Filter Device

Abstract

A filter device for filtering nano particles conveyed in a fluid in order to determine an exposure of the filter device to nano particles includes a support element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral surface, and at least one fluid duct having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The top surface and the bottom surface extend substantially parallel to each other. The filter device further includes at least one filter element with a collection surface on which the nano particles are to be deposited. The at least one filter element is arranged in the at least one fluid duct for collecting the nano particles conveyed in the fluid. The collection surface of the at least one filter element is oriented parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

Claims

1. A filter device for filtering nano particles conveyed in a fluid in order to determine an exposure of the filter device to nano particles, the filter device comprising: a support element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral surface, and at least one fluid duct having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface extend substantially parallel to each other, and at least one filter element with a collection surface on which the nano particles are to be deposited, wherein the at least one filter element is arranged in said at least one fluid duct for collecting the nano particles conveyed in said fluid, wherein a collection surface of the at least one filter element is oriented parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filter element is arranged in a filter chamber that is part of the at least one fluid duct and that is delimited by sidewalls and a bearing surface on which the at least one filter element is arranged, and wherein the bearing surface is oriented parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

3. The filter device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one filter element is held in the filter chamber by an adhesive bonding connection or by a mechanical connection or by a clamping connection.

4. The filter device according to claim 2, wherein the bearing surface is perpendicular to the fluid flow, wherein the bearing surface faces the at least one fluid duct in a direction of fluid flow, or wherein the bearing surface is arranged in a direction away from the fluid flow, or wherein the bearing surface is parallel to the fluid flow.

5. The filter device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one filter element is arranged such that the fluid will flow through the collection surface, wherein the at least one fluid duct opens out into the filter chamber via its sidewall, or wherein the at least one fluid duct opens out into the filter chamber via an opening crossing the bearing surface.

6. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet is arranged in the lateral surface and wherein the fluid outlet is arranged in the bottom surface, whereby the at least one fluid duct is diverted by a diversion with an angle, and wherein the filter element is arranged between the diversion and the fluid outlet.

7. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein at least some surfaces limiting the at least one fluid duct or at least surfaces of the support element delimiting the at least one fluid duct are at least partly provided with electrically conductive properties.

8. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein, at least in a region of the at least one filter element, a transparent element is provided such that regions above the at least one filter element are transparent.

9. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid duct is provided by grooves extending from the top surface into the support element, wherein the grooves are covered by a transparent element that extends substantially over an entire top surface or a substantial part of the top surface, or wherein the at least one filter duct is delimited by sidewalls provided by the support element, wherein a pocket extends above a filter chamber from the top surface into the support element, and wherein the transparent element is arranged in said pocket.

10. The filter device according to claim 8, wherein the transparent element is made of fused silica glass, borocilicat glass, COP, COC, or wherein the transparent element is mounted by means of an adhesive connection to the top surface, or wherein the transparent element is mounted in a fluidly tight connection to the top surface.

11. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter device has a size that is smaller than a cuboid with lateral lengths of 100405 millimeters or with lateral lengths of 75251.5 millimeters, or wherein a cross-section of the at least one fluid duct is between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm or between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm or 0.4 mm.

12. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter device is, as viewed perpendicular to the top surface, substantially rectangular having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, wherein edges of the rectangle are beveled; or wherein the at least one of the long sides comprises a recess to position the filter device in a receiving bay; or wherein at least one of the long sides comprises at least one tilted positioning shaped as a triangular cutout extending through the at least one filter element.

13. A receiving unit for a filter device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit comprises a reception bay with a bottom wall, a positioning wall extending from said bottom wall and a spring element which is configured to press the filter device against the bottom wall.

14. The receiving unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the positioning wall comprises a reception opening through which the filter device can be placed into the receiving bay, or wherein at least one stop element is arranged preferably in the vicinity of the reception opening, whereby the at least one stop element serves as a stop for the at least one filter element against a movement out of the reception bay, or wherein the reception bay comprises positioning elements to position the filter device in the reception bay, or wherein the bottom wall comprises at least one opening which is arranged such that the at least one fluid outlet matches with its position with the at least one opening, wherein the at least one opening is surrounded with a sealing structure.

15. A collection device for collecting nano particles conveyed in a fluid in order to determine an exposure of the collection device to nano particles, the collection device comprising: a filter device and a receiving unit, wherein said filter device comprises a support element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral surface, and at feast one fluid duct having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface extend substantially parallel to each other, and at least one filter element with a collection surface on which the nano particles are to be deposited, wherein the at least one filter element is arranged in said at least one fluid duct for collecting the nano particles conveyed in said fluid, wherein the collection surface of the at least one filter element is oriented parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the receiving unit comprises a reception bay with a bottom wall, a positioning wall extending from said bottom wall, and a spring element which is configured to press the filter device against the bottom wall, and wherein the collection device further comprises a fluid propelling element for propelling said fluid through the at least one fluid duct of the filter device.

16. A system comprising a collection device according to claim 15 and a gripping tool, wherein the gripping tool comprises at least one gripping arm which is configured to grasp parts of said filter device in order to at least one of insert and remove the filter device from the reception bay.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the gripping tool lifts said filter device such that the filter device is removable from the receiving unit.

18. The filter device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one filter element is arranged such that the fluid overflows the collection surface, and wherein the at least one fluid duct is arranged adjacent to the filter chamber such that the fluid overflows the filter chamber and the at least one filter element that is arranged in the filter chamber.

19. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet is arranged in the lateral surface and wherein the fluid outlet is arranged in the bottom surface, whereby the at least one fluid duct is diverted by a diversion with an angle of 90, and wherein the at least one filter element is arranged between the fluid inlet and the diversion.

20. The filter device according to claim 9, wherein the transparent element is made of fused silica glass, borocilicat glass, COP, COC, or wherein the transparent element is mounted by means of an adhesive connection to the top surface, or wherein the transparent element is mounted in a fluidly tight connection to the top surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0100] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,

[0101] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the filter device according to the present invention;

[0102] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the filter device according to FIG. 1;

[0103] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the filter device according to FIG. 1;

[0104] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the filter device according to FIG. 1;

[0105] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section perpendicular to a filter duct through the filter device according to a first variant of a first embodiment;

[0106] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section along the filter duct through the filter device according to a first variant of a first embodiment;

[0107] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section perpendicular to a filter duct through the filter device according to a second variant of a first embodiment;

[0108] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section along the filter duct through the filter device according to a second variant of a first embodiment;

[0109] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section along the filter duct through the filter device according to a second embodiment;

[0110] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a collection device with a receiving unit for the reception of the filter device, whereby the filter device is not inserted;

[0111] FIG. 11 shows the view of FIG. 10 with the filter device;

[0112] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a gripping tool for inserting and/or removing the filter device into the collection device; and

[0113] FIG. 13 shows a top view of a gripping tool for inserting and/or removing the filter device into the collection device;

[0114] FIG. 14 shows an additional variant of the filter device according to the present invention; and

[0115] FIG. 15 shows a cross-section of the additional variant along line C-C.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0116] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of a filter device 1 for filtering nano particles conveyed in a fluid in order to determine the exposure of the filter device 1 to nano particles. Such a filter device 1 can be used for example in a collection device according to WO 2016/150991.

[0117] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the filter device 1. FIG. 3 shows a top view of the filter device 1 whereas FIG. 4 shows a perspective view from the top.

[0118] The filter device 1 according to the embodiment as shown in the figures comprises a support element 2 having a top surface 3, a bottom surface 4 and a lateral surface 5. The top surface 3 is oriented in a parallel manner with regard to the bottom surface 4. The lateral surface 5 links the top surface 3 with the bottom surface 4. Furthermore the support element 2 comprises at least one fluid duct 6 having a fluid inlet 13 and a fluid outlet 14. In the fluid duct 6 the fluid F which comprises the nano particles is conveyed.

[0119] Additionally the filter device 1 comprises at least one filter element 7 with a collection surface 8. On this collection surface 8 the nano particles will be deposited. The filter element 7 is arranged in the fluid duct 6 and collects therefore the nanoparticles conveyed in the fluid F. The collection surface 8 of the at least one filter element 7 is oriented parallel to the top surface 3 and/or the bottom surface 4.

[0120] In the present case three filter elements 7 are arranged each of which is feed a fluid duct 6 whereby over some portions there is a common section in which some of or all of the fluid ducts 6 are combined. However, the fluid ducts 6 are arranged such that each of the three filter elements 7 is served with individual part of the fluid duct.

[0121] As mentioned the fluid ducts 6 comprise several sections which are linked to each other additionally there are arranged several curves 32 which serve as separating means such that the particle conveyed in the fluid duct 6 will be separated in respective sections of the fluid duct 6. In the present case there are two fluid inlets 13 and three fluid outlets 14, whereby the fluid duct 6 is diverted according to the fluid duct sections. The radius of said curves is provided such that particles to be collected are separateable from other particles which are not of interest and wherein at least one of said exit is directed towards collection element.

[0122] FIGS. 5 to 9 show various cross sections through the filter element.

[0123] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a first variant of a first embodiment of the filter device 1. FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the filter device 1 for filtering nanoparticles in a direction perpendicular to the fluid duct 6. FIG. 6 shows a cross section along the fluid duct 6.

[0124] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second variant of the first embodiment of the filter device 1. FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the filter device 1 for filtering nanoparticles in a direction perpendicular to the fluid duct 6. FIG. 8 shows a cross section along the fluid duct 6.

[0125] FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the filter device 1 according to the present invention.

[0126] In the following reference is made to FIGS. 5 to 9 and the respective features will be described.

[0127] In all of the embodiments the filter element 7 is arranged in a filter chamber 9 that is part of the fluid duct 6. The filter chamber 9 is delimited by sidewalls 10 and a bearing surface 11. The filter element 7 is placed or arranged on the bearing surface 11. The bearing surface 11 is thereby oriented parallel to the top surface 3 and/or to the bottom surface 4. In all the embodiments the bearing surface is arranged in the support element 2 between the top surface 3 and the bottom surface 4.

[0128] Preferably the filter element 7 is held in the filter chamber 9 by an adhesive connection. Other connections are also possible.

[0129] The filter element 7 has preferably the shape of a quadratic or rectangular filter membrane with a thickness that is much smaller than the extension of the filter element 7 perpendicular to the thickness.

[0130] In the first variant of the first embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 the bearing surface 11 faces the fluid duct 6 in direction of fluid flow. This means that on the bearing surface 11 the filter element 7 is located and the fluid passes the filter element 7 through itself and passes then the bearing surface 11. The bearing surface 11 comprises an opening 12 through which the fluid can flow.

[0131] In FIGS. 5 and 6 the fluid flow is indicated by means of arrow F.

[0132] In the second variant of the first embodiment which is showed in FIGS. 7 and 8 the bearing surface 11 is arranged such that it is arranged in direction away from the fluid flow. This means that the fluid passes the opening 12 before it is actually entered into the filter element.

[0133] In the second embodiment according to FIG. 9 the bearing surface 11 is arranged parallel to the fluid flow F. This means that the fluid flow F does not cross the bearing surface but follows in a parallel direction to the bearing surface 11 at a distance over the bearing surface 11.

[0134] In the first embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 8 the filter element 7 is arranged such that the fluid will flow through the collection surface 8. In the first variant according to FIGS. 5 and 6 the fluid duct 6 opens out into the filter chamber 9 via its sidewall and in the second variant according to FIGS. 7 and 8 the fluid duct 6 opens out into the filter chamber via an opening crossing the bearing surface 11.

[0135] In the second embodiment according to FIG. 9 the filter element 7 is arranged such that the fluid will overflow the collection surface 8 of the filter element 7. Thereby the filter element 7 is arranged such that it extends from the filter chamber 9 slightly into the fluid duct 6. The fluid duct 6 is thereby arranged relative to the filter chamber 9 such that the fluid overflows the filter chambers 6. Furthermore the fluid overflows the filter element 7 that is arranged in the filter chamber 9.

[0136] In all of the embodiments the filter chamber 6 has a depth along the sidewall which is not smaller than the width or the length of the filter chamber. The depth is defined as being the direction perpendicular to the top surface and the flow surface.

[0137] In the first embodiment the fluid inlet 13 is arranged in the lateral surface 5 and the fluid outlet 14 is arranged in the bottom surface 4. It can be seen that the fluid duct will be diverted by a diversion 15 with an angle that is preferably a 90 angle. The filter element 7 is preferably arranged between the diversion 15 and the fluid outlet 14.

[0138] In the second embodiment according to FIG. 9 the fluid inlet 13 is arranged also in the lateral surface 4 and the fluid outlet 14 is arranged in the bottom surface 4. Thereby the fluid duct is also diverted by a diversion 15 with an angle that is preferably a 90 angle. The filter element 7 however is arranged between the fluid inlet 13 and the diversion 15.

[0139] In all the embodiments the overall extension of the filter element 7 is such that the larger surfaces of the filter element 7 are parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface.

[0140] Preferably at least some of the surfaces which limit the fluid duct 6 are at least partly provided with electrically conductive properties. This can be achieved by either a conductive electrically coating on the sidewalls of the fluid duct 6 or by providing the support element 2 out of a metallic material.

[0141] For analysing the nanoparticles that are deposited on the filter element 7 a transparent element 17 is provided in the regions above the filter element 7 such that these regions become transparent. Thereby it will be possible to analyse the collection surface 8 by means of a laser. This is shown with arrow 33.

[0142] In the present case it is most preferably that the transparent element 16 extends substantially over the whole top surface 3. Such a variant is shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. Thereby the transparent element 16 serves as limiting element for the fluid duct. In the present case the fluid duct 2 is provided by grooves 17 extending from the top surface 3 into the support element 2. The groves 17 are then covered by the transparent element 16. The transparent element 16 extends, as mentioned, substantially over the whole top surface 3. In other embodiments the transparent element 16 extends over a substantial part of the top surface 3.

[0143] FIGS. 14 and 15 show an additional variant of the arrangement of the transparent element 15. Same features are designated with the same reference numerals and reference is made to the description above. In particular the filter element could also be arranged as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this additional variant there is for each of the filter elements 7 one transparent element 15 arranged. In the present case three filter elements 7 and accordingly three transparent elements 15 are arranged. The transparent element 15 is thereby arranged in a pocket 35 extending from the top surface 3 of the support element 2 into the support element 2. The pocket 35 is arranged above the filter chamber 9 and has at least the same extension as the filter chamber 9. In each of the corner of the pocket there is arranged a cavity in order to enhance the positioning process of the transparent element 15 in the pocket 35. The filter element 7 is thereby arranged in said pocket 35 by means of a glued or a mechanical connection. In this variant the fluid duct 6 as such is provided by means of sidewalls 10 which are part of the support element 2. In the region of the filter chamber 9 the fluid duct 6 is further delimited by means of said transparent element 15.

[0144] Preferably the transparent element 15 is made of fused silica glass, borosilicate glass, COP, COC, etc.

[0145] The transparent element is preferably mounted to the top surface 3 by means of an adhesive connection.

[0146] In particularly the transparent element 15 is arranged in a fluidly tight connection to the top surface 3.

[0147] The filter device 1 has a size that is smaller than a cuboid with lateral lengths of 100405 Millimeters or with lateral lengths of 75251.5 Millimeters and/or in that the cross-section of the fluid duct is between 0.2 mm{circumflex over ()}2 and 0.8 mm{circumflex over ()}2 or between 0.3 mm{circumflex over ()}2 and 0.7 mm{circumflex over ()}2 or 0.4 mm{circumflex over ()}2.

[0148] The filter device 1 is as viewed perpendicular to the top surface 3 is substantially rectangular having a long side and a short side. Preferably the edges 17 of the rectangle are beveled. Preferably at least one of the long sides comprise a recess 18 to position the filter device 1 in a receiving bay and/or at least one of the long sides comprises at least one tilted positioning edge 19, preferably at least two tilted positioning edges 19 in the shape of triangular cutout extending through the filter element 1.

[0149] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a receiving unit 20 for a filter device 1 according to the description above. The receiving unit 20 is preferably part of a collection device 29 which is shown in parts in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0150] The receiving unit 20 comprises a reception bay 21 with a bottom wall 22, a positioning wall 23 extending from that bottom wall 22 and a spring element 24 which is configured to press the filter device 1 against the bottom wall 22. In FIG. 10 it is shown that the bottom wall 22 comprises several openings 28 which are arranged such that the at least one fluid outlets 14 match with their position with the openings 28 thereby each of the openings 28 is surrounded by a sealing structure 34. The sealing structure 34 can be a sealing ring that extends around the respective opening 28.

[0151] From FIG. 10 in which the reception bay 21 is shown without the filter device 10 it can be seen that the reception bay comprises at least one stop element 26, here two stop elements 26 which are arranged in the vicinity of the reception opening 25. Thereby the stop element 26 serves as a stop for a filter element 7 against a movement out of the reception bay 21. Since the spring elements 24 press the filter device 1 down towards the bottom wall 22 the filter device 1 is in contact with the stop element 26 by means of the lateral surface 5.

[0152] Additionally the reception bay 21 comprises positioning element 27 which serve to position the filter device 1 in the reception bay 21. In the present case the positioning elements 27 have the shape of elongate extensions from the bottom wall 28. This elongate extensions extend into the recess 18 that is arranged at the filter device 1.

[0153] In FIGS. 12 and 13 a gripping tool 30 is shown. The gripping tool 30 is also schematically shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 with the gripping arm 31. The gripping tool 30 comprises at least one gripping arm 31 which is configured to grasp parts or that filter device 1 in order to insert and/or to remove the filter device 1 from the reception bay 21. The gripping tool 30 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 whereby it can be seen that two gripping arms 31 are arranged which grasp the filter device 1 on their sides.

[0154] The gripping tool 30 and its gripping arms 31 are provided such that the gripping arms lift the filter device in the reception bay against the spring pressures provided by spring element 24. Thereby the gripping tool lifts that filter device 1 such that the filter device 1 is removable from the reception bay and the receiving unit.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 Filter device 2 support element 3 top surface 4 bottom surface 5 lateral surface 6 fluid duct 7 filter element 8 collection surface 9 filter chamber 10 sidewall 11 bearing surface 12 opening 13 fluid inlet 14 fluid outlet 15 diversion 16 transparent element 17 bevelled edges 18 recess 19 positioning edge 20 receiving unit 21 reception bay 22 bottom wall 23 positioning wall 24 spring element 25 reception opening 26 stop element 27 positioning elements 28 openings 29 collection device 30 gripping tool 31 gripping arm 32 curves 33 arrow 34 sealing structure 35 pocket