US 12,111,237 B2
System for aerosol sampling during mechanical load
Rosemary A. Montgomery, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Meng-Dawn Cheng, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Yadukrishnan Sasikumar, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and Bruce B. Bevard, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Assigned to UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed by UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/469,419.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/078,623, filed on Sep. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0118177 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G21C 17/06 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/2202 (2013.01) [G01N 1/2211 (2013.01); G21C 17/06 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2223 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0019 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0021 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0023 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0025 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for sampling solid aerosols, the system comprising:
a test enclosure to at least partially receive a rod-shaped test specimen that is to release solid aerosols when fractured, wherein the test enclosure includes:
a base portion, the base portion including a base tray and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, wherein first and second ones of the plurality of sidewalls are positioned opposite each other and include a notch along an upper periphery thereof, wherein the base tray includes first and second slots along a lateral periphery thereof, the base portion further including an access opening for a sampler conduit, and
a lid portion, the lid portion being adapted to fit over the base portion and including first and second openings extending entirely through the lid portion;
a mechanical-test apparatus configured to apply a mechanical load to the rod-shaped test specimen while the rod-shaped test specimen is at least partially received within the test enclosure, wherein the mechanical-test apparatus includes a fixed cross-head and a movable cross-head, wherein the base portion is supported atop the fixed cross-head, the fixed cross-head including a first support pin extending upwardly through the first slot in the base tray and including a second support pin extending upwardly through the second slot in the base tray, wherein the movable cross-head includes a first load pin extending downwardly in alignment with the first opening in the lid portion and includes a second load pin extending downwardly in alignment with the second opening in the lid portion; and
one or more sampling packs configured to detect the solid aerosols to be released by the rod-shaped test specimen; and
a pump for drawing the solid aerosols through the sampler conduit to the one or more sampling packs;
wherein the test enclosure is adapted to receive the rod-shaped test specimen horizontally through the first and second notches of the first and second sidewalls of the base portion, such that the rod-shaped test specimen is held in place while subjected to a bending load from the mechanical-test apparatus when the first and second load pins of the movable cross-head are lowered into engagement with the rod-shaped test specimen.