IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,209,342
Granted Patent B2
US 11,209,342 · App. 16/447,401 · Granted Dec 28, 2021

Tamper-resistant chemical sampling

Inventors: Pax T. Williams (Kennett Square, PA); David C. Seibert (Colora, MD); Edward J. Sullivan (Lewis Center, OH); Thomas S. O'Donnell (Arlington, VA)
Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
G01N1/2273B01L3/508G01N1/2214B01L2200/082B01L2200/141B01L2300/023B01L2300/024B01L2300/025B01L2300/069B01L2300/16G01N2001/007G01N2001/021G01N2001/027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,209,342
App. No.
16/447,401
Granted
Dec 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for a tamper-resistant collection and retention a chemical sample. In one embodiment, the tamper-resistant system comprises a container operable to collect and retain a chemical sample, a tamper-resistant mechanism operable to disengage at a first chemical sample to allow for a collection of a chemical sample, wherein the tamper-resistant mechanism is operable to record one or more of: a date, a time, and a location, of the chemical sample during the collection of the chemical sample, and wherein the tamper-resistant mechanism is further operable to re-engage and lock after the collection of the chemical sample to resist subsequent chemical samples after the first chemical sampling.

Claims (22)

1. A method of chemical sampling using a tamper-resistant chemical sampling system, the method comprising:

removing a tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus from a packaging;

turning a twist mechanism on the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus to an open position effective to allow a chemical sample to be collected into the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus through a calibrated orifice;

leaving the twist mechanism in the open position for a period of time effective to collect the chemical sample through the calibrated orifice and into the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus;

turning the twist mechanism on the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus to a closed position after collecting the chemical sample effective to retain the chemical sample within the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus; and

locking the twist mechanism into a locked position effective to resist turning of the twist mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising examining global positioning system (GPS) indicator lights after closing and locking the twist mechanism to determine acquisition of a GPS satellite signal and recordation of GPS data.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising manually actuating a GPS switch to acquire a GPS satellite signal effective to record the GPS coordinate data associated with the collection location of the chemical sample.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising automatically acquiring GPS satellite signal at a fixed or irregular interval.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising recording one or more unsuccessful GPS satellite signal acquisition attempts.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising collecting the chemical sample through the calibrated orifice on the twist mechanism.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising mounting the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus on a vehicle mounting platform.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein turning the twist mechanism to the open position comprises remotely actuating a valve mechanism to a closed position, and turning the twist mechanism to the closed position comprises remotely actuating the valve mechanism to a closed position.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating and recording one or more date-time group (DTG) data associated with one or more of: collection time of the chemical sample; collection duration of the chemical sample; acquisition of global coordinate associated with the collection location of the chemical sample; attempts at establishing a global coordinate associated with the collection location of the chemical sample; error codes; tampering attempts; transfer of data from the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus to an external device.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising actuating a slide lock to allow rotation of the twist mechanism.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising recording at least one of humidity data and temperature data.

12. The method of claim 1 , comprising storing one or more of: DTG data and GPS data in a memory of the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising wirelessly transferring one or more of the DTG data and the GPS data to a device external to the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus.

14. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

mounting the temper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus to a remote controlled robotic device; and

positioning the robotic device to collect the chemical sample.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising sealing the tamper-resistant chemical sampling apparatus back into the packaging.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2019
From: WILLIAMS, PAX T.; SEIBERT, DAVID C., JR.; SULLIVAN, EDWARD J.; O'DONNELL, THOMAS S.
To: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 051341/0019 →