Lever gauge with hinged arms

• US 6,170,328 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Inventors: Horvath, Agoston, Ross, Herbert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOO, DENNIS S
• Application Number:
  US09/369,126
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 733/17, 733/05--06, 733/09, 733/13--15, 733/18--225, 73D/IG.5, 116/229
• US Class Current: 73/305
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/32 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float

Abstract

Liquid level lever gauge with a hinged counterweight segment, or a hinged float arm segment or both a hinged float arm segment and a hinged counterweight segment. The invention permits lever arm gauges to be used in liquid storage tanks having small openings through which the gauge can be inserted.

Claims

1. A liquid level gauge comprising:

(a) a gauge head adapted for mounting to a portion of a liquid storage container;

(b) a float arm structure having an axial member, said axial member defining an axis and being rotatably mounted to said gauge head and depending therefrom;

(c) said float arm structure including a float arm segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member, and a counterweight segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member and opposite the direction of extension of said float arm segment;

(d) said counterweight segment having an elongate inner arm section, an elongate outer arm section and a hinge section;

said inner arm section being rigidly connected to said axial member for movement through an arc defining a first plane;

said hinge section being connected at a first end to an outer end of said inner arm section and connected at an opposite end to an inner end of said outer arm section;

said hinge section being deflectable to allow movement of said outer arm section between a first configuration in which said outer arm section is in a predetermined position with respect to said inner arm section and a second configuration in which said outer arm section is not in said predetermined position with respect to said inner arm section;

said hinge section providing a biasing force for urging said outer arm section into said first configuration; and

(e) said float arm segment having an elongate float arm section rigidly attached to said axial member for movement through an arc; and

(f) a float connected to an outer end of said elongate float arm section.

2. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined position constitutes said outer arm section being longitudinally aligned with said inner arm section.

3. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein said hinge section comprises a close wound cylindrical helical extension spring, said spring, when in an unflexed condition, defining a cylindrical bore and having an initial tension.

4. A gauge according to claim 3, wherein said outer end of said inner arm section and said inner end of said outer arm section are separated by a distance within the range of about 1 inch to about 2 inch.

5. A gauge according to claim 3, wherein said spring has an initial tension within the range of about 2 pounds to about 7 pounds.

6. A gauge according to claim 3, further comprising:

a circular groove formed on said outer arm section near said inner end;

a circular groove formed on said inner arm section near said outer end;

wire segments formed on each end of said spring;

each said wire segment being bent inwardly into a region constituting a longitudinal extension of said cylindrical bore of said spring; and

said inner and outer ends, respectively, of said outer and inner arm sections being positioned within said bore and said wire segments being positioned within said circular grooves so as to secure said arm sections to said hinge section.

7. A gauge according to claim 3, further comprising:

upset regions formed near said inner end of said outer arm section and near said outer end of said inner arm section;

each said upset region having a maximum lateral dimension which exceeds the diameter of said spring bore when said spring is in an unflexed condition;

portions of said arm sections including said upset regions being positioned within said spring bore, said upset regions radially flexing adjacent portions of said spring and producing a bias force between said spring and said upset regions, thereby securing said arm sections to said hinge section.

8. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein said hinge section comprises first and second guide members and an elastic member connected therebetween;

said first guide member being connected at a first end to said inner end of said outer arm section;

said second guide member being connected at a first end to said outer end of said inner arm section;

each said guide member including a longitudinally oriented body portion and a terminal portion, said terminal portion being disposed at a second end of said body portion and defining a mating surface facing away from said body portion and generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction;

each said guide member defining a passage formed through said mating surface and extending into said body portion to an anchor point;

said elastic member having a first end secured at the anchor point of said first guide member, extending through said passages in said first and second guide members, and having a second end secured at the anchor point of said second guide member;

said elastic member providing a biasing force for urging said mating surfaces into juxtaposition.

9. A gauge according to claim 8, wherein said elastic member is a cylindrical helical extension spring held in tension when said mating surfaces are juxtaposed.

10. A gauge according to claim 8, further comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to one of said terminal portions;

said magnet producing a magnetic force attracting said mating surfaces of said guide members together when said mating surfaces are juxtaposed.

11. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein said hinge section is only deflectable in predetermined directions, said predetermined directions not lying in said first plane.

12. A gauge according to claim 11, wherein said hinge section comprises a flat leaf spring;

said spring having a rectangular cross section with a thickness and a width, said thickness being smaller than said width, and said spring being connected to said inner arm section such that said width is oriented in a substantially vertical direction during use.

13. A gauge according to claim 12, wherein said spring includes ends which are connected to said ends of said arm sections with welds.

14. A gauge according to claim 12, wherein said spring includes ends which are connected to said ends of said arm sections with pins.

15. A gauge according to claim 11, wherein said hinge section comprises:

a first hinge member and a second hinge member pivotally connected to one another to allow relative movement in a second plane;

said first hinge member being connected to said inner end of said outer arm section;

said second hinge member being connected to said outer end of said inner arm section such that said second plane is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction during use; and

an elastic member connected between said arm sections and providing a biasing force for urging said outer arm section into said first position.

16. A gauge according to claim 15, wherein said elastic member is a elastomer sleeve defining a bore;

said sleeve being connected to each said arm section;

said hinge members being positioned within said bore.

17. A gauge according to claim 15, wherein said elastic member is a cylindrical helical spring connected to each said arm section;

said hinge members being positioned within the bore of said spring.

18. A liquid level gauge comprising:

(a) a gauge head adapted for mounting to a portion of a liquid storing container;

(b) a float arm structure having an axial member, said axial member defining an axis and being rotatably mounted to said gauge head and depending therefrom;

(c) said float arm structure including a float arm segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member, and a counterweight segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member and opposite the direction of extension of said float arm segment;

(d) said float arm segment having an elongate inner float arm section, an elongate outer float arm section and a float arm hinge section;

said inner float arm section being rigidly connected to said axial member for movement through an arc defining a first plane;

said float arm hinge section being connected at a first end to an outer end of said inner float arm section and connected at an opposite end to an inner end of said outer float arm section;

said float arm hinge section being deflectable to allow movement of said outer float arm section between a first configuration in which said outer float arm section is in a predetermined position with respect to said inner float arm section and a second configuration in which said outer float arm section is not in said predetermined position with respect to said inner float arm section;

said float arm hinge section providing a biasing force for urging said outer float arm section into said first configuration; and

(e) said counterweight segment having an elongate counterweight section rigidly attached to said axial member.

19. A gauge according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined position constitutes said outer float arm section being longitudinally aligned with said inner float arm section.

20. A gauge according to claim 18, wherein said float arm hinge section comprises a close wound cylindrical helical extension spring, said spring, when in an unflexed condition, defining a cylindrical bore and having an initial tension.

21. A gauge according to claim 20, wherein said outer end of said inner float arm section and said inner end of said outer float arm section are separated by a distance within the range of about 1 inch to about 2 inches.

22. A gauge according to claim 20, wherein said spring has an initial tension within the range of about 5 pounds to about 7 pounds.

23. A gauge according to claim 20, further comprising:

a circular groove formed on said outer float arm section near said inner end;

a circular groove formed on said inner float arm section near said outer end;

wire segments formed on each end of said float arm spring;

each said wire segment being bent inwardly into a region constituting a longitudinal extension of said cylindrical bore of said float arm spring; and

said inner and outer ends, respectively, of said outer and inner float arm sections being positioned within said bore and said wire segments being positioned within said circular grooves so as to secure said float arm sections to said float arm hinge section.

24. A gauge according to claim 20, further comprising:

upset regions formed near said inner end of said outer float arm section and near said outer end of said inner float arm section;

each said upset region having a maximum lateral dimension which exceeds the diameter of said float arm spring bore when said spring is in an unflexed condition;

portions of said float arm sections including said upset regions being positioned within said float arm spring bore, said upset regions radially flexing adjacent portions of said float arm spring and producing a bias force between said float arm spring and said upset regions, thereby securing said float arm sections to said float arm hinge section.

25. A gauge according to claim 18, wherein said float arm hinge section comprises first and second guide members and an elastic member connected therebetween;

said first guide member being connected at a first end to said inner end of said outer float arm section;

said second guide member being connected at a first end to said outer end of said inner float arm section;

each said guide member including a longitudinally oriented body portion and a terminal portion, said terminal portion being disposed at a second end of said body portion and defining a mating surface facing away from said body portion and generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction;

each said guide member defining a passage formed through said mating surface and extending into said body portion to an anchor point;

said elastic member having a first end secured at the anchor point of said first guide member, extending through said passages in said first and second guide members, and having a second end secured at the anchor point of said second guide member;

said elastic member providing a biasing force for urging said mating surfaces into juxtaposition.

26. A gauge according to claim 25, wherein said elastic member is a cylindrical helical extension spring held in tension when said mating surfaces are juxtaposed.

27. A gauge according to claim 25, further comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to one of said terminal portions;

said magnet producing a magnetic force attracting said mating surfaces of said guide members together when said mating surfaces are juxtaposed.

28. A gauge according to claim 18, wherein said float arm hinge section is only deflectable in predetermined directions, said predetermined directions not lying in said first plane.

29. A gauge according to claim 28, wherein said float arm hinge section comprises a flat leaf spring;

said spring having a rectangular cross section with a thickness and a width, said thickness being smaller than said width, and said spring being connected to said inner float arm section such that said width is oriented in a substantially vertical direction during use.

30. A gauge according to claim 29, wherein said float arm spring includes ends which are connected to said ends of said arm sections with welds.

31. A gauge according to claim 29, wherein said float arm spring includes ends which are connected to said ends of said float arm sections with pins.

32. A gauge according to claim 28, wherein said float arm hinge section comprises:

a first hinge member and a second hinge member pivotally connected to one another to allow relative movement in a second plane;

said first hinge member being connected to said inner end of said outer float arm section;

said second hinge member being connected to said outer end of said inner float arm section such that said second plane is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction during use; and

an elastic member connected between said float arm sections and providing a biasing force for urging said outer float arm section into said first position.

33. A gauge according to claim 32, wherein said elastic member is a elastomer sleeve defining a bore;

said sleeve being connected to each said arm section;

said hinge members being positioned within said bore.

34. A gauge according to claim 32, wherein said elastic member is a cylindrical helical spring connected to each said arm section;

said hinge members being positioned within the bore of said spring.

35. A liquid level gauge comprising:

(a) a gauge head adapted for mounting to a portion of a liquid storing container;

(b) a float arm structure having an axial member, said axial member defining an axis and being rotatably mounted to said gauge head and depending therefrom;

(c) said float arm structure including a float arm segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member, and a counterweight segment extending from said axial member substantially perpendicular to said axis of said axial member and opposite the direction of extension of said float arm segment;

(d) said counterweight segment having an elongate inner arm section, an elongate outer arm section and a hinge section;

said inner arm section being rigidly connected to said axial member for movement through an arc;

said hinge section being connected at a first end to an outer end of said inner arm section and connected at an opposite end to an inner end of said outer arm section;

said hinge section being deflectable to allow movement of said outer arm section between a first configuration in which said outer arm section is in a predetermined position with respect to said inner arm section and a second configuration in which said outer arm section is not in said predetermined position with respect to said inner arm section;

said hinge section providing a biasing force for urging said outer arm section into said first configuration;

(e) said float arm segment having an elongate inner float arm section, an elongate outer float arm section and a float arm hinge section;

said inner float arm section being rigidly connected to said axial member for movement through an arc;

said float arm hinge section being connected at a first end to an outer end of said inner float arm section and connected at an opposite end to an inner end of said outer float arm section;

said float arm hinge section being deflectable to allow movement of said outer float arm section between a first configuration in which said outer float arm section is in a predetermined position with respect to said inner float arm section and a second configuration in which said outer float arm section is not in said predetermined position with respect to said inner float arm section;

said float arm hinge section providing a biasing force for urging said outer float arm section into said first configuration; and

(f) a float connected to an outer end of said elongate float arm section, said float being buoyant so as to remain at the surface of said liquid.