Patent ID: 9335272
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of testing for wear on mechanical hardware, the method including the steps of: a) accessing mechanical hardware in the form of either a helicopter drive shaft or a helicopter gear while substantially in an in-use or operative position, the mechanical hardware having an inner portion including an iron containing component and an outer portion containing silver and substantially free of the iron containing component of the inner portion; b) applying metal oxidant to the mechanical hardware while substantially remaining in the in-use or operative position, the metal oxidant including an ionic copper salt complex, and the metal oxidant being applied in at least regions wherein the inner portion is exposed through the outer portion to oxidize the iron containing component of the inner portion and deposit on the mechanical hardware without oxidizing the outer portion, and wherein the metal oxidant is non-flowing so as to substantially retain shape when applied to non-horizontal surfaces of the mechanical hardware including inclined surfaces, upright surfaces and downwardly facing surfaces so the metal oxidant is capable of being prevented from contacting other hardware not being tested; and c) detecting wear of the outer portion based on detecting deposits of the metal oxidant on the inner portion.