Patent ID: 8072229
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: F02D,F02M,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fuel property sensor that senses a property of fuel at a fuel tank, which has a tank main body and a flange fixed to the tank main body to close an opening hole of the tank main body, the fuel property sensor comprising: a housing that defines a fuel flow passage and is installed to the flange, wherein the fuel flow passage of the housing communicates between an inside and an outside of the tank main body to conduct the fuel therethrough; first and second electrodes that are made of an electrically conductive material and are exposed in the fuel flow passage in the housing such that the first and second electrodes extend generally parallel to a flow direction of the fuel in the fuel flow passage and are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, wherein the fuel property sensor determines the property of the fuel based on a capacitance, which is generated between the first electrode and the second electrode; an electric circuit that is disposed in the housing, wherein the electric circuit is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and computes a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode based on a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first lead that is formed integrally with the first electrode in one piece and extends to the electric circuit; and a second lead that is formed integrally with the second electrode in one piece and extends to the electric circuit, wherein the first lead and the second lead are directly physically joined to the electric circuit to electrically connect the first and second electrodes to the electric circuit.