US 12,270,747 B2
Device for collecting material from air
Sarah Placella, Orinda, CA (US); and Andrew Gillies, Oakland, CA (US)
Assigned to ROOT APPLIED SCIENCES INC., Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed by ROOT APPLIED SCIENCES INC., Oakland, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,341.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/201,475, filed on Apr. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349804 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 15/06 (2024.01); B04C 5/04 (2006.01); B04C 5/185 (2006.01); B04C 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/01 (2024.01)
CPC G01N 15/0618 (2013.01) [B04C 5/04 (2013.01); B04C 5/185 (2013.01); B04C 2009/002 (2013.01); B04C 2009/007 (2013.01); G01N 15/01 (2024.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A collection device comprising:
a housing with a fluid inlet, said housing suspended in air by a support structure mounted to the ground and configured to exert a centripetal force on air entering the fluid inlet so as to translate linear motion of said air to rotational motion;
a fan that when operated causes the air to enter the fluid inlet;
a power source for powering the fan;
a collection zone for capturing particles contained within the air that enters the fluid inlet, wherein a fluid entrance of said collection zone is oriented perpendicularly to a direction the air enters the fluid inlet and positioned below the fluid inlet;
an outlet allowing for air to exit the capture device after the particles have been captured in the collection zone;
a support piece extending from the housing and operatively attached to the support structure; and
a weathervane attached to the support piece opposite the housing;
wherein the support piece is positioned on top of a plurality of ball bearings and is rotatable atop the plurality of ball bearings, wherein the plurality of ball bearings act as a center of rotation for the weathervane and the housing to rotate around, wherein neither of the housing nor the weathervane are positioned above the center of rotation so as to enhance a sensitivity of the collection device to a crossflow of air;
wherein the fluid inlet is configured to receive a flow of air substantially parallel to the ground, wherein the housing comprises a scroll shape and it is because of the scroll shape that the flow of air is translated from a linear motion to a rotational motion when the flow of air enters the collection device.