US20160363552A1 - Electrically Conductive Fluid Detector - Google Patents
Electrically Conductive Fluid Detector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20160363552A1 US20160363552A1 US15/245,978 US201615245978A US2016363552A1 US 20160363552 A1 US20160363552 A1 US 20160363552A1 US 201615245978 A US201615245978 A US 201615245978A US 2016363552 A1 US2016363552 A1 US 2016363552A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sensor
- electrically conductive
- pin
- power source
- signal device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance
- G01N27/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance
- G01N27/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance of a liquid
- G01N27/07—Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance
- G01N27/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance
- G01N27/041—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance of a solid body
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance
- G01N27/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance
- G01N27/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating impedance by investigating resistance of a liquid
Definitions
- This invention is directed to a sensor that detects the presence of an electrically conductive fluid such as water and the like in a reservoir.
- the reservoir may normally contain a non-conductive fluid such as oil or fuel.
- the presence of water in the reservoir such as a crank case of an engine, an oil pan, a pump crankcase or in any device having splash or oil fed lubrication would normally indicate a problem with some component of the apparatus associated with the reservoir.
- the sensor can provide a visual or audible indication that there is a problem with the operation of the apparatus.
- U.S. Pat. No. 2,420,177 discloses a sensor including two contacts that are positioned at the lower portion of an oil pan. The sensor is part of an oil plug P. According to the disclosure, metallic particles that are created as a result of the failure of a part of the engine or machine will accumulate in the plug and eventually will bridge the gap between contacts 16 to cause the flow of electricity which will activate signals.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,885 discloses a sensor 10 mounted in the oil pan of an internal combustion engine that includes an inner electrode 42 and an outer electrode 44 which is formed with a flexible helical coil. The probe is connected to an external battery 26 and warning light 22.
- Both devices include several parts which may fail or become contaminated in such a way that would render them inoperative. Both also rely upon an external source of power.
- the invention disclosed and claimed herein includes a simple, easy to manufacture sensor that detects the present of an electrically conductive liquid or other material in a reservoir such as an oil pan or crank case. It may also be used in fuel filters for jet fuel to detect the presence of water in the fuel.
- the sensor includes an elongated relatively cylindrical hollow housing that at one end supports an indicator or signal such as a light emitting diode (LED). Also, a battery is located within the housing and serves as the power source for the LED.
- the other end of the housing includes a pin member that is electrically isolated from the outer housing by being located within a central bore in the other end of the housing such that a gap exists between the outer housing and the pin.
- any water that accumulates at the bottom of the reservoir will enter the annular space between the pin and the outer casing which will complete the electrical circuit causing the light or other indicator to be activated.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the inventions.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit suitable for carrying out the invention.
- an embodiment of the invention includes an outer generally cylindrical housing 16 having an interior bore 27 .
- Outer housing 16 at its lower end 29 is connected to a cylindrical member 19 having interior bores at 31 and 32 .
- a signal device such as an LED 11 is positioned within bore 27 of outer housing 16 at an upper end thereof.
- LED 11 includes two contacts 13 .
- a battery which may be of the AA size is positioned within outer housing 16 .
- a first battery contact 14 is electrically connected to a first contact 13 of LED display assembly 11 and to the positive terminal of battery 15 .
- a second battery contact 17 is electrically connected to the negative terminal of battery 15 and also to pin 18 as shown in FIG. 3 .
- a second contact 13 of LED display assembly is electrically connected to outer housing 16 which is electrically connected to cylindrical member 19 .
- pin 18 is normally electrically isolated from member 19 by a non-conductive seal 22 shown in FIG. 2 .
- the outer surface of cylindrical member 19 is threaded at 20 so as to be secured within a lower section of the reservoir according to its particular use.
- the reservoir may be an oil pan or a crank case.
- the senor as described above may be secured to the lower portion of a reservoir for normally non-conducting liquids such as oil or engine fuel. Should the reservoir become contaminated with a conduct fluid or material such as water, the water will settle to the bottom of the reservoir since it is heavier than oil or other fuels and enter the annular gap 32 between pin 18 and member 19 . This will close the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 3 which causes signal device 11 to be activated.
- An external power source may be used in lieu of battery 15 in which case it would be connected to housing 19 and pin 18 via electrical wires from the external power source.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Lubrication Details And Ventilation Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
A sensor detects the presence of an electrically conductive liquid such as water or the material at the bottom of a reservoir such as an oil pan or crank case. The water or other material will enter a gap between two contacts that are connected to a power source and a signal device such as an LED. The power source may be a battery positioned within the sensor or may be external.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/320,947 filed Jul. 1, 2014.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention is directed to a sensor that detects the presence of an electrically conductive fluid such as water and the like in a reservoir. The reservoir may normally contain a non-conductive fluid such as oil or fuel. The presence of water in the reservoir such as a crank case of an engine, an oil pan, a pump crankcase or in any device having splash or oil fed lubrication would normally indicate a problem with some component of the apparatus associated with the reservoir. Thus the sensor can provide a visual or audible indication that there is a problem with the operation of the apparatus.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- U.S. Pat. No. 2,420,177 discloses a sensor including two contacts that are positioned at the lower portion of an oil pan. The sensor is part of an oil plug P. According to the disclosure, metallic particles that are created as a result of the failure of a part of the engine or machine will accumulate in the plug and eventually will bridge the gap between
contacts 16 to cause the flow of electricity which will activate signals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,885 discloses a sensor 10 mounted in the oil pan of an internal combustion engine that includes an inner electrode 42 and an outer electrode 44 which is formed with a flexible helical coil. The probe is connected to anexternal battery 26 andwarning light 22. - Both devices include several parts which may fail or become contaminated in such a way that would render them inoperative. Both also rely upon an external source of power.
- The invention disclosed and claimed herein includes a simple, easy to manufacture sensor that detects the present of an electrically conductive liquid or other material in a reservoir such as an oil pan or crank case. It may also be used in fuel filters for jet fuel to detect the presence of water in the fuel. The sensor includes an elongated relatively cylindrical hollow housing that at one end supports an indicator or signal such as a light emitting diode (LED). Also, a battery is located within the housing and serves as the power source for the LED. The other end of the housing includes a pin member that is electrically isolated from the outer housing by being located within a central bore in the other end of the housing such that a gap exists between the outer housing and the pin.
- When the sensor is positioned within a reservoir, any water that accumulates at the bottom of the reservoir will enter the annular space between the pin and the outer casing which will complete the electrical circuit causing the light or other indicator to be activated.
- In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the internal battery may be eliminated and the outer housing and pin may be connected to an external power source associated with the apparatus.
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the inventions. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit suitable for carrying out the invention. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the invention includes an outer generallycylindrical housing 16 having aninterior bore 27.Outer housing 16 at itslower end 29 is connected to acylindrical member 19 having interior bores at 31 and 32. A signal device such as anLED 11 is positioned withinbore 27 ofouter housing 16 at an upper end thereof.LED 11 includes twocontacts 13. A battery which may be of the AA size is positioned withinouter housing 16. Afirst battery contact 14 is electrically connected to afirst contact 13 ofLED display assembly 11 and to the positive terminal ofbattery 15. Asecond battery contact 17 is electrically connected to the negative terminal ofbattery 15 and also topin 18 as shown inFIG. 3 . - A
second contact 13 of LED display assembly is electrically connected toouter housing 16 which is electrically connected tocylindrical member 19. However,pin 18 is normally electrically isolated frommember 19 by anon-conductive seal 22 shown inFIG. 2 . There is anannular gap 32 betweenpin 18 and theinternal bore 21 ofcylindrical member 19. The outer surface ofcylindrical member 19 is threaded at 20 so as to be secured within a lower section of the reservoir according to its particular use. For example, the reservoir may be an oil pan or a crank case. - From the forgoing it is apparent that the sensor as described above may be secured to the lower portion of a reservoir for normally non-conducting liquids such as oil or engine fuel. Should the reservoir become contaminated with a conduct fluid or material such as water, the water will settle to the bottom of the reservoir since it is heavier than oil or other fuels and enter the
annular gap 32 betweenpin 18 andmember 19. This will close the electrical circuit shown inFIG. 3 which causessignal device 11 to be activated. - An external power source may be used in lieu of
battery 15 in which case it would be connected tohousing 19 andpin 18 via electrical wires from the external power source. - Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.
Claims (9)
1. A sensor for detecting the presence of an electrically conductive material comprising:
an electrically conductive outer housing having an internal bore extending therethrough;
a signal device located within the outer housing;
a member having an internal bore extending therethrough located at an end of said housing;
an electrically conductive pin located within the bore of the member and electrically insulated from the member, thereby forming an annual space between the pin and the member,
the pin and the member adapted to be connected to a power source whereby when an electrically conductive material enters a space between the pin and the bore of the member, it will complete an electrical circuit which will activate the signal device.
2. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 including a power source located within the outer housing.
3. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 including an external power source.
4. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal device is a light emitting diode.
5. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pin is cylindrical in shape.
6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the member has screw threads on an outer surface thereof.
7. A sensor for detecting the presence of an electrically conductive material comprising:
an electrically conductive outer housing having an internal bore extending therethrough;
a signal device located within the outer housing;
a cylindrical member having screw threads on an outer surface thereof and having an internal bore extending therethrough located at an end of said housing;
an electrically conductive pin located within the bore of the cylindrical member and electrically insulted from the cylindrical member;
the pin and the cylindrical member adapted to be connected to a power source whereby when an electrically conductive material enters a space between the pin and the bore of the cylindrical member, it will complete an electrical circuit which will activate the signal device.
8. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is a liquid.
9. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is a solid.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/245,978 US20160363552A1 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2016-08-24 | Electrically Conductive Fluid Detector |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/320,947 US9448196B2 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2014-07-01 | Electronically conductive fluid detector |
US15/245,978 US20160363552A1 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2016-08-24 | Electrically Conductive Fluid Detector |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/320,947 Continuation US9448196B2 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2014-07-01 | Electronically conductive fluid detector |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20160363552A1 true US20160363552A1 (en) | 2016-12-15 |
Family
ID=55016819
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/320,947 Expired - Fee Related US9448196B2 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2014-07-01 | Electronically conductive fluid detector |
US15/245,978 Abandoned US20160363552A1 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2016-08-24 | Electrically Conductive Fluid Detector |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/320,947 Expired - Fee Related US9448196B2 (en) | 2014-07-01 | 2014-07-01 | Electronically conductive fluid detector |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US9448196B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016004214A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10705039B2 (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2020-07-07 | Nabtesco Corporation | Sensor for detecting magnetic powders in a lubricant |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109406583A (en) * | 2018-09-11 | 2019-03-01 | 陕西千山航空电子有限责任公司 | A kind of water induction sensor |
CN113027744A (en) * | 2019-12-25 | 2021-06-25 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Water inflow detection method and device for plunger pump crankcase and plunger pump crankcase |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4205904A (en) * | 1977-11-18 | 1980-06-03 | Massey-Ferguson Services N.V. | Detection and indication device |
US4878043A (en) * | 1986-11-20 | 1989-10-31 | Guy Heusquin | Device for indicating hydroculture-related values |
US5087883A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1992-02-11 | Mr. Coffee, Inc. | Differential conductivity meter for fluids and products containing such meters |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2420177A (en) | 1944-02-23 | 1947-05-06 | Mark B Krall | Drain plug |
US2716165A (en) | 1953-06-19 | 1955-08-23 | George W Pfitzner | Means for detecting conductive impurities in oil |
US3728897A (en) * | 1970-11-16 | 1973-04-24 | Cons Airborne Systems | Compensated fuel gage |
US3876935A (en) | 1971-12-13 | 1975-04-08 | Renault | Device for determining the presence of impurities in oil contained in the crank cases of engines or other apparatus |
US4266195A (en) | 1978-12-27 | 1981-05-05 | Keefner Eugene F | Water detector |
US4304132A (en) | 1979-07-30 | 1981-12-08 | Snaper Alvin A | Water detection device |
CA1165835A (en) | 1981-12-23 | 1984-04-17 | Stephen M. Stenstrom | Conductive fluid detecting method and apparatus |
US4728924A (en) | 1986-05-02 | 1988-03-01 | Nelson Industries, Inc. | Portable water detector for fuel tanks |
US4926818A (en) | 1989-02-24 | 1990-05-22 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Pulsed jet combustion generator for premixed charge engines |
US6847216B2 (en) | 2003-04-28 | 2005-01-25 | Detroit Diesel Corporation | Method and apparatus for stabilizing parasitic error capacitance in oil quality sensors |
GB2408803A (en) | 2003-12-04 | 2005-06-08 | Schlumberger Holdings | Spark plug adapted for sensing in an oil pipe or wellhead containment vessel |
US8105483B2 (en) | 2008-10-15 | 2012-01-31 | Cummins Filtration Ip, Inc. | Snap-in water sensor |
-
2014
- 2014-07-01 US US14/320,947 patent/US9448196B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2015
- 2015-07-01 WO PCT/US2015/038850 patent/WO2016004214A1/en active Application Filing
-
2016
- 2016-08-24 US US15/245,978 patent/US20160363552A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4205904A (en) * | 1977-11-18 | 1980-06-03 | Massey-Ferguson Services N.V. | Detection and indication device |
US4878043A (en) * | 1986-11-20 | 1989-10-31 | Guy Heusquin | Device for indicating hydroculture-related values |
US5087883A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1992-02-11 | Mr. Coffee, Inc. | Differential conductivity meter for fluids and products containing such meters |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10705039B2 (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2020-07-07 | Nabtesco Corporation | Sensor for detecting magnetic powders in a lubricant |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US9448196B2 (en) | 2016-09-20 |
US20160003755A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 |
WO2016004214A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |