Wear detection system with metal debris sensor assembly

An on-board wear detection system for monitoring wear of a part in a system of parts located on a mobile machine, the on-board wear detection system comprising:

• a supply of fluid;
• a pump, the pump in fluid communication with the supply of fluid, the pump being configured to draw the supply of fluid into the pump and to discharge a flow of fluid therefrom;
• the part, the part in fluid communication with the pump to receive the flow of fluid therefrom;
• a filter for filtering particulates from the flow of fluid, the filter in fluid communication with the pump and with the part, the filter interposed between the part and the pump such that the flow of fluid passes through the filter, the filter comprising:
• a filter element, the filter element including a filter medium, and
• a metallic debris sensor assembly, the metallic debris sensor assembly including a core and a drive coil of electrically-conductive wire, the core having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion interposed between the first and second ends, the first end disposed in spaced relationship with the second end such that a measurement area is disposed therebetween, the drive coil of electrically-conductive wire being wound around the intermediate portion of the core, the core being adapted to generate a magnetic field in the measurement area when an electrical current is passed through the drive coil,
• wherein at least a portion of the filter medium is disposed within the measurement area;
• a coil drive circuit operably arranged with the drive coil and configured to selectively provide the electrical current to the drive coil;
• an inductance measurement circuit configured to determine an inductance value of the inductance measurement circuit, the inductance measurement circuit operably arranged with the metallic debris sensor assembly such that the inductance value of the inductance measurement circuit is variable based upon an amount of magnetically responsive debris in the measurement area.