Apparatuses and methods for fuel level sensing
First Claim
1. A sensor, comprising:
- a sealed housing comprising a pivot end, a float end opposite the pivot end and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween, wherein the pivot end is adapted to join to a pivot point and the float end is adapted to join to a float at an exterior of the housing; and
an electrically conductive coil spring disposed in the housing interior, wherein;
a first end of the coil spring is joined to the housing at one of the pivot end or the float end;
a second end of the coil spring opposite the first end is joined to an internal float within the housing;
the coil spring is adapted to expand and retract in response to movement of the internal float within the housing;
the coil spring is electrically coupled between the pivot end and the float end of the housing; and
the coil spring is adapted to electrically couple to a circuit configured to sense a change in resistance in the coil spring in response to expansion and retraction of windings of the coil spring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for fuel level sensing are described herein. An example sensor may include a sealed housing and an electrically conductive coil. The sealed housing may comprise a pivot end, a float end opposite the pivot end, and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween. The pivot end may be adapted to join a pivot point and the float end may be adapted to join to a float at an exterior of the housing. The electrically conductive coil spring is disposed in the housing interior and comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The coil spring is adapted to expand and retract in response to movement of the internal float within the housing and to electrically couple to a circuit configured to sense a change in resistance in the coil spring in response to expansion and retraction of windings of the coil spring.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A sensor, comprising:
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a sealed housing comprising a pivot end, a float end opposite the pivot end and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween, wherein the pivot end is adapted to join to a pivot point and the float end is adapted to join to a float at an exterior of the housing; and an electrically conductive coil spring disposed in the housing interior, wherein; a first end of the coil spring is joined to the housing at one of the pivot end or the float end; a second end of the coil spring opposite the first end is joined to an internal float within the housing; the coil spring is adapted to expand and retract in response to movement of the internal float within the housing; the coil spring is electrically coupled between the pivot end and the float end of the housing; and the coil spring is adapted to electrically couple to a circuit configured to sense a change in resistance in the coil spring in response to expansion and retraction of windings of the coil spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel sensor, comprising:
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a fuel sensor housing adapted to be arranged in a fuel tank, the housing comprising a pivot end, a float end opposite the pivot end and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween, wherein the pivot end is adapted to join to a pivot point in the fuel tank and the float end is adapted to join to an external float arranged in the fuel tank and at an exterior of the housing; an electrically conductive coil spring disposed in the housing interior, the coil spring joined to an internal float within the housing and electrically coupled between the pivot and float ends of the housing; and a resistance sensor electrically coupled to the coil spring, wherein a pivot angle of the fuel sensor changes as a fuel level in the fuel tank changes, and in response, the resistance sensor senses a change in resistance in the coil spring as the coil spring expands or retracts. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of sensing fuel levels in a fuel tank, the method comprising:
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sensing a resistance of a conductive path using a resistance sensor, the resistance sensor comprising; a housing comprising a pivot end, a float end opposite the pivot end and an interior defined by walls extending therebetween, wherein the pivot end is adapted to join to a pivot point in the fuel tank and the float end is adapted to join to an external float arranged in the fuel tank at an exterior of the housing; and an electrically conductive coil spring disposed in the interior of the housing, the coil spring joined to an internal float within the housing, wherein the internal float is configured to adjust a resistance of the electrically conductive coil spring, the resistance indicative of a fuel level of the fuel tank; and translating the resistance into the fuel level. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification