Air sampling actuator and associated method

Abstract

An air sampling actuator and associated method are disclosed. The air sampling actuator may include a housing configured to mount on a canister, a motor configured to be accommodated in the housing, and an adaptor. The motor may generate a mechanical action, in response to a control signal received by the motor. The adaptor may be coupled to the motor and configured to interface with a valve-controlling knob of the canister. In a first configuration of the air sampling actuator, the adaptor may be uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob of the canister, and the hook portion may be unengaged with the canister. In a second configuration of the air sampling actuator, the adaptor may be coupled with the valve-controlling knob of the canister, and the hook portion may be engaged with the canister.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air sampling actuator deployable on a canister, the air sampling actuator comprising:
 a housing configured to mount on the canister;   a motor configured to be accommodated in the housing, and powered by an electrical supply, wherein the motor is configured to generate a mechanical action in response to a control signal received by the motor;   a bracket configured to attach the motor with a structure adjoining a valve-controlling knob; and   an adaptor coupled to the motor, wherein the adaptor is configured to engage with the valve-controlling knob; 
 wherein in a first configuration of the air sampling actuator: 
 the adaptor is uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob; and 
 
 wherein in a second configuration of the air sampling actuator: 
 the adaptor is coupled with the valve-controlling knob and configured to: 
 transfer the mechanical action generated by the motor to the valve-controlling knob; 
 reconfigure the valve-controlling knob in response to the mechanical action transferred; and 
 release vacuum inside the canister to allow intake of atmospheric air inside the canister for sampling. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured as a servo motor. 
     
     
         3 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 , wherein an action of rotation or the action of linear displacement is for at least one of a predetermined time or a predetermined extent. 
     
     
         4 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 3 , wherein reconfiguring the valve-controlling knob of the canister comprises rotary displacement or linear displacement of the valve-controlling knob for the predetermined time or the predetermined extent corresponding to the action of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hook portion defined on the bracket; 
 wherein the hook portion is configured to engage with the structure to attach the motor with the structure. 
   
     
     
         6 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a hook portion defined on the bracket; 
 wherein the hook portion is configured to engage with the structure to attach the motor with the structure. 
   
     
     
         7 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 6 , wherein the hook portion comprises:
 one or more locking holes to allow the bracket to be locked with the structure using one or more locking fasteners.   
     
     
         8 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 one or more slots, each of the one or more slots configured to receive a securing fastener to fasten the housing with the motor, to secure the housing with the canister; and 
 wherein the housing is configured to slide relative to the motor via the one or more slots. 
   
     
     
         9 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the canister comprises a valve configured to maintain or release the vacuum inside the canister; and   wherein the valve is operated by the valve-controlling knob.   
     
     
         10 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises:
 a feedback control to allow the motor to perform controlled opening and controlled closing position of the valve-controlling knob, and 
 wherein the feedback control comprises: 
 an optical encoder that provides closed-loop feedback to the motor. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . An air sampling actuator for actuating a valve-controlling knob, the air sampling actuator comprising:
 a motor powered by an electrical supply, wherein the motor is configured to generate a mechanical action in response to a control signal received by the motor;   a bracket configured to attach the motor with a structure adjoining a valve-controlling knob; and   an adaptor coupled to the motor, wherein the adaptor is configured to engage with the valve-controlling knob; 
 wherein in a first configuration of the air sampling actuator: 
 the adaptor is uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob; and 
 
 wherein in a second configuration of the air sampling actuator: 
 the adaptor is coupled with the valve-controlling knob and configured to: 
 transfer the mechanical action generated by the motor to the valve-controlling knob; 
 reconfigure the valve-controlling knob in response to the mechanical action transferred. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a hook portion defined on the bracket; 
 wherein the hook portion is configured to engage with the structure to attach the motor with the structure. 
   
     
     
         13 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the hook portion comprises:
 one or more locking holes to allow the bracket to be locked with the structure using one or more locking fasteners.   
     
     
         14 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket comprises:
 one or more slots, each of the one or more slots configured to receive a securing fastener to fasten the bracket with the motor; 
 wherein the bracket is configured to slide relative to the motor via the one or more slots. 
   
     
     
         15 . The air sampling actuator of  claim 11 , wherein the motor comprises:
 a feedback control to allow the motor to perform controlled opening and controlled closing position of the valve-controlling knob, and 
 wherein the feedback control comprises: 
 an optical encoder that provides closed-loop feedback to the motor. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . A method of deploying an air sampling actuator on a valve-controlling knob, the method comprising:
 providing the air sampling actuator comprising: 
 a housing configured to mount on a canister; 
 a motor configured to be accommodated in the housing, and powered by an electrical supply, wherein the motor is configured to generate a mechanical action, and wherein the mechanical action is generated in response to a control signal received by the motor; and 
 a bracket; 
   attaching the motor with a structure adjoining the valve-controlling knob though the bracket;   engaging an adaptor to the valve-controlling knob, wherein the adaptor is coupled to the motor, 
 wherein upon engaging, the adaptor is configured between: 
 a first configuration, 
 wherein in the adaptor is uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob; and 
 a second configuration, 
 wherein the adaptor is coupled with the valve-controlling knob. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein attaching the bracket to the structure comprises:
 engaging a hook portion defined on the bracket with the structure; 
 wherein the hook portion comprises: 
 one or more locking holes to allow the bracket to be locked with the structure using one or more locking fasteners; and 
 
   upon engaging, locking the bracket with the structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 fastening the bracket to the motor, 
 wherein the bracket comprises: 
 one or more slots, each of the one or more slots configured to receive a securing fastener to fasten the bracket with the motor; and 
 
 wherein the bracket is configured to slide relative to the motor via the one or more slots. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 controlling the motor to perform a mechanical action or a second mechanical action in a controlled manner using a feedback control embedded in the motor, wherein the feedback control comprises: 
 an optical encoder that provides closed-loop feedback to the motor. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of sampling, the method comprising:
 providing an air sampling actuator comprising: 
 a housing configured to mount on a canister; 
 a motor configured to be accommodated in the housing, and powered by an electrical supply, wherein the motor is configured to generate a mechanical action, and wherein the mechanical action is generated in response to a control signal received by the motor; and 
 a bracket; 
   attaching the motor with a structure adjoining a valve-controlling knob though the bracket;   engaging an adaptor to the valve-controlling knob, wherein the adaptor is coupled to the motor, 
 wherein upon engaging, the adaptor is configured between: 
 a first configuration, 
 wherein in the adaptor is uncoupled from the valve-controlling knob; and 
 a second configuration, 
 wherein the adaptor is coupled with the valve-controlling knob and configured to: 
 transfer the mechanical action generated by the motor to the valve-controlling knob; 
 reconfigure the valve-controlling knob in response to the mechanical action transferred; and 
 release a vacuum inside the canister to allow intake of atmospheric air inside the canister for sampling. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein attaching the bracket to the structure comprises:
 engaging a hook portion defined on the bracket with the structure; 
 wherein the hook portion comprises: 
 one or more locking holes to allow the bracket to be locked with the structure using one or more locking fasteners; and 
 
   upon engaging, locking the bracket with the structure.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 fastening the bracket to the motor, 
 wherein the bracket comprises: 
 one or more slots, each of the one or more slots configured to receive a securing fastener to fasten the bracket with the motor; and 
 
 wherein the bracket is configured to slide relative to the motor via the one or more slots. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 controlling the motor to perform a mechanical action or a second mechanical action in a controlled manner using a feedback control embedded in the motor, wherein the feedback control comprises: 
 an optical encoder that provides closed-loop feedback to the motor. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 operating a valve by the valve-controlling knob to maintain or release the vacuum inside the canister.