Michael A Heaton

US Patent:

RE41591, Aug 31, 2010

Filed:

May 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/119833

Inventors:

Allen M. Jones - Kensington MD, US
Clifford A. Megerle - Thousand Oaks CA, US
John T. Swider - Port Crane NY, US
Barry Wake - Remington VA, US
Michael W. Finney - Endicott NY, US
Michael A. Heaton - Owego NY, US
Christopher J. Tatar - Endicott NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01N 33/00

US Classification:

73 37, 7386433, 73 232, 422123

Abstract:

A system and method for detecting contaminants in or on objects, having a movably mounted container for holding objects and having a plurality of perforations and an entrance opening through which objects may be placed into the container. A housing encloses the container and forms a barrier to ambient air. There is a sealable opening for inserting and removing objects from the container. A drive assembly moves the container within the housing to move objects therein for emitting particles which are in or on such object. There is an air stream for moving air through the housing and container to entrain any emitted particles into the air stream and a sensor for sensing contaminants in the air stream and providing a signal when a contaminant is sensed. The container can be a rotatable cage or a vibrating box. In the method, there is a chamber provided which may be sealed with respect to ambient air to create an enclosed atmosphere.