Apparatus for measuring a fluid level
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a fluid level, comprising:
- a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level;
b) at least one rod extending from the housing;
c) a float adapted to travel along the rod;
d) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
e) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, and the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
f) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring a fluid level in a tank comprises a housing including a level indicator for displaying a measured fluid level in the tank. A rod extends from the housing and a float is adapted to travel along the rod. A first end of an elongated flexible member is attached to the float and an opposite end of the elongated flexible member is attached to a spool. The spool stores at least a portion of the elongated flexible member. The apparatus further includes a spring adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing.
44 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a fluid level, comprising:
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a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level;
b) at least one rod extending from the housing;
c) a float adapted to travel along the rod;
d) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
e) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, and the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
f) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for measuring a fluid level, comprising:
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a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level;
b) at least one rod extending from the housing;
c) a swivel top attached to the housing and a swivel bottom rotatably attached to the swivel top, wherein a proximal end portion of the rod is attached to the swivel top, and whereby the housing is rotatable relative to the swivel bottom;
d) a float adapted to travel along the rod;
e) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
f) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, and the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
g) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for measuring a fluid level, comprising:
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a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level;
b) at least one rod extending from the housing;
c) a float adapted to travel along the rod;
d) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
e) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, and the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
f) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring and the level indicator includes a plurality of readout gears in communication with the spool, the readout gears each including indicia for displaying a measured fluid level, the readout gears being rotatably mounted on a first shaft, a spring storage spool adapted to store portions of the spring, and at least two indexing gears, the indexing gears and the storage spool being rotatably mounted on a second shaft.
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19. An apparatus for measuring a fluid level, comprising:
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a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level;
b) at least one rod extending from the housing;
c) a float adapted to travel along the rod;
d) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
e) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, and the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool;
f) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing; and
g) a vent apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A tank assembly comprising:
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a) a tank defining an interior portion and provided with an opening;
b) a fluid located in the interior portion of the tank, wherein the fluid defines a fluid level; and
c) an apparatus attached to the opening of the tank, the apparatus comprising;
i) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level in the tank;
ii) an adjustable rod extending from the housing into the interior portion of the tank, the rod including a first rod and a second rod in telescoping relation to the first rod;
iii) a float adapted to travel along the adjustable rod, the float comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a through hole extends through the float from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the adjustable rod extends through the through hole;
iv) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
v) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
vi) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A tank assembly comprising:
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a) a tank defining an interior portion and provided with an opening;
b) a fluid located in the interior portion of the tank, wherein the fluid defines a fluid level; and
c) an apparatus attached to the opening of the tank, the apparatus comprising;
i) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level in the tank;
ii) an adjustable rod extending from the housing into the interior portion of the tank, the rod including a first rod and a second rod in telescoping relation to the first rod;
iii) a swivel top attached to the housing and a swivel bottom rotatably attached to the swivel top, wherein a proximal end portion of the adjustable rod is attached to the swivel top, and whereby the housing is rotatable relative to the swivel bottom;
iv) a float adapted to travel along the adjustable rod, the float comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a through hole extends through the float from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the adjustable rod extends through the through hole;
v) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
vi) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
vii) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A tank assembly comprising:
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a) a tank defining an interior portion and provided with an opening;
b) a fluid located in the interior portion of the tank, wherein the fluid defines a fluid level; and
c) an apparatus attached to the opening of the tank, the apparatus comprising;
i) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level in the tank;
ii) an adjustable rod extending from the housing into the interior portion of the tank, the rod including a first rod and a second rod in telescoping relation to the first rod;
iii) a float adapted to travel along the adjustable rod, the float comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a through hole extends through the float from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the adjustable rod extends through the through hole;
iv) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
v) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; and
vi) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring and the level indicator includes a plurality of readout gears in communication with the spool, the readout gears each including indicia for displaying a measured fluid level in the tank, the readout gears being rotatably mounted on a first shaft, a spring storage spool adapted to store portions of the spring, and at least two indexing gears, the indexing gears and storage spool being rotatably mounted on a second shaft.
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31. A tank assembly comprising:
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a) a tank defining an interior portion and provided with an opening;
b) a fluid located in the interior portion of the tank, wherein the fluid defines a fluid level; and
c) an apparatus attached to the opening of the tank, the apparatus comprising;
i) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level in the tank;
ii) an adjustable rod extending from the housing into the interior portion of the tank, the rod including a first rod and a second rod in telescoping relation to the first rod;
iii) a float adapted to travel along the adjustable rod, the float comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a through hole extends through the float from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the adjustable rod extends through the through hole;
iv) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the float;
v) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool;
vi) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing; and
vii) a vent apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification