Fuel tank gauge

• US 4,724,706 A
• Filed: 12/22/1986
• Issued: 02/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Kelch Corp. (Bemis Manufacturing Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kelch Corp. (Bemis Manufacturing Company)
• Inventors: Stiever, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASICH, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US06/945,030
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 73/320, 73/319, 73/307, 116/228, 116/229
• US Class Current: 73/320
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/50 using mechanically actuated indicating means

Abstract

There is disclosed a fuel tank gauge of the type having a sensor such as a float for sensing the level of fuel in the tank. The float drives a fuel level indicator. The indicator is visible from the exterior of the tank when the sensor is installed in the tank. A first scale is positioned adjacent to the indicator so that the position of the indicator relative to the first scale indicates the level of fuel in the tank. A second scale is also adjacent to the indicator so that the position of the indicator provides information with respect to the amount of oil needed to be added to the tank. Accurate gas/oil fuel mixtures can be prepared directly in the tank through the use of the invention.

Claims

1. In a fuel tank gauge of the type having a float for sensing the level of fuel in a fuel tank, a rotatable spiral shaft controlled by the float for rotating a fuel level indicator needle on a substantially vertical axis, and a first stationary scale of fuel level markings positioned adjacent to said needle so that when the float is positioned in the fuel tank the portion of the scale to which the needle points indicates the level of fuel in the fuel tank, an improvement comprising:

a second stationary scale having volume markings positioned adjacent to said same needle so that when the float is positioned in the fuel tank the portion of the second scale to which the needle points indicates the volume of oil needed to be added to the fuel tank to raise the fuel level in the tank to achieve, upon the addition of additional gas to a predetermined fill level, a predetermined fill level in the fuel tank for a predetermined gas/oil ratio fuel mixture for that tank;

said needle and scales being positioned in a fuel tank cap so as to be capable of being visible from the exterior of the fuel tank when the float is installed in the fuel tank;

said cap having an upper transparent wall, a side wall, and a lower substantially horizontal wall, said lower wall having a through hole through which the shaft extends, said upper, side, and lower walls forming a cage for the needle;

both of said scales being in an arc pattern on the upper side of said lower wall around said substantially vertical axis; and

said first scale having the indicated level decrease in one direction around the arc, and said second scale having the indicated volume increase in that same direction;

whereby the lower wall substantially separates said needle and scales from the fuel in the tank.