Compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for real-time wear metal analysis of lubrucating oils

An apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a tubular sample chamber having an in-line connection with the lubrication system so that said sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubrication flows, said sample chamber having an X-ray transparent window formed therein allowing passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant, said sample chamber having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the flow of the lubricant therethrough;
• (b) a high intensity X-ray source assembly, said assembly directing said X-rays toward said sample chamber so that said X-rays pass through said window in said sample chamber and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough;
• (c) an X-ray detector, said X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, as the lubricant and metal particles flow through said sample chamber means, said detector means generating a signal representing a quantitative measure of said X-rays emitted by the lubricant and said X-rays emitted by the metal particles, and said X-ray detector having an X-ray transparent window formed therein and having a collimating/focusing assembly configured to deliver collimated/focused X-rays to said X-ray transparent window of said X-ray detector;
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• (d) a signal processor, said signal processor being adapted to process said signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in the lubricant, thereby providing real-time identification and measurement of wear metal particles in the lubricant.

A miniaturized apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a non-metallic, cylindrical sample chamber having an in-line connection with the lubrication system of the machine so that said sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubrication flows, said sample chamber having an X-ray transparent beryllium window formed therein allowing passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant, said sample chamber having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and concentric with the flow of the lubricant therethrough;
• (b) a high intensity incident X-ray source assembly configured to provide a source of X-rays directed toward said sample chamber so that said X-rays pass through said window in said sample chamber and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough, said X-ray source assembly comprises:
• (i) a monochromatic, single anode X-ray tube configured to emit X-rays, said X-ray tube having an X-ray transparent window formed therein;
• (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly configured to collimate/focus said X-ray emitted from said X-ray tube as a high intensity, relatively small spot on said beryllium window in said sample chamber.
• (c) an X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, as the lubricant and metal particles flow through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector assembly generating a signal representing a quantitative measure of said X-rays emitted by the lubricant and said X-rays emitted by the metal particles, said X-ray detector assembly comprising:
• (i) a low-noise lithium drifted silicon X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector having an X-ray transparent window formed therein;
• (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly capable of wide angle collection of the X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber and to deliver collimated/focused X-rays to said window in said X-ray detector;
• and
• (d) means for processing said signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in the lubricant, thereby providing real-time identification and measurement of wear metal particles in the lubricant.