US3898459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiometric method of measuring wear of an engine component
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1973-11-19
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1993-11-19
Abstract
Abstract The wear rate of an apex seal in a rotary combustion engine is measured by irradiating the seal with neutrons to render the seal radioactive, collecting the wear debris from the exhaust gas stream in a filter over a set period of engine operation and measuring the radioactivity of the debris on the filter. To prevent burning of the filter by the hot gases, the exhaust stream is cooled by injecting water into the exhaust stream. The seal material may include terbium oxide to enhance its radioactivity level.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C Lechman
- 👤 William J Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N3/00; G01N3/56; G01N3/562; G21; G21H; G21H5/00; G21H5/02; F; F02; F02B; F02B53/00; F02B2053/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
174 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising doping the part to be monitored with a tracer substance susceptible to being rendered radioactive by neutron irradiation, inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust Gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
174 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising doping the part to be monitored with a tracer substance susceptible to being rendered radioactive by neutron irradiation, inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust Gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising, including in the composition of the part to be monitored a tracer substance comprising on the order of 0.5% by weight of terbium oxide, inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of a part in an engine, the wear debris of which is entrained in the exhaust gas stream of the engine comprising, including in the composition of the part to be monitored a tracer substance comprising on the order of 0.5% by weight of terbium oxide, inducing radioactivity in the part to be monitored by irradiating the part with neutrons, assembling the part into an engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the part releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of an apex seal in a rotary engine comprising including in the seal a substance susceptible to being rendered radioactive by neutron irradiation, inducing radioactivity in the seal by irradiating the seal with neutrons, assembling the seal into a rotary engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the seal releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of measuring the wear rate of an apex seal in a rotary engine comprising including in the seal a substance susceptible to being rendered radioactive by neutron irradiation, inducing radioactivity in the seal by irradiating the seal with neutrons, assembling the seal into a rotary engine, operating the engine for a predetermined time period whereby wear of the seal releases radioactive wear debris into the engine exhaust gas stream, collecting the wear debris on a filter medium in the exhaust gas stream, the filter medium being subject to rapid deterioration of filtering properties when exposed to a hot exhaust gas stream cooling the exhaust gas stream by injecting water into the stream upstream of the filter medium for preventing deterioration of the filter medium due to high exhaust gas temperature, and measuring the radioactivity of the wear debris collected by the filter medium, whereby the activity level is indicative of the wear rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |