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Oil monitor with magnetic field

  • US 5,674,401 A
  • Filed: 12/22/1995
  • Issued: 10/07/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of concentrating and analyzing lubrication oil borne contaminants comprising the steps of:

  • supporting a vessel confined, fixed volume of lubrication oil containing magnetically responsive particles above a gravity settlement surface for a measured time interval;

    imposing a first magnetic field having a first flux pattern upon said fixed volume of lubrication oil within said vessel for at least a portion of said measured time interval to bias movement of said magnetically responsive particles in said fixed volume of lubrication oil against said settlement surface in an area coincident with said first flux pattern;

    separating said vessel and substantially all of said fixed volume of lubrication oil from said settlement surface at the end of said measured time interval while maintaining said magnetically responsive particles against said settlement surface with said first magnetic field;

    maintaining said first magnetic field on said settlement surface and altering said first flux pattern by imposing a second magnetic field on said settlement surface to stimulate movement of said magnetically responsive particles on said settlement surface; and

    ,visually analyzing said magnetically responsive particles while moving on said settlement surface during said step of altering the second magnetic field with respect to type, source or consequence of the particles on said surface.

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