초록 ▼

A pressure reduction apparatus is disclosed. Air at high pressure and temperature may be drawn from a source such as a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine that supplies the air to an airplane interior. The air is passed to a pressure reduction vessel. The vessel has sufficient volume such that the

A pressure reduction apparatus is disclosed. Air at high pressure and temperature may be drawn from a source such as a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine that supplies the air to an airplane interior. The air is passed to a pressure reduction vessel. The vessel has sufficient volume such that the high pressure air, upon entering the vessel, will reduce in temperature and pressure. The pressure reduction apparatus allows the air to depressurize and drop in temperature to near ambient conditions. Upon exiting the pressure reduction apparatus, the air is at a temperature and pressure sufficient to allow the air to be sampled and analyzed by conventional equipment used for testing for airborne impurities such as semivolatile compounds ad particulates.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A high volume air sampler system for use on an aircraft comprising: an air source; a turbine engine bleed valve coupled to said air source; a source hose coupled to said bleed valve; a pressure reduction apparatus coupled to said source hose, the pressure reduction apparatus comprisin

We claim: 1. A high volume air sampler system for use on an aircraft comprising: an air source; a turbine engine bleed valve coupled to said air source; a source hose coupled to said bleed valve; a pressure reduction apparatus coupled to said source hose, the pressure reduction apparatus comprising: a hollow vessel coupled to said source hose, said hollow vessel including an interior and an exterior, an inlet, and a port to allow air to exit the vessel; and a valve affixed to said inlet to allow air to enter said vessel and to prevent air from exiting said vessel through said valve; and a high volume air sampler coupled to and disposed downstream of said pressure reduction apparatus, said high volume air sampler comprising: an adapter coupled to said pressure reduction apparatus, said adapter including a body having a first section, a second section, and an interior surface defining a cavity, said body first section having an opening formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said body second section having a sample port formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said sample port having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the opening; and a canister coupled to said adapter having an inlet opening, an exit opening, an interior region that defines a passage between said inlet and exit openings, and an adsorbent material disposed within said passage. 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said valve prevents air from exiting said vessel through said valve. 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said valve comprises a ball valve. 4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises aluminum. 5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises aluminum alloy. 6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure gauge for measuring air pressure in the interior of said vessel. 7. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature gauge for measuring air temperature in the interior of said vessel. 8. A high volume air sampler system for reducing the temperature and pressure in air drawn from a gas turbine engine comprising: a pressure reduction apparatus comprising: a vessel body configured to receive the air from the gas turbine engine having an exterior, a substantially hollow interior, and an exit port providing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of said vessel body; and a valve affixed to said vessel body providing fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of said vessel body wherein said valve permits air to enter said vessel body and prevents air from exiting said vessel body; a transfer tubing coupled to said valve; and a high volume air sampler coupled to said transfer tubing said high volume air sampler comprising: an adapter coupled to said transfer tubing, said adapter including a body having a first section, a second section, and an interior surface defining a cavity, said body first section having an opening formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said body second section having a sample port formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said sample port having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the opening; and a canister coupled to said adapter having an inlet opening, an exit opening, an interior region that defines a passage between said inlet and exit openings, and an adsorbent material disposed within said passage. 9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said vessel body is of sufficient dimension such that air entering said vessel body is reduced in pressure and temperature in the interior of said vessel body. 10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the interior of said vessel body defines a sufficient volume such that air admitted to said vessel body from a gas turbine engine is sufficiently reduced in temperature and pressure at the interior of said vessel body for testing for the presence of inorganic compounds. 11. The system according to claim 8 wherein the interior of said vessel body defines a sufficient volume such that air admitted to said vessel body from a gas turbine engine bleed valve is reduced in temperature and pressure at the interior of said vessel body to approximately ambient conditions. 12. The system according to claim 8 wherein said vessel body is composed partially of aluminum. 13. The system according to claim 8 where said vessel body is composed partially of aluminum alloy. 14. The system according to claim 8 where said vessel body is composed partially of stainless steel. 15. The system according to claim 8 further comprising a second valve affixed to the exit port of said vessel body wherein said second valve allows air to exit said vessel body and prevents air from entering said vessel body through said exit port. 16. A high volume air sampler system for reducing the temperature and pressure in air drawn from a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine comprising: a pressure reduction apparatus comprising: a vessel configured to receive air from the gas turbine engine, the vessel having an exterior and a substantially hollow interior; and a valve affixed to said vessel allowing air to enter said vessel and preventing air from exiting said vessel through said valve; said vessel further defining a port to allow air to exit said vessel; a hollow duct with two ends, a first end of said duct drawing air from a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine and a second end of said duct attached to said valve of said vessel; a hollow tubing with two ends, a first end of said tubing affixed to the port of said vessel, and a second end; and a high volume air sampler coupled to said second end of said hollow tubing, said high volume air sampler comprising: an adapter coupled to said hollow tubing, said adapter including a body having a first section, a second section, and an interior surface defining a cavity, said body first section having an opening formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said body second section having a sample port formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said sample port having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the opening; and a canister coupled to said adapter having an inlet opening, an exit opening, an interior region that defines a passage between said inlet and exit openings, and an adsorbent material disposed within said passage. 17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said hollow duct comprises a carbon impregnated Teflon. 18. The system according to claim 16 wherein said hollow duct comprises carbon impregnated silicone. 19. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a second valve affixed to the port of said vessel. 20. The system according to claim 16 wherein said vessel further defines an aperture providing fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of said vessel. 21. A method for sampling a high volume of air from a gas turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of: directing air at a starting temperature and pressure from the gas turbine engine through a hollow duct; providing a pressure reduction vessel with an exterior and having a hollow interior; admitting air from said hollow duct into the interior of said pressure reduction vessel; and leading air from the interior of said vessel at a reduced temperature and pressure relative to the starting temperature and pressure, through a hose, to a high volume air sampler comprising an adapter and a canister, said adapter coupled to the pressure reduction vessel and including a body having a first section, a second section, and an interior surface defining a cavity, said body first section having an opening formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said body second section having a sample port formed therein that is in communication with said cavity, said sample port having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the opening, and said canister coupled to said adapter having an inlet opening, an exit opening, an interior region that defines a passage between said inlet and exit openings, and an adsorbent material disposed within said. 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of directing air at a starting temperature and pressure from a gas turbine engine through a hollow duct further comprises directing air from a bleed valve of a gas turbine engine at a starting temperature and pressure. 23. The method according to claim 21 wherein said pressure reduction vessel further comprises a valve and wherein the step of admitting air from said hollow duct into the interior of said pressure reduction vessel further comprises admitting air from said hollow duct through said valve into the interior of said pressure reduction vessel. 24. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of measuring the pressure of air at the interior of said pressure reduction vessel. 25. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of measuring the temperature of air at the interior of said pressure reduction vessel. 26. The method according to claim 21 wherein said pressure reduction vessel further comprises a sample port and further comprising the step of taking a sample of air from the interior of said pressure reduction vessel through said sample port.