Particle collection system and method

Abstract

A particle collection system and method including a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected, and a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface. The rotatable fixture is rotated to generate, as the nozzles rotate about the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particle collection system comprising:
 a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected;   a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface; and   a subsystem for rotating the rotatable fixture to generate, as the nozzles rotate about the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the rotatable fixture includes an outwardly extending arm for each nozzle and carrying compressed fluid to the nozzles. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further including a vacuum source fluidly connected to the collection inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  in which the source of compressed fluid includes an exhaust of the vacuum source. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  in which the collection inlet is connected to a conduit and the rotatable fixture rotates about the conduit via sealed bearings. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  in which there are an even number of nozzles in pairs opposing each other. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  in which the nozzles have a slit opening. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  in which the collection inlet defines an axis perpendicular to the surface and the nozzles are angled inwardly with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further including a filter token associated with the collector inlet. 
     
     
         10 . A particle collection method comprising:
 aiming a collection inlet at a surface from which particles are to be collected;   aiming at least a pair of nozzles oriented about the collection inlet at the surface;   providing a compressed fluid to the nozzles in order to dislodge particles from the surface; and   rotating the nozzles to generate a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  in which the nozzles are fluidly and mechanically coupled to a rotatable fixture via an outwardly extending arm for each nozzle carrying the compressed fluid to the nozzles. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further including energizing a vacuum source fluidly connected to the collection inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  in which there are an even number of nozzles in pairs opposing each other. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  in which the nozzles have a slit opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  in which the collection inlet defines an axis perpendicular to the surface and the nozzles are angled inwardly with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further including analyzing the collected particles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  in which the compressed fluid includes a carrier gas and a metastable species. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further including providing relative motion between the surface and the collector. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  further including ionizing the surface environment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  further including heating the fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10  further including adjusting the distance of the nozzles from the collection inlet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10  further including adjusting the aiming angle of the nozzles to the surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10  further including sensing the distance from the collection inlet to the surface. 
     
     
         24 . A particle collection system comprising:
 a collection inlet aimable at a surface from which particles are to be collected;   a rotatable fixture including at least a pair of adjustable nozzles about the collection inlet also aimable at the surface and fluidly connected to a source of compressed fluid in order to dislodge particles from the surface;   a subsystem for rotating the rotatable fixture to generate, as the nozzles rotate above the collection inlet, a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet;   a distance sensor for measuring the distance from the collection inlet to the surface; and   a controller subsystem, responsive to the distance sensor, configured to adjust the adjustable nozzles based on the distance from the collection inlet to the surface.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  in which the controller subsystem is configured to adjust an angle of the nozzles relative to the surface. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24  in which the controller subsystem is configured to adjust the distance of the nozzles to the surface. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24  in which the controller subsystem is configured to adjust the distance of the nozzles from the collection inlet. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24  in which the controller subsystem is further configured to adjust the rate of rotation of the nozzles based on the distance of the collection inlet to the surface by controlling the subsystem. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24  in which the controller subsystem is further configured to adjust the pressure of the compressed fluid by controlling the source of pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24  further including a vacuum source fluidly connected to the collection inlet. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  in which the controller subsystem is further configured to adjust the vacuum pressure at the collection inlet by controlling the vacuum source. 
     
     
         32 . A particle collection method comprising:
 aiming a collection inlet at a surface from which particles are to be collected;   aiming at least a pair of nozzles oriented about the collection inlet at the surface;   providing a compressed fluid to the nozzles in order to dislodge particles from the surface;   rotating the nozzles about the collection inlet to generate a vortex dislodging and picking up particles on the surface, entraining the particles, and carrying the particles to the collection inlet;   measuring the distance from the collection inlet to the surface; and   adjusting the adjustable nozzles based on the distance from the collection inlet to the surface.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  including adjusting an angle of the nozzles relative to the surface. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  including adjusting the distance of the nozzles to the surface. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32  including adjusting the distance of the nozzles from the collection inlet. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  including adjusting the rate of rotation of the nozzles based on the distance of the collection inlet from the surface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  including adjusting the pressure of compressed fluid. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32  further including fluidly attaching a vacuum source to the collection inlet. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  including adjusting the vacuum pressure at the collection inlet by controlling the vacuum source.