Apparatus for monitoring particulate matter
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid, including filter means comprisingan elongate strip filter medium in the form of a separable laminate formed of a filter material and backing strip;
- a filter medium transport arrangement comprising two rotatable spools having the filter medium extending between them with means to separate the backing strip from the filter material over a short distance between the spools;
means for passing the fluid through the filter material where separated from the backing strip at a substantially constant flow rate, the transport arrangement being operable to move the filter medium between the spools thereby to present a new portion of filter material for passage of fluid therethrough;
pressure sensing means arranged to sense the fluid pressure difference across the filter material where the fluid is passing therethrough and to produce a pressure signal indicative of the pressure difference sensed; and
processing means arranged to receive the pressure signal and to evaluate therefrom the rate of change of the pressure difference thereby to give an indication of the particulate matter level in the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in the fluid comprises a filter means (28) through which fluid is arranged to flow. A pressure sensing means (46) senses the fluid pressure difference across the filter means and produces a pressure signal indicative of the magnitude of the pressure difference. A processing means (49) receives the pressure signal and evaluates therefrom the rate of change of the magnitude of the pressure difference in order to give an indication of particulate matter levels in the fluid. In this way on line monitoring of the debris generation in, for example an oil system, can be effected so that abnormal increases in debris can be detected and long term trends in the build-up of debris can be observed. A particular form of filter medium is also disclosed wherein the filter mean can be transported so that a filter record can be maintained and systematic X-ray analysis of the filter record can be effected.
29 Citations
7 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid, including filter means comprising
an elongate strip filter medium in the form of a separable laminate formed of a filter material and backing strip; -
a filter medium transport arrangement comprising two rotatable spools having the filter medium extending between them with means to separate the backing strip from the filter material over a short distance between the spools; means for passing the fluid through the filter material where separated from the backing strip at a substantially constant flow rate, the transport arrangement being operable to move the filter medium between the spools thereby to present a new portion of filter material for passage of fluid therethrough; pressure sensing means arranged to sense the fluid pressure difference across the filter material where the fluid is passing therethrough and to produce a pressure signal indicative of the pressure difference sensed; and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signal and to evaluate therefrom the rate of change of the pressure difference thereby to give an indication of the particulate matter level in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification