Adjustable LPG gauge

• US 5,072,618 A
• Filed: 09/21/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Carl A., Hrncir, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASICH, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US07/585,997
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 73/317, 73/322.5
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/32 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/34 using mechanically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

Ad adjustable gauge 10 is disclosed for use in indicating the level of LP gas in a tank within a range of tank diameters, for example between thirty and forty-one inches. A significant advantage of the LP gas gauge 10 is that a single gauge can be easily adapted for use in a tank of diameter within the pre-selected range by simply removing a length of portion 44 of the float rod roughly equal to the difference in the diameter of the maximum tank for which the gauge is adapted and the actual diameter of the tank in which the tank is entitled.

Claims

1. An adjustable gauge for use in measuring the level of LP gas in a storage tank where the storage has a height lying within a range from a minimum height to a maximum height, comprising:

a gauge head mounted on the tank, said gauge head including a gear assembly having a first gear mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis and a second gear mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a second axis at an angle to the first axis, the first and second gears each having teeth which are engaged so that rotation of one gear includes a corresponding rotation in the other gear;

a float rod having a first end and a second end, the float rod being secure at its first end to the first gear of the gear assembly, the length of the float rods suitably dimensioned for installing the adjustable gauge in a tank of height equal to the maximum height;

an elongated float formed out of two portions, one of said float portions having means to receive the second end of said float rod, said float capable of floating in LP gas and supporting the float and float rod through its buoyancy, said float engaged to the float rod at the second end thereof;

the adjustable gauge being adjusted for use in a specific height tank by disengaging the float from the float rod, removing a length of the float rod from the second end thereof, approximately equal to the difference in height between the maximum height and the actual height of the tank, and reengaging the float on the float rod.

2. The adjustable gauge of claim 1 wherein the gauge is suitable for installation in a storage tank having a height in the range from 41 to 30 inches.

3. The adjustable gauge of claim 1 wherein the length of the float rod is about 36 inches for a fluid tank of height 41 inches.

4. The adjustable gauge of claim 1 wherein the first end of the float rod has a first portion and a second portion at right angles thereto, the second portion being varied in length to adjust the gauge to a specific tank height.

5. The adjustable gauge of claim 1 wherein said LP gas in the storage tank is pressurized at a pressure up to 750 psi, said float retaining the buoyancy to support the float and float rod when exposed to LP gas at 750 psi.