Apparatus for detecting liquid level

• US 7,343,799 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Maruo, Hisafumi, Ooishi, Manabu, Nagakura, Shunsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, RODNEY T
• Application Number:
  US10/228,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 732/90.R, 733/05, 733/14, 733/17
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

In an apparatus for detecting a liquid level, a sliding arm is supported on the resistance plate so as to pivot thereon in accordance with the liquid level. A plurality of first conductive segments is arranged on the resistance plate in a pivoting direction of the sliding arm. Adjacent ones of the first conductive segments are connected by resistive elements respectively. A plurality of second conductive segments are electrically connected to each other, and arranged on the resistance plate in the pivoting direction. A first contact part is provided on the sliding arm, and slides on the first conductive segments in accordance with a pivoting movement of the sliding arm. A second contact part is provided on the sliding arm, and slides on the second conductive segments in accordance with the pivoting movement of the sliding arm. The first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged such that a first timing, at which the first contact part is brought into contact with one of the first conductive segment, is synchronized with a second timing, at which the second contact part is brought into contact with one of the second conductive segments, while a third timing, at which the first contact part is detached from the one first conductive segment, is synchronized with a fourth timing, at which the second contact part is detached from the one second conductive segment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a liquid level comprising:

a resistance plate;

a sliding arm pivoting above the resistance plate in accordance with the liquid level;

a plurality of first conductive segments, arranged on the resistance plate in a pivoting direction of the sliding arm;

resistive elements, each connecting adjacent ones of the first conductive segments;

a plurality of second conductive segments corresponding to said plurality of first conductive segments, electrically connected to each other, and arranged on the resistance plate in the pivoting direction;

a first contact part, provided on the sliding arm, and sliding on the first conductive segments in accordance with a pivoting movement of the sliding arm;

wherein the first contact part has a first semisphere portion; and

a second contact part, provided on the sliding arm, and sliding on the second conductive segments in accordance with the pivoting movement of the sliding arm;

wherein the second contact part has a second semisphere portion;

wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged such that a first timing, at which the first contact part is brought into point contact with one of the first conductive segments, is synchronized with a second timing, at which the second contact part is brought into point contact with only one of the second conductive segments which corresponds to the one first conductive segment, while a third timing, at which the first contact part is detached from the one first conductive segment, is synchronized with a fourth timing, at which the second contact part is detached from the one second conductive segment;

wherein a width of each first conductive segment in the sliding direction of the sliding arm is different from a width of each second conductive segment in the sliding direction of the sliding arm; and

wherein each interval between the plurality of first conductive segments in the sliding direction of the sliding arm is different from each interval between the plurality of second conductive segments in the sliding direction of the sliding arm.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged such that a first angle in which the sliding arm is pivoted during the first contact part is brought into contact with the one first conductive segment, is identical with a second angle in which the sliding arm is pivoted during the second contact part is brought into contact with the one second conductive segment.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein opposed two sides of each of the first conductive segments extend in a first direction;

and

wherein opposed two sides of each of the second conductive segments extend in parallel with a second direction which is parallel with the first direction.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a direction perpendicular to the first direction is a third direction, a distance from a pivot center of the sliding arm to a contact point of the first contact part is defined as R1, and a distance from the pivot of the sliding arm to a contact point of the segment contact part is defined as R2;

wherein an angle between the third direction and an extending direction of the sliding arm at the first timing is defined as θ

1,

wherein an angle between the third direction and an extending direction of the sliding arm at the third timing is defined as θ

2,

wherein a first width of each first segment in the third direction is defined as R1(cos θ

2-cos θ

1), and

wherein a second width of each second segment in the third direction is defined as R2(cos θ

2-cos θ

1).

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conductive segments are arranged on a first concentric circle of the pivot center, and each of the first conductive segments extends in a radial direction of the first concentric circle;

and

wherein the plurality of second conductive segments are arranged on a second concentric circle of the pivot center, and each of the second conductive segments extends in a radial direction of the second concentric circle.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein a dimension ratio of a first diameter of the first semisphere portion to a first width of one of the first conductive segments in the pivoting direction, is substantially identical with a dimension ratio of a second diameter of the second semisphere portion to a second width of one of the second conductive segments in the pivoting direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second semisphere portion has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first semisphere portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first semisphere portion and the second semisphere portion have a same diameter.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first sliding part, wherein said first sliding part is in a region of said resistance plate apart from a center of rotation of said sliding arm; and

a second sliding part, wherein said second sliding part is in a region of said resistance plate that is close to the center of rotation of said sliding arm.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one end portion of each of the first sliding part and the second sliding part is set to be an empty point;

and

wherein one end portion of each of the first sliding part and the second sliding part is set to be a full point.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said resistive element is disposed between the full point of the first sliding part and the first conductive segment.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sliding arm comprises a conductive member.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first contact part and said second contact part of said sliding arm are shifted on the same first conductive segment and the same second conductive segment;

and

wherein said detecting accuracy is prevented from being degraded.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of first conductive segments and said plurality of second conductive segments are arranged in the sliding direction of the sliding part at different timing intervals and with different widths.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding arm comprises a conductive member wherein the first and second sliding part are electrically connected to each other through the sliding arm.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding arm entirely covers a plurality of first conductive segments and a plurality of second conductive segments at a given time.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged such that a first angle in which the sliding arm is pivoted during the first contact part is brought into contact with only one first conductive segment, is identical with a second angle in which the sliding arm is pivoted during the second contact part is brought into contact with only one second conductive segment.

18. An apparatus for detecting a liquid level comprising:

a resistance plate;

a sliding arm, pivoting above the resistance plate in accordance with the liquid level;

a plurality of first conductive segments, arranged on the resistance plate in a pivoting direction of the sliding arm;

resistive elements, each connecting adjacent ones of the first conductive segments;

a plurality of second conductive segments, electrically connected to each other, and arranged on the resistance plate in the pivoting direction;

a first contact part, sliding on the first conductive segments in accordance with a pivoting movement of the sliding arm;

wherein the first contact part has a first semisphere portion; and

a second contact part, sliding on the second conductive segments in accordance with the pivoting movement of the sliding arm;

wherein the second contact part has a second semisphere portion;

wherein the first contact part and the second contact part are provided on the sliding arm; and

wherein a width of each first conductive segment in the sliding direction of the sliding arm is different from a width of each second conductive segment in the sliding direction of the sliding arm;

wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged such that a first timing, at which the first contact part is brought into point contact with one of the first conductive segments, is synchronized with a second timing, at which the second contact part is brought into point contact with one of the second conductive segments, while a third timing, at which the first contact part is detached from the one first conductive segment, is synchronized with a fourth timing, at which the second contact part is detached from the one second conductive segment.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein opposed two sides of each of the first conductive segments extend in a first direction;

wherein opposed two sides of each of the second conductive segments extend in parallel with a second direction which is parallel with the first direction;

wherein a direction perpendicular to the first direction is a third direction, a distance from a pivot center of the sliding arm to a contact point of the first contact part is defined as R1, and a distance from the pivot of the sliding arm to a contact point of the segment contact part is defined as R2;

wherein an angle between the third direction and an extending direction of the sliding arm at the first timing is defined as θ

1,

wherein an angle between the third direction and an extending direction of the sliding arm at the third timing is defined as θ

2,

wherein a first width of each first segment in the third direction is defined as R1(cos θ

2-cos θ

1), and

wherein a second width of each second segment in the third direction is defined as R2(cos θ

2-cos θ

1).

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein each interval between the plurality of first conductive segments in the sliding direction of the sliding arm is different from each interval between the plurality of second conductive segments in the sliding direction of the sliding arm.