DE102007027326A1 - Gas collecting device for collecting gaseous sample for analysis of sample, has gas collecting module with diaphragm pump that is effectively connected with controller and power supply e.g. battery, of flying apparatus i.e. micro drone - Google Patents

Abstract

The gas collecting device has a flying apparatus i.e. micro drone, with a main body (12) for accommodating a controller and a power supply e.g. battery, and a drive device for the flying operation. A gas collecting module is mountable on the flying apparatus in a removable manner. The gas collecting module has a gas pipeline (24) that connects a diaphragm pump (20) and a gas collecting container (26), where the diaphragm pump is effectively connected with the controller and the power supply of the flying apparatus.

Description

The The present invention relates to a gas collection device for automatic, radio controlled collection of gaseous samples to their later Analysis.

It is for example from the DE 101 22 139 A1 an aircraft in the form of a zeppelins equipped with a sampling device on its underside. The sampling device has a plurality of openings in the front part, through which the ambient air can penetrate. In addition, a camera and a GPS system are provided.

Next discloses the DE 10 2005 025 309 B3 a sampling system comprising an aircraft such as a drone and a plurality of units for receiving a gas sample, said units being detachably attached to said aircraft, having an aerosol impactor operated by an electric impeller for receiving said gas sample and being launchable above a base station. The aircraft also has a video camera and a GPS system.

Of the The present invention is based on the object, an improved Gas collecting device to create an automatic collecting of gaseous samples for their later analysis in a simple construction possible.

These Task is solved by a gas collection device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent Claims.

The Gas collection device includes an aircraft that a main body for receiving at least one controller and a power supply and a propulsion device for flight operation having. The gas collection device further comprises a gas collection module which is detachably mountable to the aircraft and a gas collecting container, a diaphragm pump, a gas suction nozzle and a membrane pump and the gas collecting container connecting Gas line, the diaphragm pump with the controller and the power supply of the aircraft is operatively connected.

The Inventive gas collection device records through a simply constructed gas collection module, which consists of only a few and simple components is constructed. For the gas collection module, more precisely its diaphragm pump, are not their own power supply and control required because the diaphragm pump with the controller and the power supply of the aircraft is operatively connected. As a result, the number of components of the gas collection module can be small be kept and a gas collection module of small size and light weight can be formed, allowing for flight operations is crucial. In addition, the gas collection module simply be mounted on the aircraft.

The Use of a diaphragm pump for conveying the through the Intake manifold sucked gas into the gas collection container also has the advantage that the drive of the diaphragm pump separated by a membrane from the pumped gas stream is and therefore not contaminated or by aggressive substances even can be destroyed. This also simplifies the cleaning process the diaphragm pump, thereby ensuring a collection of gas, not by the components of the gas collection module itself is contaminated. Because the gas collection module is solely for collecting Gas samples is formed, without analyzing them directly want, its construction can be kept simple.

The Control of the aircraft is preferably also with a Radio receiver for wireless reception of control signals provided by a remote control device and coupled with a GPS system.

The Gas collecting module preferably further comprises a detachably mountable Camera, which also with the controller and the power supply of the aircraft is operatively connected.

In An embodiment of the invention is the gas collection container the gas collection module above the main body of the aircraft positioned and are the diaphragm pump and the intake manifold of the Gas collection module below the main body of the missile positioned. In this case, the gas collection module is preferred Further, a guide element, which the position of the Gas collection container above the main body of the Aircraft supports, so that the gas collection container For example, not in the intake stream of a propeller drive of the Advised aircraft.

In An alternative embodiment of the invention is the entire gas collection module positioned below the main body of the aircraft. In this case, the aircraft preferably further a provided below the main body launch and Landegestell on and the gas collection module is inside this take-off and landing gear positioned below the main body of the aircraft, for example, the takeoff or landing of the aircraft is not affected.

In a further embodiment of the inventions tion, the gas collection container of the gas collection module is provided with a valve closure. In this way, leakage of the collected gas after filling of the gas collection container and switching off the diaphragm pump can be prevented and after landing of the aircraft also a closing of the gas collection container for subsequent transport can be made possible.

Of the Gas collecting container may be, for example, a flexible container that does not necessarily have its own surface tension must own. For such a gas collection container come very easy to build containers and materials in question.

In A preferred embodiment of the invention is the aircraft a so-called micro drone.

Above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting Embodiments with reference to the accompanying Drawings easier to understand. Show:

1 a perspective view of a conventional microdrohne, to which the present invention is applicable;

2 a schematic perspective view of a gas collecting device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

3 an enlarged schematic side view of the gas collection module of the gas collection device of 1 ; and

4 a schematic perspective view of a gas collection module of a gas collection device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In 1 is first a micro drone 10 as a preferred aircraft of the present invention. The microdrone 10 consists essentially of a spherical shell-shaped main body 12 , where a controller, a power supply (battery, rechargeable batteries, solar cells), a radio receiver (for remote control) and a GPS system are housed, four support arms 14 , each with a propeller at the ends 16 is attached (drive device for flight operation), and a take-off and landing gear 18 at the bottom of the main body 12 ,

such Microdrones (μ-drones) are for example of the microdrones GmbH, Germany known. Because the structure and functioning of such Mikrodrohnen the skilled person are well known, is omitted at this point to a more detailed description.

The The present invention is based on a microdrohne as an aircraft exemplified, without the invention to this Type of aircraft should be restricted.

Referring to 2 and 3 Now, a gas collecting apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described in more detail.

The gas collection device points next to the aircraft 10 in particular a gas collection module in the form of a microdrone. The gas collection module is a detachable to the micro drone 10 , especially on their main body 12 , mountable functional unit, which is a diaphragm pump 20 , one with the suction side of the diaphragm pump 20 connected intake manifold 22 for sucking in a gas volume, one with the delivery side of the diaphragm pump 20 connected gas line 24 and one to the gas line 24 connected gas collection container 26 for receiving the gas samples. In addition, the gas collection module can also be equipped with a camera (not shown). The intake manifold 22 In terms of its arrangement and size is subject only by the aerodynamics of the microdrohne 10 conditional restrictions. For example, the intake manifold 22 even as a simple suction port of the diaphragm pump 20 be educated.

The gas collection module is by means of a hood-shaped retaining clip 28 detachable to the main body 12 the microdrone 10 attached. In this embodiment, the diaphragm pump 20 and the intake manifold 22 below the main body 12 the microdrone 10 positioned while the gas collector 26 above the main body 12 is positioned. By the arrangement of the diaphragm pump 20 below the main body 12 the microdrone 10 the center of gravity is kept low, which explains the flight behavior of the micro drone 10 is advantageous.

To prevent the above the main body 12 the microdrone 10 positioned gas collection containers 26 in the intake stream of the propeller 12 device, is in addition a gas collection container 26 in the nature of a cage surrounding guide element 30 intended. In addition, the gas collection tank 26 be formed reinforced in its lower part. This construction is particularly advantageous when the gas collection container 26 a flexible container that does not necessarily have to have its own surface tension. For example, through the gas line 24 from the diaphragm pump 20 in the gas receiver 26 inflowing gas inflating or pumping container can be made of particularly easy-to-build materials, whereby the total weight of the gas collection module can be kept low. For the gas storage tank 26 But equally rigid containers can be used.

At the gas storage tank 26 must as well as with the other components 20 - 24 of the gas collection module, attention must be paid to the use of inert materials that are non-corrosive to gases and resistant to aggressive gases. In this case, the gas collection container 26 be designed as a reusable container or as a disposable container.

In this context, also shows the particular advantage of the diaphragm pump 20 unlike other conventional gas collection devices with other pumping systems. In a diaphragm pump, the drive is structurally separated by a membrane from the pumped gas stream. As a result, the drive is protected from harmful influences of the gas flow. In addition, the diaphragm pump can be easily and thoroughly cleaned, since only the gas delivery channel is contaminated by the gas flow. This also ensures sampling without contamination by contaminants from previous uses of the gas collection module, which makes later analysis results of higher quality.

The gas collector 26 is preferably on the input side with a valve closure 32 Mistake. The valve closure 32 prevents leakage of the gas in the container 26 collected gas after filling and switching off the diaphragm pump 20 , In addition, a closing of the gas collection container 26 after the landing of the micro drone 10 for subsequent transport.

The diaphragm pump 20 is with the control and power supply of the microdrone 10 in their main body 12 operatively connected so that the diaphragm pump 20 no separate control and power supply needed, whereby the size and weight of the gas collection module can be kept small. So can the operation of the diaphragm pump 20 also from the control of the micro drone 10 , if necessary via a remote control, to control the timing and duration of the pumping operation and thus the sampling. A camera (not shown) attached to the gas collection module, which is also operatively connected to the aircraft's control and power supply, serves to orient the aircraft and to control the position and time to receive the gas samples.

The gas collection module contains no analysis device for analyzing the in the gas collection container 26 collected gas samples, but serves only to collect gas samples for later analysis. As a result, weight and size of the gas collection module can be kept small, which is especially for an aircraft 10 in the manner of a micro drone with relatively low overall payload is beneficial.

The described gas collection device is suitable for automatic Collecting gas samples directly at the place of production (high concentration site) even in hard-to-reach places in the floating or flight state of the aircraft and to quickly move the gas collection container collected gas samples to the actual analysis site. The gas collection device can be used both in the civilian field for example to detect contamination the air in connection with incidents in the chemical industry as well as for armed or auxiliary forces for example, to detect chemical and biological Warfare agents used in crisis areas in an advantageous manner become.

The Gas collection device of the invention is in terms of size, Weight, arrangement and power supply optimized, in particular optimized for use with a microdrohne as an aircraft. The gas collection module is independent in its own right Functional unit designed, which if necessary at any time on the aircraft attached and can be solved by him.

A second embodiment of a gas collecting apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG 4 explained. In this case, the same or similar components are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above first embodiment and only the differences from the embodiment of 2 and 3 described in more detail.

In contrast to the first embodiment of 2 and 3 In this embodiment, the entire gas collection module is below the main body 12 the microdrone 10 positioned. In particular, the gas collection module including its gas collection container 26 within the take-off and landing gear 18 the microdrone 10 and thus outside the intake of the propeller 16 arranged the flight characteristics of the microdrone 10 as little as possible. To stabilize the arrangement of the gas collection container 26 preferably via additional braces 34 in the take-off and landing gear 18 held.

In the presentation of 4 is also the removably attached to the gas collection module camera 36 indicated.

The other components and their arrangements are the same as those of the above first embodiment. With the in 4 In particular, the same advantages as described above in connection with the gas collecting device of the first embodiment are obtained.

10

aircraft

12

main body

14

Beam

16

propeller

18

Begin- and landing gear

20

diaphragm pump

22

intake

24

gas pipe

26

gas receiver

28

retaining clip

30

guide element

32

valve closure

34

brace

36

camera

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 10122139 A1 [0002]
• DE 102005025309 B3 [0003]

Claims (11)

Gas collecting device, with an aircraft ( 10 ), which has a main body ( 12 ) for receiving at least one controller and a power supply and a drive device ( 14 . 16 ) for flight operations; and a gas collection module detachably attached to the aircraft ( 10 ) is mountable and a gas collecting container ( 26 ), a diaphragm pump ( 20 ), a gas intake ( 22 ) and a gas pump connecting the membrane pump and the gas collecting container ( 24 ), wherein the membrane pump ( 20 ) with the control and power supply of the aircraft ( 10 ) is operatively connected. Gas collecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the aircraft ( 10 ) is provided with a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving control signals from a remote control device. Gas collecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control of the aircraft ( 10 ) is coupled with a GPS system. Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gas collecting module further comprises a detachably mountable camera ( 36 ), which are also connected to the control and power supply of the aircraft ( 10 ) is operatively connected. Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas collecting container ( 26 ) of the gas collection module above the main body ( 12 ) of the aircraft ( 10 ) and the diaphragm pump ( 20 ) and the intake manifold ( 22 ) of the gas collection module below the main body ( 12 ) of the missile ( 10 ) are positioned. Gas collecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the gas collecting module further comprises a guide element ( 30 ), which detects the position of the gas collection container ( 26 ) above the main body ( 12 ) of the aircraft ( 10 ). Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the entire gas collecting module below the main body ( 12 ) of the aircraft ( 10 ) is positioned. Gas collecting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the aircraft ( 10 ) further below the main body ( 12 ) intended take-off and landing gear ( 18 ) having; and that the gas collection module within the take-off and landing gear ( 18 ) below the main body ( 12 ) of the aircraft ( 10 ) is positioned. Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the gas collecting container ( 26 ) of the gas collection module with a valve closure ( 32 ) is provided. Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the gas collecting container ( 26 ) is a flexible container. Gas collecting device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the aircraft ( 10 ) is a microdrone.