Apparatus and method for determining a parameter of a particle in a fluid

摘要

An apparatus and method for determining a parameter of a particle in a fluid is disclosed and, in particular, an apparatus and method for determining contamination or machine wear by the measurement of contamination or wear particles in a fluid used in the machine is disclosed. In a first embodiment, a measurement cell is provided with a fluid flow path. A first hall probe is arranged adjacent to the flow path for detecting dia-magnetic, para-magnetic, ferro-magnetic particles and a second optical sensor formed of a light emitting diode and phototransistor are provided for optically detecting the particles. A correlation between the hall probes and the optical detector enables an indication of the particles to be obtained so that a parameter of those particles can be determined to provide an indication of contamination or machine wear. In a second embodiment, a measurement cell having a fluid chamber is provided and two pulsed light sources are arranged in the cell for transmitting light through the fluid to a charged couple device so that a first image can be produced by light transmitted through the fluid and therefore past the particles and a second pulsed light source is provided for reflection of particles so that a second image of reflected light can be produced. A comparison of the first and second images enables the metal particles to be determined so that parameters of those particles can be measured to provide an indication of contamination or machine wear.