US3972226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slit impact air sampler
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-08-12
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Granted: 1976-08-03
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Expires: 1995-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A slit impact air sampler for collecting viable organisms in air borne particles at a controlled rate. The rotating platform upon which a collecting plate is positioned can be rotated at ten different speeds through a variable speed transmission. The height of the slit above the collecting plate can be adjusted while maintaining the slit in a radial position to the plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin Briggs Rountree
- 👤 Donovan Charles Philpin Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2202; G01N2001/222; G01N2001/2223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
356 words
An impact air sampler comprising the combination of: a. An impact chamber with an outlet passage; b. A rotating platform positioned in said impact chamber and mounted on an output shaft; c. An inlet slit tube projecting through a wall of said impact chamber with the slit located above said rotating platform, with means for the flow of air into said inlet slit and out of said outlet passage; d. A variable speed transmission for rotating said platform at variable speeds, said transmission having a drive shaft positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of said output shaft, said drive shaft fixedly carrying two co-axial gears of varying diameters, with means to rotate said drive shaft, said transmission having an idler shaft positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of said output shaft and located on the opposite side of said drive shaft from said output shaft, said idler shaft fixedly carrying a series of co-axial gears, said idler shaft also carrying two co-axial gears which are axially shiftable but rotate with the idler shaft, said gears being of approximately the same diameters as the gears on said drive shaft, means for selectively engaging a gear on the drive shaft with one of the axially shiftable gears on the idler shaft so that the larger gear on one of the shafts is engaged with the smaller gear on the other shaft so as to provide two rotation speeds for the idler shaft, said output shaft fixedly carrying a series of co-axial gears in varying diameters, with the transverse plane of each gear being located in the same place as the transverse plane of one of the fixedly attached gears on the idler shaft, said transmission having a transfer gear carried on a shaft axially parallel to the output shaft, means for moving said transfer gear from engagement with a gear on said output shaft and a gear in the same transverse plane on said idler shaft into a position clear of said gears and back into engagement with another gear on said output shaft and a gear in the same transverse plane on said idler shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
356 words
An impact air sampler comprising the combination of: a. An impact chamber with an outlet passage; b. A rotating platform positioned in said impact chamber and mounted on an output shaft; c. An inlet slit tube projecting through a wall of said impact chamber with the slit located above said rotating platform, with means for the flow of air into said inlet slit and out of said outlet passage; d. A variable speed transmission for rotating said platform at variable speeds, said transmission having a drive shaft positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of said output shaft, said drive shaft fixedly carrying two co-axial gears of varying diameters, with means to rotate said drive shaft, said transmission having an idler shaft positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of said output shaft and located on the opposite side of said drive shaft from said output shaft, said idler shaft fixedly carrying a series of co-axial gears, said idler shaft also carrying two co-axial gears which are axially shiftable but rotate with the idler shaft, said gears being of approximately the same diameters as the gears on said drive shaft, means for selectively engaging a gear on the drive shaft with one of the axially shiftable gears on the idler shaft so that the larger gear on one of the shafts is engaged with the smaller gear on the other shaft so as to provide two rotation speeds for the idler shaft, said output shaft fixedly carrying a series of co-axial gears in varying diameters, with the transverse plane of each gear being located in the same place as the transverse plane of one of the fixedly attached gears on the idler shaft, said transmission having a transfer gear carried on a shaft axially parallel to the output shaft, means for moving said transfer gear from engagement with a gear on said output shaft and a gear in the same transverse plane on said idler shaft into a position clear of said gears and back into engagement with another gear on said output shaft and a gear in the same transverse plane on said idler shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
162 words
The impact air sampler of claim 1 wherein said inlet slit tube (c) can be vertically adjusted, projecting said tube through the upper wall so that the axis of the slit tube is located approximately midway between the center and periphery of said rotating platform, said slit tube comprising the combination of: a. an inner tube with a slit plate attached to the bottom of said inner tube; b. an outer sleeve fitted around the inner tube with means to prevent the inner tube from being rotated while permitting it to be vertically adjusted, said outer sleeve being threaded on the outside circumference of its upper portion, said outer sleeve being attached to the upper wall by attachment means; c. an outer ring fitted around said outer sleeve with interior threads engaged with the exterior threads of said outer sleeve, means for connecting said outer ring to said inner tube so said tube is vertically adjusted as said outer ring is rotated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The impact air sampler of claim 2 wherein a height gauge is attached to said inlet slit tube (c) to measure the height of the slit above any medium located on the rotating platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
206 words
The impact air sampler of claim 1 wherein in (d) the means to rotate said drive shaft is a key-wound motor, the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft are positioned on the lower portion of said shaft, the means for selectively engaging a gear on the drive shaft with one of the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft comprises the idler shaft being supported by at least one supporting member which is rotatably carried on a support shaft parallel to the idler shaft so that the idler shaft can be moved radially in relation to the axis of the support shaft, and a connecting arm attached to the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft and which is slidably and rotatably carried on the support shaft and means for moving said idler shaft radially and two co-axial gears slidably, wherein the means for moving said transfer gear from engagement comprises at least one supporting arm which is pivotably attached to a support shoulder which is pivotably and slidably attached to a transfer gear support shaft which is parallel to the axis of said drive shaft and means for moving said supporting arm and supporting shoulder radially and slidably about said transfer gear support shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
The impact air sampler of claim 2 wherein in (d) the means to rotate said drive shaft is a key-wound motor, the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft are positioned on the lower portion of said shaft, the means for selectively engaging a gear on the drive shaft with one of the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft comprises the idler shaft being supported by at least one supporting member which is rotatably carried on a support shaft parallel to the idler shaft so that the idler shaft can be moved radially in relation to the axis of the support shaft, and a connecting arm attached to the two co-axial gears on the idler shaft and which is slidably and rotatably carried on the support shaft and means for moving said idler shaft radially and two co-axial gears slidably, wherein the means for moving said transfer gear from engagement comprises at least one supporting arm which is pivotably attached to a support shoulder which is pivotably and slidably attached to a transfer gear support shaft which is parallel to the axis of said drive shaft and means for moving said supporting arm and supporting shoulder radially and slidably about said transfer gear support shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The impact air sampler of claim 1 wherein the means to prevent the inner tube from being rotated comprises a slot in the side wall of said inner tube into which a pin attached to the outer sleeve projects, and the outer ring is connected to the inner tube by an outwardly projection lip encircling the top of the inner tube which is nested between the top edge of the outer ring and an inwardly projecting lip on the top of an adjustment ring which is attached to the outer ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
The impact air sampler of claim 2 wherein the means to prevent the inner tube from being rotated comprises a slot in the side wall of said inner tube into which a pin attached to the outer sleeve projects and the outer ring is connected to the inner tube by an outwardly projection lip encircling the top of the inner tube which is nested between the top edge of the outer ring and an inwardly projecting lip on the top of an adjustment ring which is attached to the outer ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |