WO1982004121A1 - Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede - Google Patents

Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1982004121A1
WO1982004121A1 PCT/US1979/001105 US7901105W WO8204121A1 WO 1982004121 A1 WO1982004121 A1 WO 1982004121A1 US 7901105 W US7901105 W US 7901105W WO 8204121 A1 WO8204121 A1 WO 8204121A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
radiation
joint
gauge
nucleonic
axis
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1979/001105
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William P Evans
Jan C Kline
Original Assignee
William P Evans
Jan C Kline
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by William P Evans, Jan C Kline filed Critical William P Evans
Priority to PCT/US1979/001105 priority Critical patent/WO1982004121A1/fr
Publication of WO1982004121A1 publication Critical patent/WO1982004121A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
    • G01F23/288—X-rays; Gamma rays or other forms of ionising radiation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a radiation gauge for passing radiation through an assembled hinge joint and quantitatively assessing the amount of lubri ⁇ cating fluid therein.
  • U. S. Patent No. 3,007,048 to R. 20 A. napp, et al on October 31, 1961 discloses a system for measuring the fluid level in one or more upright cans by passing radiation generally transversely across the top of the can toward one or more detectors.
  • U. S. Patent No. 2,613,326 to G. Herzog on October 7, 1952 5 teaches passing radiation across a tube to determine the proportions of two substances passing therethrough.
  • U. S. Patent No. 2,843,755 to w. P. Staker, et al on July 15, 1958 shows a gauge having a U-shaped carrier for holding the radiation source and the detector on 0 the opposite sides of a hollow housing for determining whether lubricant is in it.
  • U. S. Patent No. 2,984,352 to S. Gil an on May 16, 1961 utilizes a nucleonic gauge device for determining cigarette density.
  • nucleonic gauge that will so match the construction of an assembled joint having an elongate lubricant reservoir that reliable and accurate quantitative readings of oil fill levels can be consistently obtained, and to develop a convenient, easily alignable, and effective method of using the gauge in the factory or in the field without disassembly of the joint.
  • a nucleonic gauge for determining the amount of lubricant in an assembled joint having an axis and an elongate lubricant reservoir disposed on the axis.
  • the nucleonic gauge includes a radiation source for emitting penetrating radiation at one end of the joint, cooperating with the lubricant reservoir, and providing a collimated beam pattern at the other end of the joint, and a detector device located in the path of the collimated beam pattern for measuring the transmitted radiation level and relating same to the amount of lubricant in the joint with quick and reliable accuracy.
  • a method of determining lubricant level in an assembled joint having an elongate lubricant reservoir on the axis thereof includes: arranging the axis of the joint in a horizontal plane; passing penetrating radiation from a source at one end of the joint and alignably with the reservoir to provide a substantially collimated beam pattern at the other end of the joint; and measuring the amount of radiation at a detector located at the other end of the joint in the path of the collimated beam pattern.
  • the sole figure is a diagrammatic elevational view of an assembled hinge joint, a nucleonic gauge, and associated electrical control showing one embodiment of the present invention with portions broken open and shown in section to better illustrate details of the construction thereof.
  • a nucleonic gauge 10 is illustrated in generally end-to-end embracing relationship to an assembled endless track chain hinge joint 12 such as can be used on a crawler tractor.
  • the hinge joint " is defined by a generally cylindrical pin 14, a tubular bushing 16 pivotally mounted on the pin, and first and second pairs of track links 18,20 connected respectively to the pin and bushing at the opposite ends thereof.
  • the pin has an axis 22 and an elongate cylindrical lubricant reservoir 23 defined primarily by a cylindrical bore 24 having a preselected diameter D, , as shown in the drawing.
  • one or more transverse passages 26 are defined in the pin for communicating fluid from the reservoir radially outwardly to the region between the pin and bushing.
  • the lubricant reservoir extends through the pin. concentrically along the axis from an open end or cylindrical opening 28 to a closed end 30, and a conical centering recess 32 is formed symmetrically in an end face 34 of the closed end.
  • An elastomeric or plastic stopper or plug 36 is disposed in the cylindrical opening 28 and a pair of annular seal assemblies identified generally by the reference numeral 38 are located between the first pair of links 18 and the opposite ends of the bushing 16 to contain lubricant within the joint.
  • the embodiment thereof illustrated is noted to be of the portable type for conveniently checking lubricant levels of the joints 12 out in the field. It basically includes a U-shaped carrier member or yoke 40 having a bight portion 42, an adjustable Vee block 43 on the bight portion, and first and second legs 44,46 for reiea.sably carrying radiation means 48 and detector means 50 respectively.
  • the radiation means 48 emits penetrating radiation at the left end of the joint when -yiewing the drawing
  • the detector means 50 responds to the radiation activity or attenuated intensity at the right end to establish a signal corre- sponding to the lubricant level within the joint.
  • the radiation means 48 includes a cylindrical holder assembly 52 for supporting a preselected radiation source 54 in proper cooperating relationship to the open end 28 of the pin 14, and more particularly to the elongate lubricant reservoir 23.
  • the holder assembly is releasably connected to the first leg 44 of the carrier member 40 by a split clamp device 56 having a plurality of threaded fasteners 58.
  • radiation source 54 prefer-ably includes a gamma emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of cesium 137, chromium 51, cobalt 60 and tin 113.
  • a gamma emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of cesium 137, chromium 51, cobalt 60 and tin 113.
  • e prefer utilizing a "soft" source or a gamma ray emitting source of low photon energy for greatest sensitivity to the oil.
  • americium 241 has several advan ⁇ tages as a radiation source.
  • Cesium 137 has the advantage of long life and ease of measurement and is preferred; the former substantially eliminates having to change the source because of decay.
  • the detector means 50 also includes a cylindri ⁇ cal holder -assembly 62 having a truncated conical nose portion or machine center 63 for supporting a preselected scintillating detector element 64 in proper cooperating relationship to the closed end 30 of the pin 14.
  • the holder assembly 62 is releasably connected to the second leg 46 of the carrier member 40 by a split clamp device 65 comparable to the opposite split clamp device
  • the detector element 64 is a cylindrical sodium iodide crystal having a diameter D-. at least as large or moderately greater than either of the diameters D, or D « of the reservoir 23 and the radiation source 54 respectively. Such crystal detector element fluoresces as a function of the level of radiation received from the collimated beam pattern 60.
  • the detector means 50 also includes a photomultiplier tube and a preamplifier identified in the drawing collectively by the reference numeral 66, and which elements are disposed within the holder assembly in juxtaposed relation to the detector for converting the detector light emissions to the desired useful electrical output signals via a data output signal lead 68.
  • Alternate detector means which are contemplated can include end window Geiger tubes which do not require photo multipliers and preamplifiers.
  • a pair of power leads 70,72 provide power respectively to the photomultiplier and preamplifier (or Geiger tube) from a control console or processor 74, and the output signal lead 68 directs the data readings to the processor. In the processor the data readings are further amplified, discrimated, and counted in a conventional manner to provide the desired measure of the radiation activity per unit of time.
  • -means 48 and detector means 50 can be easily adjusted for different track sizes to accommodate different lengths of pins 14 in the hinge joints 12. This can be accomplished by partial release of the split clamps 56 and 65 upon screwthreaded loosening of the fasteners 58, by manual movement of the cylindrical holder assem ⁇ blies 52 and 62 toward or away from one another, and by retightening of the split clamps upon screwthreaded tightening of the fasteners.
  • Adjustment of the Vee block 43 toward and away from the bight portion 42 of the carrier member 40 will allow accommodation of the gauge 10 to different diameters of the bushings 16 in order to assure alignment of the axis of radiation disc 54 and detector element 64 with the axis 22 of the hinge joint 12.
  • the conical nose portion 63 of the holder assembly 62 can be inserted in the recess 32 in the closed end of the pin 16 as an aid in quickly coaxially ' aligning the joint and gauge.
  • the nucleonic gauge 10 can be aligned with a "standard" reference joint 12 that does not have any lubricant in it, and a reading taken at the processor 74 after the emitted radiation from the radiation disc 54 has travelled through the plug 36, the empty reservoir 23, and the closed end 30 of the pin 14.
  • the nucleonic gauge can be subsequently aligned with another "standard” reference joint that is completely filled with lubricant and another reading taken at the processor. With one or both of these readings taken, the processor readings can be calibrated to coincide with any decay of the energy level of the radiation source 54 or to compensate for instrumentation variations.
  • the transmitted data signal in the output signal lead 68 from the nucleonic gauge 10 is substantially a straight line function of the quantitative amount of lubricating fluid or oil in. the joint 12, with a full joint being attenuated the most. It was found that a point source of radiation that is representative of prior art, as opposed to the preferred cylindrical disc 54 that we propose, did not provide a .straight line relationship because the beam pattern was conical. Such typical conical patterns result.in reading errors of the lubri ⁇ cating fluid level at the detector and are deemed to be unsatisfactory.
  • the nucleonic gauge 10 has been found to be reliable and accurate in non-destructive quantita ⁇ tive fluid level readings of a hinge joint having an elongate lubricant reservoir 23. This is due to a substantial degree in the relationship of the diameters
  • D, r D 2 and ,Og illustrated in the drawing A bore diameter D- about 17.5 m (0.688"), a disc source diameter D 2 of about 17.8 mm (0.70") and a detector diameter of D_ of about 25.4 mi (1.00") was found to be very effective. Accordingly, we have concluded that the disc source diameter D 9 should be at least as great as the elongate bore diameter D, and preferably moderately greater, e. g. about 1 to about 5% greater, to allow a preselected -minimal degree of misalignment between the gauge and the joint at the first end.
  • the detector source diameter D- should be at least as great as the diameters D, and D ⁇ and preferably moderately greater, e. g. preferably about 20 to about 50% greater, to again allow a preselected degree of misalignment between the gauge and the joint at the second end.
  • the nucleonic gauge 10 and its associated processor 74 can also be used to determine whether the hinge joint 12 has been satisfactorily manufactured. For example, should a broken drill bit be in the bore 24 or should the bore not be precisely manufactured to the proper axial length then the readings would deviate from the desired range at the processor and appropriate action could be taken.
  • the amount of radio- isotope used in the radiation source can be varied from a first level for achieving a reliable radiation count in 6-10 seconds to a lower level for also achieving a reliable radiation count in about a period of 1 minute; the former or first energy level is useful in an auto ⁇ matic assembly line arrangement wherein timing must be
  • the nucleonic gauge 10 is particularly effective in quantitatively determining the fluid level within an unopened joint 12 having an elongate reservoir 23, such as the joint of an endless track chain as hereinbefore described.
  • an elongate reservoir 23 such as the joint of an endless track chain as hereinbefore described.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)

Abstract

Jauge nucleonique (10) permettant de determiner de facon effective la quantite de fluide lubrifiant dans une articulation (12) possedant un reservoir allonge (23), sans demontage de l'articulation. La jauge comprend une source de radiations (54) du type a disque disposee a une extremite de l'articulation et emettant des radiations par rapport au reservoir et donnant un faisceau aligne (60), ainsi qu'un element de detection (64) place sur le trajet du faisceau a l'autre extremite de l'articulation et permettant de mesurer le niveau de la radiation.
PCT/US1979/001105 1979-12-17 1979-12-17 Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede WO1982004121A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1979/001105 WO1982004121A1 (fr) 1979-12-17 1979-12-17 Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
WOUS79/01105791217 1979-12-17
PCT/US1979/001105 WO1982004121A1 (fr) 1979-12-17 1979-12-17 Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1982004121A1 true WO1982004121A1 (fr) 1982-11-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1979/001105 WO1982004121A1 (fr) 1979-12-17 1979-12-17 Jauge nucleonique pour la determination du niveau de lubrifiant dans une articulation et procede

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO1982004121A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2978581A (en) * 1956-11-20 1961-04-04 Robertshaw Fulton Controls Co Radiant energy detection device
US3007048A (en) * 1958-04-23 1961-10-31 Industrial Nucleonics Corp Measuring and controlling system
US3185843A (en) * 1961-06-20 1965-05-25 Lab For Electronics Inc Collimator system for beta radiation thickness gauge sensor
US3818232A (en) * 1972-12-13 1974-06-18 Nuclearay Inc Container fill level inspector with product averaging system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2978581A (en) * 1956-11-20 1961-04-04 Robertshaw Fulton Controls Co Radiant energy detection device
US3007048A (en) * 1958-04-23 1961-10-31 Industrial Nucleonics Corp Measuring and controlling system
US3185843A (en) * 1961-06-20 1965-05-25 Lab For Electronics Inc Collimator system for beta radiation thickness gauge sensor
US3818232A (en) * 1972-12-13 1974-06-18 Nuclearay Inc Container fill level inspector with product averaging system

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