Fuel level sensor with miniaturized ceramic resistor card

• US 6,209,392 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Rapala, Gregg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/224,610
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 73/313, 73/317, 338/33
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A fuel level sensor is provided having a contact arm pivotally mounted to a frame adjacent a cam that translates the pivotal motion of the arm into a linear motion so that a contact arm may move linearly across a miniaturized resistor card.

Claims

1. A fluid level sensor comprising:

a frame;

an arm pivotally mounted to the frame at a first end of the arm;

a buoyant member attached to the arm at the second end;

a cam attached to the arm at the first end at a pivot point;

a contact arm abutting the cam;

a resistor card attached to the frame having conductive traces adhered thereto that are aligned parallel to one another along the length of the resistor card; and

a contact finger attached to the contact arm, wherein upon movement of the arm the cam rotates around the pivot point causing the contact arm to move and causing the contact finger to slide along the conductive traces of the resistor card in order to provide a change in resistance value.

2. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein the cam includes an outer surface having a helical shape and the contact arm having a first end that rides along the outer surface of the cam.

3. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein the cam includes a slot having a helical shape and the contact arm having a post that protrudes through the slot of the cam.

4. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein the resistor card is formed of a ceramic material and includes thick film resistors adhered thereto.

5. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein a spring is mounted to the contact arm.

6. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein buoyant member is pivotally mounted to the arm and the buoyant member is nitrile rubber ebonite material.

7. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein the resistor card has an area of less than 300 square millimeters.

8. The fuel level sensor of claim 1 wherein the frame is made of plastic.