Oil deterioration sensor
US5540086A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R13/5045
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An oil deterioration sensor includes a housing, a substrate with a first capacitive plate mounted within the housing, a second capacitive plate mounted to the housing close to the first capacitive plate, and a total reference capacitor which includes an external fixed reference capacitor. The second capacitive plate is mounted to the housing such that oil freely circulates within a gap between the first and second capacitive plates thereby defining an oil deterioration sensor capacitor. The respective capacitances of the oil deterioration capacitor and the total reference capacitor provide an engine oil deterioration indication for the oil within the gap. The first capacitive plate is divided into a major sensing area, and a minor sensing area covering a relatively small portion of the total area of the first capacitive plate. The major sensing area and the second capacitive plate form the oil deterioration sensor capacitor. The total reference capacitor further includes an oil deterioration reference capacitor defined by the minor reference area and the second capacitive plate. The oil deterioration sensor further includes a temperature sensitive resistive element thermally connec…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.