Oil monitor with magnetic field
US5674401A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01M2011/14
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting the degree of deterioration in lubricating oil including a grid-like capacitive sensor, that uses the lubricating oil as a dielectric medium, and a magnetic field imposed upon the oil to attract ferromagnetic wear particles into the vicinity of the sensor. Preferably, the magnetic field is generated by a permanent magnet and an electromagnet aligned such that the magnetic field produced by each magnet acts upon the oil along the same axis. A plurality of capacitance measurements are taken at periodic intervals for one type of classification and analysis. Magnetically induced particle concentrations are analyzed visually under the aid of periodic magnetic flux reorientation and optical magnification.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.