Combined oil quality and viscosity sensing system
First Claim
1. An oil quality and viscosity sensing assembly for indicating oil condition, said sensing assembly comprising:
- a housing having a conduit therethrough defining a restricted oil flow path within said housing, said conduit having an entering threaded inlet and an exiting threaded outlet;
a high pressure port, said high pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said entering threaded inlet;
a low pressure port, said low pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said exiting threaded outlet;
a capacitive dielectric sensor fitted within said housing and at a location between said high and low pressure ports along said conduit, said capacitive dielectric sensor having an outer metal member having a threaded outer surface portion which fits within a threaded bore of the housing, said sensor having a pair of spaced electrodes defining gap between said electrodes through which oil flows during its passage through said conduit;
said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in the flow path between said high pressure port and said low pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangements coupled to said high pressure port and to said low pressure port;
a connector shell portion connected to said metal member; and
circuitry coupling said capacitive dielectric sensor and said pressure-sensing arrangements to a microprocessor coupled to a display, in order to provide an indication of oil quality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined oil quality and fuel contamination sensing system includes a capacitive dielectric sensor and pressure sensing arrangements for measuring the dielectric constant of the oil and the pressure of the oil, respectively, with the oil pressure being indicative of oil viscosity and contamination. The sensors take measurements as oil flows through an internal combustion engine and provide an indication of the cause of a problem with oil in an engine. The system may also include a microcomputer and circuitry for generating an indication of dielectric constant and circuitry for generating an indication of the presence of contaminants within the engine. The system may also include an additional sensor measuring the temperature of oil within the system to adjust oil dielectric constant and viscosity indications. The capacitive dielectric sensor constitute the principal restriction in the flow path between an input high pressure sensing port and an outlet low pressure port.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An oil quality and viscosity sensing assembly for indicating oil condition, said sensing assembly comprising:
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a housing having a conduit therethrough defining a restricted oil flow path within said housing, said conduit having an entering threaded inlet and an exiting threaded outlet;
a high pressure port, said high pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said entering threaded inlet;
a low pressure port, said low pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said exiting threaded outlet;
a capacitive dielectric sensor fitted within said housing and at a location between said high and low pressure ports along said conduit, said capacitive dielectric sensor having an outer metal member having a threaded outer surface portion which fits within a threaded bore of the housing, said sensor having a pair of spaced electrodes defining gap between said electrodes through which oil flows during its passage through said conduit;
said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in the flow path between said high pressure port and said low pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangements coupled to said high pressure port and to said low pressure port;
a connector shell portion connected to said metal member; and
circuitry coupling said capacitive dielectric sensor and said pressure-sensing arrangements to a microprocessor coupled to a display, in order to provide an indication of oil quality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17)
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8. A combined oil quality and viscosity sensing system including an oil pump for circulating lubricating oil to the engine, said system comprising:
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a housing having a conduit therethrough, defining a restricted oil flow path within said housing, said conduit having an entering threaded inlet and an exiting threaded outlet;
a capacitive sensor for determining the dielectric constant of oil, said capacitive sensor being fitted within said housing and along said conduit, between said entering threaded inlet and said exiting threaded outlet, said capacitive sensor being included in and forming part of said restricted flow path;
a high pressure port along said conduit between said entering threaded inlet and said sensor, said conduit receiving oil under pressure and for circulating the oil past said capacitive sensor;
a low pressure port along said conduit between said exiting threaded outlet and said sensor for receiving the oil following transmission through said restricted path from said high pressure port;
said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in the flow path between said high pressure port and said low pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangement coupled to said high pressure port and to said low pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangements;
said conduit applying oil from said high pressure port and from said low pressure port to said pressure sensing arrangements; and
circuitry coupled to said capacitive sensor and to said pressure sensing arrangements for indicating the oil quality and whether contamination is present in the oil. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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9. A combined oil quality and viscosity sensing assembly, including an oil pump for circulating lubricating oil, said assembly comprising:
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a housing having a conduit therethrough defining a restricted oil flow path within said housing, said conduit having an entering threaded inlet and an exiting threaded outlet;
a capacitive dielectric sensor located along said conduit and intervening between said entering threaded inlet and said exiting threaded outlet, said capacitive dielectric sensor comprised of an outer metal member having a threaded outer surface portion which fits within a threaded bore of the housing;
a low pressure port located between said sensor and said exiting outlet;
said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in the flow path between said entering inlet and said low pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangements coupled to said low pressure port; and
said conduits circulating oil past said capacitive dielectric sensor and said low pressure port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A combined oil quality and viscosity sensing system including an oil pump for circulating lubricating oil to the engine, said system comprising:
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a capacitive dielectric sensor for determining the dielectric constant of oil;
a high pressure port and conduit receiving oil under pressure and for circulating the oil past said capacitive sensor;
a low pressure port for receiving the oil following transmission through a restricted flow path from said high pressure port;
pressure sensing arrangements;
conduits for applying oil from said high pressure port and from said low pressure port to said pressure sensing arrangements;
said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in said restricted flow path; and
circuitry coupled to said capacitive sensor and to said pressure sensing arrangements for indicating the oil quality and whether contamination is present in the oil. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification