Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
324698000 | To determine oil qualities | 18 |
20090115435 | Processing System and Method for Hand-Held Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis Device for Determining Biofuel Properties - Disclosed herein is a hand-held impedance spectroscopy analysis device for analyzing fluids wherein the impedance spectroscopy device is in communication with a sample cell including a reservoir containing a fluid sample, the sample cell including a sample cell circuit and two metal plates in contact with the fluid sample and in contact with a pair of electrodes. The analysis device includes a processing system including a main processor which is responsive to commands from a user input device, and a data acquisition circuit which receives power and command signals from the processing system. The data acquisition circuit is operable to transmit excitation signals to the electrodes, wherein the excitation signals are applied at each frequency in a predetermnined set of frequencies, and the data acquisition circuit is further operable to receive response signals from the electrodes indicative of the fluid sample at each frequency in the predetermined set of frequencies and to convert the response signals into a magnitude and phase angle data set. The main processor is operable to receive the magnitude and phase angle data set from the data acquisition circuit and to receive at least one of calibration information and temperature information from the sample cell circuit and perform an impedance spectroscopy algorithm using the magnitude and phase angle data set and the information from the sample cell circuit to determine a fluid property. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115436 | Methods for Determining Fluid Properties - Disclosed herein is a method for determining two or more properties of a blended biofuel fluid sample, the method comprising measuring a complex impedance of the sample at each of a plurality of frequencies to produce a sample data set, determining a biofuel blend percentage of the sample using the sample data set; and determining at least one additional property of the sample based upon the determined biofuel blend percentage. In another aspect, a biofuel blend percentage of the sample can be determined using an algorithm developed using a data gathering and data mining technique relating measured impedance spectroscopy data from a plurality of samples to biofuel blend percentage values determined using a standard analytical measuring method for biofuel blend percentages. | 05-07-2009 |
20090153154 | FUEL SENSOR - A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property of the fuel is a dielectric constant. A pair of sensing plates are placed on opposite sides of the tube leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near to and is connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the capacitance indicative signal to an engine controller or the like. | 06-18-2009 |
20090153155 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY AND/OR DEGRADATION OF FLUID, PARTICULARLY A FOOD OIL - The invention relates to a device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of a fluid, especially an oil, comprising a sensor consisting of at least one pair of electrodes which are distanced from each other. Said sensor is immersed in the fluid which is to be measured. The electrodes and the fluid form a capacitive element whose capacity varies according to the dielectric constant of the fluid. The sensor can provide an electric output signal representing said dielectric constant. The inventive device also comprises processing means which receive the output signal and which can determine the degree of quality and/or degradation of the fluid on the basis of said output signal. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes extend substantially on the same plane and in that the fluid surrounds the two surfaces of the electrodes on both sides of said plane. | 06-18-2009 |
20090201036 | Oil Monitoring System - An embodiment of the present invention provides for a sensing element comprising a non-conductive housing with three chambers for detecting oil conductivity, additive depletion and oxidation, and water contamination, respectively. Through the monitoring of an array of oil sensors, an early warning of oil degradation due to oxidation is provided. The monitoring system further detects excess soot, water and other contaminants in the oil. The oil sensor array and related monitoring system decrease the likelihood of catastrophic engine failure through the early detection and warning of a decrease in oil quality thereby reducing vehicle owner outlays for servicing and disposal fees while further aiding in the satisfaction of environmental protection regulations. | 08-13-2009 |
20090243635 | ANALYSIS OF THIN LIQUID FILMS - A novel microfluidic device has been developed to measure stability of thin liquid films of water in oil emulsions using electrochemical perturbation of interfaces. This new device can be utilized in rapid classification of de-emulsifiers used in petroleum industries. Although water/crude oil emulsions have been the primary focus of this research, this measurement platform can be used in other industries such as food, cosmetics and bio-engineering (bilayer lipid membranes) as well as environmental remediation of oil spills. The compact design of the device and replacement of the mechanical measurements such as pressure with electrical signal measurements contributes in substantial size reduction of the experimental platform so that it can be employed for onsite measurements in remote areas. | 10-01-2009 |
20090309619 | Oil Quality sensor and adapter for deep fryers - A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil or fat includes at least one fryer pot; a conduit fluidly connected to the fryer pot for transporting cooking oil from the fryer pot and returning the cooking oil back to the fryer pot. A means for re-circulating cooking oil to and from the fryer pot; and a sensor disposed in fluid communication with the conduit that measures an electrical property of the cooking oil as the cooking oil flows past the sensor and is returned to the at least one fryer pot is provided. | 12-17-2009 |
20090315574 | OIL-DEGRADATION DETECTING APPARATUS - An oil-degradation detecting apparatus that can more accurately judge oil degradation and a mechanical system having a rotating part or a sliding part and including the oil-degradation detecting apparatus are provided. Two plates ( | 12-24-2009 |
20100052702 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING TOTAL ACID NUMBER OF OIL AND ESTIMATING LIFETIME OF OIL, AND METHOD FOR MEASURING TOTAL ACID NUMBER OF OIL AND OIL SENSOR USING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are an apparatus for measuring the total acid number of oil, an apparatus for measuring the lifetime of oil through the measurement of the total acid number of oil, a method for measuring the total acid number of oil, and a method of making measurements using an oil sensor. According to the disclosed invention, measurement accuracy can be increased through the use of a high-sensitivity conductance measuring sensor, the inventive apparatus can be applied to both lubricant oil and insulating oil, the size of the total acid number-measuring apparatus can be reduced. | 03-04-2010 |
20100109686 | METAL WEAR DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD EMPLOYING MICROFLUIDIC ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An apparatus and a method for detection of wear particles in a lubricant are disclosed. The apparatus includes a microfluidic device including a microchannel sized for a lubricant containing wear particles to pass therethrough and first and second electrodes extending into the microchannel. A detection system is coupled with the electrodes for detection of wear particles passing through the microchannel, based on a change in capacitance of the electrodes. | 05-06-2010 |
20100156443 | FUEL-ASPECT SENSOR - An object of the invention is to provide a fuel-aspect sensor having higher detection accuracy. A first electrode is inserted into a hole formed in a first housing member. A cylindrical second electrode is inserted into and firmly fixed to the first electrode by a cylindrical insulating member. A first elastic member, for example, made of rubber, is arranged between the first electrode and a second housing member. The first electrode has a large-diameter portion, which is biased by the first elastic member toward a sealing surface formed on an inner wall of the hole, so as to fluid-tightly seal a space between the first electrode and the second housing member. | 06-24-2010 |
20100188111 | Apparatus and method for the measurement of electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of high impedance fluids - A sensor, a system of direct measurement using that sensor, and a method of direct and simultaneous measurement of conductivity and dielectric constant of a fluid, particularly high impedance, hydrocarbon-based fluids. The sensor has a cell that holds the fluids to be measured between a single pair of coaxial, bare metal electrodes connected through interface circuitry to measurement circuitry preferably implemented in one or several IC's. The sensor has a mutually compatible electrode geometry that provides both the correct cell constant for measurement of conductivity of hydrocarbons fluids (typical range 0-100,000 pS/cm), and a bulk capacitance (for use in dielectric constant measurement) in the range of measure of readily available low cost commercial IC's (having a typical capacitance measurement span of <10 pF, with a total bulk capacitance at the chip of <20 pF). The cell conductivity constant for use with hydrocarbon-based oils having a conductivity in the range of 1 to 500,000 pS/M is preferably less than or equal to about 0.1. The cell bulk capacitance with hydrocarbon fluids inside the sensor results in a bulk capacitance of at least about 4 pF. In one embodiment, the electronic circuitry is a Microcontroller/DSP that both generates synchronous drive signals at various frequencies, for both conductivity and dielectric constant measurements while directly digitizing and numerically processing the sensor output. | 07-29-2010 |
20100253371 | Method and Device for Determining a Fuel Portion in a Motor Oil of a Motor Vehicle - A method and device for determining a fuel portion in a motor oil of a motor vehicle. The motor oil is brought between at least two electrodes forming a capacitor. The capacitance of the capacitor is determined while the motor oil is located between the electrodes, and the fuel portion in the motor oil is determined from the capacitance of the capacitor. | 10-07-2010 |
20110074452 | DEVICE FOR EVALUATING DEGREE OF DEGRADATION OF LUBRICATING OIL - Provided are a device for evaluating a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil, a method of evaluating a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil, and an on-line lubricating oil management device, which are capable of measuring the degree of degradation of the lubricating oil in a simple and stable manner. The device for evaluating a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil, the method of evaluating a degree of degradation of a lubricating oil, and the on-line lubricating oil management device using the device and the method use a pH-ISFET, and make a determination as to a state of degradation of the lubricating oil through measurement of a change in hydrogen concentration of the lubricating oil by using, as an output, a change in current flowing between a drain and a source in a case where a constant voltage is applied between the drain and the source or a change in voltage between the drain and the source in a case where a constant current is caused to flow between the drain and the source. | 03-31-2011 |
20110169512 | DETECTION OF FUEL CONTAMINATION IN LUBRICATING OIL - A method for measuring fuel contamination in oil that uses a material in contact with oil whereby fuel intrusion into the oil will change the electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical properties of the material as compared to the same electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical properties of the material when in contact only with mineral or synthetic oil only. | 07-14-2011 |
20110267080 | Remote Oil Monitoring System - The remote monitoring of oil samples is disclosed. Monitoring may be achieved through the use of a computer, phone, mobile device, or any other networked computing device in contact with a sensing element at the remote location. Such remote monitoring may be beneficial when equipment such as pumps, generators, engines, compressors, and transformers are located in remote locations that are not always easily accessible to maintenance personnel. Contact may be achieved using any number of wireless transmission techniques. | 11-03-2011 |
20150355122 | LUBRICANT TEST METHOD - A method of determining the compatibility of a lubricating fluid with an energized electrical or electronic component comprises:
| 12-10-2015 |
20160139103 | OIL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - An oil identification system is disclosed. The oil identification system includes a parameter sensor coupled to at least one of an oil pan or an oil flow path of a machine. The oil identification system also includes an identification module. The identification module is also configured to receive a signal indicative of movement of charged particles in the oil of the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path. The identification module is further configured to determine a resistivity of the oil in the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path. The identification module is configured to compare the resistivity of the oil with resistivity data readings. The identification module is also configured to identify a type of oil in the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path based on the comparison. | 05-19-2016 |