Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A fluid separator includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet and/or a second outlet. The first outlet may include a vortex finder that may have a convergent-divergent configuration. The second outlet may include or may be connected to a pressure relief valve. At least a portion of the pressure relief valve may be disposed in the vortex finder. The pressure relief valve may be disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. The vortex finder may include a divergent section and a convergent section. In embodiments, the divergent section may be at least twice as long as the convergent section, a taper angle of the convergent section may be at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section, and/or an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder extending into the body may be at least 1.5 times a diameter of the inlet.

Abstract: A separator assembly is provided for, among other things, separating debris particles from a fluid in a fluid system. In an embodiment, the separator assembly may include a housing forming an internal chamber. An inlet port may be in communication with the internal chamber of the housing, and the inlet port can be oriented in a tangential relationship relative to the internal chamber. A first debris separation ring may be disposed in the housing and can extend around an inner surface of the internal chamber. A second debris separation ring can be disposed in the housing and can extend around the inner surface of the internal chamber, wherein the second debris separation ring may be spaced from the first debris separation ring.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A fluid separator includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet and/or a second outlet. The first outlet may include a vortex finder that may have a convergent-divergent configuration. The second outlet may include or may be connected to a pressure relief valve. At least a portion of the pressure relief valve may be disposed in the vortex finder. The pressure relief valve may be disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. The vortex finder may include a divergent section and a convergent section. In embodiments, the divergent section may be at least twice as long as the convergent section, a taper angle of the convergent section may be at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section, and/or an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder extending into the body may be at least 1.5 times a diameter of the inlet.

Abstract: A separator assembly is provided for, among other things, separating debris particles from a fluid in a fluid system. In an embodiment, the separator assembly may include a housing forming an internal chamber. An inlet port may be in communication with the internal chamber of the housing, and the inlet port can be oriented in a tangential relationship relative to the internal chamber. A first debris separation ring may be disposed in the housing and can extend around an inner surface of the internal chamber. A second debris separation ring can be disposed in the housing and can extend around the inner surface of the internal chamber, wherein the second debris separation ring may be spaced from the first debris separation ring.

Abstract: An apparatus separates liquid, gas and solid components of a mixture in an engine lubricating system. An inlet for receiving the mixture opens tangentially into a separation chamber and a gas outlet has an opening in a first end wall adjacent the inlet to allow gas to exit the separator. A fluid outlet is in an opposing second end wall and opens into a lubricant reservoir of the engine lubricating system. Both liquid and gas flow through the fluid outlet between the separator and the reservoir. A particle collector is provided adjacent the second end wall to receive solids that become separated from the mixture. A baffle may be provided to direct the separated liquid from the separator into the reservoir while allowing gas in the reservoir to flow into the separator.

Abstract: An apparatus separates liquid, gas and solid components of a mixture in a fluid system. An inlet for receiving the mixture opens into a separation chamber tangentially with a cylindrical side wall and a gas outlet has an opening in a first end wall adjacent the inlet to allow gas to exit the separator. A fluid outlet is located in an opposing second end wall. A debris passage extends through the cylindrical side wall and oriented so that the radial velocity of the particles within the separation chamber directs the particles through the debris passage. The debris passage leads to a particle collection chamber in which the particles accumulate. Unlike prior separators that relied on the tangential velocity of the particles, the present apparatus utilizes the greater radial velocity to drive the particles from the separation chamber into the particle collection chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus separates liquid, gas and solid components of a mixture in an engine lubricating system. An inlet for receiving the mixture opens tangentially into a separation chamber and a gas outlet has an opening in a first end wall adjacent the inlet to allow gas to exit the separator. A fluid outlet is in an opposing second end wall and opens into a lubricant reservoir of the engine lubricating system. Both liquid and gas flow through the fluid outlet between the separator and the reservoir. A particle collector is provided adjacent the second end wall to receive solids that become separated from the mixture. A baffle may be provided to direct the separated liquid from the separator into the reservoir while allowing gas in the reservoir to flow into the separator.

Abstract: A sight glass for a fluid vessel that includes a housing with facility for mounting to a fluid vessel wall, and a transparent window mounted within the housing for viewing fluid within the vessel from outside of the vessel wall. A valve mounted within the housing has a normally open position for permitting passage of fluid from within the vessel to adjacent the window, and a closed position for blocking such fluid passage. The valve includes structure responsive to one or more predetermined conditions at the sight glass for moving the valve to the closed position so as to block passage of fluid to the window, and thereby provide a visual indication of occurrence of the predetermined conditions from outside of the vessel.

Abstract: An electrically conductive particle detector that includes a hollow spool or sleeve of insulating material having an open end, a sidewall and a circumferential array of elongated fluid passages that extend radially through the sidewall. A pair of internested helical conductors are mounted in corresponding helical grooves on the interior of the sleeve sidewall, with helical reaches of the conductors spaced from each other by the sleeve. Electrical circuitry is connected to the conductors for detecting impingement of a conductive particle that bridges adjacent reaches of the conductors in fluid that flows through the sleeve. A perforated strainer is carried by the sleeve spaced from the conductors for removing particles in the fluid that flows through the sleeve.