Edward Stewart Burke

US Patent:

48965472, Jan 30, 1990

Filed:

Nov 18, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/272951

Inventors:

Michel D. Arney - Roslindale MA
Gianfranco Zaccai - Boston MA
Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
Edward J. Burke - Waltham MA
Gabor Miskolczy - Carlisle MA
Ain A. Sonin - Lexington MA

Assignee:

Thermedics Inc. - Woburn MA

International Classification:

G01N 114

US Classification:

7386381

Abstract:

Disclosed is a walk-in inspection apparatus for active production of air samples containing vapors of explosives, drugs, or other substances carried by a person. The apparatus includes a U-shaped booth with an open end through which a person walks past walls which may contain a metal detector, then stands in front of a mesh screen facing a vertical end wall containing a vertical array of shaped funnels. Light-transmissive wall sections near the end wall help encourage entry of the person into the booth, and the light colored mesh screen draws attention of a person in the booth away from the darker funnels. In the collection of an air sample a blower outside the booth sucks a large volume of air around the person and horizontally through the funnels in the end wall and through ducts into a collection manifold for subsequent analysis. During sampling, infrared heaters in the end wall heat the clothing and skin of the person and many small nozzles extending through the end wall direct pulsed jets or puffs of air at the person to dislodge vapors, expel air from beneath clothing, and disrupt stagnant boundary layers of air near the person. Substantially all of the air drawn around the person is collected, and curved shapes of portions of the booth, funnels, and ducts provide smooth, low loss airflow to the collection manifold.