Fuel sender compensation arrangement

• US 5,666,851 A
• Filed: 08/18/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Bacon, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIRSHFELD, ANDREW HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/516,764
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 73/311-314, 73/317-20, 73/305, 340/623-625, 338/33, 116/228, 116/229
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid level sender device for measuring a level of a liquid in a tank having a first wall and a bottom wall includes a bracket mounted to the first wall of the tank, a first potentiometer mounted on the bracket, a float arm movably connected to the bracket and cooperating with the first potentiometer to generate a first variable resistance which varies according to the position relationship between the bracket and the float arm, a float mounted on the float arm which moves according to the level of the liquid in the tank and moves the float arm accordingly, a second potentiometer mounted on the bracket, and a compensation arm biased against the bottom wall of the tank and movably connected to the bracket, where the compensation arm cooperates with the second potentiometer to generate a second variable resistance which varies according to the position relationship between the bracket and the compensation arm. The first and second variable resistances are electrically connected to generate an output resistance which corresponds to the level of the liquid in the tank.

Claims

1. A liquid level sender device for measuring a level of a liquid in a tank having a first wall and a bottom wall, comprising:

a bracket mounted to the first wall of the tank;

a first resistance track;

a float arm movably connected to said bracket and having a first contact cooperating with said first resistance track to generate a first variable resistance, said first variable resistance varying according to a relative position between said bracket and said float arm;

a float mounted on said float arm, said float being moveable in accordance with the level of the liquid in the tank and moving said float arm accordingly;

a second resistance track;

a compensation arm biased against the bottom wall and movably connected to said bracket, said compensation arm having a second contact cooperating with said second resistance track to generate a second variable resistance, said second variable resistance varying according to a relative position between said bracket and said compensation arm; and

combining means for combining the first variable resistance with the second variable resistance into an output resistance corresponding to the level of the liquid in the tank.

2. A liquid level sender device according to claim 1, wherein said float arm and said compensation arm are pivotally mounted to said bracket.

3. A liquid level sender device according to claim 1, said compensation arm further comprising a foot for biasing said compensation arm relative to the bottom wall.

4. A liquid level sender device according to claim 1, further comprising a bias spring positioned between said bracket and said compensation arm for biasing said compensation arm against the bottom wall.

5. A liquid level sender device according to claim 1, further comprising a bias spring positioned between the bottom wall and said compensation arm for biasing said compensation arm against the bottom wall.

6. A liquid level sender device for measuring a level of a liquid in a tank having a first wall and a bottom wall, comprising:

a bracket mounted to the first wall of the tank;

a first potentiometer;

a float arm movably connected to said bracket and cooperating with said first potentiometer to generate a first variable resistance, said first variable resistance varying according to a relative position between said bracket and said float arm;

a float mounted on said float arm, said float being moveable in accordance with the level of the liquid in the tank and moving said float arm accordingly;

a second potentiometer; and

a compensation arm biased against the bottom wall and movably connected to said bracket, said compensation am cooperating with said second potentiometer to generate a second variable resistance, said second variable resistance varying according to a relative position between said bracket and said compensation arm,

wherein the first variable resistance is electrically connected with the second variable resistance to generate an output resistance corresponding to the level of the liquid in the tank.

7. A liquid level sender device according to claim 6, wherein said float arm and said compensation arm are pivotally mounted to said bracket.

8. A liquid level sender device according to claim 6, said compensation arm further comprising a foot for biasing said compensation arm relative to the bottom wall.

9. A liquid level sender device according to claim 6, further comprising a bias spring positioned between said bracket and said compensation arm for biasing said compensation arm against the bottom wall.

10. A liquid level sender device according to claim 6, further comprising a bias spring positioned between the bottom wall and said compensation arm for biasing said compensation am against the bottom wall.

11. A method for measuring a level of a liquid in a tank having a first wall and a bottom wall, comprising the steps of:

mounting a bracket in the tank relative to the first wall;

floating a float on the level of the liquid in the tank;

recording a first position of the float with respect to the bracket;

biasing a compensation arm against the bottom wall;

recording a second position of the compensation arm with respect to the bracket; and

comparing the first position to the second position to determine the level of the liquid in the tank.