US 12,104,991 B2
Particle concentrator
Elric W. Saaski, Monroe, WA (US); and Charles C. Jung, Snohomish, WA (US)
Assigned to Research International, Inc., Monroe, WA (US)
Filed by RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, INC., Monroe, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/860,826.
Application 16/860,826 is a continuation of application No. 15/785,094, filed on Oct. 16, 2017, granted, now 10,677,689.
Application 15/785,094 is a continuation of application No. 12/231,207, filed on Aug. 29, 2008, granted, now 9,791,353, issued on Oct. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0292420 A1, Sep. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 1/40 (2006.01); G01N 15/06 (2024.01)
CPC G01N 1/2205 (2013.01) [G01N 1/4077 (2013.01); G01N 2001/4088 (2013.01); G01N 15/0618 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A particle concentrator, having a top and a bottom, and comprising:
a hollow outer hub, having a top end and bottom end, and a side wall defining a plurality of sampled airflow inlet slots;
an inner hub, placed in said outer hub and having a hollow interior, and which, for each one of said sampled airflow inlet slots, supports a corresponding blade,
each blade defining a secondary airflow slot that is aligned to a corresponding sampled airflow inlet slot in fluid communication with said hollow interior of said inner hub;
each blade further having a top side forming a fluid-tight seal configured to inhibit secondary airflow from said top side from flowing through the corresponding secondary airflow slot, and wherein each adjacent two blades define a space between blades;
a fan assembly, for blowing air out of said top of said outer hub, from said spaces between blades, thereby causing rapid air inflow through said sampled airflow inlet slots, some of said air then flowing into said secondary airflow slots, where said air flows into said inner hub.