Apparatus for dust mitigation
View Patent ↗A dust-mitigation device used in space exploration is a system for protecting the venting components of certain environments from the entry of lunar dust. The system enables ventilation while preventing dust from reaching sealing surfaces of a spacesuit's valves (SPVs).
1 . A valve cover for mitigating dust contamination comprising:
a cap fixedly engaged with a conduit about a central axis; and
the cap having a frusto-conical portion extending into the conduit; and
a first annular curved surface formed by a flared end of said conduit and a second annular curved surface in said cap that is offset from said first annular curved surface, forming a tortuous flow path between said cap and conduit; wherein fluid flow by said first annular surface and said second annular surface mitigates a flow of dust through said valve cover.
2 . The valve cover for mitigating dust contamination of claim 1 further comprising:
a first annular magnet fixedly engaged with said conduit; wherein ferrous particulate adheres to said first annular magnet mitigating a flow of ferrous dust.
3 . The valve cover for mitigating dust contamination of claim 2 further comprising:
a second annular magnet fixedly engaged with said cap; wherein ferrous particulate adheres to said first annular magnet and said second annular magnet, mitigating the flow of ferrous dust.
4 . The valve cover for mitigating dust contamination of claim 2 further comprising:
an array of magnets fixedly engaged with said conduit; wherein ferrous particulate adheres to at least one magnet in said first array of magnets mitigating the flow of ferrous dust through said valve cover.
5 . An apparatus for capturing particles, comprising:
a conduit having a central axis; and
a housing affixed to the conduit; and
a cap positioned relative to the conduit, the cap having a frusto-conical portion extending into the conduit; and
an array of magnets disposed within the housing; and
a tortuous flow path defined between the conduit and the cap, wherein the flow path is configured to direct a fluid past the array of magnets and subsequently turn approximately 90 degrees relative to the central axis.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
a first annular magnet affixed proximal to an exit of the conduit; and
a second annular magnet affixed proximal to a circumference of the cap.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the tortuous flow path is further configured to direct the fluid past the first annular magnet and the second annular magnet.
8 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:
the tortuous flow path comprises a first portion where fluid flows in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis and a second portion where fluid flows in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.