Martin Marietta Corporation

Synectic Technology, Inc.

Other

Michael G Thornton

Benton C Clark, Iii

Janine M Thornton

A system for preparing samples of wear particles employs a series of movable particle traps or screens within a passage to separate particles by size and magnetic characteristics. Movable magnets are placed adjacent to an inlet tube upstream from the particle traps to separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles. One embodiment includes a coarse particle trap and a medium particle trap. A controller initially positions the magnets adjacent to the tube and positions both particle traps to block the passage so that only fine non-magnetic wear particles are collected in the first sample. The medium non-magnetic wear particles are then rinsed from the medium particle trap to provide a second sample. Next, the coarse non-magnetic wear particles are rinsed from the coarse particle trap to provide the third sample. The controller once again positions both particle traps to block the passage, removes the magnets, and rinses the magnetic wear particles onto the particle traps so that only fine magnetic wear particles are passed to provide a fourth sample. The medium particle trap is then rinsed to produce a fifth sample containing medium magnetic particles, and the coarse particle trap is rinsed to produce a sixth sample containing coarse magnetic particles. The system can also include an initial trap to prevent oversize particles from entering the passage.

Sample preparation system for separating wear particles by size and

An apparatus extracts standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used oil filters by rotating each oil filter while spraying a solvent fluid into the opening at the base of the oil filter. The apparatus includes a housing to hold the filter having a movable cover and a base that contacts the filter base and allows rotation of said filter. A crawler assembly within the housing cover initially translates along the axis of rotation toward the housing base until the filter is held between the crawler and the housing base. A motor associated with the crawler assembly (or the housing base) then rotates the filter. A shaft extending through the housing base into the filter opening carries a nozzle that directs a spray of fluid into the filter during rotation to rinse wear particles from the filter for subsequent analysis. A predetermined quantity of fluid is sprayed into each filter to produce a standardized sample. The interior of the housing also sprayed with fluid between consecutive filters to prevent cross-contamination.

Apparatus for extracting wear particles from used oil filters

A portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer has a portable sensor unit containing a battery, a high voltage power supply, an x-ray tube which produces a beam x-ray radiation directed toward a target sample, and a detector for fluorescent x-rays produced by the sample. If a silicon-lithium detector is used, the sensor unit also contains either a thermoelectric or thermochemical cooler, or a small dewar flask containing liquid nitrogen to cool the detector. A pulse height analyzer ('PHA') generates a spectrum of data for each sample consisting of the number of fluorescent x-rays detected as a function of their energy level. The PHA can also store spectrum data for a number of samples in the field. A processing unit can be attached to the pulse height analyzer to upload and analyze the stored spectrum data for each sample. The processing unit provides a graphic display of the spectrum data for each sample, and provides qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the elemental composition of the sample by comparing the peaks in the sample spectrum against known x-ray energies for various chemical elements. An optional filtration enclosure can be used to filter particles from a sample suspension, either in the form of a natural suspension or a chemically created precipitate. The sensor unit is then temporarily attached to the filtration unit to analyze the particles collected by the filter medium.

Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer for environmental monitoring of

A liquid sample holder having a fluid sample receptacle bounded by two substantially parallel sheets. The parallel sheets define a fluid analysis area, and adjacent to that area is a peripheral overflow. Air bubbles are trapped in the peripheral overflow because the distance between the plates is smaller than the depth or thickness of the peripheral overflow.

Liquid sample holder

A semi-automatic quantitative filtration assembly is disclosed having a measuring means to measure and present a known quantity of fluid for filtering and a fluid holding means adjacent to a filter medium. The fluid holding means is adapted to receive and hold excess fluid during filtering and to prevent intermixing with a known quantity of fluid to be presented to filtering. The filtering apparatus is designed to filter a quantitative amount of fluid and receive fluid in the fluid holding tank which is excess sample fluid or fluid unwanted as a result of error or operational failure and which drains to a common vacuum/waste means for filtered fluid. A variety of features are also provided to insure proper operation and minimize operator error.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Michael G Thornton