. The remote communication can be facilitated through wired or wireless communication at any distance from the device, such as through a communications device directly interfaced with the system, or through a communications device connected to a local area network or intranet, or on a communications device anywhere in the world connected to the Internet or similar network. 
         [0019]    Some embodiments of the invention can form a substantially airtight inlet seal among a vacuum pump, an inlet tube, and a chamber at the sampling position by using a first pair of spring-loaded, double-lipped cups biased against opposite faces of a wheel assembly. Similarly, some embodiments of the invention can form a substantially airtight outlet seal among a compressor, an outlet tube, and a chamber at the transport position by using a second pair of spring-loaded, double-lipped cups biased against opposite faces of a wheel assembly. 
         [0020]    Some embodiments of the invention can utilize a vacuum pump to pull ambient air through an air-sampling cartridge retained in a chamber at a sampling position, and can utilize a compressor to apply pneumatic pressure to an air-sampling cartridge retained in a chamber at a transport position, thereby transporting the air-sampling cartridge through tubes to a cartridge retrieval location, which can be nearby or up to several miles away. Such embodiments can utilize both a vacuum pump and a compressor simultaneously to allow simultaneous sampling operation and transport operation. 
         [0021]    Some embodiments of the invention can perform the sampling operation and the transport operation using a single compressor. A three-way ball valve, or another similar valve, can be utilized to alternately switch air pathways to connect the compressor with the sampling position or the transport position, to allow a single compressor to perform both vacuum and pressurizing functions. 
         [0022]    Some embodiments of the invention can incorporate radiological, chemical, and/or biological detectors to analyze samples within the air-sampling cartridges before they are transported to a cartridge retrieval location, either at a nearby location or at a remote destination. Before transport, an air-sampling cartridge can be aligned with a detector at an analysis position where an air sample can be analyzed within the air-sampling cartridge while still loaded in a chamber. 
         [0023]    Some embodiments of the invention can add a pressure transducer connected to a compressor line to measure air pressure in the compressor line and connected components, such as an aligned chamber at a transport position and an outlet tube. Some embodiments of the invention can also use a pressure transducer connected to a vacuum line, to measure air pressure in the vacuum line and connected components, such as the aligned chamber at a sampling position and an inlet tube. In such embodiments of the invention, the pressure transducer can be in communication with a controller or communications board and can relay air pressure data to a remote site. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    So that the manner in which the above recited summary features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention with a view of a front face of a wheel assembly. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1B  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with a view of a rear face of a wheel assembly. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1C  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with a view of the front face of the wheel assembly and the interior of some of its chambers. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1D  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A , illustrating a different embodiment that uses a spherical air-sampling cartridge (or filter) rather than a cylindrical air-sampling cartridge. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  from the opposite side and with the wheel assembly removed. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2  showing an exploded view of the components that comprise the front seal assembly and rear seal assembly. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the airflow pathways through an embodiment of the invention utilizing one compressor and one vacuum pump for separate sampling and transport operations. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the airflow pathways through an embodiment of the invention utilizing a single compressor and two three-way valves for both sampling operation and transport operation. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6A  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the invention encased within a chassis. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6B  is another partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6A  with a view from the opposite side. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computing device  700  that is configured to control the operation of various embodiments of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention utilizing one compressor for both the sampling operation and the transport operation, a storage magazine for storing and supplying a plurality of spherical air-sampling filters (also called “ball filters”), and an integrated air-sampling manifold to facilitate both the sampling operation at the sampling position and the transport operation at the transport position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 8B  is a more detailed schematic representation of the ball hopper and air-sampling manifold shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8C  is a detailed schematic representation of air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8D  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8E  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 8F  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , which illustrates how a ball filter  809  can be transported away from the sampling-transport position  810  when compressor  805  is in compressor mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    Embodiments of the present invention now may be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention with a view of a front face of a wheel assembly. In  FIG. 1A , an embodiment of automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  100  comprises a wheel assembly  101  and contains a plurality of chambers  103  comprising transverse cylindrical spaces with differently sized openings on opposite faces of the wheel assembly. For example, wheel assembly  101  may comprise thirty-two chambers  103 , each having a 0.48″ diameter, each chamber arranged 6.366″ from the center of the wheel assembly, and each chamber spaced 1.2487″ across an arc length measured from the center of each chamber. Other configurations of chambers  103  are also possible. For example, there may be a different number of chambers  103 . They may be positioned at other distances from the center of the wheel assembly, and the wheel assembly  101  itself may be other sizes as well. The chambers  103  may be spaced at other arc length distances from each other. And they may have other diameters to accommodate other sizes and shapes of air-sampling cartridges  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 , see  FIG. 1D ). For example, chambers  103  may have a diameter (including spherical diameter) of 0.48 inches, 7/16 inches or ¼ inches. Wheel assembly  101  may be composed of Teflon-like Delrin® or any other suitable material known in the art. The chambers  103  may be arranged in a radial pattern equidistant from the center of the wheel assembly  101 . 
         [0044]    The wheel assembly  101  may have teeth  104  along its circumference for interaction with a rotating mechanism. In an embodiment, the depicted teeth  104  may be configured to interact with a specially designed cam  202  of a Geneva drive (see  FIG. 2 ) to rotate the wheel assembly  101  between sampling and transport operations and stop the wheel assembly  101  during sampling and transport operations. The wheel assembly  101  can rotate on an axle  106  and may be held in place by a caliper assembly formed by a front wheel mount  107  and a rear wheel mount  108  attached to a support base  109 . A vacuum line  110  from the vacuum pump  111  can be connected to a rear seal assembly  120  and configured to be aligned with an inlet tube  112  connected to a front seal assembly  121 . A compressor line  115  from the compressor  116  may also be connected to the rear seal assembly  120  and configured to be aligned with an outlet tube  117  that is also connected to the front seal assembly  121 . 
         [0045]    In an embodiment of the invention, air-sampling cartridge  125  can be a rigid hollow cylinder with a media pad  126  on at least one end. Media pad  126  can comprise any of a variety of sampling media, including fibrous, membranous, and/or perforated media, as well as an adsorbent and/or gel-based media, depending on a variety of factors, including the intended aerosol to be analyzed. Other embodiments of the invention can use solid air-sampling cartridges  125  comprising a matrix of media including fiber, such as cellulose, without a separate media pad  126 . In still other embodiments of the invention, air-sampling cartridge  125  can be a rigid hollow cylinder that is filled with sampling media, including fibrous, membranous, and/or perforated solid media, as well as adsorbents and/or gel-based media. 
         [0046]    Some embodiments of the invention can attach an end-cap to the vacuum side of air-sampling cartridge  125 . An end-cap can also be optionally attached to the vacuum side of media pad  126  (or the vacuum side of air-sampling cartridge  125  if media pad  126  is not used). An end-cap could be made of material such as Mylar film and could optionally include cut flaps that open during the sampling operation to allow airflow through the sampling media and then close during the transport operation to provide resistance against pneumatic pressure supplied by the compressor  116 . 
         [0047]    In other embodiments of the invention, air-sampling cartridge  125  may comprise a spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1D . Spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  may comprise sampling media such as fibrous, membranous, and/or perforated solid media, as well as adsorbents and/or gel-based media. As an example of a perforated solid media, spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  may comprise a porous (for example, 30-200 micron-sized pores) sphere made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or any similar polyolefin compound known in the art. One benefit of using a perforated solid media versus a fibrous media can include a lower probability of a stray fiber getting caught or pulled into the caliper assembly (formed by front wheel mount  107  and rear wheel mount  108 ) of an embodiment during rotation of wheel assembly  101 . Spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  may have a diameter of approximately 7/16 inch, approximately ¼ inch, or any other suitable diameter that allows it to fit inside chamber  103  and travel through outlet tube  117  during a transport operation. 
         [0048]      FIG. 1B  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with a view of a rear face of a wheel assembly. In  FIG. 1B , the rear side of the wheel assembly  101  has at least one special cartridge marker  130  that comprises a partially drilled hole sensed by a special cartridge detector  131 . The special cartridge detector  131  is in communication with a controller  611  (see  FIG. 6B ) that can indirectly rotate the wheel assembly  101  to a position where special cartridge marker  130  is sensed by special cartridge detector  131 . When wheel assembly  101  is in this position, a specific chamber  103  associated with the special cartridge marker  130  is aligned at the sampling position. Using this technique of placing wheel assembly  101  in a known configuration, an operator can load air-sampling cartridges  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 ) into chambers  103  associated with the special cartridge markers  130 . Then, controllers within embodiments of the invention can be programmed to rotate wheel assembly  101  into a position where a specific chamber  103  associated with a special cartridge marker  130  is aligned with the sampling position. This operation can be performed by pre-programmed instructions within a controller or on demand via remote communication. 
         [0049]      FIG. 1C  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with a view of the front face of the wheel assembly  101  and the interior of some of the chambers  103 . In  FIG. 1C , the openings of the chambers  103  on the front face of the wheel assembly  101  have a diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the air-sampling cartridges  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 ). The openings of the chambers  103  on the rear face of the wheel assembly  101  have a diameter less than the diameter of the air-sampling cartridges  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 ). The differently sized openings allow an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) to be loaded through the larger opening on the front side of the wheel assembly  101  and remain retained in the wheel assembly  101  while air is drawn by the vacuum pump  111  through the smaller opening on the rear face of the wheel assembly  101  during sampling operation. 
         [0050]      FIG. 1D  is a partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  with a view of the front face of the wheel assembly  101  and the interior of some of the chambers  103 , illustrating a different embodiment that uses a spherical air-sampling cartridge (or filter)  141 . In  FIG. 1D , the openings of the chambers  103  on the front face of the wheel assembly  101  will preferably have a diameter that is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 . Alternatively, the diameter of the spherical air-sampling cartridges  141  will preferably have a diameter that is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the openings of the chambers  103 . The openings of the chambers  103  on the rear face of the wheel assembly  101  will preferably have a diameter less than the diameter of the spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 . The differently sized openings in a chamber  103  will allow a spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  to be loaded through the larger opening of chamber  103  on the front side of the wheel assembly  101  and remain retained in a chamber  103  while air is drawn by the vacuum pump  111  through the smaller opening of chamber  103  on the rear face of the wheel assembly  101  during the sampling operation. To retain a spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  in place within chamber  103 , a groove  147  may cut in a front portion of chamber  103  to allow an O-ring gasket  145  to be seated there. The O-ring gasket  145  may protrude slightly into the interior of chamber  103  to hold the spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  in place during a sampling operation and still allow the spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  to be pushed out of chamber  103  by air pressure during the transport operation. Another O-ring gasket  143  (preferably a square-shaped O-ring gasket) can be pressed into the back end of chamber  103  where it can seat against the shoulder of the rear opening of chamber  103  on the rear face of wheel assembly  101 . During air sampling, the spherical air-sampling cartridge  141  can be sucked up against O-ring gasket  143  to provide a tight seal. 
         [0051]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  from the opposite side and with the wheel assembly removed. In  FIG. 2 , the Geneva drive motor  201 , or other rotation mechanism, rotates a cam  202  that interacts with the wheel assembly teeth  104  in such a way that each turn of the cam  202  rotates the wheel assembly  101  to advance each chamber  103  by one position. At each stop of the cam  202 , one chamber  103  is in alignment with an inlet tube  112  and vacuum line  110  at a sampling position and a second chamber  103  is aligned with an outlet tube  117  and a compressor line  115  at a transport position. In this embodiment, when the Geneva drive motor  201  rotates the wheel assembly  101 , all chambers  103  are advanced one position such that a chamber  103  retaining an unused air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) is advanced to the sampling position, the chamber retaining a now used air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) in the sampling position is advanced to the transport position, and the now empty chamber  103  in the transport position is advanced beyond the transport position. 
         [0052]    A rocker switch  207  can cut power to the on/off switch  211  when triggered by the cam  202  and thereby stop rotation of the cam  201  and consequently hold the wheel assembly  101  in position. A current sensor  205  in communication with a controller can detect which electrical circuits connected to the Geneva drive motor  201  are energized in order for the controller to reactivate the Geneva drive motor  201  through the on/off switch  211 . A manual switch  210  can allow an operator to manually trigger the Geneva drive motor  201  for loading air-sampling cartridges  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 ) or for performing maintenance, if necessary. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2  showing an exploded view of the components that comprise the front seal assembly and rear seal assembly. In  FIG. 3 , the rear seal assembly  120  forms a substantially airtight seal between the vacuum line  110  and the rear face of the wheel assembly  101 , while allowing free rotation of the wheel assembly  101 , by biasing a double-lipped cup  303  with a wave spring washer  304  positioned between the double-lipped cup  303  and an O-ring  305  adjacent to a rear backing plate  306 . The rear seal assembly  120  also forms a substantially airtight seal between the compressor line  115  and the rear face of the wheel assembly  101 , while allowing free rotation of the wheel assembly  101 , by biasing a double-lipped cup  307  with a wave spring washer  308  positioned between the double-lipped cup  307  and an O-ring  309  adjacent to the rear backing plate  306 . 
         [0054]    The front seal assembly  121  forms a substantially airtight seal between the inlet tube  112  and the front face of the wheel assembly  101 , while allowing free rotation of the wheel assembly  101 , by biasing a double-lipped cup  311  with a wave spring washer  312  positioned between the double-lipped cup  311  and an O-ring  313  adjacent to a front backing plate  315 . The front seal assembly  121  also forms a substantially airtight seal between the outlet tube  117  and the front face of the wheel assembly  101 , while allowing free rotation of the wheel assembly  101 , by biasing a double-lipped cup  317  with a wave spring washer  318  positioned between the double-lipped cup  317  and an O-ring  319  adjacent to the front backing plate  315 . 
         [0055]    The rear backing plate  306  has a projection to retain the double-lipped cups  303 ,  307 , wave spring washers  304 ,  308 , and O-rings  305 ,  309 . The front backing plate  315  has a projection to retain the double-lipped cups  311 ,  317 , wave spring washers  312 ,  318 , and O-rings  313 ,  319 . 
         [0056]    The rear wheel mount  108  has a cutaway to allow the projection of the rear backing plate  306  to pass through and approach the rear face of the wheel assembly  101 . The front wheel mount  107  has a cutaway to allow the projection of the front backing plate  315  to pass through and approach the front face of the wheel assembly  101 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the airflow pathways through an embodiment of the invention utilizing one compressor and one vacuum pump for separate sampling and transport operations. In  FIG. 4 , during a sampling operation, ambient air is pulled in from the inlet tube  112 , through an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) retained in a chamber  103  at the sampling position, then through a vacuum line  110  to the vacuum pump  111 , where the air is then discharged to the ambient environment. During, transport operation, ambient air is pulled in at the compressor  116 , which then creates pneumatic pressure in the compressor line  115  and pushes an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) retained in a chamber  103  at the transport position out through the outlet tube  117 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the airflow pathways through an embodiment of the invention utilizing a single compressor and two three-way valves for both sampling operation and transport operation. In  FIG. 5 , during sampling operation, ambient air is pulled in from the inlet tube  112 , through an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) retained in a chamber  103  at the sampling position, through a first vacuum line  505  connected to a first three-way valve  506  set to direct air to a second vacuum line  507  connected to a compressor  116 , where it is then discharged through a first compressor line  510  connected to a second three-way valve  511  set to discharge air into the ambient environment. During transport operation, the three-way valves are switched to direct air in following way: ambient air is pulled in from the first three-way valve  506  set to receive air from the ambient environment, then though the second vacuum line  507  to the compressor  116 , which creates pneumatic pressure in the first compressor line  510  connected to the second three-way valve  511  set to direct air through a second compressor line  512  and push an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) retained in a chamber  103  at the transport position out through the outlet tube  117  to a remote destination. 
         [0059]    As mentioned above in the Summary, embodiments of the invention can incorporate radiological, chemical, and/or biological detectors to analyze samples within air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) before it is transported to a remote destination. Before transport, an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) that has been retained in a chamber  103  during a sampling operation can be advanced from the sampling position and aligned with a detector at an analysis position where an air sample obtained at the sampling position can be analyzed while air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) is still loaded in chamber  103 . Then, after analysis, the chamber  103  containing air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) can be advanced to the transport position, and the air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) containing the analyzed air sample can be transported out of its chamber  103  through the outlet tube  117 , either to a remote destination or to a nearby collection container. Alternatively, instead of analyzing an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) while it is loaded in chamber  103 , air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) may be transported out of chamber  103  through the outlet tube  117  to a nearby location (including a location within the automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  100 ), or to a remote destination, for analysis. 
         [0060]      FIG. 6A  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the invention encased within a chassis. In  FIG. 6A , an embodiment of the invention can be housed in a chassis  601  that can be overlaid with cover plates  602 . An internal fan  605  can be attached to the interior of chassis  601  to exhaust hot air. A desiccant assembly  606  can be connected between the compressor  116  and compressor line  115  to help prevent moisture accumulation in the outlet tube  117  and compressor line  115 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 6B  is another partial perspective view of the same embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6A  with a view from the opposite side. In  FIG. 6B , a power receptacle  610  can be attached to the chassis  601 , which can distribute electricity from an external 110-220V power source to the vacuum pump  111 , compressor  116 , and controller  611  with associated communications board. A pressure transducer  615  can be connected to the compressor line  115  to measure the air pressure in the compressor line  115  and connected components, such as the aligned chamber  103  at the transport position and the outlet tube  117 , and also connected to the vacuum line  110  to measure the air pressure in the vacuum line  110  and connected components, such as the aligned chamber  103  at the sampling position and the inlet tube  112 . An Ethernet jack  612  that is in communication with controller  611  allows wired remote operation of the system. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can be equipped with a wireless communication module or chip that is in communication controller  611  and allows wireless remote operation of the system. 
         [0062]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention that utilizes one compressor for both the sampling operation and the transport operation, utilizes a storage magazine or ball hopper (these terms are used interchangeably) for storing and supplying a plurality of spherical air-sampling filters (also called “ball filters”), and utilizes an integrated air-sampling manifold to receive ball filters from the ball hopper and to facilitate the sampling operation at the sampling position and the transport operation at the transport position. In FIG.  8 A, an embodiment of an automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800  comprises a ball hopper  801 , an air-sampling manifold  803 , an air compressor  805 , and an air valve  807 . The arrowed lines in  FIG. 8A  indicate the direction of airflow during the sampling operation and the transport operation. Solid lines with arrows indicate the direction and path of airflow during the sampling operation. Dotted lines with arrows indicate the direction and path of airflow during the transport operation. 
         [0063]    Automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800  can sample aerosols by utilizing air compressor  805  to pull ambient air through one-way check valve  819  and inlet tube  816  into air-sampling manifold  803 , where a ball filter  809  has been placed in a sampling-transport position  810  to collect and/or concentrate aerosols and/or vapors. After a sufficient amount of air has been drawn through ball filter  809 , air compressor  805  can then be used to transport the used ball filter  809  away from the sampling-transport position  810 , out of air-sampling manifold  803 , through an output tube  813 , and to a filter retrieval container  815 , which can be located nearby or at a remote location. (In this configuration of automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800 , the sampling position and the transport position occupy the same location  810 .) At filter retrieval container  815 , the aerosols and/or vapors collected by ball filter  809  during a sampling operation can be analyzed in place, or ball filter  809  can be withdrawn from retrieval container  815  and transported to a different location for analysis. Output tube  813  can be any appropriate length, from a few inches to several miles. 
         [0064]    Air compressor  805  can operate to pull air through an inlet port  821  and eject the same air through an outlet port  823 . In operation, air compressor  805  can create an air inlet pressure of approximately −10 PSIG at inlet port  821  and an air outlet pressure of approximately +30 PSIG at outlet port  823 . Air compressor  805  may be configured to operate at other pressures as well, depending on a variety of factors known to one skilled in the art, including the power of the compressor, the diameter of ball filter  809 , the diameter of any tubes or conduits through which ball filter  809  will travel, the length of such tubes or conduits, the smoothness of the inner surfaces of the tubes and conduits, and speed at which the ball filter  809  should travel through the tubes and conduits, and the rate at which aerosols are expected to be collected from the ambient air. 
         [0065]    Air valve  807  can enable air compressor  805  to operate in one of two modes: vacuum mode for a sampling operation or compressor mode for a transport operation, by changing the direction of air flowing through its internal chambers. Air valve  807  may have five ports: (1) a main port  841 , though which air can flow between air valve  807  and air-sampling manifold  803 ; (2) an ambient air output port  843 , through which ambient air acquired during a sampling operation can be pulled under a vacuum through inlet port  821  of air compressor  805 ; (3) a compressed air inlet port  845  that receives compressed air from outlet port  823  of air compressor  805 ; (4) an ambient air output port  847 , through which ambient air can be acquired during a transport operation; and (5) an ambient air intake/exhaust port  849 , through which ambient air can be acquired during a transport operation and through which sampled air can be exhausted to the environment during a sampling operation. 
         [0066]    In vacuum mode during a sampling operation, air valve  807  can be configured to permit air to flow: from the ambient environment through a one-way check valve  819  and inlet tube  816  into a sampling-transport position  810  in air-sampling manifold  803  where the ambient air can penetrate a ball filter  809  and aerosols can be concentrated therein; away from the sampling-transport position  810  and out of air-sampling manifold  803  through tube  831  into air valve  807  through main port  841 ; out of air valve  807  through ambient air output port  843  into air compressor  805  through its inlet port  821 ; out of air compressor  805  through its outlet port  823  into air valve  807  through compressed air inlet port  845 ; and finally out of air valve  807  through ambient air intake/exhaust port  849  and into the ambient environment. One-way check valve  819  may permit air to enter the system  800  but not to exit from that point. The one-way feature of check valve  819  prohibits air, possibly carrying a used ball filter  809 , from exiting the system  800  during a transport operation. Ambient air intake/exhaust port  849  may be optionally configured with a high-efficiency particulate arresting (“HEPA”) filter (not shown) to lower the probability that exhaust air could contaminate the ambient environment near check valve  819  and inlet tube  816 . 
         [0067]    In compressor mode during a transport operation, air valve  807  can be configured to permit air to flow: from the ambient environment through an optional HEPA filter (not shown) connected to ambient air intake/exhaust port  849  into air valve  807 ; out of air valve  807  through ambient air output port  847  into air compressor  805  through its inlet port  821 ; out of air compressor  805  through its outlet port  823  into air valve  807  through compressed air inlet port  845 ; and finally out of air valve  807  through main port  841  into tube  831  and into air-sampling manifold  803 , where a used ball filter  809  can be pneumatically transported from its sampling-transport location  810  in air-sampling manifold  803  through output tube  813  to filter retrieval container  815 . Compressed air can be released into the ambient environment during a transport operation through one-way check valve  817 . One-way check valve  817  may be optionally configured with a HEPA filter (not shown) to lower the probability that air exhausted from check valve  817  during a transport operation could contaminate the ambient environment, including the environment near input check valve  819  and/or inlet tube  816 . 
         [0068]    As will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art, other kinds and configurations of air valves, including multi-way ball valves, may be used in place of air valve  807 , to alternately switch air pathways between a sampling operation and a transport operation, so a single air compressor  805  will be able to operate in both an intake-vacuum-sampling mode and an output-compression-transport mode. 
         [0069]      FIG. 8B  is a more detailed schematic representation of the ball hopper  801  and air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Ball hopper  801  is a container for supplying at least one and preferentially a plurality of ball filters  809  to an air-sampling manifold  803  through a conduit  811  that connects ball hopper  801  to air-sampling manifold  803  and through which a single ball filter  809  can pass, one at a time. Ball hopper  801  may be positioned substantially above air-sampling manifold  803  so that ball filters  809  can fall, one at a time, downward from ball hopper  801  through conduit  811  into air-sampling manifold  803  by action of gravity. Ball hopper  801  may be sized to hold any number of ball filters  809 , and may have any one of a variety of shapes capable of holding a plurality of ball filters  809 . As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , for example, ball hopper  801  may resemble a cylinder. Ball hopper  801  may have an opening  802  at the top for adding new (unused) ball filters  809 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 8B  also illustrates an air-sampling manifold  803 , which can receive a plurality of ball filters  809  through conduit  811 . Conduit  811  may be preferably sized to permit only one ball filter  809  to pass through it at a time. As shown in  FIG. 8B , several ball filters  809  may be staged in conduit  811  within air-sampling manifold  803 . 
         [0071]    A rotatable slotted drum  853  may be positioned within a retaining cylinder  861  within air-sampling manifold  803  and may be configured with a plurality of filter slots or filter pockets  855 , each of which may sized and configured to receive one ball filter  809  when drum  853  is rotated within retaining cylinder  861  to align a filter pocket  855  with conduit  811 , so a ball filter  809  can drop into pocket  855  by action of gravity. Once a ball filter  809  has dropped into a pocket  855 , slotted drum  853  may then be rotated again to permit the ball filter  809  that dropped into pocket  855  to be delivered to a sampling-transport position  810  where ambient air can be drawn through the ball filter  809  to collect aerosols. 
         [0072]      FIG. 8C  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 8C  illustrates how slotted drum  853  can be rotated to move a ball filter  809  from conduit  811  into a sampling-transport position  810  where ambient air can be drawn over and through ball filter  809  to collect aerosols. On the left side of  FIG. 8C , drum  853  is shown in a configuration where one of the plurality of pockets  855  has already received a ball filter  809  from conduit  811  and drum  853  has rotated approximately 45 degrees about keyed axis  851  within retaining cylinder  861  in the process of transporting ball filter  809  from a receiving position where pocket  855  is aligned with conduit  811  to a delivering position where pocket  855  is aligned with conduit  857 . Drum  853  may be rotated by a stepper motor (not shown) that rotates drum  853  a predetermined number of degrees with each step. For example, a stepper motor can be configured to rotate drum  853  1.8 degrees per step, so that drum  853  will be rotated 180 degrees in 100 steps. Drum  853  can also be configured to include a sensor (not shown) to indicate when it is in a known position. 
         [0073]    On the right side of  FIG. 8C , drum  853  is shown in a configuration where it has rotated another 45 degrees about axis  851  within retaining cylinder  861  to a delivering position where the pocket  855  holding a ball filter  809  is aligned with conduit  857 . In this configuration, ball filter  809  can be delivered from pocket  855  through conduit  857  to sampling-transport position  810  when a vacuum is applied to sampling-transport position  810  through tube  831 . 
         [0074]    When drum  853  is rotated within retaining cylinder  861  to move a pocket  855  toward conduit  857 , the outer convex surface of drum  853  can act to block entrance of other ball filters  809  from entering the same pocket  855 . As drum  853  rotates, other queued ball filters  809  stacked by gravity in conduit  811  can simply slide over the outer convex surface of drum  853  until the next pocket  855  rotates under conduit  811  and a ball filter  809  drops inside. 
         [0075]    To improve air sample collection efficiency and maximize the probability that a ball filter  809  will be exposed only to air coming from the ambient environment and exposed to very little air from the area around air-sampling manifold  803  that might come from small spaces between drum  853  and retaining cylinder  861 , once a ball filter  809  has been staged, either in conduit  857  or in sampling-transport position  810 , drum  853  can be rotated so that no pocket  855  is in alignment with conduit  857 , as shown, for example, on the left side of  FIG. 8C . 
         [0076]    As mentioned above, drum  853  can have a plurality of slots or filter pockets  855 .  FIGS. 8A-F  illustrate embodiments of the present invention where drum  853  has exactly 4 pockets  855 . As one skilled in the art will appreciate, a different number of pockets may be used. For example, drum  853  may have only one filter pocket  855 , two filter pockets  855 , three filter pockets  855 , four filter pockets  855  (as shown in  FIGS. 8A-F ), or more than four filter pockets  855 . 
         [0077]    For example, in another embodiment, in addition to the filter pockets  855  that are used for normal operation, drum  853  may include one or more special-use pockets that are designated for use in certain special situations. The special-use pocket(s) can be one of the filter pockets  855 . The special-use pocket(s) can be manually preloaded with a different kind of ball filter than is typically used for normal air sampling operations. For example, the special-use pocket(s) could be preloaded with a special ball filter for adsorbing, collecting, and/or concentrating certain kinds of vapors, once a ball filter  809  has been determined to have collected certain solid airborne particulates. The special-use pocket(s) can be configured with a unique gasket or gasket ring in order to retain the special ball filter in place when it rotates past conduit  857 , but where the retaining power of the gasket or gasket ring can be overcome with sufficient vacuum so that a special ball filter can be pulled from its special-use pocket and loaded into sampling-transport position  810  when desired. Drum  853  may be configured with a position sensor to indicate the position of any of filter pockets  855 , as well as the position of any special-use pockets. The position sensor can optionally be incorporated into the capability of a stepper motor that rotates and controls the position of drum  853 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 8D  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 8D  illustrates how a ball filter  809  that has been transported from conduit  811  to conduit  857  by drum  853  can be pulled from a pocket  855  into conduit  857 . When a ball filter  809  is resting in a pocket  855  that is aligned with conduit  857 , air valve  807  can be configured to operate in vacuum mode so that when compressor  805  is running, it will draw ambient air through one-way check valve  819  and inlet tube  816  into a sampling-transport position  810  and down tube  831 . If, at that time, a ball filter  809  is resting in a pocket  855  that is aligned with conduit  857 , it will be pulled away from pocket  855  and drawn through conduit  857  and toward sampling-transport position  810 . To encourage movement of a ball filter  809  from a pocket  855  into conduit  857 , air-sampling manifold  803  can be configured with an optional ambient air feed  870 , through which ambient air may be drawn around drum  853  (for example, through the space between drum  853  and retaining cylinder  861 ) and into conduit  857 , thereby “pushing” a ball filter  809  out of its pocket  855  and toward conduit  857 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 8E  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 8E  illustrates how a ball filter  809  that has been transported from conduit  811  to conduit  857  by drum  853  can be pulled from conduit  857  into a sampling-transport position  810  where ambient air can be drawn over and through ball filter  809  to collect aerosols. As compressor  805  continues to draw ambient air through one-way check valve  819  and inlet tube  816  into a sampling-transport position  810  and down tube  831 , the ambient air will cause a ball filter residing in conduit  857  to be drawn further in the direction of the vacuum air flow, resulting in ball filter  809  being drawn into the sampling-transport position  810  shown in  FIG. 8E . In this position, ball filter  809  will be blocked from moving into tube  831  by virtue of intervening conduit  871 , which may have a smaller diameter than either conduit  857  or the sampling-transport position  810 . In other words, conduit  871  may be preferably sized to have a diameter that does not permit entry or transportation of a ball filter  809 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 8F  is a detailed schematic representation of the air-sampling manifold  803  originally shown in  FIG. 8A , which illustrates how a ball filter  809  can be transported away from the sampling-transport position  810  when compressor  805  is in compressor mode. In compressor mode during a transport operation, air valve  807  can be configured to permit air to flow: from the ambient environment through ambient air intake port  849  into air valve  807 ; out of air valve  807  through ambient air output port  843  into air compressor  805  through its inlet port  821 ; out of air compressor  805  through its outlet port  823  into air valve  807  through compressed air inlet port  845 ; and finally out of air valve  807  through main port  841  into tube  831 , tube  871  of air-sampling manifold  803  and finally the sampling-transport position  810 , from which a used ball filter  809  can be pneumatically transported from sampling-transport location  810  through output tube  813  to filter retrieval container  815  (shown in  FIG. 8A ), and the compressed exhaust air can exit from the automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800  through a one-way check valve  817  (shown in  FIG. 8A ), which also prohibits air from entering the system  800  during a sampling operation. 
         [0081]    In the same way that conduit  871  may preferentially have a diameter that is smaller than a ball filter  809 , conduit  873  may also preferentially have a diameter that is smaller than a ball filter  809 . The purpose of the smaller diameters of these conduits is to prevent a ball filter  809  from accidentally moving into these conduits (and tubes, such as inlet tube  816 ) during a transport operation. 
         [0082]    Some embodiments of the invention can utilize a combination of ball hopper  801  and air-sampling manifold  803  to load (or pre-load) chambers  103  of wheel assembly  101  with ball filters  809  (or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141 ). For example, air-sampling manifold  803  can be configured to align conduit  871 , including sampling-transport position  810 , with inlet tube  112 . In this configuration, the combination of ball hopper  801  and air-sampling manifold  803  can stage a ball filter  809  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) into sampling-transport position  810 . Vacuum pump  111  can then pull ball filter  809  from sampling-transport position  810  into an empty chamber  103 , where ball filter  809  can be held in place by O-ring gaskets  143  and  145  and used to sample air as described above. By subsequently rotating wheel assembly  101  so that each empty chamber  103  is aligned with inlet tube  112 , wheel assembly  101  can be pre-loaded with ball filters or spherical air-sampling cartridges  141  supplied by the combination of ball hopper  801  and air-sampling manifold  803 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computing device  700  that is configured to control the operation of various embodiments of the invention. In certain operative embodiments, computing device  700  is the controller  611  of  FIG. 6B . Computing device  700  may comprise any device known in the art to be capable of processing data and/or information and also capable of being installed on or embedded within an embodiment of automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  100  or air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800 . Accordingly, computing device  700  may comprise a general purpose and/or special purpose computer, including a microprocessor or microcontroller, a personal computer, workstation, server, minicomputer, microcomputer, computer terminal, laptop, tablet computer (such as an iPad), mobile terminal, smart phone (such as an iPhone, Android device, or BlackBerry) or the like. In general, any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing at least a portion of a control operation, method, Application Programmer&#39;s Interface (“API”), communications interface, and/or user interface described herein may be used as a computing device. Computing device  700  may comprise any of numerous components, including one or more network interface(s)  701 , one or more memory(ies)  703 , one or more processor(s)  705 , program instructions and logic  707 , one or more input device(s)  709 , one or more output device(s)  711 , and one or more power module(s)  713 . 
         [0084]    Network interface(s)  701  may comprise any device, system, or subsystem or component that is capable of coupling an information device to a network and/or transmitting or receiving information. For example, a network interface can comprise a telephone, cellular phone, cellular modem, telephone data modem, fax modem, wireless transceiver, RF transceiver, Bluetooth transceiver, WiFi transceiver, wireless broadband transceiver (WiMAX), Ethernet circuit, cable modem, digital subscriber line interface, bridge, hub, router, or other similar capability. 
         [0085]    Memory(ies)  703  can be any type of apparatus known in the art that is capable of storing analog or digital information such as instructions and/or data. Examples include a non-volatile or read only memory (“ROM”), volatile or random access memory (“RAM”), flash memory, various types of magnetic memory media, and the like. Memory(ies)  703  can be coupled to one or more processor(s)  705  and can store instructions and logic  707  adapted to be executed by one or more processor(s)  705 , as according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
         [0086]    Processor(s)  705  may comprise one or more devices for executing machine-readable instructions that perform one or more predetermined tasks. Processor(s)  705  can comprise any one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software. In general, processor(s)  705  can utilize mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, magnetic, optical, informational, chemical, and/or biological principles, signals, and/or inputs to perform tasks. In certain embodiments, processor(s)  705  can receive information from input device(s)  709 . In certain embodiments, processor(s)  705  can act upon information, including received information, by manipulating, analyzing, modifying, converting, transmitting the information for use by an executable procedure and/or an information device, and/or routing the information to output device(s)  711 . Processor(s)  705  can function as a central processing unit, local controller, remote controller, parallel controller, and/or distributed controller, etc. Processor(s)  705  can include a general-purpose device, such as a microcontroller and/or a microprocessor. In certain embodiments, processor(s)  705  can be a dedicated special purpose device, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (“FPGA”). Processor(s)  705  can also be an integrated circuit that has been designed to implement in hardware and/or firmware at least a part of an embodiment disclosed herein. Processor(s)  705  can also include a hardware electronic logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, and/or a programmable logic device such as a Programmable Logic Controller (“PLC”) or the like. 
         [0087]    Instructions and logic  707  may comprise directions adapted to cause a machine, such as computing device  700 , to perform one or more particular activities, operations, or functions. The directions, which can sometimes form an entity called a “kernel”, “operating system”, “program”, “application”, “utility”, “subroutine”, “script”, “macro”, “file”, “project”, “module”, “library”, “class”, “object”, or “Application Programming Interface,” etc., can be embodied as machine code, source code, object code, compiled code, assembled code, interpretable code, and/or executable code, etc., in hardware, firmware, and/or software. Instructions and logic  707  may reside in processor(s)  705 , in memory(ies)  703 , or in another specialized device(s) or component(s). Instructions and logic  707  may also be embedded in an external computer-readable storage medium or device, which when loaded into computing device  700  is able to carry out the different control instructions, steps, and methods described herein. 
         [0088]    Input device(s)  709  may comprise any traditional input device known in the art, such as a button, dial, or switch, and may also include any sensory-oriented input device known in the art, such as an audio, visual, haptic, olfactory, and/or taste-oriented device, including, for example, a keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointing device, microphone, speaker, video camera, camera, scanner, printer, haptic device, vibrator, tactile simulator, and/or tactile pad, potentially including a port to which an input device can be attached or connected. Input device(s)  709  may also comprise any sensor known in the art that can measure physical/spatial parameters, including vibrations, acceleration, and direction of motion. 
         [0089]    Output device(s)  711  may comprise any output device known in the art, such as, for example, a monitor, display, projector, overhead display, printer, switch, relay, solenoid, light-producing device, audio or sound-producing device, or vibrator, potentially including a port to which output device(s)  711  can be attached or connected. 
         [0090]    Computing device  700  may be used, accessed, programmed, controlled, manipulated, or directed through a user interface. The user interface may comprise any means for rendering information to a user and/or requesting information from the user. A user interface includes at least one of textual, graphical, audio, video, animation, and/or haptic elements. A textual element can be provided, for example, by a printer, monitor, display, projector, etc. A graphical element can be provided, for example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or visual indication device, such as a light, flag, beacon, etc. An audio element can be provided, for example, via a speaker, microphone, and/or other sound generating and/or receiving device. A video element or animation element can be provided, for example, via a monitor, display, projector, and/or other visual device. A haptic element can be provided, for example, via a very low frequency speaker, vibrator, tactile stimulator, tactile pad, simulator, keyboard, keypad, mouse, trackball, joystick, gamepad, wheel, touchpad, touch panel, pointing device, and/or other haptic device, etc. A user interface can include one or more textual elements such as, for example, one or more letters, number, symbols, etc. A user interface can include one or more graphical elements such as, for example, an image, photograph, drawing, icon, window, title bar, panel, sheet, tab, drawer, matrix, table, form, calendar, outline view, frame, dialog box, static text, text box, list, pick list, pop-up list, pull-down list, menu, tool bar, dock, check box, radio button, hyperlink, browser, button, control, palette, preview panel, color wheel, dial, slider, scroll bar, cursor, status bar, stepper, and/or progress indicator, etc. A textual and/or graphical element can be used for selecting, programming, adjusting, changing, specifying, etc. an appearance, background color, background style, border style, border thickness, foreground color, font, font style, font size, alignment, line spacing, indent, maximum data length, validation, query, cursor type, pointer type, auto-sizing, position, and/or dimension, etc. A user interface can include one or more audio elements such as, for example, a volume control, pitch control, speed control, voice selector, and/or one or more elements for controlling audio play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, etc. A user interface can include one or more video elements such as, for example, elements controlling video play, speed, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, and/or tilt, etc. A user interface can include one or more animation elements such as, for example, elements controlling animation play, pause, fast forward, reverse, zoom-in, zoom-out, rotate, tilt, color, intensity, speed, frequency, appearance, etc. A user interface can include one or more haptic elements such as, for example, elements utilizing tactile stimulus, force, pressure, vibration, motion, displacement, temperature, etc. 
         [0091]    Power module(s)  713  may comprise one or more devices for providing electrical power to various the components of computing device  700 . Power module(s)  713  may include one or more battery cells or other power supplies, any number of which can be electrically connected together. Some or all of the battery cells may be rechargeable. Power module(s)  713  may also include a power input to receive input power from a power source, and a power output to provide output power to another device, including another power module  713 . 
         [0092]    Embodiments of the invention can utilize computing device  700  to provide autonomous or manual-assisted control over various operations of automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  100 . Said operation can include, but is not limited to: receiving electronic communications and commands via Ethernet jack  612 , controlling Geneva drive motor  201 , activating and terminating operation of vacuum pump  111 , activating and terminating operation of compressor  116 , and three-way valves  506  and  511 , as explained above. 
         [0093]    Embodiments of the invention can also utilize computing device  700  to provide autonomous or manual-assisted control over various operations of air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800 . Said operation can include, but is not limited to: receiving electronic communications and commands via Ethernet jack  612  to control air valve  807 , to control drum  853  (including a stepper motor for drum  853 ), and optionally to control operation of compressor  805 , as explained above. 
         [0094]    In addition to the illustrated embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that an alternative embodiment of the invention can include a detection system such that air samples can be analyzed after sampling but prior to transport. With respect to automatic re-loading air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  100 , such a detection system can analyze collected air samples while an air-sampling cartridge  125  (or spherical air-sampling cartridge  141 ) is still retained in a chamber  103  of the wheel assembly  101 . With respect to air-sampling and pneumatic transport system  800 , such a detection system can analyze air samples sent internally or externally while a ball filter  809  is still retained in filter retrieval container  815 . Such alternative embodiments of the invention can include detectors to detect specific chemical compounds, biological components, and/or radiological emissions from an air sample. 
         [0095]    The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that modifications, variations and additional embodiments are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. Other logic may also be provided as part of the exemplary embodiments but are left out here so as not to obfuscate the present invention. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.