Combined oil level or condition sensor and sight oil level gage

• US 20080066543A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sabini, Eugene P., Henyan, Oakley, Napolitano, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304C
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/02 by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid

Abstract

The invention provides an oil level or condition sensor featuring a housing and a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, where the baffle or plate arrangement forms a capacitor when the housing is filled with oil, the baffle or plate arrangement being responsive to a signal, for providing an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about the level or condition of the oil in the housing. The baffle or plate arrangement may include one or more plates or a single or multiple star shaped baffles. The one or more plates or multiple star shaped baffles are spaced apart to form the capacitor. The level or condition of the oil within the baffle or plate arrangement changes the inductance. The single or multiple star shaped baffles each have a small hole in the center which provides a visual indication of the oil level. The housing has a transparent window. The inductance change can be measured and used to send alarms or warnings.

Claims

1. An oil level or condition sensor comprising:

a housing; and

a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement forming a capacitor when the housing is filled with oil, the baffle or plate arrangement responsive to a signal, for providing an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about the oil level or condition in the housing.

2. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 1, wherein the baffle or plate arrangement includes one or more plates or a single or multiple star shaped baffles.

3. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 2, wherein the multiple plates or multiple star shaped baffles are spaced apart to form the capacitor.

4. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 2, wherein the one or more plates or single or multiple star shaped baffles are substantially geometrically the same so that the inductance is substantially constant when used with lubricating oils.

5. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 1, wherein the level or condition of the oil within the baffle or plate arrangement changes the inductance.

6. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 2, wherein the single or multiple star shaped baffles each have a small hole in the center which provides a visual indication of the oil level.

7. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 6, wherein the housing has a transparent window.

8. An oil level or condition sensor according to claim 1, wherein the inductance change can be measured and used to send alarms or warnings.

9. A pump having an oil level or condition sensor, wherein the oil sensor comprises:

a housing; and

a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement forming a capacitor when the housing is filled with oil, the baffle or plate arrangement responsive to a signal, for providing an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about the oil level or condition in the housing.

10. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the baffle or plate arrangement includes one or more plates or a single or multiple star shaped baffles.

11. A pump according to claim 10, wherein the multiple plates or single or multiple star shaped baffles are substantially geometrically the same so that the inductance is substantially constant when used with lubricating oils.

12. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the one or more plates or multiple star shaped baffles are spaced apart to form the capacitor.

13. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the level or condition of the oil within the baffle or plate arrangement changes the inductance.

14. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the single or multiple star shaped baffles each have a small hole in the center which provides a visual indication of the oil level.

15. A pump according to claim 14, wherein the housing has a transparent window.

16. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the inductance change can be measured and used to send alarms or warnings.

17. A pump according to claim 9, wherein the pump has a bearing housing having the oil level or condition sensor arranged therein.

18. A pump system comprising:

an oil level or condition sensor having a housing, and a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement forming a capacitor when the housing is filled with oil, the baffle or plate arrangement responsive to a signal, for providing an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about the oil level or condition in the housing; and

a pump controller, responsive the oil level or condition sensor signal, for either controlling the operation of the pump, for providing either an audio or visual warning, or some combination thereof.

19. A pump system according to claim 18, wherein the baffle or plate arrangement includes one or more plates or a single or multiple star shaped baffles.

20. A pump system according to claim 19, wherein the multiple plates or multiple star shaped baffles are spaced apart to form the capacitor.

21. A pump system according to claim 19, wherein the one or more plates or single or multiple star shaped baffles are substantially geometrically the same so that the inductance is substantially constant when used with lubricating oils.

22. A pump system according to claim 18, wherein the level or condition of the oil within the baffle or plate arrangement changes the inductance.

23. A pump system according to claim 19, wherein the single or multiple star shaped baffles each have a small hole in the center which provides a visual indication of the oil level.

24. A pump system according to claim 23, wherein the housing has a transparent window.

25. A pump system according to claim 18, wherein the inductance change can be measured and used to send alarms or warnings.

35. A pump system according to claim 18, wherein the pump controller has an oil level or condition sensor module for determining the level or condition of the oil or both based on the change of capacitance or inductance within the baffle or plate arrangement.

26. A method comprising:

arranging in a bearing housing of a pump an oil level or condition sensor having a housing with a baffle or plate arrangement therein;

forming a capacitor or inductor when the housing is filled with oil;

providing a signal to the baffle or plate arrangement; and

receiving an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about the oil level or condition in the housing.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the baffle or plate arrangement includes one or more plates or a single or multiple star shaped baffles.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the one or more plates or multiple star shaped baffles are spaced apart to form the capacitor.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the one or more plates or single or multiple star shaped baffles are substantially geometrically the same so that the inductance is substantially constant when used with lubricating oils.

30. A method according to claim 26, wherein the level or condition of the oil within the baffle or plate arrangement changes the inductance.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein the single or multiple star shaped baffles each have a small hole in the center which provides a visual indication of the oil level.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the housing has a transparent window.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein the inductance change can be measured and used to send alarms or warnings.

34. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises:

responding to the oil level or condition sensor signal; and

either controlling the operation of the pump, or providing either an audio or visual warning, or some combination thereof.