Sensor plug
DCFirst Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a gearbox having at least one rotating component; and
a sensor plug coupled to the gearbox to sense a plurality of operating conditions of the gearbox, said sensor plug comprising;
a plug body;
a probe end formed at one end of said plug body, said probe end mounted to the gearbox; and
a plurality of sensors located entirely within said plug body, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor sensing a first operating condition of the gearbox and a second sensor sensing a second operating condition of the gearbox, with the first operating condition being different from the second operating condition.
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Abstract
A sensor plug for use in sensing a plurality of operating conditions of a gearbox is disclosed. The sensor plug includes a body defining an axis. A probe end is formed at one end of the body and is particularly adapted for attaching to an oil drain plug of the gearbox. A plurality of sensors are located within the body for sensing operating conditions of the gearbox through the probe end. Examples of the sensors located within the body include a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.
159 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a gearbox having at least one rotating component; and
a sensor plug coupled to the gearbox to sense a plurality of operating conditions of the gearbox, said sensor plug comprising;
a plug body;
a probe end formed at one end of said plug body, said probe end mounted to the gearbox; and
a plurality of sensors located entirely within said plug body, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor sensing a first operating condition of the gearbox and a second sensor sensing a second operating condition of the gearbox, with the first operating condition being different from the second operating condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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31. A sensor plug for use in sensing a plurality of operating conditions of a device comprising:
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a plug body;
a probe end formed at one end of said plug body, said probe end being adapted for attaching to the device;
a well formed at another end opposite said probe end;
a vibration sensor disposed in said well;
a pressure port extending from said well and through said probe end;
a pressure sensor disposed within said well and communicating with said pressure port for sensing liquid pressure within the device;
a temperature port extending from said well to said probe end;
a temperature sensor disposed within said temperature port for sensing liquid temperature within the device; and
a shoulder formed between said probe end and said well, with said shoulder being adapted for axially supporting a housing for housing a processing unit such that said well will extend into the housing;
wherein said well is filled with a solid potting material to encapsulate said sensors. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system for sensing a plurality of operating conditions of a device comprising:
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a plug body constructed and arranged to mount to the device;
a plurality of sensors located entirely within said plug body, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor sensing a first operating condition of the device and a second sensor sensing a second operating condition of the device, with the first operating condition being different from the second operating condition;
a support formed on said plug body;
a housing mounted to said plug body and supported by said support; and
,a processing unit disposed within said housing and communicating with said plurality of sensors;
wherein one of said plurality of sensors is a pressure sensor capable of responding to changes in a sensed pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.
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43. A sensor plug for use in sensing a plurality of operating conditions of a device comprising:
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a plug body;
a probe end formed at one end of said plug body, said probe end being adapted for mounting to the device, a plurality of sensors located within said plug body, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor sensing a first operating condition of the device and a second sensor sensing a second operating condition of the device, with the first operating condition being different from the second operating condition; and
a well formed at another end of said plug body opposite said probe end, with at least one of said plurality of sensors being located within said well, wherein said well is filled with a solid potting material to encapsulate said sensors. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A sensor plug for use in sensing oil pressure in a device comprising:
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a plug body having a first end and a second end;
a probe end formed at said first end of said body;
a pressure sensor port extending substantially between said probe end and said second end of said body;
an incompressible fluid sealed within said pressure sensor port; and
,a pressure sensor responsive to pressure changes of said incompressible fluid relative to atmospheric pressure.
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Specification