LIQUID LEVEL DETECTING APPARATUS

• US 20120186340A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: OIKE, Toshio, TANAKA, Kenichi, SHIMIZU, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,751 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/16 including plural resistive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/32 the contact moving in an arcuate path

Abstract

A liquid level detecting apparatus is provided. A resistance plate has a plurality of elongated conductive segments arranged therein. A float is configured to be moved upward and downward depending on a displacement of a liquid level to be measured. A floating arm has one end attached to the float and the other end rotatably supported to be rotated in response to upward and downward movements of the float. A contact is configured to be slid on the plurality of conductive segments in association with a rotation of the float arm depending on the liquid level. The plurality of conductive segments comprise a plurality of first segments made of a first metal material containing at least silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd), and a plurality of second segments made of a second metal material essentially containing gold (Au).

Claims

1. A liquid level detecting apparatus, comprising:

a resistance plate having a plurality of elongated conductive segments arranged therein;

a float configured to be moved upward and downward depending on a displacement of a liquid level to be measured;

a floating arm having one end attached to the float and the other end rotatably supported to be rotated in response to upward and downward movements of the float; and

a contact configured to be slid on the plurality of conductive segments in association with a rotation of the float arm depending on the liquid level,

wherein the plurality of conductive segments comprise a plurality of first segments made of a first metal material containing at least silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd), and a plurality of second segments made of a second metal material essentially containing gold (Au).

2. The liquid level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first segment group comprising at least one first segment and a second segment group comprising at least one second segment are alternatively arranged to each other.

3. The liquid level detecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first segments include base portions contacted to the resistance plate, and top portions respectively stacked over the base portions, and

wherein the base portions are made of the first metal material, and the top portions are made of the second metal material.

4. The liquid level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second metal material contains gold (Au) in a range of 95% by mass or more.

5. The liquid level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second metal material contains a glass component.

6. The liquid level detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first metal material contains gold (Au).