Liquid Level Detector

• US 20120103090A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Oike, Toshio, Hirota, Masaki, Hirose, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 9,062,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid level detector is provided. A resistance plate has a plurality of conductive segments. A float vertically moves according to change of a liquid level to be measured. A float arm has one end attached to the float and the other end rotatably supported to rotate according to the vertical movement of the float. Contact points slide on the conductive segments with the rotation of the float arm according to the liquid level. The conductive segments are formed of a glass-sintered metallic body made of glass and gold alloy material containing a gold (Au) content equal to or greater than 18% by mass and less than 40% by mass. The contact points are formed of a gold alloy material containing a gold (Au) content equal to or greater than 32.5% by mass and less than 77% by mass.

Claims

1. A liquid level detector, comprising:

a resistance plate having a plurality of conductive segments;

a float that vertically moves according to change of a liquid level to be measured;

a float arm having one end attached to the float and the other end rotatably supported to rotate according to the vertical movement of the float; and

contact points that slide on the conductive segments with the rotation of the float arm according to the liquid level,

wherein the conductive segments are formed of a glass-sintered metallic body made of glass and gold alloy material containing a gold (Au) content equal to or greater than 18% by mass and less than 40% by mass, and

wherein the contact points are formed of a gold alloy material containing a gold (Au) content equal to or greater than 32.5% by mass and less than 77% by mass.

2. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments does not include silver (Ag).

3. The liquid level detector according to claim 2, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments includes at least one of palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt).

4. The liquid level detector according to claim 3, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments includes at least one selected from a group consisting of cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), ruthenium (Ru) and copper (Cu).

5. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments includes at least gold (Au), silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd).

6. The liquid level detector according to claim 5, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments containing a silver-palladium (Ag—

Pd) alloy content equal to or greater than 60% by mass and equal to or less than 82% by mass.

7. The liquid level detector according to claim 5, wherein the gold alloy material of the conductive segments includes at least one selected from a group consisting of cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), ruthenium (Ru), copper (Cu) and platinum (Pt).

8. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, wherein the gold alloy material of the contact points includes at least one selected from a group consisting of nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn).

9. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, wherein the gold alloy material of the contact points includes a nickel (Ni) content equal to or greater than 23% by mass and equal to or less than 67.5% by mass.