Abstract: A leakage drain is used to provide an indication that leakage of a fluid has occurred within an engine. Previously, such leakage was detected by visual inspection of a retained drop at the outlet of a drain. With the present invention, a sensor arrangement comprising electrodes is located within or about the leakage drain whereby leakage fluid creates a film across those electrodes. Relative presence or absence or thickness of film causes variation in a detected electrical response (capacitance, reactance, resistance or impedance) and this variation is utilized in order to determine whether fluid leakage has occurred. Additionally, by time of flight analysis using electrostatic sensors it is possible to determine fluid flow rate. By analysis at different incident frequencies, a characteristic response for a particular type of leakage fluid is obtained. Thus, it is possible to deduce the type of leakage fluid as well as the rate of leakage.

Abstract: A leakage drain (30) is used to provide an indication that leakage of a fluid has occurred within an engine. Previously such leakage was detected by visual inspection of a retained drop at the outlet of a drain. With the present invention a sensor arrangement comprising electrodes (33, 34; 133, 134) is located within or about the leakage drain (30) whereby leakage fluid creates a film across those electrodes. Relative presence or absence or thickness of film causes variation in a detected electrical response (capacitance, reactance, resistance or impedance) and this variation is utilised in order to determine whether fluid leakage has occurred. Additionally by time of flight analysis using electrostatic sensors (35, 36; 135, 136) it is possible to determine fluid flow rate. By analysis at different incident frequencies a characteristic response for a particular type of leakage fluid is obtained. Thus, it is possible to deduce the type of leakage fluid as well as the rate of leakage.