Oil quality sensor for use in a motor
First Claim
1. A method of detecting contamination of a non-polar or weakly polar fluid by a more polar fluid in a heterogeneous state, comprising the steps of:
- circulating the non-polar or weakly polar fluid to contact a support holding charged anion and cation groups bonded to the support; and
measuring temporary fluctuations in an electrical characteristic of the support caused by presence of the more polar fluid contaminant which is in a heterogeneous state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for determining deterioration of e.g. lubricating oil by measuring the electrical properties of a polymeric matrix (support) holding charged ionic groups. The dynamic range of the device is increased by creating a local polar environment formed around the charged groups of the polymeric matrix and by exploiting bead shrinkage with increasing degradation (or solvent polarity). Both approaches can be further employed in a single sensor by the use of multiple chambers containing a combination of the above. Also, contaminant detection is improved by detecting changes in amplitude and/or frequency of noise output. The sensor can also be used to detect a level of oil for instance in an engine oil pan.
106 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of detecting contamination of a non-polar or weakly polar fluid by a more polar fluid in a heterogeneous state, comprising the steps of:
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circulating the non-polar or weakly polar fluid to contact a support holding charged anion and cation groups bonded to the support; and measuring temporary fluctuations in an electrical characteristic of the support caused by presence of the more polar fluid contaminant which is in a heterogeneous state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sensor for detecting contamination by a more polar fluid present in a heterogeneous state in a non-polar or weakly polar fluid, comprising:
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a housing defining at least one opening for admitting fluid into the housing; a support having anion and cation charged groups and being in the housing; means electrically connected to the support for measuring temporary fluctuations in an electrical characteristic of the support caused by the presence of the more polar fluid in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fluid sensor comprising:
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a housing defining a first chamber and second chamber, a mesh separating the first chamber from the second chamber, the housing defining at least one opening for admitting fluid into the housing; a quantity of resin beads holding charged anion and cation groups being in the first chamber, wherein at least some of the resin beads when in contact with a non-polar or weakly polar fluid are of a size not to pass through the mesh, and when in contact with a more polar fluid contract in size so as to pass through the mesh; and at least a first electrode located in one of the first and second chambers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring an electrical characteristic of a fluid, comprising the steps of:
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providing a quantity of resin beads; fixing charged anion and cation groups to the beads; exposing the beads with the fixed charged groups to contact a non-polar or weakly polar fluid; then, exposing the beads to a more polar fluid, thereby reducing a size of at least some of the beads; passing the beads with reduced size through a mesh; and measuring an electrical characteristic of the beads before or after the step of passing the beads through the mesh.
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Specification