Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker housing and a plurality of independent poles. Each of the independent poles includes separable contacts, a voltage sensor mounted on or within the circuit breaker housing and being structured to sense voltage operatively associated with the separable contacts, and an electro-magnetic actuator structured to open and close the separable contacts. A point-on-wave controller is housed by the circuit breaker housing and cooperates with the sensors and the actuators of the independent poles to independently and synchronously open and close the separable contacts of the independent poles.

Abstract: A tubular probe having annularly spaced electrodes is immersed in ATF and sequentially excited with an alternating voltage at a relatively high and low frequency. The current is measured at both frequencies and the difference in impedance computed; and, the differential impedance is corrected for temperature and the corresponding value of one of TAN per ASTM D-669, Delta Oxidation per ASTME-168 (?OX) and HPDSC induction time per ASTM D-5483 (MIN) determined from a lookup table of values of TAN, ?OX and MIN versus impedance differential for known fluid conditions. The remaining useful life (RUL) may then be computed from determined present value of TAN, ?OX or MIN. When the temperature corrected impedance difference ?ZTC reaches 6.5×105 Ohms, the ATF is considered to have reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A probe having a pair of electrodes is excited with a low A.C. voltage at a relatively high and relatively low frequency and the difference in current measured. The difference dZ between bulk fluid and interfacial impedance is computed from the current difference. The rate of change ?dZ of the impedance difference is determined over a time interval and a physiochemical parameter (X) determined when ?dZ is positive from lubricant with known amounts of constituents selected from the group consisting of (a) Phosphorus, Oxygen and Carbon (P—O—C); (b) Phosphorous and double bond Sulphur (P?S); (c) Zincdialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP); and (d) the Total Base Number TBN by measuring CaCO3 (CO3), from a table of the selected parameter X versus dZ in a first region of the table and determining RUL from a table of RUL versus parameter X (X1). The value of the selected parameter X when ?dz is negative is determined from a second region of the table of X versus dZ.

Abstract: A probe assembly for use in monitoring fluid conditions in real time in a transducer utilizing impedance spectroscopy and having two closely spaced tubular concentric electrodes. The electrodes have a surface area of about 8.1 to 10.8 cm2 spaced in the range of about 0.1 to 0.55 mm. In one embodiment a concentric outer tubular Faraday shield is employed for monitoring fluid in a non-metallic vessel. The probe assembly is particularly suitable for monitoring hydraulic fluid including automatic transmission fluid and mineral based engine oil for diesel and gasoline engines.

Abstract: A tubular probe having annularly spaced electrodes is immersed in ATF and sequentially excited with an alternating voltage at a relatively high and low frequency. The current is measured at both frequencies and the difference in impedance computed; and, the differential impedance is corrected for temperature and the corresponding value of one of TAN per ASTM D-669, Delta Oxidation per ASTME-168 (&Dgr;OX) and HPDSC induction time per ASTM D-5483 (MIN) determined from a lookup table of values of TAN, &Dgr;OX and MIN versus impedance differential for known fluid conditions. The remaining useful life (RUL) may then be computed from determined present value of TAN, &Dgr;OX or MIN. When the temperature corrected impedance difference &Dgr;ZTC reaches 6.5×105 Ohms, the ATF is considered to have reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A probe assembly for use in monitoring fluid conditions in real time in a transducer utilizing impedance spectroscopy and having two closely spaced tubular concentric electrodes. The electrodes have a surface area of about 8.1 to 10.8 cm2 spaced in the range of about 0.1 to 0.55 mm. In one embodiment a concentric outer tubular Faraday shield is employed for monitoring fluid in a non-metallic vessel. The probe assembly is particularly suitable for monitoring hydraulic fluid including automatic transmission fluid and mineral based engine oil for diesel and gasoline engines.

Abstract: A combination fluid condition monitor and fluid level sensor having an excitation electrode divided into two segments disposed closely spaced and parallel to current sensing electrode. For the fluid condition monitoring mode function both segments of the excitation electrode are commonly excited sequentially at high and low frequencies and the currents sensed in the sensing electrode employed to compute the difference in impedance for determining the fluid condition. For the level sensing mode function a mode switching circuit grounds one of the excitation electrode segments and excites the other then grounds the other segment and excites the one segment and the resultant currents ratioed to determine the amount of electrode immersed in fluid and hence the fluid level.

Abstract: A method for real time monitoring fluid in a vessel with a probe having a pair of electrodes immersed in the fluid. The disclosed probe has the electrodes arranged helically on a rod, sized and configured for insertion in an engine dipstick hole. Preferably, the probe has spiral electrode winding up regions different pitch to provide improved impedance response at low fractional Hertz and high (at least one Hertz) frequencies of excitation. In one version with alternating voltage the difference in current magnitude measured at the low and high frequencies is compared with stored known values for known fluid conditions and an electrical signal indicative of fluid condition is generated. Examples with engine drain oil and heavy duty transmission lubricant fluid are presented. The impedance properties measured can determine the percentage remaining useful life (RUL) of the fluid.