The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 1990
Filed:
Nov. 18, 1988
Eugene K Achter, Lexington, MA (US);
Edward J Burke, Waltham, MA (US);
Gabor Miskolczy, Carlisle, MA (US);
Ain A Sonin, Lexington, MA (US);
Thermedics Inc., Woburn, MA (US);
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 facing a vertical end wall. In the collection of an air sample a blower outside the booth sucks a large volume of air around the person and horizontally through a vertical array of shaped funnels in the end wall and through ducts connected to a collection manifold for subsequent analysis. Infrared heaters in the end wall heat the clothing and skin of the person during sampling, and many small nozzles extending through the end wall direct low volume, high momentum pulsed jets of puffs of air at the person to dislodge vapors, expel air from beneath clothing, and disrupt stagnant boundary layers of air near the person. Curved shapes of portions of the booth and funnels provide smooth, low loss airflow, and height and distance sensors facilitate automatic operation of the inspection apparatus.