Bell Cap Inlet Adaptor for Low-Turbulence Air Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bell cap inlet testing systems for air quality and biological weapon detectors face challenges with sample loss due to air turbulence, requiring large enclosures and being space-intensive or inefficient, especially when testing systems with high inlet flow rates.

Innovation Solution

A bell cap inlet adaptor with a tangentially offset sample inlet and cyclonic flow design minimizes turbulence by matching velocities of incoming sample air and existing air flows within the containment cavity, ensuring aerosolized particles are directed into the sample tube with minimal loss, using a containment cavity shape that maintains axial flow and rejects larger particles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional bell cap inlet testing systems are used, then sample air can be introduced for testing, but air turbulence occurs causing sample loss and requiring large enclosures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample lossVSAvoidenclosure size

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bell cap inlet adaptor segments the airflow path by introducing sample air through a separate sample inlet that is offset from the main axial flow path. This segmentation allows sample air to merge smoothly with the axial flow, reducing turbulence and sample loss without requiring large enclosures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bell cap inlet adaptor acts as an intermediary device between the sample air source and the testing system. It features a sample inlet offset from the axis and a sample tube that facilitates smooth merging of sample air with the axial flow, eliminating the need for large enclosures while minimizing sample loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of substance

If large enclosures are used to minimize sample loss, then sample quality is maintained, but the testing system becomes space-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample lossVSAvoidtesting facility area

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the inlet system by offsetting the sample inlet from the axis and positioning the sample tube at a specific distance from the bell cap inlet face. This parameter optimization enables efficient sample introduction with minimal turbulence in a compact configuration, eliminating the need for large enclosures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If sample inlet is positioned on the axis, then structure is simple, but air turbulence occurs causing sample loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample lossVSAvoidinlet adaptor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bell cap inlet adaptor employs asymmetric positioning of the sample inlet offset from the axis and the sample tube positioned at a specific offset distance. This asymmetric configuration optimizes airflow patterns to minimize turbulence and sample loss, while the overall structure remains relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bell cap inlet adaptor reduces sample loss and turbulence, allowing for efficient testing in smaller spaces while maintaining sample quality and functionality, particularly effective for particles in the 1 to 10 micrometer range, by creating a seamless merge of sample air with existing air flows.

Implementation Method 1

Air drawn through the sample tube may impart a cyclonic flow of air within the containment cavity. The sample tube may be offset from the axis of the containment cavity.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclonic flow: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

merging at least a portion of the introduced sample air with axially flowing air with little to no turbulence based on the geometry of the bell cap inlet adaptor and the bell cap inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence reduction: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentUS10113998B2Bell cap aerosol adaptor

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

A method of testing an air sample and/or testing equipment may comprise introducing aerosolized sample particles into an air flow to create sample air upstream from an air quality sampling device. The method may include introducing the sample air to an offset sample inlet of a bell cap inlet adaptor coupled to a sample tube. The method may include merging at least a portion of the introduced sample air with axially flowing air with little to no turbulence based on the geometry of the bell cap inlet adaptor and/or a containment cavity. The method may include introducing at least a portion of the sample air into the sample tube. Next, a test of at least one of the quality of the sample air and/or the functionality of the bell cap inlet may be performed.