Metal particle sensor system

1. A metal particle sensor system for detecting metal particles in an oil line, comprising:

a metal particle sensor positioned about the line;

an orifice positioned within the line and downstream of the metal particle sensor, the orifice providing a backfill in the line about the metal particle sensor;

a first pressure sensor positioned upstream of the orifice; and

a second pressure sensor positioned downstream of the orifice.

2. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the metal particle sensor detects metal particles in the line while the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor determine a pressure drop across the orifice.

3. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the metal particle sensor comprises a ferrous metal particle sensor.

4. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the metal particle sensor comprises a non-ferrous metal particle sensor.

5. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor so as to determine the flow rate in the line based upon the pressure drop across the orifice.

6. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a second orifice positioned downstream of the second pressure sensor.

7. The metal particle sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the second orifice provides a backfill in the line about the second pressure sensor.

8. The metal particle sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a gooseneck positioned downstream of the second pressure sensor.

9. The metal particle sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the gooseneck provides a backfill in the line about the second pressure sensor.

10. A method for determining the extent of metal particles in an oil line, comprising:

positioning a first orifice in the line;

measuring a pressure drop across the orifice;

determining the flow rate in the line based upon the pressure drop; and

detecting the presence of metal particles in the line based upon the flow rate therethrough.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of backfilling the line about a metal particle sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of positioning a second orifice downstream of the first orifice.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of positioning a gooseneck downstream of the first orifice.

14. A metal particle sensor system for detecting metal particles in an oil line, comprising:

a metal particle sensor positioned about the line to detect the metal particles;

a first orifice positioned within the line and downstream of the metal particle sensor;

a first pressure sensor positioned upstream of the first orifice;

a second pressure sensor positioned downstream of the first orifice so as to determine a pressure drop across the first orifice; and

a second orifice positioned downstream of the second pressure sensor.

15. The metal particle sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the first orifice provides a backfill in the line about the metal particle sensor.

16. The metal particle sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the metal particle sensor comprises a ferrous metal particle sensor.

17. The metal particle sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the metal particle sensor comprises a non-ferrous metal particle sensor.

18. The metal particle sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the second orifice provides a backfill in the line about the second pressure sensor.

19. The metal particle sensor system of claim 14 , further comprising a microprocessor so as to determine the flow rate in the line based upon the pressure drop across the orifice.