Tri-axial capacitance probe with case integrated housing

A method involving a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor, the method comprising:

• providing a tri-axial capacitance probe comprising a tri-axial conduit that includes an outer conductor member, the tri-axial capacitance probe configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor;
• and
• configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within a wall aperture in the wall, wherein the outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall, and the wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe;
• wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
• mating the tri-axial conduit with a fixture aperture extending through a fixture;
• temporarily bonding the outer conductor member to the fixture;
• abutting an annular outer insulator against and bonding the outer insulator to the outer conductor member using non-conductive material;
• temporarily bonding the outer insulator to the fixture within a counterbore of the fixture aperture, wherein an intermediate conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects into the outer insulator, and an inner conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects through the outer insulator;
• nesting an annular guard within and bonding the guard to the outer insulator using non-conductive material;
• electrically coupling the guard with the intermediate conductor member, wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises nesting an annular inner insulator within and bonding the inner insulator to the guard using non-conductive material, and wherein the inner conductor member projects through the inner insulator;
• nesting a sensor within and bonding the sensor to the inner insulator using non-conductive material;
• and
• electrically coupling the sensor with the inner conductor member;
• wherein the sensor comprises an annular sensor plate, and the inner conductor member projects through the sensor plate;
• and
• wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises removing a portion of the inner conductor member that projects out from the sensor plate.

A method involving a wall configured to circumscribe and be radially adjacent a rotor, the method comprising:

• providing a tri-axial capacitance probe comprising a tri-axial conduit that includes an outer conductor member, the tri-axial capacitance probe configured to output data indicative of a characteristic of the rotor;
• and
• configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within a wall aperture in the wall, wherein the outer conductor member is electrically coupled with the wall, and the wall is configured as a housing for the tri-axial capacitance probe;
• wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises:
• mating the tri-axial conduit with a fixture aperture extending through a fixture;
• temporarily bonding the outer conductor member to the fixture;
• abutting an annular outer insulator against and bonding the outer insulator to the outer conductor member using non-conductive material;
• temporarily bonding the outer insulator to the fixture within a counterbore of the fixture aperture, wherein an intermediate conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects into the outer insulator, and an inner conductor member of the tri-axial conduit projects through the outer insulator;
• nesting an annular guard within and bonding the guard to the outer insulator using non-conductive material;
• electrically coupling the guard with the intermediate conductor member, wherein the providing the tri-axial capacitance probe further comprises nesting an annular inner insulator within and bonding the inner insulator to the guard using non-conductive material, and wherein the inner conductor member projects through the inner insulator;
• nesting a sensor within and bonding the sensor to the inner insulator using non-conductive material;
• electrically coupling the sensor with the inner conductor member;
• breaking the temporary bond between the outer conductor member and the fixture and between the outer insulator and the fixture;
• and
• removing the tri-axial capacitance probe from the fixture as a module;
• and
• wherein the configuring the tri-axial capacitance probe within the wall comprises:
• bonding the outer conductor member to the wall with conductive material;
• and
• bonding the outer insulator to the wall with non-conductive material.