Patent · US Expired

Fuel level sender

US5216919A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
20References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 2, 1992
Grant dateJun 8, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 2, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F23/36
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fuel level sender (10) utilized a float (14) pivotally connected to a resistive rheostat (20) for varying a measurement signal in response to pivotal movement of the float (14) and therefore level of liquid in a container (12). The rheostat (20) includes an arcuate card helically wound by a conductive wire (70) wherein a ball bearing (80) biased by a spring (83) is pivotally connected to the float (14) such that the ball bearing (80) rolls along the arcuate card to change the resistance provided by the wire (70). The rheostat (20) is supported within the channel (25) of a threesided U-channel extrusion (24). A mounting boss (45) providing a four sided internal cavity receives an end of the extrusion (24) therein. The boss (45) and extrusion (24) may be separated to incrementally vary the orientation therebetween. The mounting boss (45) is integrally connected to a flange plate (28) having molded-in terminals for receiving electrical wires from the rheostat (20).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.