Liquid level detection apparatus

• US 7,681,447 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ohike, Toshio, Nagakura, Syunsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank; Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US12/036,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20080141771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 733/17, 733/13, 733/05, 732/90.R
• US Class Current: 73/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/363 using electromechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/18 Switches operated by change of liquid level or of liquid density, e.g. float switch by magnet carried on a float H01H36/02

Abstract

A liquid level detection apparatus of the present invention includes contacts provided at a distal end portion of a contact plate, and resistance plates which are formed on a wiring board, and have respective conductor portions over which the contacts can slide, respectively, so as to detect a liquid level. Conductor patterns other than the conductor portions are formed on those regions of the wiring board which the contacts at the distal end portion of the contact plate contact during the time when an arm holder is mounted on the wiring board.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a float arm;

a contact which moves along a path when the float arm moves during a normal detection operation of the apparatus; and

a substrate that comprises a first conductor pattern and a second conductor pattern,

wherein the contact slidingly contacts the first conductor pattern as the contact moves along the path when the float arm moves during the normal detection operation,

wherein the contact does not contact the second conductor pattern as it moves along the path, and

wherein the second conductor pattern is configured to contact the contact during an assembly of the apparatus.

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

an arm holder that holds the float arm,

wherein the second conductor pattern is formed along an inserting direction of the contact when the arm holder is mounted with respect to the wiring board during the assembly of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the normal detection operation comprises detecting a level of liquid.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second conductor pattern is formed along a direction in which the contact moves to position the contact relative to the substrate during the assembly of the apparatus.