Sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid and a method of using the same
First Claim
1. A sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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a plurality of liquid sensors provided at various lengths along said member and each comprising at least two wires or wire rods for measuring liquid parameters of the fluid, said at least two wires or wire rods are adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said at least two wires or wire rods are immersed in and in contact with the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that in use current passes between said at least two wires or wire rods through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid; and
a plurality of vapor sensors in contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, at least one of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces through the vapor, wherein said plurality of liquid sensors and plurality of vapor sensors are positioned a distance from one another so that said plurality of vapor sensors do not contact a liquid of the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a compact apparatus and method that provides an efficient manner for monitoring the condition and level of a functional fluid directly in operating equipment. A sensor device is provided that includes a plurality of liquid sensors and a plurality of vapor sensors that when used in conjunction with one another at different temperatures, can provide a thorough evaluation of the oxidative degradation, liquid contamination and solid contamination of the fluid to detect the end of the useful life of the fluid. By providing liquid sensors and vapor sensors on the same device, the present invention allows for a compact, efficient, and economically feasible manner to monitor the condition of fluid as well as detecting abnormal operating conditions prior to further component damage and eventual equipment failure.
35 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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a member; a plurality of liquid sensors provided at various lengths along said member and each comprising at least two wires or wire rods for measuring liquid parameters of the fluid, said at least two wires or wire rods are adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said at least two wires or wire rods are immersed in and in contact with the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that in use current passes between said at least two wires or wire rods through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid; and a plurality of vapor sensors in contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, at least one of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces through the vapor, wherein said plurality of liquid sensors and plurality of vapor sensors are positioned a distance from one another so that said plurality of vapor sensors do not contact a liquid of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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a member; a plurality of liquid sensors for measuring liquid parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, said plurality of liquid sensors comprise at least one sensor array having conductive surfaces, said conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said conductive surfaces are immersed in and in contact with the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces of said at least one sensor array through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid; and a plurality of vapor sensors in contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, each of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising at least two wires or wire rods adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said at least two wires or wire rods through the vapor, wherein said plurality of liquid sensors and plurality of vapor sensors are positioned a distance from one another so that said plurality of vapor sensors do not contact a liquid of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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a member; a plurality of liquid sensors having conductive surfaces for measuring liquid parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, said conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said conductive surfaces are immersed in and in contact wit the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid; and a plurality of vapor sensors comprising at least one sensor array in direct contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, at least one of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces through the vapor, wherein said plurality of liquid sensors and plurality of vapor sensors are positioned a distance from one another so that said plurality of vapor sensors do not contact a liquid of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A sensor device for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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a member; a plurality of liquid sensors having conductive surfaces for measuring liquid parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, said conductive surfaces of each liquid sensor adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said conductive surfaces are immersed in and in contact with the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that current may pass between said conductive surfaces through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid; a plurality of vapor sensors in direct contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid coupled to said member, each of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising at least two conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said at least two conductive surfaces trough the vapor, wherein said plurality of liquid sensors and plurality of vapor sensors are positioned a distance from one another so that said plurality of vapor sensors do not contact a liquid of the fluid; and a display system.
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29. A method for monitoring the condition of a fluid comprising:
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providing a sensor device having a plurality of liquid sensors and a plurality of vapor sensors on a member, each of said plurality of liquid sensors have conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by the fluid when said conductive surfaces are immersed in and in contact with the fluid to complete an electrical circuit such that current may pass between said conductive surfaces of each liquid sensor through the fluid in order to monitor the condition of the fluid, said plurality of vapor sensors are in direct contact with vapors of the fluid for measuring vapor parameters of the fluid, each of said plurality of vapor sensors comprising at least two conductive surfaces adapted to be electrically connected to one another by vapor of the fluid such that in use current passes between said conductive surfaces through the vapor placing a portion of said member in the fluid such that said plurality of liquid sensors are immersed in and in contact with said fluid to make the electrical connection therebetween, and wherein said plurality of vapor sensors are in direct contact with the vapors of the fluid but do not come in contact with a liquid of the fluid; measuring at least one parameter of said fluid by detecting current passing between said conductive surfaces of each liquid sensor through the fluid; and determining a condition of said fluid selected from the group consisting of fluid level, viscosity, temperature, electrical conductivity, electrochemical activity, water contamination, wear metals, soot buildup, coolant contamination, capacitance, dielectric constant, and combinations thereof by analyzing measurements of said fluid using an algorithm based on said measurements of said plurality of liquid sensors and said plurality of vapor sensors. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification