Sample preparation system for separating wear particles by size and

Abstract

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.