Conductive particle detecting device and mechanical device

A conductive particle detecting device, comprising:

• a plurality of permanent magnets having electrical conductivity arranged at intervals in a non-conductive lubricant;
• and
• a detecting circuit for detecting electrical resistance between electrodes different from each other, adjacent ones of the plurality of permanent magnets being defined as the electrodes different from each other,
• wherein conductive particles mixing into the lubricant are defined as a detection target, and particles having electrical conductivity and having a smaller particle size than the conductive particles are defined as fine particles, and
• wherein a part of the fine particles between the electrodes is maintained out of contact with the electrodes such that upon application of electric current, the fine particles do not conduct electricity to the electrodes,
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes has a primary surface to which the fine particles are adhered, and
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes includes a projection portion having electrical conductivity and partly projecting from the primary surface.

A conductive particle detecting device, comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes arranged at intervals in a non-conductive lubricant;
• a detecting circuit for detecting conductive particles based on electrical resistance between the plurality of electrodes, the conductive particles being a detection target mixing into the lubricant,
• wherein particles having electrical conductivity and having a smaller particle size than the conductive particles are defined as fine particles, and
• wherein upon application of electric current, the fine particles do not conduct electricity to the plurality of electrodes,
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes has a primary surface to which the fine particles are adhered, and
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes includes a projection portion having electrical conductivity and partly projecting from the primary surface.

A mechanical device, comprising:

• a mechanical mechanism;
• a casing containing the mechanism and a non-conductive lubricant;
• and
• a conductive particle detecting device for detecting conductive particles, the conductive particles being a detection target mixing into the lubricant,
• wherein the conductive particle detecting device includes:
• a plurality of electrodes arranged at intervals in the lubricant;
• a permanent magnet for accumulating the conductive particles between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrodes by a magnetic force;
• and
• a detecting circuit for detecting the conductive particles based on electrical resistance between the adjacent ones of the plurality of electrodes,
• wherein an attractive force of the permanent magnet is set such that upon application of electric current, fine particles having electrical conductivity and having a smaller particle size than the conductive particles do not conduct electricity to the plurality of electrodes,
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes has a primary surface to which the fine particles are adhered, and
• wherein each of the plurality of electrodes includes a projection portion having electrical conductivity and partly projecting from the primary surface.