Abstract: A system for preparing samples of wear particles employs a series of movable particle traps or screens within a passage to separate particles by size and magnetic characteristics. Movable magnets are placed adjacent to an inlet tube upstream from the particle traps to separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles. One embodiment includes a coarse particle trap and a medium particle trap. A controller initially positions the magnets adjacent to the tube and positions both particle traps to block the passage so that only fine non-magnetic wear particles are collected in the first sample. The medium non-magnetic wear particles are then rinsed from the medium particle trap to provide a second sample. Next, the coarse non-magnetic wear particles are rinsed from the coarse particle trap to provide the third sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the temperatures of cargo in a container, wherein cooling air is circulated over and beneath the cargo, then between the cargo and the door(s) of the container, for subsequent passage towards the front of the container over the top of the cargo, wherein the cooling air at the rear of the container is separated into two streams by an air separator board having a first limb which is located over the top of the cargo, and a second limb extending approximately at right angles to the first limb so that the internal stream at the rear of the container is separated from the external stream which is subjected to warming from ambient air around the container. The invention also extends to an air separator board per se, which is L-shaped, and preferably made of wood and has ribs on its internal and external faces.

Abstract: An apparatus extracts standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used oil filters by rotating each oil filter while spraying a solvent fluid into the opening at the base of the oil filter. The apparatus includes a housing to hold the filter having a movable cover and a base that contacts the filter base and allows rotation of said filter. A crawler assembly within the housing cover initially translates along the axis of rotation toward the housing base until the filter is held between the crawler and the housing base. A motor associated with the crawler assembly (or the housing base) then rotates the filter. A shaft extending through the housing base into the filter opening carries a nozzle that directs a spray of fluid into the filter during rotation to rinse wear particles from the filter for subsequent analysis. A predetermined quantity of fluid is sprayed into each filter to produce a standardized sample.