Thermedics Inc.

Michel D Arney

Gianfranco D Zaccai

Edward E Bromberg

David H Fine

Eugene K Achter

Gabor Miskolczy

Lynn W Noble

James B McGown

Ain A Sonin

Edward J Burke

David A Sutton

Dale N Larson

A Lindsay Carroll, Jr

Mobile detector for explosives and drugs

Air sampling gun for collection of vapors

Walk-in booth

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.

Air-sampling apparatus with easy walk-in access

Growing community of inventors

Roslindale, MA, United States of America

Michel D Arney