Magnetic Debris and Particle Detector
A system, method and apparatus for determining wear on a component of a tool is disclosed. An oscillating member receives a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component. A measuring device measures a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle. A processor determines the wear on the component from the change in the parameter. In one embodiment, the component may include a component of a downhole tool.
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1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to determining a wear on a component and, in particular, to determining wear from an effect on an oscillating member due to particles worn from the component and accumulated at the oscillating member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many oil-filled systems include moving parts that experience wear. Over the course of time, particles are worn away from a surface of the moving parts and are carried away via a fluid surrounding the moving part. While the particles may clutter the system if left in the fluid, the amount of particles is related to the amount of wear that has been experienced by the moving part. Thus, determining accumulating the particles and determine their amount may be useful in determining a wear of the system. Understanding the wear of the system enables having a suitable maintenance schedule.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of a determining wear on a component, the method including: receiving a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component onto an oscillating member; measuring a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle; and determining the wear on the component from the measured change in the parameter.
In another aspect the present disclosure provides an apparatus for determining wear on a component, the apparatus including: an oscillating member configured to receive a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component; a measuring device configured to measure a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle; and a processor configured to determine the wear on the component from the change in the parameter.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a drilling system that includes: a component of a drill string; an oscillating member in the fluid passage configured to receive a particle freed from the component as a result of wear on the component; a measuring device configured to measure a change in a parameter of the oscillating member indicative of a change in mass resulting from receiving the particle at the oscillating member; and a processor configured to determine the wear on the component from the change in the parameter.
Examples of certain features of the apparatus and method disclosed herein are summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood. There are, of course, additional features of the apparatus and method disclosed hereinafter that will form the subject of the claims.
For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, references should be made to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals and wherein:
A control unit 220 may be coupled to the wear measurement device 210. The exemplary control unit 220 may include a processor 222, a memory location 224 for storing various data such as measurements and calculations performed by the processor 222, and a set of programs 226 including instructions that may be used by the processor to determine a wear on the component 204. The control unit may be further configured to actuate the wear measurement device 210 by directing a current through a coil 212 proximate the wear measurement device 210. In addition, the control unit 220 may operate the coil 212 in one of an actuation mode and a pickup mode. An electrical measurement device 214 may also be coupled to the coil 212 to measure various electrical parameters such as current, voltage, etc. in a pickup mode of the coil. The various electrical parameters may be used to determine wear on the component using the processor 222 and the various programs 226. Additionally, the wear measurement device 210 may further include an electromagnet 216 that may be turned on and/or off in order to provide a magnetic field that disengages the particles from the wear measurement device 210, thereby preparing a clean wear measurement device once a parameter of the wear measurement device 210 has been determined.
When exposed to the induced magnetic field 404 of the coils 402a and 402b operating in the excitation mode, the magnetic fields 312 and 314 rotate to align with the induced magnetic field 404. Therefore, for the configuration shown in
When operated in the pickup mode, the one or more coils 402a and 402b may be used to measure a parameter of the oscillation of the tines 308 and 310, such as a frequency, amplitude, phase and/or damping of the oscillations. The oscillation of the first magnetic field 312 and the second magnetic field 314 induce a current in the one or more coils 402a and 402b. An electrical measuring device (214,
Referring back to
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the wear measurement device 210 may be removed from the housing 202 to remove the particles accumulated at the magnets from the fluid. Therefore, the wear measurement device 210 also may be used to keep the fluid 206 clean from wear particles and magnetic debris.
While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.
Claims
1. A method of a determining wear on a component, comprising:
- receiving a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component onto an oscillating member;
- measuring a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle; and
- determining the wear on the component from the measured change in the parameter.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a plurality of particles over a selected time interval; and measuring the change in the parameter over the selected time interval to determine a rate of wear on the component.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is at least one of: (i) a frequency of oscillation of the oscillating member; (ii) an amplitude of oscillation of the oscillating member; (iii) a phase of the oscillation; and (iv) an oscillation damping.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the oscillating member performs at least one of: (i) a torsional oscillation; and (ii) a lateral oscillation.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the particle on a tuning fork comprising a first tine having a constrained end coupled to a base and a first free end opposed to the constrained end, the first free end having a magnetic field; and a second tine having a constrained end coupled to the base and a second free end opposed to the constrained end, the second free end having a magnetic field.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the oscillating member is disposed in a fluid transporting the particle freed from the component
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising observing the change in the parameter via observing a current induced in a coil by the oscillating member.
8. An apparatus for determining wear of a component, comprising:
- an oscillating member configured to receive a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component;
- a measuring device configured to measure a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle; and
- a processor configured to determine the wear of the component from the change in the parameter.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the oscillating member is further configured to receive a plurality of particles over a selected time interval; and wherein the processor is further configured to measure the change in the parameter over the selected time interval to determine a rate of wear of the component.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the parameter is at least one of: (i) a frequency of oscillation of the oscillating member; (ii) an amplitude of oscillation of the oscillating member;
- (iii) a phase of the oscillation; and (iv) an oscillation damping.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the oscillation is at least one of: (i) a torsional oscillation; and (ii) a lateral oscillation.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the oscillating member further comprises a tuning fork including:
- a base,
- a first tine having a constrained end coupled to the base and a first free end opposed to the constrained end, the first free end having a permanent magnet providing a magnetic field, and
- a second tine having a constrained end coupled to the base and a second free end opposed to the constrained end, the second free end having a permanent magnet providing a magnetic field;
- wherein the particle is received at one of the first free end and the second free end.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the magnetic field of the first tine and the magnetic field of the second tine are perpendicular to a magnetic field produced by a coil to actuate an oscillation of the first and second tines.
14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wear measurement device further includes an electromagnet configured to disengage particles accumulated at the oscillating member.
15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the measuring device is further configured to measure a voltage induced in a coil by the oscillating member to determine the parameter of the oscillating member.
16. A downhole tool, comprising:
- a component susceptible to wear during operation of the tool downhole;
- an oscillating member in a fluid passage configured to receive a particle freed from the component as a result of wear on the component;
- a measuring device configured to measure a change in a parameter of the oscillating member indicative of a change in mass resulting from receiving the particle at the oscillating member; and
- a processor configured to determine the wear of the component from the change in the parameter.
17. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein the oscillating member is further configured to receive a plurality of particles over a selected time interval; and the processor is further configured to measure the change in the parameter over the selected time interval to determine a rate of wear of the component from the change in the parameter over the selected time interval.
18. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein the parameter is at least one of: (i) a frequency of oscillation of the oscillating member; (ii) an amplitude of oscillation of the oscillating member; (iii) a phase of the oscillation; and (iv) an oscillation damping.
19. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein the oscillating member further comprises a tuning fork including:
- a base;
- a first tine having a constrained end coupled to the base and a first free end opposed to the constrained end, the first free end having a magnetic field; and
- a second tine having a constrained end coupled to the stem and a second free end opposed to the constrained end, the second free end having a magnetic field;
- wherein the particle is received at one of the first free end and the second free end.
20. The downhole tool of claim 19 further comprising a coil configured to induce a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of the first and second magnetic fields; and generate a current in response to oscillation of the first and second magnetic fields.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 2, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 2, 2014
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventor: Thomas Kruspe (Wietzendorf)
Application Number: 13/855,406
International Classification: E21B 12/02 (20060101);