Compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for real-time wear metal analysis of lubrucating oils
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a sample chamber means for providing a chamber to measure the presence and amount of wear metal particles in said lubricant, said sample chamber means adapted for in-line connection into the lubrication system so that said sample chamber means provides a passageway through which the lubricant flows, at least a portion of said sample chamber means allowing passage of X-rays into and out of said sample chamber means so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant;
(b) source means for providing a source of said X-rays directed toward said sample chamber means so that said X-rays pass through said sample chamber means and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough;
(c) detector means for detecting said X-rays emitted by the lubricants 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
(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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer system dedicated to in-line, real-time analysis of wear metal particles in a lubricant used in a lubricating system that comprises a sample chamber, an X-ray source assembly, and an X-ray detector assembly. The sample chamber is substantially composed of a non-metallic material and has a cylindrical shape. The sample chamber is adapted for in-line connection to the lubrication system of the machine such that the sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubricant flows. The sample chamber has an X-ray transparent window formed therein that allows the passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant. A high intensity, relatively small spot incident X-ray source assembly is configured to provide a source of X-rays directed toward the sample chamber such that said X-rays pass through the window in the sample chamber and contact the lubricant flowing therethrough. The X-ray source assembly may comprise either an electron-beam excited X-ray tube associated with a collimating/focusing assembly or, alternatively, an X-ray laser source. The X-ray detector assembly is configured to detect the X-rays emitted from the lubricant flowing through the sample chamber. The X-ray detector assembly generates a signal reflecting the X-rays emitted by the lubricant and comprises a collimating/focusing assembly capable of wide angle collection of the X-rays emitted from the lubricant flowing though the sample chamber and a low-noise X-ray detector. The system also includes a computer system and associated software for processing the signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in said lubricant.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a sample chamber means for providing a chamber to measure the presence and amount of wear metal particles in said lubricant, said sample chamber means adapted for in-line connection into the lubrication system so that said sample chamber means provides a passageway through which the lubricant flows, at least a portion of said sample chamber means allowing passage of X-rays into and out of said sample chamber means so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant; (b) source means for providing a source of said X-rays directed toward said sample chamber means so that said X-rays pass through said sample chamber means and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough; (c) detector means for detecting said X-rays emitted by the lubricants 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 (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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:
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(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; and (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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A miniaturized apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for using a compact apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing energy in the form of high intensity X-rays from an X-ray source assembly to a non-metallic sample chamber having an in-line connection to the lubrication system of the machine and through which the lubrication flows, said sample chamber having an X-ray transparent window formed therein allowing passage of X-rays so that said X-rays pass through said window in said sample chamber and contact the lubricant flowing therethrough to excite the lubricant at an atomic/molecular level; (b) detecting said X-rays emitted from the lubricant flowing through said sample chamber using a low-noise X-ray detector assembly, said X-ray detector assembly generating a signal reflecting said X-rays emitted from the lubricant in the form of spontaneously emitted fluorescence X-rays; (c) interpreting said signal received from said detector assembly to provide a real-time identification and measurement of the chemical composition of metal particles in the lubricant. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification