OIL LEVEL/CONDITION SENSOR
First Claim
1. An oil sensor comprising:
- at least a first level sensing tube;
at least a common tube surrounding the level sensing tube; and
at least a second level sensing tube surrounding the common tube, the second level sensing tube being electrically connected to the first level sensing tube, the common tube being separated from the first and second level sensing tubes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An oil level/condition sensor includes a first level sensing tube, a common tube, and a second level sensing tube. The tubes are concentric to each other around a central axis. Moreover, the tubes are separated by plastic spacers which insulate the level sensing tubes from the common tube and maintain the concentricity of the tubes. Installed in the end of the first level sensing tube is a coupling/plug and disposed around the coupling/plug is a first condition sensing tube. The coupling/plug insulates the first level sensing tube from the first condition sensing tube and prevents fluid communication therebetween. A second condition sensing tube is attached to the second level sensing tube around the common tube and the first condition sensing tube. A ring-shaped insulator electrically isolates the second condition sensing tube from the second level sensing tube. The multiple tube configuration provides increased sensing surface area without increasing the length of the sensor or dramatically increasing the overall diameter of the sensor package. As such, the increased sensing surface area increases the signal strength and the accuracy of the sensor. Thus, the sensor is used in relatively shallow oil pans where the length of the sensor is constrained by the depth of the oil pan.
8 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An oil sensor comprising:
-
at least a first level sensing tube;
at least a common tube surrounding the level sensing tube; and
at least a second level sensing tube surrounding the common tube, the second level sensing tube being electrically connected to the first level sensing tube, the common tube being separated from the first and second level sensing tubes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A vehicle oil lubricating system, comprising:
-
at least one engine;
at least one oil pan;
at least one oil sensor disposed in the oil pan, the oil sensor including at least two level sensing tubes for sensing a level of oil in the oil pan and at least two condition sensing tubes for sensing a condition of oil in the oil pan. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification