Liquid flow system having improved apparatus for determining particulate contamination level

Abstract

In a liquid flow system including conduit through which liquid is pumped and including an apparatus for determining the level of particulate contamination within the liquid the apparatus includes a valve in communication with the conduit having a valve member moveable relative to a valve housing in which the valve member can be set relative to the housing to define a narrow clearance through which flow takes place. A mechanism is provided for interrupting the normal pumped flow of liquid through the system and, when it is so interrupted, for causing liquid to flow through the valve clearance instead. A monitor is provided for monitoring the volume of liquid so passed, and for deriving a measure of the degree of contamination of the liquid in the system. The flow through the narrow clearance is in direction substantially at right angles to that of the relative movement of the valve member and valve housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.