Level meter

• US 6,871,541 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabrck) Gmbh (TI Fluid Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabrck) Gmbh (TI Fluid Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Weisse, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/410,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 732/90.R, 733/05, 733/14, 733/17, 733/13
• US Class Current: 73/314
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A level meter for motor vehicle fuel tanks comprises a float element. With the float element, a lever is connected that is adapted to be pivoted about a pivot axis. Further, the level meter comprises a position sensor as well as a position transmitter connected with the lever. At the level of the position sensor, the position transmitter is connected with the lever. The position transmitter cooperates with the position sensor in a contactless manner.

Claims

1. A level meter for the fuel tanks of motor vehicles, comprising:

a float element,

a position transmitter connected with the float element, and

a position sensor cooperating with the position transmitter, wherein the position transmitter and the position sensor cooperate in a contactless manner and wherein said position sensor further comprises a meander-shaped track, said meander-shaped track extending over an entire measuring path.

2. The level meter of claim 1, wherein the float element is connected with a pivotable lever.

3. The level meter of claim 2, wherein the position transmitter is connected with the lever at a distance to a pivot axis thereof.

4. The level meter of claim 1, wherein the position transmitter comprises a first track comprising at least one meander loop.

5. The level meter of claim 4, wherein the position transmitter comprises two tracks which comprises at least one meander loop, respectively.

6. The level meter of claim 5, wherein the tracks are offset with respect to each other by a quarter of the a meander spacing.

7. The level meter of claim 6, wherein said meander spacing is defined by a spacing of two adjacent meander loops of said meander shaped track.

8. The level meter of claim 1, wherein the position sensor is connected with an evaluating means.

9. The level meter of claim 1, wherein the position transmitter and the position sensor are a sensor/magnet system sensitive to magnetic fields.

10. A level meter for the fuel tanks of motor vehicles, comprising:

a float element;

a position transmitter connected with the float element; and

a position sensor cooperating with the position transmitter, wherein the position transmitter and the position sensor cooperate in a contactless manner, and wherein said position sensor further comprises a meander-shaped track, said meander-shaped track extending over an entire measuring path, and wherein said entire measuring path is defined by a first end position of the position transmitter and a second end position of said position transmitter, said first end position corresponding to about a lowest position of said float element, and said second end position corresponding to about a highest position of said float element.