Assembly for the detection of an oil contamination of air

摘要

An oil contamination detection assembly includes a resistor (32) having a known resistance which is exposed to the air of a vehicle brake system to accumulate a layer of oil contaminating the air. A heater (26) boils non-carbon elements off the resistor, leaving a carbon residue which decreases the resistance of the resistor. A threshold detector circuit (42) produces an oil contamination warning signal when the decreased resistance of the resistor (32) is less than a predetermined value. The oil contamination detection assembly may be installed in an air line within the pneumatic brake system or integrated into an air dryer within the pneumatic brake system.