Liquid level gauge with removable indicator assembly
First Claim
1. An indicator assembly for determining a liquid level condition within a tank, the indicator assembly comprising:
- a dial assembly adapted for connection to the tank, the dial assembly including;
a base;
a cover connected to the base, the cover having a channel and at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel for engaging an unauthorized sensor module during installation thereof in the channel to thereby prevent movement of the unauthorized sensor module to a fully seated position in the cover; and
an actuator located between the base and the cover, the actuator being movable in response to a change in the liquid level condition in the tank; and
an authorized sensor module capable of being moved to the fully seated position in the cover, the authorized sensor module including;
a housing;
at least one sensor located in the housing for determining movement of the actuator from one position to another in response to a change in liquid level within the tank; and
at least one go-no-go cavity formed in the housing, the at least one go-no-go cavity being shaped to prevent interference with the at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel, so that the authorized sensor module can be moved to the fully seated position in the cover such that the at least one sensor is aligned with the actuator for generating signals related to the liquid level condition;
wherein the unauthorized sensor module is not capable of being moved to the fully seated position in the cover due to the absence of the at least one go-no-go cavity in the unauthorized sensor module causing the at least one go-no-go protuberance to interfere with movement of the unauthorized sensor module toward the fully seated position, thereby preventing alignment of the unauthorized sensor module with the at least one sensor and thus preventing the unauthorized sensor module from sending incorrect signals related to the liquid level condition.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An indicator assembly for determining a liquid level condition within a tank includes a dial assembly with a base and a lens or cover connected to the base. A channel is formed in the lens and a go-no-go protrusion projects into the channel. An actuator is located between the base and the cover and is movable in response to a change in liquid level in the tank. The indicator assembly also includes a sensor module for insertion into the channel. The sensor module has a housing with a sensor for determining movement of the actuator in response to a change in liquid level. A go-no-go cavity complementary in shape with the go-no-go protrusion is formed in the housing so that the sensor module can be fully inserted into the housing with the sensor aligned with the actuator for generating signals related to the liquid level condition.
19 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An indicator assembly for determining a liquid level condition within a tank, the indicator assembly comprising:
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a dial assembly adapted for connection to the tank, the dial assembly including; a base; a cover connected to the base, the cover having a channel and at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel for engaging an unauthorized sensor module during installation thereof in the channel to thereby prevent movement of the unauthorized sensor module to a fully seated position in the cover; and an actuator located between the base and the cover, the actuator being movable in response to a change in the liquid level condition in the tank; and an authorized sensor module capable of being moved to the fully seated position in the cover, the authorized sensor module including; a housing; at least one sensor located in the housing for determining movement of the actuator from one position to another in response to a change in liquid level within the tank; and at least one go-no-go cavity formed in the housing, the at least one go-no-go cavity being shaped to prevent interference with the at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel, so that the authorized sensor module can be moved to the fully seated position in the cover such that the at least one sensor is aligned with the actuator for generating signals related to the liquid level condition; wherein the unauthorized sensor module is not capable of being moved to the fully seated position in the cover due to the absence of the at least one go-no-go cavity in the unauthorized sensor module causing the at least one go-no-go protuberance to interfere with movement of the unauthorized sensor module toward the fully seated position, thereby preventing alignment of the unauthorized sensor module with the at least one sensor and thus preventing the unauthorized sensor module from sending incorrect signals related to the liquid level condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An indicator assembly for determining a liquid level condition within a tank, the indicator assembly comprising:
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a dial assembly adapted for connection to the tank, the dial assembly including; a base; a cover connected to the base, the cover having a channel and at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel, the channel including a right side surface;
a left side surface spaced from the right side surface;
a front surface extending between the right and left side surfaces; and
a lower surface extending between the right and left side surfaces and extending from the front surface; andan actuator located between the base and the cover, the actuator being movable in response to a change in the liquid level condition in the tank; and a sensor module adapted for insertion into the channel, the sensor module including; a housing having a right side surface;
a left side surface;
a front surface extending between the right and left side surfaces of the housing; and
a bottom surface extending between the right and left side surfaces and extending from the front surface of the housing;at least one sensor located in the housing for determining movement of the actuator from one position to another in response to a change in liquid level within the tank; and at least one go-no-go cavity formed in the housing, the at least one go-no-go cavity being complementary in shape with the at least one go-no-go protrusion so that the sensor module can be fully inserted in the housing with the at least one sensor aligned with the actuator for generating signals related to the liquid level condition; wherein an unauthorized sensor module is not capable of being fully inserted into the housing due to the at least one go-no-go protuberance and the absence of the at least one go-no-go cavity in the unauthorized sensor module to thereby prevent the unauthorized sensor module from sending incorrect signals related to the liquid level condition; the at least one go-no-go protrusion projecting into the channel comprises first and second go-no-go protrusions, with the first go-no-go protrusion located at an intersection between the right side surface and the front surface, and the second go-no-go protrusion located at an intersection between the left side surface and the front surface; wherein the at least one go-no-go cavity comprises first and second go-no-go cavities with the first go-no-go cavity located at an intersection between the first side surface and the front surface of the housing, and the second go-no-go cavity located at an intersection between the left side surface and the front surface of the housing for mating with the first and second go-no-go protrusions, respectively; wherein the housing further comprises a locking protrusion extending downwardly from the lower surface of the housing and the channel further comprises a depression formed in the lower surface of the channel with a rearward locking edge that engages the locking protrusion when the sensor module is inserted fully into the channel with the first and second go-no-go cavities in mating relationship with the first and second go-no-go protrusions, respectively, to thereby removably retain the sensor module within the channel in a snap-fit engagement; a first pair of elongate guides extending laterally into the channel from the right side surface of the channel to form a first elongate gap between the first pair of elongate guides; a second pair of elongate guides extend laterally into the channel from the left side surface of the channel to form a second elongate gap between the second pair of elongate guides; a first elongate ledge extending laterally outwardly from the right side surface of the housing; and a second elongate ledge extending laterally outwardly from the left side surface of the housing; wherein each elongate ledge increases in thickness from a forward end thereof so that the first and second elongate ledges can be received into the first and second elongate gaps, respectively, with increasing frictional engagement between the first and second elongate ledges and the first and second elongate gaps, respectively, the sensor module is pushed further into the channel during installation of the sensor module into the channel to ensure at least one of a positive snap-fit engagement between the locking protrusion and the locking edge and a snug fit between the sensor module and the channel.
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Specification