Filling level sensor

• US 20010032507A1
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Eck, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 6,508,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/32 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A filling level sensor (2) for a fuel container (1) of a motor vehicle has two lever arms (4, 5). One of the lever arms (4) supports a float (10), while the other lever arm (5) is prestressed against the bottom of the fuel container (1). A detecting device (6) for detecting the filling level in the fuel container (1) determines the difference between the positions of the lever arms (4, 5). The detection of the filling level in the fuel container (1) is hereby rendered very accurate.

Claims

1. A filling level sensor for a liquid container, in particular a fuel container for a motor vehicle, having a lever arm supporting a float, having a support, provided for fastening in the liquid container, for bearing the lever arm, and having a detecting device for detecting the position of the float, defined by a second lever arm (5), provided for the purpose of prestressing against a bottom of the liquid container in the region of the float (10) and by a detecting device (6) for determining the position of the second lever arm (5).

2. The filling level sensor as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the second lever arm (5) is shaped for adjusting at least one magnet (18), and wherein the detecting device (6) has a magnetic sensor (23).

3. The filling lever sensor as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein the detecting device (6) is shaped for determining the difference in the deflections of the lever arms (4, 5).

4. The filling lever sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein magnets (17, 18) which can be adjusted by the two lever arms (4, 5) are respectively situated opposite one another with opposite polarization, and wherein the magnetic sensor (23) is arranged between the range of movement of the magnets (17, 18).

5. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the second lever arm (5) has a lever wire (12) which is angled off to form a bearing axis of the bearing (14) in the support (3).

6. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever wire (12) has a bend (28) in its region provided for bearing against the bottom.

7. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the second lever arm (5) has a cam disk (16) for adjusting the magnet (18).

8. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnet (18) of the second lever arm (5) is prestressed indirectly or directly against the cam disk (16).

9. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnet of the second lever arm (5) is constructed as a cam disk (32).

10. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (3) has a flange (7), which can be inserted in an opening (8) in the fuel container (1), and in each case guides (19, 20) for the magnets (17, 18) of the lever arms (4, 5), and a cutout (25), which is sealed off from the fuel container (1) and serves to hold the magnetic sensor (23).

11. The filling level sensor as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever wire (11, 12) has a bend in the region of the cam disk (15, 16, 31, 32), and wherein the cam disk (15, 16, 31, 32) is clipped to the lever wire (11, 12).