APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR FUEL LEVEL SENSING

• US 20150268087A1
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Inventors: Klein, Arthur S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,435,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for fuel level sensing are described herein. An example sensor includes a sealed housing comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween. The sensor includes a float surrounding an exterior of the sealed housing and is configured to move longitudinally along the sealed housing between the first end second ends. The float may include a magnetic element configured to provide a magnetic field. The sealed housing may include an electrically conductive spring coupled to at least one of the first end or the second end, and may include a ferrous element coupled to the electrically conductive spring and configured to be displaced relative to the sealed housing based on the magnetic field. The electrically conductive spring may expand and retract to adjust a resistance of the electrically conductive spring in response to the ferrous element being displaced.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a sealed housing comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween; and

a float arranged circumferentially around a portion of the sealed housing and configured to move longitudinally along the sealed housing between the first and second ends, the float comprising one of a magnetic element or a ferrous element,

wherein the sealed housing comprises;

an electrically conductive spring, the electrically conductive spring coupled to at least one of the first end or the second end; and

the other of the magnetic element or the ferrous element, which is coupled to the electrically conductive spring and configured to be displaced relative to the sealed housing based on a magnetic field of the magnetic element interacting with the ferrous element, and wherein the electrically conductive spring is further configured to expand and retract to adjust a resistance of the electrically conductive spring in response to displacement of the magnetic element or the ferrous element relative to the sealed housing.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the float is configured to move longitudinally along the sealed housing based on a fuel level of a fuel tank.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sealed housing further comprises a balance spring coupled to at least one of the first or second ends.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive spring is coaxially arranged relative to the balance spring.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the balance spring is electrically conductive and coupled to the electrically conductive spring.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the first and second ends each comprise a connection cap, at least one of the connection caps configured to provide a conductive path including the balance spring and the electrically conductive spring.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein windings of the coil spring define a conical shape.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a control circuit configured to measure a resistance of a conductive path;

a fuel sensor coupled to the control circuit and having a conductive path, the fuel sensor comprising;

a balance spring;

a variable resistance spring coupled in series with the balance spring; and

one of a ferrous element or a magnetic element coupled to each of the balance spring and the variable resistance spring, the one of the ferrous element or magnetic element configured to apply a force to each of the balance spring and the variable resistance spring based on a magnetic force applied to the one of the ferrous element or magnetic element,

wherein a resistance of the conductive path is based on the force applied to each of the balance spring and the variable resistance spring.

9. The fuel sensor of claim 8, wherein the balance spring is coupled to a first end of the fuel sensor and the variable resistance spring is coupled to a second end of the fuel sensor.

10. The fuel sensor of claim 8, wherein the variable resistance spring comprises a series of windings having a conical shape.

11. The fuel sensor of claim 8, wherein the magnetic force is applied between an external float comprising the other of the ferrous element or magnetic element.

12. The fuel sensor of claim 8, wherein the ferrous element comprises a ferrous material of one of iron, nickel, or a combination thereof.

13. The fuel sensor of claim 8, wherein the variable resistance spring is coaxially arranged relative to the balance spring.

14. The fuel sensor of claim 13, wherein each of the variable resistance spring and the balance spring are coupled to a first end of the fuel sensor.

15. A method of sensing fuel levels in a fuel tank, the method comprising:

sensing a resistance of a conductive path using a resistance sensor, the resistance sensor comprising;

a sealed housing comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween, wherein the conductive path is arranged within the interior of the sealed housing; and

a float circumferentially surrounding an exterior of the sealed housing and configured to move longitudinally along the exterior of the sealed housing between the first end and the second end, the float comprising one of a magnetic element or a ferrous element, wherein the sealed housing comprises the other of the magnetic element or ferrous element within the interior, and wherein a magnetic field between the magnetic element and the ferrous element is configured to adjust a resistance of the conductive path, the resistance indicative of a fuel level of the fuel tank; and

translating the resistance into the fuel level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the conductive path comprises first and second springs coupled in series and the other of the magnetic element or ferrous element within the interior of the sealed housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second springs are coaxially arranged relative to one another.