Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Gas & Oil Related Invention - Garage Sale Find

Just wanted to share this interesting item that I found at a local garage sale. This is the original (and only one ever made) prototype/working salesman sample for Charles Lowe's "Grid Switch" metal particle detector. His invention has saved the industry more than the estimated "millions" stated in the news paper article, and is still the industry standard. This is the same unit that is pictured in the 1969 news paper article (you may note some modificatons made by Mr Lowe after the article, rubber hoses replaced with hard lines) The model is fully functional and portable, and was used for demonstration to potential consumers. At the time of the article, the product had already been placed into service by Sinclair, Gulf, & Humble. If this is as interesting to anyone else as it is to me, I can provide more information or photos on request.

Okay..........I'll bite. What does it do???

Its a metal particle detector. It has a "Grid Switch" that oil flows through. There is a positive and a negative side to the switch, with perforations that allow the oil to pass through. When macine bearings become damaged the metal shavings are captured on the switch. Those metal particles make a connection between the possitive and negative and automatically shuts the machine down before further damage occurs. Prior to this invention, the first sign of trouble was machine malfuction or failure form major damage, which would usually result in plant closure. Plant closure meant no productivity and unpaid "vacation" for employees. Thanks for your interest, I was starting to think I was the only one that found this interesting!

very interesting, Thanks