Device for measuring the level of a fluid in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle

• US 7,213,456 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Muelders, Stefan, Marx, Klaus, Rollwage, Mathias, Traub, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Samir M.
• Application Number:
  US10/790,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 732/90.V, 181/124, 324/323, 367/87
• US Class Current: 73/290.00V
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves

Abstract

A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container by means of a sound guide tube and an ultrasonic transducer disposed inside the container mounted in a fluid feeding device within the container.

Claims

1. In a device for measuring the level of a fluid in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, the fuel tank including a sound guide conduit disposed in the fuel tank, a fluid feeding device in the fuel tank, and at least one ultrasonic transducer disposed near one end of the sound guide conduit for generating ultrasonic pulses and for receiving the ultrasonic pulses reflected in the region of the surface of the fluid in the fuel tank, the improvement wherein the sound guide conduit and the ultrasonic transducer are disposed in the fuel tank (1) on an outer circumference of the fluid feeding device (6), wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises a horizontal or oblique forward-flow region (11) disposed near the fuel tank bottom (12).

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) and/or the ultrasonic transducer (3) is cast, glued, welded, clipped, or screwed onto the outer circumference of the fluid feeding device (6).

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the forward-flow region (11) is straight or looped.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises at least one bend (15) with one deflection (13) each and/or at least one straight region (29) with a conduit slope angle.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises at least one reference reflection surface (19).

6. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) has at least two openings (17) communicating with the interior of the fuel tank.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises a flexible portion (39).

8. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer (3) is simultaneously a transmitter and a receiver.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fluid feeding device (6) is a fuel pumping device.

10. In a device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container, the container including a sound guide conduit disposed in the container, a fluid feeding device in the container, and at least one ultrasonic transducer disposed near one end of the sound guide conduit for generating ultrasonic pulses and for receiving the ultrasonic pulses reflected in the region of the surface of the fluid in the container, the improvement wherein the sound guide conduit and the ultrasonic transducer are disposed in the container (1) on an outer circumference of the fluid feeding device (6), wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises a horizontal or oblique forward-flow region (11) disposed near the container bottom (12).

11. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) and/or the ultrasonic transducer (3) is cast, glued, welded, clipped, or screwed onto the outer circumference of the fluid feeding device (6).

12. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the forward-flow region (11) is straight or looped.

13. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises at least one bend (15) with one deflection (13) each and/or at least one straight region (29) with a conduit slope angle.

14. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises at least one reference reflection surface (19).

15. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) has at least two openings (17) communicating with the interior of the container.

16. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sound guide conduit (2) comprises a flexible portion (39).

17. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic transducer (3) is simultaneously a transmitter and a receiver.

18. The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the fluid feeding device (6) is a fuel pumping device.