Liquid level indicating device

• US 4,671,121 A
• Filed: 11/06/1985
• Issued: 06/09/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bankamerica Corporation San Francisco CA
• Original Assignee: BankAmerica Corporation (Bank of America Corp.)
• Inventors: Schieler, Leroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Frankfort, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US06/795,658
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 73/313, 73/317, 73/318, 73/308, 340/623, 340/625, 338/33, 4/393, 4/399, 4/401, 137/426, 137/434
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid level indicating device for a fuel tank adaptable for use in any size fuel tank comprising a mounting plate, a support arm depending therefrom, a float arm, a float, a linear wire-wound resistor, a sliding contact member, a device for varying the angle of tilt of the float arm, a device for varying the distance of the arc through which the float sweeps relative to the support arm, and a device for adjusting the effective resistance range of said resistor by controlling the length of travel of the sliding contact member along the linear wire-wound resistor.

Claims

1. A liquid level indicating device for a fuel tank comprising:

(a) a mounting plate adapted to be secured over a top opening of said tank;

(b) a support arm depending rigidly from said plate projecting toward an opposite end of said tank in a direction generally perpendicular to said plate;

(c) an elongated linear wire-wound resistor mounted on said support arm such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support arm, said resistor adapted to be connected in circuit with indicating means to send signals indicating varying resistance values;

(d) a float arm pivotally mounted on said support arm such that said float arm is pivotal between maximum raised and minimum lowered positions and thereby defining an angle of tilt therebetween;

(e) a float connected to said float arm, said float movable between raised and lowered positions in response to changes in the liquid level in said tank, said float sweeping through an arc;

2. (f) a sliding contact member mounted on said float arm, said sliding contact member movable along a length of said resistor in response to movement of said float arm such that said sliding contact member slides along said resistor in the direction of movement of said float arm to vary the effective resistance of said resistor;

(g) means for varying the angle of tilt between a maximum allowable raised position and a minimum allowable lowered position of said float arm and for varying the total distance of said arc through which said float is capable of sweeping relative to said support arm; and

(h) means for selecting a desired angle of tilt between the maximum raised position and the minimum lowered position of said float arm so as to set a desired maximum raised position and minimum lowered position and thereby adjusting the effective resistance range of said resistor throughout its entire range by controlling the length of travel of said sliding contact member along said resistor.

4. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 2, further comprising an upper limit stop and a lower limit stop positioned at upper and lower ends of a passageway through which said sliding contact member travels as it slides along said resistor, said upper limit stop limiting the upward travel of said sliding contact member, said stop pin limiting the lower limit of travel of said sliding contact member, said stop pin being removable to permit a wider range of lower end travel of said sliding contact member, said lower limit stop being adjustable to limit said lower end travel of said sliding contact member when said stop pin has been removed.

5. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 2, wherein a direction of projection from said housing of said float arm is reversible thereby providing a liquid level indicating device wherein increasing resistance indicates decreasing fuel level when said float arm is in one position and wherein decreasing resistance indicates decreasing fuel level when said float arm is in a reversed position.

6. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 2, wherein said means for positioning said pin at varying positions along said housing comprises a plurality of holes provided in said housing, each hole bored through an outer wall and an inner wall of said housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support arm, said holes disposed in linear relationship to each other.

7. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 2, wherein said means for positioning said pin at varying positions along said housing comprises a slot provided in said housing, said slot bored through an outer wall and an inner wall of said housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support arm, and means for securing said pin in a selected position along said slot.

8. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 5, wherein said holes are disposed in linear relationship to each other such that the axis connecting said plurality of holes forms an angle in the range of about 15°

to 45°

in relation to the longitudinal axis of said support arm.

9. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 6, wherein the axis passing through said slot forms an angle in the range of about 15°

to 45°

in relation to the longitudinal axis of said support arm.

10. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 7, wherein said axis forms an angle of about 30°

in relation to the longitudinal axis of said support arm.

11. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 8, wherein said axis forms an angle of about 30°

in relation to the longitudinal axis of said support arm.

12. A liquid level indicating device according to claim 2, wherein said resistor is mounted within said housing by means permitting removal and replacement of said resistor in a reversed position such that said sliding contact member slides along said resistor in response to movement of said float arm, whereby in one position of said resistor, increasing resistance indicates decreasing fuel level, and in a reversed position of said resistor, decreasing resistance indicates decreasing fuel level.

3. A liquid level indicating device for a fuel tank comprising:

(a) a mounting plate adapted to be secured over a top opening of said tank;

(b) a support arm depending rigidly from said plate projecting toward an opposite end of said tank in a direction generally perpendicular to said plate;

(c) a housing mounted on said support arm;

(d) an elongated linear wire-wound resistor mounted within said housing such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support arm, said resistor adapted to be connected in circuit with indicating means to send signals indicating varying resistance values;

(e) a pin;

(f) means for positioning said pin at one of varying positions along said housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support arm;

(g) a float arm mounted on said pin such that said float arm is pivotal between maximum raised and minimum lowered positions, the angle of tilt between the maximum allowable raised position and the minimum allowable lowered position of said float arm being adjustable by varying the position of said pin along said housing;

(h) a float connected to said float arm, said float movable between raised and lowered positions in response to changes in the liquid level in said tank, said float sweeping through an arc, the total distance of said arc from said support arm being adjustable by varying the position of said pin along said housing;

(i) a sliding contact member mounted on said float arm, said sliding contact member movable along a length of said resistor in response to movement of said float arm such that said sliding contact member slides along said resistor in the direction of movement of said float arm to vary the effective resistance of said resistor; and

(j) a stop pin adapted to be mounted in said housing at varying positions along the length of said resistor to select a desired angle of tilt between the maximum raised position and a desired minimum lowered position of said float arm, thereby defining a length of travel of said sliding contact member along said resistor permitting adjustability of a resistance range from the maximum raised position to the minimum lowered position of said float arm.