METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND COUNTING FERROUS PARTICLES

摘要

An apparatus and a method to determine ferrous particle counts in a fluid and to remove and collect ferrous particles from a fluid for ferrous particle analysis. In a sequential process, a solid particle count in a fluid is determined. Ferrous particles are separated from the fluid and a solid particle count in the fluid is again measured to determine the solid contamination level of non-ferrous particles only. The solid particle count is compared with the non-ferrous particle count to determine the ferrous particle count. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a holder chamber and a removable examination slide within the chamber. A magnet induces a magnetic field at the examination slide. A portion of the fluid is passed over the slide in order that the magnetic field retains ferrous particles on the slide. Thereafter, the slide can be removed from the holder chamber for ferrographic analysis.