COMBINED OIL LEVEL OR CONDITION SENSOR AND SIGHT OIL LEVEL GAGE
First Claim
1. An oil level or condition sensor comprising:
- a housing; and
a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement 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, the baffle or plate arrangement configured to respond to a signal at different instances of time, and to provide 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 that can be used to determine the oil level or condition in the housing based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates at the different instances of time.
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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.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An oil level or condition sensor comprising:
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a housing; and a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement 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, the baffle or plate arrangement configured to respond to a signal at different instances of time, and to provide 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 that can be used to determine the oil level or condition in the housing based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates at the different instances of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pump having an oil level or condition sensor, wherein the oil sensor comprises:
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a housing; and a baffle or plate arrangement arranged in the housing, the baffle or plate arrangement 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, the baffle or plate arrangement configured to respond to a signal different instances of time, and to provide 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 that can be used to determine the oil level or condition in the housing based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance of the parallel baffles or plates at the different instances of time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-35. -35. (canceled)
Specification