US 5,402,113 AGranted

Metal particle detector apparatus for non-conducting fluid systems

AssigneeAmot Controls Corp.

InventorDavid L. Naas

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Abstract

A metal particle detector apparatus for use with flowing non-conductive fluid such as lubrication oil from an engine or other rotary device wherein the lubricated components include bearings or the like susceptible to failure, thereby placing harmful metal particles in the non-conductive fluid. A circuit grid comprising two electrodes affixed on a perforated electrically non-conductive plate which is disposed in the fluid flow in a manner which will catch the particles being carried by the fluid and when one, or an accumulation of these particles bridges the gap between electrodes completes an electrical circuit passing into the device from outside. In one embodiment, a primary and secondary seal are provided for sealing fluid against leaking into the electrical chamber leading to the electrical circuit or alarm system while still permitting the electrical circuit system to be electrically connected to the detector unit which is disposed in the flowing fluid. Compressible O-ring seals are used. A detector drain is provided for permitting the flow of fluid out of the housing of the detector if the primary seal begins to fail, acting first as a way to prevent oil from entering the chamber containing the electrical wiring for the alarm system and secondly as an indication to the user of when the detector seal is beginning to fail.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A metal detection apparatus cooperative with a flowing source of non-conductive fluid having metal particles therein on the occasion of a part failure, comprising:

a housing having a chamber therein;
connective means for permitting the flow of non-conductive fluid from a source through said chamber;
detection means for detecting metal particles;
means within said chamber for removably positioning said detection means generally transversely to the fluid flow through said chamber;
said detection means including conductive detector members extending over portions of the surface of said detection means facing the fluid flow, said conductive detector members being electrically insulated from each other and adapted to be contacted by metal particles in the fluid flowing through said chamber;
opening means associated with said detection means for directing oil flow past said detector members and for contacting metal particles thereagainst;
and
circuit means for providing an indication of contact of metal particles across said detector members, the improvement comprising:
at least a portion of said circuit means extending into said housing;
electrical conductor means connected to said detection means at one end thereof and to said circuit means at the other end thereof;
a passageway means having an interior surface thereon, said passageway means leading from said chamber to said circuit means for receiving said electrical conductor means therethrough;
and
seal means for sealing said passageway means to prevent flow of lubricating oil through said passageway means from said chamber while permitting the flow of electricity through said electrical conductor means, said sealing means including a primary seal and a compressed annular resilient seal member disposed between said primary seal and the interior surface of said passageway means in said housing.

10 more elements

A metal detection apparatus cooperative with a flowing course of non-conductive fluid having metal particles therein on the occasion of a part failure, comprising:

a housing having a chamber therein;
connective means for permitting the flow of non-conductive fluid from a source through said chamber;
detection means for detecting metal particles;
means within said chamber for removably positioning said detection means generally transversely to the fluid flow through said chamber;
said detection means including a non-conductive plate member;
a first conductive detector member disposed on the upstream side of said nonconductive plate member;
a second conductive detector member disposed on the upstream side of said nonconductive plate member and spaced from said first conductive detector member so that they are not in electrical contact with each other;
openings disposed in and through said non-conductive plate member for permitting the flow of non-conductive fluid therethrough and thereby causing metal particles larger than said openings to accumulate between said first and second conductive detector members whereby an electrical current will flow through said accumulated metal particles between said first and second conductive detector members when a sufficient number or size of metal particles are present;
circuit means for providing an indication of contact of metal particles across said detector members, the improvement comprising:
at least a portion of said circuit means extending into said housing;
electrical conductor means, one end of said electrical conductor means being connected to only one end of said detection means and the other end of said electrical conductor means being connected to said circuit means whereby it is not necessary to provide electrical connectors along the sides of said detection means;
a passageway means leading from said chamber to said circuit means for receiving said electrical conductor means therethrough;
and
seal means for sealing said passageway means to prevent flow of lubricating oil through said passageway means from said chamber while permitting the flow of electricity through said electrical conductor means.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.