Integrated oil condition and level sensor
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsRobert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oil condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, an armature and a pole piece. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and the pole piece. The armature is movable in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil. In an oil condition sensing system, the coil is operatively connected to a controller which can determine at least one of an oil temperature, oil viscosity, oil level, and an oil change occurrence. In one embodiment, four oil levels, including an overfill oil level and an excessively low oil level may be detected. The sensor is referred to as an integrated oil condition and level sensor as multiple sensing functions are integrated into one sensor.
Claims22
An oil condition and level sensor, comprising:
- a solenoid body;
- a coil, an armature, and a pole piece;
- wherein the solenoid body at least partially defines an armature chamber between the armature and pole piece;
- wherein the armature is movable in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil;
- wherein the armature defines a first orifice in communication with the armature chamber;
- wherein the pole piece defines a second orifice in communication with the armature chamber;
- and wherein the orifices are configured such that fluid enters and is displaced from the armature chamber through the orifices as the armature moves, movement of the armature within the armature chamber thereby being affected by resistance to fluid flow through the orifices.
An oil condition sensing system comprising:
- a solenoid body;
- a coil, an armature, and a pole piece;
- wherein the solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and pole piece;
- wherein the armature travels in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil;
- wherein the armature defines a first orifice in fluid communication with the armature chamber;
- wherein the pole piece defines a second orifice in communication with the armature chamber;
- wherein the orifices are configured such that fluid enters and is displaced from the armature chamber through the orifices as the armature travels, travel time of the armature within the armature chamber thereby being affected by a sum of resistances to fluid flow through the orifices;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the coil and operable to determine at least one of an oil temperature, oil viscosity, oil level, and oil change occurrence.
An oil condition and level sensor for an oil pan comprising:
- a solenoid body;
- a coil, an armature, and a pole piece;
- wherein the solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and pole piece;
- wherein the armature travels in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil;
- wherein the armature, the pole piece and the solenoid body define multiple orifices and chambers;
- and
- wherein the orifices are configured to establish positive displacement of fluid through the chambers and orifices as the armature travels and to affect travel time of the armature in the armature chamber in correspondence with resistance to fluid flow through the orifices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.