Electricity: measuring and testing – Determining nonelectric properties by measuring electric...
Patent
1994-06-23
1997-01-21
Regan, Maura K.
Electricity: measuring and testing
Determining nonelectric properties by measuring electric...
324446, 324553, 324722, 340631, 3613014, 361303, G01N 2706
Patent
active
055962661
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the technology of detection of metal particles, which is suitable for detecting metal shavings or the like in lubrication oil, and in particular, to a metal particle detecting sensor, a method of detecting metal particles, and a metal particle detecting apparatus with which an in-line analysis can be made with a simple structure, and further, which can precisely determine the number of particles for every particle size.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Heretofore, an analyzing laboratory or an in-line analyzer using typical metal particle detecting technology has employed one or more of the spectrophotometric, irradiation light attenuating, electrical resistance, and magnetic resistance types of metal particle detection technology. However, with this technology, the following problems have occurred: particles so as to obtain the quantity of particles in each of the kinds. However, a large scale detecting apparatus has to be used, and accordingly, it is not appropriate for use in in-line analysis. Furthermore, with this technology, it is impossible to estimate or detect the number of particles per particle size; substantially all kinds of particles so as to obtain the quantity of particles in each of the kinds, and it is suitable for use in in-line analysis. However, it is impossible to estimate or detect the number of particles per particle size. in-line analysis, but its detection errors are large. Further, it is impossible to estimate or detect the number of particles per particle size. analysis. However, it cannot detect particles other than ferromagnetic material particles such as Fe or Ni. Furthermore, it is impossible to estimate or detect the number of particles per particle size.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-83150, the inventors have proposed a metal particle detecting sensor with a simple structure using electric discharge. However, since a pair of comb electrodes used in this metal particle detecting sensor are composed of a pair of platinum thin film electrodes formed on an insulator by a vapor deposition process or the like, being slightly spaced from each other, it cannot estimate or detect the number of metal particles, in fluid, per particle size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a metal particle detecting sensor, a metal particle detecting method, and a metal particle detecting apparatus, with which metal particles in fluid can be analyzed in-line with a simple structure, and which can precisely estimate or determine the number of metal particles per particle size.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metal particle detecting sensor in which metal films and insulating films are alternately laminated one upon another, and every other one of the metal films is connected in parallel, by a respective one of two lead wires, so as to form two comb electrodes in the laminate, whereby an end face of the laminate can be immersed in a fluid containing metal particles for detecting the metal particles.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting metal particles, in which the above-mentioned metal particle detecting sensor is used so as to detect pulse voltages V, then a number f(v) of pulses per identical voltage V among the thus detected pulse voltages V is computed, and then for every identical voltage, computation is carried out with the following expressions: particle size is regarded as being analogous to or identical with an actual number N of particles per actual particle size R in a fluid to be detected, where k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 are predetermined constants.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metal particle detecting apparatus comprising the above-mentioned metal particle detecting sensor, a processing unit connected to the metal particle detecting sensor, and an output unit connected to the processing unit, the processing unit storing in memory a constant k.su
REFERENCES:
patent: 4070660 (1978-01-01), Tauber
patent: 4127808 (1978-11-01), Sproul et al.
Hirosawa Atsuhiko
Mori Akira
Uchino Ikuo
Yamazaki Kunihiro
Brown Glenn W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
Regan Maura K.
LandOfFree
Metal particle detecting sensor, metal particle detecting method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Metal particle detecting sensor, metal particle detecting method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Metal particle detecting sensor, metal particle detecting method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2326560