Patent ID: 6098575
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
In a replaceable coolant filter assembly including a housing having an annular side wall, an end cap, and an end plate, a cylindrical filter element having an annular filter media closed at one end and having a hollow core opened at the other end, the filter element being disposed within said housing in annular spaced relation to said side wall to define an annular space, the end plate having an outlet opening coaxial with the hollow core and inlet openings disposed in spaced relation around the outlet opening and in communication with the annular space before passing radially through the filter media to the hollow core and thereafter out of the outlet opening, thereby defining a fluid path through said filter, the improvement comprising a coolant additive sensor having terminal portion and a sensing portion, wherein the sensing portion is diposed completely within said housing in contact with said fluid path, wherein the sensing portion forms the connection and is electrically connected to the housing for the housing to ground the coolant additive sensor, an electrical circuit connecting said coolant additive sensor to an alarm device, said electrical circuit being responsive to said coolant additive sensor to actuate said alarm device upon said coolant additive sensor indicating depletion of coolant additive from a predetermined amount.