Integrated in-line oil monitoring apparatus

An oil monitoring apparatus, comprising:

• a probe including:
• a housing mounted to a member containing oil therein so as to be in contact therewith;
• a first sensor mounted to the housing for measuring optical intensities of a light passing through the oil and outputting signals;
• a second sensor mounted to the housing for measuring a water content of the oil and outputting a signal;
• and
• a third sensor mounted to the housing for measuring a temperature of the oil and outputting a signal;
• and
• an analyzing module in-line connected to one of the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, or any combination thereof, for analyzing conditions of the oil;
• wherein the first sensor includes:
• an optical passing element with an interface in contact with the oil;
• a light-emitting means for emitting a light to the optical passing element;
• and
• a color-sensing means for measuring respective optical intensities at respective red, green and blue wavelength ranges of a light passing through the oil via the optical passing element and the interface and outputting respective signals;
• and
• wherein the analyzing module comprises a control unit including a processor configured to calculate the output signals of the first, second and third sensors,
• wherein the processor is configured to calculate a first parameter and a second parameter from the output signals of the first sensor, a third parameter from the output signals of the second sensor and a fourth parameter from the output signals of a fourth sensor, the first parameter being defined by a ratio value of an output at the red wavelength range to an output at the green wavelength range, the second parameter being defined by a variation value in optical intensity at the respective red, green and blue wavelength ranges between an initial condition and a current condition of the oil, the third parameter being defined by a relative saturation of the oil by water, the fourth parameter being defined by a temperature of the oil,
• wherein the processor is configured to compare the first to fourth parameters with respective threshold values thereof.