Combined oil level or condition sensor and sight oil level gage
First Claim
1. 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, the baffle or plate arrangement being configured with parallel baffles or plates arranged in a cavity of the housing and spaced apart to form a single capacitor or inductor when the housing is filled with oil;
providing at different instances of time a signal to the oil level or condition sensor, and receiving in a pump controller an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about a capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates of the single capacitor or inductor; and
determining in the pump controller the oil level or condition based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates of the single capacitor or inductor at the different instances of time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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arranging in a bearing housing of a pump an oil level or condition sensor having a housing with a baffle or plate arrangement therein, the baffle or plate arrangement being configured with parallel baffles or plates arranged in a cavity of the housing and spaced apart to form a single capacitor or inductor when the housing is filled with oil; providing at different instances of time a signal to the oil level or condition sensor, and receiving in a pump controller an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about a capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates of the single capacitor or inductor; and determining in the pump controller the oil level or condition based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates of the single capacitor or inductor at the different instances of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing signaling at different instances of time to an oil level or condition sensor that is configured with a housing having a baffle or plate arrangement, the baffle or plate arrangement being configured with parallel baffles or plates arranged in a cavity of the housing and spaced apart so as to form a single capacitor or inductor when the housing is filled with oil and that is also configured in a bearing housing of a pump; and receiving corresponding signaling from the parallel baffles or plates of the oil level or condition sensor containing information about a capacitance or inductance of the single capacitor or inductor; and determining the oil level or condition based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates of the single capacitor or inductor at the different instances of time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification