Publication

Power and Mobility (P&M)
2018

DESIGN FOR A DUAL PURPOSE LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR

by David Swenson

Abstract

Traditional engineering concerns such as lubrication and cooling are still present even as vehicle functions become more complex. The established solution to monitor fluid levels has been a sight glass or a dipstick. More complex machines demand continuous knowledge of fluid levels without adding to operator workload. Remote monitoring of vehicle health will become normal and expected by owners and operators of evolving vehicle designs. This dual function fluid level sensor provides both electronic and operator monitoring of vehicle fluids, as well as redundancy in the event of electronic failure. Grouping of sensor components that are considered more likely to fail into one group, aids replacement when necessary. By incorporating a traditional dipstick into a continuous electronic monitoring solution, either method of level monitoring is facilitated.