Compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for real-time wear metal analysis of lubrucating oils

Claim 3

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sample chamber means comprises a tubular sample chamber configured for in-line connection to said lubrication system, said sample chamber having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the flow of said lubricant therethrough.

Claim 4

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the lubricant flow through said sample chamber is substantially vertical.

Claim 5

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said sample chamber is concentrically attached to the lubrication system.

Claim 6

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said portion of said sample chamber means allowing passage of said X-rays into and out of said sample chamber means comprises an X-ray transparent material.

Claim 7

A miniature apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said x-ray transparent material is selected from the group consisting of beryllium, coated beryllium, polyimides, boron, and aluminum-coated polymers.

Claim 8

A miniature apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sample chamber means comprises material selected from the group consisting of light metals, nylon, bakelite, or other plastic materials.

Claim 9

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said source means comprises an electron-beam excited X-ray tube and a collimating/focusing assembly.

Claim 10

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said source means comprises an X-ray laser source capable of providing high intensity X-rays to said sample chamber means.

Claim 11

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said detector means comprises: (a) an X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant flowing through said sample chamber means; and (b) a collimating/focusing assembly configured to deliver collimated/focused X-rays emitted by the lubricant to said X-ray detector.

Claim 12

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said source means and said detector means are positioned on opposite sides of an x-axis formed through the center of said portion of said sample chamber allowing passage of X-rays into and out of said sample chamber, said x-axis being that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber, said source means being positioned at an angle β from said x-axis, said detector means being positioned at an angle α from said x-axis.

Claim 13

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein: (a) said source means is positioned at first distance from said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber; and (b) said detector means is positioned at a second distance from said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber.

Claim 14

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said first distance and said second distance are equal.

Claim 15

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said first distance and said second distance are not equal.

Claim 18

An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said X-ray transparent window comprises material selected from the group consisting of beryllium, coated beryllium, polyimides, boron, and aluminum-coated polymers.

Claim 19

A apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said X-ray transparent material is beryllium.

Claim 20

An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said sample chamber is substantially composed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, bakelite, or other plastic materials.

Claim 21

A apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said X-ray source assembly comprises: (a) an X-ray tube configured to emit said X-rays; and (b) a collimating/focusing assembly configured to focus said X-rays emitted from said X-ray tube as a high intensity, relatively small spot on said sample chamber.

Claim 22

A apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said X-ray collimating/focusing assembly comprises a plurality of hollow capillary tubes.

Claim 23

A apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said capillary tubes are substantially composed of glass.

Claim 24

A apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said capillary tubes have a diameter in the range of about 5 microns to about 50 microns.

Claim 25

A apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said X-ray collimating/focusing assembly comprises a block having a plurality of holes formed therein, said block being substantially composed of a low-density, light metal.

Claim 26

A apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said block is substantially composed of aluminum.

Claim 27

A apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said source assembly comprises an X-ray laser source capable of providing high intensity X-ray beams to said window in said sample chamber.

Claim 28

An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said X-ray detector comprises a low-noise detector.

Claim 29

A apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said low-noise X-ray detector comprises a lithium drifted silicon detector.

Claim 30

An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising a calibration device, the calibration device comprising a calibration sample configured to be movably disposed over said window in said sample chamber.

Claim 31

A apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein said calibration sample comprises a copper disk.

Claim 32

An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said source assembly and said detector are positioned on opposite sides of an x-axis formed through the center of said X-ray transparent window of said sample chamber, said x-axis being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber, said source assembly being positioned at an angle β from said x-axis, said detector being positioned at an angle α from said x-axis.

Claim 33

A apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said angle β and said angle α are not equal.

Claim 34

A apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said angle β and said angle α are equal.

Claim 35

A apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein: (a) said source assembly is laterally positioned at a first distance from said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber on the same side as said X-ray transparent window in said sample chamber; and (b) said detector is laterally positioned at a second distance from said longitudinal axis of said sample chamber on the same side as said X-ray transparent window in said sample chamber.

Claim 36

A compact apparatus as recited in claim 33, wherein said first distance and said second distance are equal.

Claim 37

A apparatus as recited in claim 33, wherein said first distance and said second distance are not equal.

Claim 38

A miniaturized apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising: (a) a non-metallic, cylindrical sample chamber having an in-line connection with the lubrication system of the machine so that said sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubrication flows, said sample chamber having an X-ray transparent beryllium window formed therein allowing passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant, said sample chamber having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and concentric with the flow of the lubricant therethrough; (b) a high intensity incident X-ray source assembly configured to provide a source of X-rays directed toward said sample chamber so that said X-rays pass through said window in said sample chamber and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough, said X-ray source assembly comprises: (i) a monochromatic, single anode X-ray tube configured to emit X-rays, said X-ray tube having an X-ray transparent window formed therein; (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly configured to collimate/focus said X-ray emitted from said X-ray tube as a high intensity, relatively small spot on said beryllium window in said sample chamber. (c) an X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, as the lubricant and metal particles flow through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector assembly generating a signal representing a quantitative measure of said X-rays emitted by the lubricant and said X-rays emitted by the metal particles, said X-ray detector assembly comprising: (i) a low-noise lithium drifted silicon X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector having an X-ray transparent window formed therein; (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly capable of wide angle collection of the X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber and to deliver collimated/focused X-rays to said window in said X-ray detector; and (d) means for processing said signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in the lubricant, thereby providing real-time identification and measurement of wear metal particles in the lubricant.

Claim 39

A miniaturized apparatus for measurement of wear metal particles in a lubricant of a lubrication system of a machine, said apparatus comprising: (a) a non-metallic, cylindrical sample chamber having an in-line connection with the lubrication system of the machine so that said sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubrication flows, said sample chamber having an X-ray transparent beryllium window formed therein allowing passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant, said sample chamber having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and concentric with the flow of the lubricant therethrough; (b) a high intensity incident X-ray source assembly configured to provide a source of X-rays directed toward said sample chamber so that said X-rays pass through said window in said sample chamber and contact the lubricant, and metal particles that the lubricant may contain, flowing therethrough, said X-ray source assembly comprises: (i) a monochromatic, single anode X-ray tube configured to emit X-rays, said X-ray tube having an X-ray transparent window formed therein; (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly configured to collimate/focus said X-ray emitted from said X-ray tube as a high intensity, relatively small spot on said beryllium window in said sample chamber. (c) an X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, as the lubricant and metal particles flow through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector assembly generating a signal representing a quantitative measure of said X-rays emitted by the lubricant and said X-rays emitted by the metal particles, said X-ray detector assembly comprising: (i) a low-noise lithium drifted silicon X-ray detector configured to detect said X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber, said X-ray detector having an X-ray transparent window formed therein; (ii) a collimating/focusing assembly capable of wide angle collection of the X-rays emitted by the lubricant, and by metal particles that may be contained therein, flowing through said sample chamber and to deliver collimated/focused X-rays to said window in said X-ray detector; and (d) means for processing said signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in the lubricant, thereby providing real-time identification and measurement of wear metal particles in the lubricant.

Claim 40

A apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said X-ray tube comprises a pure-metal rhodium anode target.

Claim 41

A apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said beryllium window in said sample chamber is substantially circular.

Claim 42

A apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said sample chamber, said X-ray source assembly, and said X-ray detector assembly are miniaturized.

Claim 43

A apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said means for processing said signal from said X-ray detector to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in the lubricant comprises a computer system and associated software programs.

Claim 46

A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising the step of collimating/focusing said X-rays emitted by an X-ray tube using a collimating/focusing assembly thereby delivering a high-intensity, relatively small spot incident X-ray on said X-ray transparent window formed in said sample chamber prior to said detecting step.

Claim 47

A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising prior to said detecting step collimating or focusing said X-rays emitted from the lubricant using a collimating/focusing assembly in said X-ray detector assembly such that a collimated/focused high intensity X-ray reaches said X-ray detector assembly.