Method and apparatus for the debris particulate characterization in lubricants

1. A method for measuring a particulate characteristic of a fluid, said method comprising:

applying an electrical signal at each of a plurality of frequencies in a frequency range to a fluid, wherein the frequency range includes a resonant frequency;

measuring an impedance quantity characteristic of the fluid at each of the plurality of frequencies at a time t 1 ;

measuring at each of the plurality of frequencies the impedance quantity characteristic of the fluid at a time t 2 ;

deducing a change in a particulate characteristic of the fluid from the measured impedance quantity between t 1 and t 2 ; and

correlating the change in the particulate characteristic of the fluid with a change in the fluid environment.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid is a liquid.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fluid is a lubricating fluid or hydraulic fluid.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particulate characteristic is selected from the group consisting of (a) the presence or absence of the particulate (b) the extent of the presence of the particulate (c) a change in the presence of the particulate and (d) the extent of a change in the presence of the particulate.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the particulate characteristic of the fluid is a physical indicator of the status of a static or dynamic system in which the fluid is present.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the particulate characteristic is the presence or absence of a particulate in the fluid.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particulate characteristic is the amount of a particulate in the fluid.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the particulate characteristic is the particle size distribution.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particulate characteristic is a change in the particle size distribution.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

measuring the impedance quantity at a number of discrete times over an extended temporal range.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

measuring the impedance quantity continuously so as to provide real time analysis of the fluid environment.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the initial steps of:

applying an electrical signal at one or more frequencies to a calibrant fluid;

measuring an impedance quantity at one or more frequencies of the calibrant fluid; and

correlating the measured impedance quantity with a particulate characteristic of the calibrant fluid, wherein the particulate characteristic of the calibrant fluid is known.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the calibrant fluid is a fluid containing a known particulate.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the calibrant fluid is a fluid containing a particulate at a known particulate concentration.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the calibrant fluid is a fluid containing a known particulate distribution.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical signal is applied to the fluid at a single frequency and the impedance quantity of the fluid is measured at that single frequency.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the single frequency is at or near to the resonant frequency.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the impedance quantity is a dissipation factor.

19. A method as claimed m claim 16 wherein the electrical signal is a time varying electrical signal.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range are sufficient in number to generate an impedance spectrum characteristic to the fluid.

21. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impedance quantity is a dissipation factor.

22. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical signal is a time varying electrical signal.

23. An apparatus for measuring a particulate characteristic of a fluid comprising:

electrical signal applying means adapted to apply an electrical signal at each of a plurality of frequencies in a frequency range to a fluid, wherein the frequency range includes a resonant frequency;

measuring means for measuring an impedance quantity characteristic of the fluid at the plurality of frequencies; and

means for deducing the particulate characteristic from the measured impedance quantity wherein the electrical signal applying means comprises a probe adapted to be inserted into a mechanical system so as to enable measurement of the impedance spectrum characteristic of a fluid within the mechanical system and further wherein the electrical signal applying means is adapted to apply a time varying electrical signal to the fluid at one or more frequencies in a frequency range.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 comprising at least two electrodes capable of being positioned in direct or indirect electrical contact with the fluid.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the measuring means comprises an impedance analyser.