Magnetically operated liquid level indicator

• US 4,512,190 A
• Filed: 04/08/1982
• Issued: 04/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Klinger AG
• Original Assignee: Klinger AG
• Inventors: Sledmere, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noland, Tom
• Application Number:
  US06/366,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 116/204, 116/228, 116/DIG. 41, 73/314, 73/319, 73/322.5, 73/DIG. 5, 335/229, 335/302, 335/306, 335/205, 335/272, 200/84 C
• US Class Current: 73/319
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/05 Liquid levels with magnetic transmission

Abstract

A liquid level indicator includes a magnetized float and a plurality of magnetized indicator elements which are pivoted by the float magnet and which have distinguishable opposite surfaces to provide the liquid level indication, the indicator elements being formed from a material which provides magnetic fields of opposite magnetic polarity which extend substantially continuously along the opposite edges of the indicator elements.

Claims

1. In a liquid level indicator including a magnetized float capable of moving as the liquid level moves;

a plurality of adjacent magnetized indicator elements disposed one above the other past which the float travels as the liquid level rises or falls, and,

support members for the indicator elements,

the indicator elements each being plate-like elements having a pair of opposed ends, a generally longitudinal axis and opposed longitudinal edges each extending from one of said pair of opposed ends to the other,

the indicator elements each being pivotable about its said horizontal axis under the action of the magnetic float when the float lies adjacent thereto so as to provide said liquid level indication,

the support members each being disposed adjacent to a respective said end of the indicator elements, and the indicator elements and support members being adapted for cooperation with one another to allow said pivotable movement of the indicator elements,

the improvement comprising;

each said indicator element being formed from a dimensionally stable collocation of magnetic particles which have been magnetized to provide a magnetic field of one polarity and of substantially constant flux density extending continuously along one longitudinal edge thereof, and a magnetic field of an opposite polarity and of substantially constant flux density extending continuously along the other longitudinal edge thereof, the adjacent edges of adjacent pairs of elements being of opposite polarity and mutually attracting except when they are in the immediate vicinity of said magnetized float; and

,

said magnetized float including a magnetized disk having an outer circumferential periphery thereof providing a single continuous magnetic pole of a single polarity and which is supported by said float with the axis of said magnetized disk vertically disposed;

said magnetized disk presenting to said slats a magnetic field that is substantially constant in magnitude throughout its entire periphery without regard to the position of angular rotation of said magnet about said vertical longitudinal axis.

2. The liquid level indicator of claim 1, in which said magnetized disk of said float is operatively associated with bar magnets having poles of like polarity positioned in contact with a central portion of said disk.

3. The liquid level indicator of claim 1, in which said magnetized disk is an annular disk providing a ring-shaped magnet, said ring-shaped magnet being supported by said float with the central longitudinal axis thereof aligned with the central longitudinal axis of said float.