Mobile sampling cart automatically swabs surfaces for the recovery of microorganisms. Unit operates without human involvement and provides for control of swabbing speed, rotation of cotton swab, and the pressure and angle applied to swab. Capability of reverse direction is also available. Sampling cart use is limited to flat surfaces

Mills, S. M.

Wilkins, J. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

July 1972
	
B72-10395 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Langley Research Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Microbiological Surface Sampling Cart 
Drive Motor	 Battery	 Swabbing 
.4	 Gimbal	 Cotton 
Swab Travel 
The Mobile Surface Sampling Cart, as shown in the 
figure, is a device which automatically swabs surfaces for 
tile recovery of microorganisms; it operates without 
human involvement and provides for control of swabbing 
speed, rotation of the cotton swab, and the pressure and 
angle applied to the swab. 
The motor-driven sampling cart is 6 inches (15 cm) 
wide, 11 inches (28 cm) long, and 6 inches (15 cm) high 
and powered by two 10-volt rechargeable nickel-cadmium 
battery packs wired in parallel, which provides a 
capacity of 900 milliampere-hours. The drive motor is 
coupled directly to the drive shaft through bevel gearing, 
and 10 volts dc is applied to the motor for a maximum 
drive speed of 1 inch (2.5 cm) of travel in 3.3 
seconds. Adjusting the 100-ohm potentiometer enables 
the sampling cart to be driven at different speeds. The 
swabbing crank, with provisions for holding the cotton 
swab, is attached to the motor which is mounted in a 
single gimbal. Moving the swab motor back and forth or 
tip and down alters the pressure and angle of the swab 
relative to the sampling surface. The area to he sampled
is controlled by means of a microswitch attached to the 
rear of the cart. The capability of reverse direction is 
also available. 
In the operation, a cotton swab samples the desired 
area. The motion of the swab, which is in continuous 
contact with the sampling surface has, in addition to a 
4-inch (10 cm) side-to-side action, a spiraling action 
along its longitudinal axis. At a speed of 9.5 inches 
(24 cm)/minute, there are 7 strokes/inch (2.8 strokes/ 
cm) of sampling area, and by swabbing at right angles 
to the cart motion, excellent coverage of the surface 
area is obtained. 
Preliminary results indicated that good recovery of 
natural fall-out contamination was obtained with this 
technique when compared to the conventional hand 
swabbing method. With the capability of reverse di-
rection, the unit can be used in situations where it is 
desirable to have no human contact such as in con-
taminated areas or clean rooms. 
Use of the sampling cart is limited to flat surfaces and 
would have no application to curved or irregular sur-
(continued overleaf) 
This documentwas prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000394 2020-03-17T03:37:19+00:00Z
faces. Even though the application of the sampling cart 
is limited, it is felt that, in view of the widespread use of 
the cotton swab for surface sampling, the features of 
no-operator participation and the capability to sample 
restricted areas outweigh this disadvantage. 
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Specific 
questions, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Langley Station/Mail Stop 139A 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: B72-10395
Patent status: 
Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use 
of this invention should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Code: 456 
Langley Station 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Source: Judd R. Wilkins and Stacey M. Mills
Langley Research Center 
(LAR-1 1069) 
Category 05 0 
B72-10395


Microbiological surface sampling cart

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