Patent ID: 7086280

Claim:
An aeration sensing device for detecting aeration in a fluid comprising: a non-conductive sensor body having opposed first and second ends; a conductive first ring positioned within said sensor body, said first ring including a first wall; a conductive second ring positioned within said sensor body and extending concentrically around said first ring, said second ring including a second wall adjacent to and spaced from said first wall to form a first gap, said first and second walls being plates of a first capacitor; and a fluid flow path formed in said sensor body between said first and second ends and including through said first gap, whereby when a fluid is introduced to said fluid flow path, the fluid flows through said first gap to said second end and serves as a dielectric material defining a capacitance value for said first capacitor, and further including a conductive segment positioned within said sensor body radially outwardly from said second ring and including a third wall adjacent to and spaced from said second wall to form a second gap in fluid communication with said fluid flow path, said second gap being in the form of a dead-end cavity, said second and third walls being plates of a second capacitor whereby when aerated fluid is flowing in said fluid flow path, a portion of the aerated fluid flows into said second gap and becomes de-aerated serving as a dielectric material establishing a contrasting baseline dielectric constant for said fluid and defining a capacitance value for said second capacitor.