Abstract: An apparatus for removing entrapped gas in a fluid is disclosed. The invention is particularly useful in separating air from oil used in engines and transmissions. The inlet for the oil and air, the exit for the air, and the oil exit are all located at the same end of the invention. This facilitates its use in a variety of engine and transmission configurations. Oil enters tangentially at the top of a cylindrical housing and is caused to cyclonically work its way down to the bottom of the housing. The oil is then forced to reverse its flow and travel upward with a downwardly projecting shroud. The oil is forced to enter an oil outlet tube which is connected to the top of the shroud and which passes through the top of the housing. An air outlet tube projects downwardly from the center of the top portion of the housing. The oil outlet tube is located concentrically within the air outlet tube.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system is provided to monitor the activity of a ferrous debris detector of the type which uses electric discharges to automatically disintegrate magnetically concentrated accumulations of micron sized wear particles in hydraulic systems. The data provided are used to detect instances of abnormal wear as shown by either an unusually large number of such discharges or an excessive rate of discharge. Where such abnormality occurs the monitor will provide an audiovisual alarm to warn of the problem in time to prevent catastrophic failure of the system.

Abstract: An optical fluid level monitor is disclosed. It comprises a plurality of prismatic sensors disposed in a linear array for measuring the levels of fluids, such as oil, in sumps of aircraft and helicopter engines and other closed containers. In use each of the sensors is sequentially pulsed by an integral light source. If the detector is above the fluid level it appears bright, if below it appears bright, if below it appears dark, this difference being caused by an integral light detector device. Counting circuits are provided to determine the number of bright sensors and electronically convert this into a fluid volume for display purposes. A presettable low volume alarm is also included as is a correction circuit to compensate for volume changes caused by heating of the fluid in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing entrapped gas and selectively removing and detecting particles above a predetermined size in an oil lubrication system is described. The oil enters tangentially at the top of an outer cylinder and is caused to cyclonically work its way down to the bottom of the cylinder. The oil is then forced to reverse its flow and travel up along an inner cylinder. The centrifugal force fields created by such flow cause entrapped gas to coalesce in the center of the flow pattern from which point it can be vented from the system. It also causes heavier particles, which are used by the apparatus to detect impending failure, to be thrown out of the flow pattern into a detection cavity positioned at the bottom of the outer cylinder at its periphery while lighter particles remain suspended in the fluid. A conventional magnetic sensor is contained within the cavity to capture the separated particles for subsequent removal from the system and signal their presence to the operator of the system.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system is provided to capture ferrous particles in a circulating fluid medium and provide analog and digital data which relate both to the mass of any significant individual particles captured and the total mass of such particles accumulated in a given time for subsequent retrieval. A periodic self checking capability is also included to determine if the system is functioning normally.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively detecting particles above a predetermined size in oil lubrication systems, is disclosed. The oil tangentially enters a cylindrical chamber, whereby rotary motion is imparted to it. A detection cavity is positioned in the outer cylinder at its periphery. Heavier particles which are used by the apparatus to detect failures are transported into the cavity by centrifugal force while lighter particles remain suspended in the oil. A sensor is contained within the cavity to detect the heavier failure particles. A filter is combined with the apparatus for removing the lighter wear particles which would otherwise remain suspended in the oil. In another embodiment a self closing valve enables the filter to be removed from the system without requiring the oil to be drained.

Abstract: A wear particle detector for use with hydraulic systems, capable of collecting wear particles formerly suspended in the hydraulic fluid and of discriminating between larger and smaller particles by indicating the former, but destroying the latter automatically without causing detection, whereby both device functions are connected to and energized by the same single electric power supply and indicating circuit.