US 11,668,632 B2
Particulate calibration and generation simulator for particle measurement and number
Karl Ropkins, Ilkley (GB); David Miller, Clarence Center, NY (US); John William Hynd, Clarence Center, NY (US); Jodi Miller, Clarence Center, NY (US); Craig Pfister, Prospect, PA (US); Andrew Burnette, El Dorado Hills, CA (US); and Gurdas Sandhu, Cary, NC (US)
Assigned to 3DATX Corporation, Buffalo, NY (US)
Filed by 3DATX Corporation, Buffalo, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/483,476.
Application 17/483,476 is a continuation of application No. 16/846,867, filed on Apr. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,131,610.
Application 16/846,867 is a continuation of application No. 15/748,797, granted, now 10,656,061, issued on May 19, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/045018, filed on Aug. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/198,944, filed on Jul. 30, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011203 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 15/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/44 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01); G01N 15/02 (2006.01); G01N 15/06 (2006.01); F01N 3/021 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/44 (2013.01) [G01N 1/28 (2013.01); F01N 3/021 (2013.01); G01N 15/02 (2013.01); G01N 15/06 (2013.01); G01N 15/1012 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2893 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for generating reference particulate (particulate matter (PM)/particle number (PN)) and creating conditions for a PM/PN simulation and/or facsimile event, comprising:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a filter configured to remove of a specific diameter of particulates;
a sealed tank reservoir in the housing;
a removable liquid exhaust tank mounted in the sealed tank reservoir, the liquid exhaust tank configured to contain a fluid;
a heating element mounted within the sealed tank reservoir, wherein the heating element is configured to provide a variable fluid vaporization rate, and wherein the heating element is configured to atomize the fluid;
one or more sensors to measure at least one of pressure, flow, temperature, or humidity; and
four flow control valves along a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein a first flow control valve is disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein a second flow control valve is disposed between the inlet and the filter, wherein a third flow control valve is disposed between the sealed tank reservoir and the filter, and wherein a fourth flow control valve is disposed between the sealed tank reservoir and the outlet.