Steven Bernard Hill

US Patent:

7125518, Oct 24, 2006

Filed:

Feb 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/708191

Inventors:

Steven Clyde Hill - Silver Spring MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B32B 5/02
B32B 27/04
B32B 27/12
G01N 30/96
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

422 88, 422 83, 422 8205, 422 8208, 435 71, 4352831, 4352887, 436 35, 436 36, 436149, 436153, 436172, 436181, 356 36, 356 37, 356300, 356318, 356335, 250281, 250282, 250283, 250288, 250299

Abstract:

Aerosol particle analyzer (APA) for measuring the amount of analyte in airborne particle is described. The APA uses an analysis liquid. When this analysis liquid is mixed with the particles, an optical property of the analysis liquid (CDAL) varies according to the amount of the analyte in the particles. A charged droplet of the analysis liquid is levitated. Airborne particles are drawn into the instrument and given a charge that is opposite that of the CDAL, and made to flow near the CDAL so that electrostatic forces greatly increase the probability that the CDAL and charged particles will combine. Then the CDAL is ejected into a horizontally oriented linear quadrupole that is in an airtight container, except for a small orifice to let the CDAL enter. The CDAL is levitated in a high humidity environment so that it evaporates slowly, so that there is time for the reaction between the analyte, if any, and the CDAL can take place, and so that the optical property, typically fluorescence, can be measured. The amount of the analyte in the particle is determined from the measured fluorescence or other optical property.

US Patent:

7126687, Oct 24, 2006

Filed:

Jun 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/465289

Inventors:

Steven Clyde Hill - Silver Spring MD, US
Ronald Gene Pinnick - Columbia MD, US
Kevin Bruce Aptowicz - New Haven CT, US
Kristan P. Gurton - Ashton MD, US
Richard Kounai Chang - Hamden CT, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 21/53

US Classification:

356336, 356338, 356343

Abstract:

Characterizing individual airborne particles in real time according to their absorption of optical energy at one or more wavelengths. The instrument can measure the two-dimensional angular optical scattering (TAOS) and/or the one-dimensional angular optical scattering (ODAOS) at one or more wavelengths. When two wavelengths are used, one is chosen to be on an absorption peak, the other is off of the absorption peak (preferably in the absorption valley).

US Patent:

7153475, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

May 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/126515

Inventors:

Steven Clyde Hill - Silver Spring MD, US
Richard Kounai Chang - Hamden CT, US
Jean-Pierre Wolf - Lyons, FR

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B32B 5/02
B32B 27/04
B32B 27/12
G01N 30/96
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

422 88, 422 83, 422 8205, 422 8208, 435 71, 4352831, 4352871, 4352872, 4352887, 436 35, 436 36, 436149, 436153, 436172, 436181, 356 36, 356 37, 356300, 356318, 356335, 250281, 250282, 250283, 250288, 250299

Abstract:

Aerosol particle analyzer (APA) for measuring the amount of analyte in airborne particle is described. The APA uses an analysis liquid. In most embodiments, this analysis liquid is chosen so that when it is mixed with the particles, an optical property of the analysis liquid (AL) varies according to the amount of the analyte in the particles. Airborne particles are drawn into the instrument, and detected using optical methods such as light scattering or laser-induced fluorescence. When a particle of interest is detected, a charged droplet of the analysis liquid (CDAL) is ejected so that it collides with the detected particle and moves into a horizontally oriented linear quadrupole that is in an airtight container, except for small orifices to let the CDAL enter and exit. The CDAL is levitated in a high humidity environment so that it evaporates slowly, so that there is time for the reaction between the analyte, if any, and the CDAL can take place, and so that the optical property, typically fluorescence, can be measured. The amount of the analyte in the particle is determined from the measured fluorescence or other optical property.

US Patent:

7201878, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/816579

Inventors:

Horn-Bond Lin - Fairfax VA, US
Steven Clyde Hill - Silver Spring MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B32B 5/02
B32B 27/04
B32B 27/12
G01N 30/96
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

422 88, 422 8205, 422 8208, 422 83, 435 71, 4352831, 4352887, 436 35, 436 36, 436149, 436153, 436172, 436181, 356 36, 356 37, 356300, 356318, 356335, 250281, 250282, 250283, 250288, 250299

Abstract:

Aerosol particle analyzer (APA) for measuring an analyte in airborne particle is described. Airborne particles are first given an electrical charge and then drawn in air past an oppositely charged volume of an analysis liquid that exposed to the air at a small hole in a container, such as a capillary, that holds that analysis liquid. Electrostatic forces enhance the rate that the airborne particles collide with the small exposed volume of the analysis liquid in the hole. If the particles that collide with the analysis liquid contain the analyte, an optical property of the analysis liquid, such as the fluorescence, varies according to the amount of the analyte in the particles. This optical property is measured and the amount of analyte in the particles is determined from the measured optical property.

US Patent:

7201879, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Nov 19, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/997094

Inventors:

Steven Clyde Hill - Silver Spring MD, US
Horn-Bond Lin - Fairfax VA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B32B 5/02
B32B 27/04
B32B 27/12
G01N 30/96
C12M 1/34

US Classification:

422 88, 422 83, 422 8205, 422 8208, 435 71, 4352831, 4352887, 436 35, 436 36, 436149, 436153, 436172, 436181, 356 36, 356 37, 356300, 356318, 356335, 250281, 250282, 250283, 250288, 250299

Abstract:

An aerosol-into-liquid collector (ALC) for collecting gas-borne particles from a large volume of gas such as air into a small volume of liquid is described. The ALC uses a linear quadrupole to concentrate particles flowing in a gas and to help direct these concentrated particles toward a small volume of collection liquid so that these particles tend to combine with a small volume of collection liquid that can then be drawn from the ACL for further analysis. The particles in the gas are typically given a charge that is opposite to that of the charge imparted to the volume of collection liquid so that electrostatic forces help draw particles from the flowing gas into the small volume of liquid. The linear quadrupole focuses toward it axis particles that have the charge, mass and mobility to be stable in the linear quadrupole.

US Patent:

7631567, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Aug 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/507203

Inventors:

Steven C. Hill - Silver Spring MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 1/00

US Classification:

7386322

Abstract:

Systems and methods for collecting particles are provided. A representative system includes an aerosol-into-liquid collector that stores a collection liquid. The aerosol-into-liquid collector also includes a container, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a source of vacuum pressure such that, when the source of vacuum pressure provides vacuum pressure at the gas outlet, gas with particles entrained therein is drawn into the container through the gas inlet. A well holds a volume of the collection liquid such that at least some of the particles entrained in the gas collide with the collection liquid and adhere thereto. Gas drawn into the container impinges upon an exposed surface of the collection liquid in the well. Forces exerted by the gas do not tend to push the collection liquid out of the well or cause the collection liquid to break into multiple droplets.

US Patent:

8371782, Feb 12, 2013

Filed:

Mar 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/042371

Inventors:

Steven B Hill - Waldorf MD, US

International Classification:

B60P 7/08

US Classification:

410138, 410129, 410130, 410132, 410135, 410139, 410121

Abstract:

An adjustable array of gates and partitions for vehicles, particularly pickup truck beds, that enables succinct partitioned areas for a more organized load. A partition apparatus extends from between the two sides of a truck bed and may be moved forward or backward, including over wheel wells, through the use of rails. In addition, telescoping panels secured perpendicularly from the partition apparatus offers additional partition capabilities as the telescoping panels move from side to side through the use of additional rails.