Patent ID: 6553812
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An oil quality and viscosity sensing assembly for indicating oil condition, said sensing assembly comprising:a housing having a conduit therethrough defining a restricted oil flow path within said housing, said conduit having an entering threaded inlet and an exiting threaded outlet; a high pressure port, said high pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said entering threaded inlet; a low pressure port, said low pressure port being along said conduit and in proximity to said exiting threaded outlet; a capacitive dielectric sensor fitted within said housing and at a location between said high and low pressure ports along said conduit, said capacitive dielectric sensor having an outer metal member having a threaded outer surface portion which fits within a threaded bore of the housing, said sensor having a pair of spaced electrodes defining gap between said electrodes through which oil flows during its passage through said conduit; said capacitive dielectric sensor constituting the principal restriction in the flow path between said high pressure port and said low pressure port; pressure sensing arrangements coupled to said high pressure port and to said low pressure port; a connector shell portion connected to said metal member; and circuitry coupling said capacitive dielectric sensor and said pressure-sensing arrangements to a microprocessor coupled to a display, in order to provide an indication of oil quality.