Method and apparatus for determining electrical contact wear

1. A method for determining erosion of a contact assembly, the method comprising:

providing a fluorescent trace material within the contact assembly;

allowing the contact assembly to be eroded until at least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is released into a surrounding medium;

circulating the surrounding medium through a particulate concentration device;

directing electromagnetic radiation onto the fluorescent trace material in the particulate concentration device; and

detecting the fluorescent radiation emitted in response to the electromagnetic radiation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the particulate concentration device comprises a transparent or translucent observation wall; and

the electromagnetic radiation is directed through the observation wall to the fluorescent trace material.

3. A method for determining the level of a fluorescent trace material present in a medium surrounding an electrical contact assembly, comprising the steps of:

circulating the surrounding medium through a particulate concentration device containing a collection surface;

directing electromagnetic radiation to the particulate concentration device; and

detecting the fluorescent radiation generated by the fluorescent trace material collected by the particulate concentration device in response to the electromagnetic radiation.

4. A method for determining erosion of a contact assembly, the method comprising:

providing a fluorescent trace material within the contact assembly;

allowing the contact assembly to be eroded until at least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is released into a surrounding medium;

directing electromagnetic radiation onto the fluorescent trace material in a the particulate concentration device; and

detecting the fluorescent radiation emitted in response to the electromagnetic radiation.