Filling level sensor

• US 6,508,121 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Eck, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, KATINA M
• Application Number:
  US09/813,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 733/17, 733/18, 733/13, 733/225, 340/625, 338/33
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/32 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A filling level sensor (2) for a fuel container (1) of a motor vehicle has two lever arms (4, 5). One of the lever arms (4) supports a float (10), while the other lever arm (5) is prestressed against the bottom of the fuel container (1). A detecting device (6) for detecting the filling level in the fuel container (1) determines the difference between the positions of the lever arms (4, 5). The detection of the filling level in the fuel container (1) is hereby rendered very accurate.

Claims

1. A fluid level sensor for use with an automobile fuel tank comprising:

(a) a first lever arm-pivotally mounted within the fuel tank and having a float element attached to one end thereof to effect rotation of the lever arm by changes in the fluid level;

(b) a second lever arm pivotally mounted within the fuel tank and having one end in contact with the bottom wall of the tank to effect rotation of the lever arm by changes in the position of the bottom wall;

(c) a magnet operably associated with each of the first and second lever arms, the magnets being oriented and positioned with respect to each other to produce a combined magnetic field representative of the level of fuel; and

(d) a magnetic field sensor-positioned to sense the combined magnetic field.

2. A fluid level sensor as defined in claim 1 wherein the magnets operably associated with the first and second lever arms are contained within the magnetic field sensor, are insulated from the interior of the tank, and mechanical structure is provided to operably connect the magnets to the lever arms.

3. A fluid level sensor as defined in claim 2 wherein the mechanical structure comprises a cam disk fastened to each lever arm for rotation when the respective lever arm pivots.

4. A fluid level sensor as defined in claim 3 have profiles related to the configuration of the fuel tank.

5. A fluid level sensor as defined in claim 3 wherein the cam discs are magnetic and are mounted with opposing polarities.

6. A fluid level sensor as defined in claim 3 wherein the mechanical structure further includes plungers that operably contact the cam discs at one end and are connected to the magnets at the other end.