Liquid level detector

• US 7,458,261 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Miyagawa, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/979,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20080072668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 073/290.R, 073305-322
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/363 using electromechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

Two pairs of regulating means, that is, the first stopper and the second stopper, which regulate a rotary angle range of the magnet holder when the first stopper and the second stopper come into contact with the stopper of the arm integrally fixed to the magnet holder, are provided in the body which is a fixing member, and the rotary angle range of the magnet holder regulated by one pair of stoppers is made to be different from the rotary angle range of the magnet holder regulated by the other pair of stoppers. Due to the foregoing, when the expensive body is made to be a common part and a plurality of types of inexpensive arms are manufactured, the fuel level gauge can be provided, an increase in the manufacturing cost of which is suppressed, which can cope with rotary angle ranges of the plurality of types of arms.

Claims

1. A liquid level detector comprising:

a rotary member;

a fixing member for pivotally supporting the rotary member;

a displacement member fixed to the rotary member, rotating integrally with the rotary member;

a detection means for detecting a displacement of the displacement member, fixed to the fixing member;

a float floating on the liquid;

an arm, one end side of which is fixed to the float, the other end side of which is fixed to the rotary member, for converting a vertical motion of the float, which is caused by a vertical motion of a surface of the liquid, into a rotary motion of the rotary member;

a stopper portion formed in the arm; and

a pair of regulating means arranged in the fixing member, coming into contact with the stopper portion of the arm so as to regulate a rotary angle range of the rotary member, wherein

the liquid level position is detected according to a position of the displacement member detected by the detection means,

the fixing member is provided with a plurality of pairs of regulating means,

a rotary angle range of the rotary member, which is set by the pair of regulating means, is different for each pair of regulating means, and

the stopper portion provided in the arm is a linear portion, which is parallel with a rotary shaft of the rotary member, formed between the rotary member and the float.

2. A liquid level detector comprising;

a rotary member having a rotational axis, wherein the rotary member is provided with a plurality of fixing holes arranged in a radial direction away from the rotational axis, each of the plurality of fixing holes extends in parallel with the rotational axis so that distances from the fixing holes to the rotational axis, as measured in a radial direction away from the rotational axis, differ from each other;

a fixing member for pivotally supporting the rotary member;

a displacement member fixed to the rotary member;

a detection means for detecting a displacement of the displacement member, fixed to the fixing member;

a float, which is adapted to float on the liquid;

an arm, one end of which is fixed to the float, the other end of which is folded linearly in parallel with the rotational axis of the rotary member, wherein the folded portion constitutes a stopper portion, and the stopper portion of the arm is fitted within any one of the plurality of fixing holes to extend from the fixing hole; and

a plurality of pairs of regulating means provided in the fixing member, wherein the regulating means come into contact with the stopper portion of the arm, which is fitted within any one of the plurality of fixing holes of the rotary member to extend from the fixing hole, to regulate a rotary angle range of the rotary member, wherein

a rotary angle range of the rotary member, which is set by the pair of regulating means, is different for each pair of regulating means, and

the liquid level position is detected according to a position of the displacement member detected by the detection means.

3. A liquid level detector according to claim 2, wherein the displacement member is a permanent magnet, and the detection means is a magnetic detection element.

4. A liquid level detector according to claim 2, wherein the displacement member is a sliding piece composed of an electrically conductive member, and the detection means is a resistance element in which the sliding piece is slidably arranged.

5. A liquid level detector according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of pairs of regulating means are arranged in a radial direction of the rotational axis and are located in the same plane.

6. A liquid level detector comprising:

a rotary member having a rotational axis, wherein the rotary member is provided with a plurality of fixing holes arranged in a radial direction away from the rotational axis, each of the plurality of fixing holes extends in parallel with the rotational axis so that distances from the fixing holes to the rotational axis, as measured in a radial direction away from the rotational axis, differ from each other;

a fixing member for pivotally supporting the rotary member;

a displacement member fixed to the rotary member;

a detector for detecting displacement of the displacement member, wherein the detector is fixed to the fixing member;

a float, which is adapted to float on the liquid;

an arm, one end of which is fixed to the float, the other end of which is folded linearly in parallel with the rotational axis of the rotary member, wherein the folded portion constitutes a stopper portion, and the stopper portion of the arm is fitted within any one of the plurality of fixing holes to extend from the fixing hole; and

a plurality of pairs of stops provided in the fixing member, wherein the stops come into contact with the stopper portion of the arm, to regulate a rotary angle range of the rotary member, wherein

a rotary angle range of the rotary member, which is determined by the stops, is different for each pair of stops, and

the liquid level position is detected according to a position of the displacement member detected by the detector.