Conductive particle sensor using a magnet

Claim 1

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 19

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said fist and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame, wherein said first and second electrodes each include a guide portion and an insert portion; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said fist and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 20

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said fist and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame, wherein said first and second electrodes each include a guide portion and an insert portion; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said fist and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 23

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said refer e frame, wherein said fist and second contact surfaces have a length extending along said fist and second poles, respectively, said angular relationship varying along said length; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 24

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said refer e frame, wherein said fist and second contact surfaces have a length extending along said fist and second poles, respectively, said angular relationship varying along said length; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 27

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said fist and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said fist and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles, wherein said sensing means includes: a resistor having first and second terminals, said first and second terminals being connected to said fist and second electrodes, and means for measuring the electrical resistance across said first and second terminals.

Claim 28

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said fist and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame; and, means for sensing the electrical resistance between said fist and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles, wherein said sensing means includes: a resistor having first and second terminals, said first and second terminals being connected to said fist and second electrodes, and means for measuring the electrical resistance across said first and second terminals.

Claim 29

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame; and, mean of sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles, wherein said housing includes a recess for said magnet and including a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing.

Claim 30

An apparatus for sensing electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned with said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference frame; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said magnet, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference frame; and, mean of sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles, wherein said housing includes a recess for said magnet and including a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing.

Claim 31

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis and being composed of a substantially transparent material; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing, said fist and second contact surfaces being spaced apart; wherein said hosing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative to the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 32

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis and being composed of a substantially transparent material; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned within said second portion of said housing, said fist and second contact surfaces being spaced apart; wherein said hosing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative to the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 35

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis and being composed of a substantially transparent material; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned adjacent said first pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said first pole; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned adjacent said second pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said second pole, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; wherein said housing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 36

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having first and second portions, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis and being composed of a substantially transparent material; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned adjacent said first pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said first pole; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned adjacent said second pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said second pole, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; wherein said housing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 37

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having an inner shell and an outer shell, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis, said inner shell being composed of a substantially transparent material, said housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned adjacent said first pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said first pole; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned adjacent said second pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said second pole, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; wherein said housing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.

Claim 38

An apparatus for sensing the presence of electrically conductive particles within a fluid, comprising: a housing having an inner shell and an outer shell, said housing having a generally cylindrical shape centered about an axis, said inner shell being composed of a substantially transparent material, said housing having first and second portions; a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and being positioned within a recess of said first portion of said housing, said first and second poles defining a reference plane, said axis being perpendicular to said reference plane; a first electrode having a first contact surface and being positioned adjacent said first pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said first pole; a second electrode having a second contact surface and being positioned adjacent said second pole within said second portion of said housing and extending in a direction generally away from said second pole, said first and second contact surfaces being spaced apart and each having an angular relationship with said reference plane; and a detachable plate adapted to hold said magnet within the recess of said housing; wherein said housing is threaded about at least a portion of the outside diameter of said housing and includes first and second unthreaded surfaces positioned opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said first and second electrodes; and means for sensing the electrical resistance between said first and second contact electrodes and responsively producing a signal indicative of the presence of said electrically conductive particles.