Device for detecting deterioration of oil

• US 20060042966A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Horie, Kazuyuki, Ban, Takao, Hariu, Tetsuo
• Application Number:
  US11/196,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/787.500
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/07 Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A device for detecting deterioration degree of oil is composed of an electrode unit in a cylindrical coil shape and a detector circuit connected to the electrode unit. The electrode unit is composed of a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate, both wound in a coil shape with an insulating layer disposed therebetween. The electrode unit is dipped in oil, and a potential difference between the electrode plates is measured by the detector circuit. The oil deterioration degree is detected based on the potential difference that varies according to a pH level of the oil. A distance between the first and the second electrode plates is kept small and precise to enhance accuracy in detecting oil deterioration without making the detector size large.

Claims

1. A device for detecting deterioration of oil, the device comprising:

a first electrode plate;

a second electrode plate disposed to face the first electrode plate and insulated from the first electrode plate, both electrode plates being wound in a cylindrical coil shape; and

a detector circuit for detecting an electric potential difference between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate when both electrode plates are dipped in oil.

2. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein:

an insulating layer is disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

3. The detecting device as in claim 2, wherein:

the insulating layer is wound in a cylindrical coil shape together with the first and the second electrode plates, forming an electrode unit.

4. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the insulating layer is formed in plural stripes that are discretely positioned between the first and the second electrode plates.

5. The detecting device as in claim 4, wherein:

the stripes of the insulating layer are positioned along a circumferential direction of the electrode unit.

6. The detecting device as in claim 4, wherein:

the stripes of the insulating layer are positioned along an axial direction of the electrode unit.

7. The detecting device as in claim 4, wherein:

the stripes of the insulating layer are positioned along both a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the electrode unit.

8. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the insulating layer is made of composite fibers through which the oil permeates.

9. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the insulating layer is made of a porous resin material through which the oil permeates.

10. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

a plurality of holes are formed in the insulating layer.

11. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein:

the insulating layer is made of resin which is molded together with either the first electrode plate or the second electrode plate.

12. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein:

through-holes are formed in the first and the second electrode plates, and the through-holes in the first electrode plate are positioned to substantially face the through-holes in the second electrode plate.

13. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein:

one axial end of the first and the second electrode plates wound in a cylindrical coil shape is connected to an electrode holder.

14. A method of manufacturing the detecting device defined in claim 3, the method comprising:

winding the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate in a cylindrical coil shape together with the insulating layer disposed between the first and the second electrode plates, thereby forming an electrode unit;

coupling a cap to one axial end of the electrode unit to thereby maintain a shape of the axial end; and

connecting an electrode holder having connecting terminals to the other axial end of the electrode unit.