Patent ID: 7040161

Claim:
A sensor assembly for detecting a temperature and low liquid level condition of a cleaning liquid in combination with a parts washer, comprising: the parts washer including a reservoir for the cleaning fluid, a receptacle disposed above the reservoir, a drain opening defined in a part of the receptacle for fluid communication between the receptacle and the reservoir and a module; a heating element extending from the module and substantially immersed in the cleaning fluid; a thermowell immersed in the cleaning liquid; a thermocouple disposed with the thermowell and operatively coupled to a temperature controller of the module; and a bridge connected at a first-end to the thermowell and at a second end to the heating element such that the thermocouple detects the temperature of the cleaning fluid in an operating condition and the bridge conducts heat directly from the heating element to the thermowell and the thermocouple disposed therein when the cleaning liquid is in a low liquid level condition.