Liquid level detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. A liquid level detecting apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
- a tank for storing liquid;
an ultrasonic sensor disposed in a bottom of the tank;
a bracket for accommodating and holding the ultrasonic sensor therein; and
a fixing member for pressing the ultrasonic sensor toward an inner surface of the bracket to cause an ultrasonic generation surface of the ultrasonic sensor to closely touch the inner surface of the bracket, so that the ultrasonic sensor transmits an ultrasonic wave into the liquid from a front surface provided opposite to the inner surface and receives a reflection wave of the ultrasonic wave,wherein the bracket has a through hole that communicates an inner space of the bracket and an outer space of the bracket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guide pipe is formed from a metal material, and its internal cross section has a circular shape whose diametric dimension gradually becomes smaller with a distance from an ultrasonic sensor. That is, the guide pipe is formed so that a route for transmitting an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic sensor may be tapered from this ultrasonic sensor toward a reflector plate. Thus, the acoustic pressure level of the ultrasonic wave which enters the reflector plate can be made higher than a value in a prior-art liquid level detecting apparatus. Accordingly, the energy of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic sensor can be utilized for liquid level detection at a high efficiency, so that a fuel liquid level detecting apparatus capable of accurate liquid level detection can be provided.
31 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A liquid level detecting apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
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a tank for storing liquid; an ultrasonic sensor disposed in a bottom of the tank; a bracket for accommodating and holding the ultrasonic sensor therein; and a fixing member for pressing the ultrasonic sensor toward an inner surface of the bracket to cause an ultrasonic generation surface of the ultrasonic sensor to closely touch the inner surface of the bracket, so that the ultrasonic sensor transmits an ultrasonic wave into the liquid from a front surface provided opposite to the inner surface and receives a reflection wave of the ultrasonic wave, wherein the bracket has a through hole that communicates an inner space of the bracket and an outer space of the bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification