Patent ID: 8365594

Claim:
A pumping system ( 10 ) comprising: a pump ( 12 ) having a bearing housing module ( 16 ) with an oil level or condition sensor ( 18 ), the oil level or condition sensor ( 18 ) configured with a housing ( 34 ) having a cavity ( 33 ) formed therein and a baffle or plate arrangement ( 30 ) positioned or arranged in the cavity ( 33 ) of the housing ( 34 ), the baffle or plate arrangement ( 30 ) configured with first and second baffles or plates ( 31 ) positioned or arranged in parallel and spaced apart to form a single capacitor or inductor when the housing ( 34 ) is filled with oil, the baffle or plate arrangement ( 30 ) configured to respond to a signal at different instances of time, and to provide an oil level or condition sensor signal containing information about a capacitance or inductance between the first and second baffles or plates ( 31 ); and a pump controller ( 14 ) having an oil level or condition module ( 22 ) configured to receive the oil level or condition sensor signal, determine an oil level or condition in the housing ( 34 ) based on a change in measurements of the capacitance or inductance between the first and second baffles or plates ( 31 ) at the different instances of time, and either controlling the operation of the pump ( 12 ) or issuing an audio or visual alarm or warning based at least part on a determination of either low or high oil levels or a contaminated oil condition.