×

Thermal fuel level detector

  • US 5,022,263 A
  • Filed: 08/02/1989
  • Issued: 06/11/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A thermal fuel level detector for detecting a level of fuel remaining in a fuel tank, comprising:

  • a substrate;

    a self-heating temperature sensing resistor means formed on said substrate and having a relatively large temperature resistance coefficient and a relatively small resistance value, for detecting its resistance value as a function of its temperature, and self-heating temperature sensing resistor means being adapted to be dipped in said fuel remaining in said fuel tank;

    a temperature compensating temperature sensing resistor means formed on said substrate and having a temperature resistance coefficient substantially equal to a temperature resistance coefficient of said self-heating temperature sensing resistor means and a relatively large resistance value, said temperature compensating sensing resistor means being adapted to be dipped in said fuel to detect an atmospheric temperature within said fuel tank and a temperature of said fuel; and

    an electrical circuit means connected to both said self-heating temperature sensing resistor means and said temperature compensating temperature sensing resistor means for compensating said resistance value detected by said self-heating temperature sensing resistor means for variations in atmospheric temperature and in said temperature of said fuel, whereby a change in said resistance value of said self-heating temperature sensing resistor means responsive to cooling caused by heat of vaporization on a portion thereof which is dipped in said fuel is detected as a differential output voltage which provides an indication of said level of fuel remaining in said fuel tank.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×