US 12,422,420 B2
Programmable logic controller-based system and user interface for air sampling in controlled environments
Nathan G. Kocher, West Chester, PA (US)
Assigned to Veltek Associates, Inc., Malvern, PA (US)
Filed by Veltek Associates, Inc., Malvern, PA (US)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/635,145.
Application 18/635,145 is a continuation of application No. 17/070,506, filed on Oct. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,971,396.
Application 17/070,506 is a continuation of application No. 15/946,461, filed on Apr. 5, 2018, abandoned.
Application 15/946,461 is a continuation of application No. 14/471,848, filed on Aug. 28, 2014, granted, now 9,939,416, issued on Apr. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0272131 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 33/00 (2006.01); F24F 3/167 (2021.01); F24F 11/00 (2018.01); F24F 11/50 (2018.01); F24F 11/74 (2018.01); G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 1/24 (2006.01); G01N 1/26 (2006.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/0011 (2013.01) [F24F 3/167 (2021.01); F24F 11/50 (2018.01); F24F 11/74 (2018.01); G01N 1/2273 (2013.01); G01N 1/24 (2013.01); G01N 1/26 (2013.01); G01N 33/0073 (2013.01); G05D 7/0623 (2013.01); F24F 2011/0005 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment comprising:
a plurality of air sampling devices, each configured to draw a volume of air from within a controlled environment;
a plurality of vacuum connections, each of the plurality of vacuum connections configured to receive the volume of air from one of the plurality of air sampling devices;
a vacuum pump, outside of the controlled environment, configured to draw each volume of air from each of the plurality of air sampling devices via the plurality of vacuum connections;
a plurality of flow sensors, each of the plurality of flow sensors configured to sense a mass flow rate of the volume of air received by one of the vacuum connections;
a graphical user interface that provides functionality for a user to specify one or more setpoints indicative of a desired mass flow rate at each of a plurality of the air sampling devices;
a plurality of flow control valves, each of the plurality of flow control valves configured to initiate an air sampling cycle at one of the air sampling devices and control the mass flow rate of the volume of air received by the corresponding vacuum connection in response to the desired mass flow rate specified by the user via the graphical user interface.