EP0681103B1 - Fuel pumping and gauging device for automotive vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices fuel suction / gauging for motor vehicles.

Many gauging devices have already been proposed and fuel suction for motor vehicle.

These devices generally consist of a module provided a base designed to be fixed to a wall of the tank, the most often the top wall of it.

The gauging means generally comprise a float pivotally mounted on a box to follow the fuel level. The float carries a cursor moved over a resistive track to provide a information representative of the fuel level and / or volume contained in the vehicle tank.

The suction means generally comprise a electric pump or a simple suction hose plunged most often in a reserve bowl to avoid disarming the system.

Furthermore, it has been proposed for many years, guide the assembly comprising the gauging means and the means suction with respect to the mounting base and to solicit elastically this set towards the bottom of the fuel tank so that this set of gauging and aspiration be indexed on the bottom of the tank. This provision allows, on the one hand to provide information reliable measured level, at least for low fuel levels, whatever the deformation of the bottom of the tank.

We know that fuel tanks are nowadays often made of plastic and these tanks can be subject to significant deformation, in particular under the effect of the weight of fuel or the aging of the material composing the tank. The indexing of all the gauging means and suction from the bottom of the tank also allows guarantee the suction of fuel, i.e. avoid defusing premature, in the event of a significant lowering of the tank bottom by relative to the upper wall thereof supporting the fixing base.

We can find a detailed description of the structure of such suction / gauging devices known in documents FR-A-2579678, EP-A-120343, EP-A-203244 and US-A-4869225.

Document FR-A-2636017 describes a device motor fuel suction / gauging comprising a base designed to be fixed to a wall of a fuel tank, a reserve tank mounted to slide in a general vertical direction with respect to this base and requested elastically towards the bottom of the tank relative to this base thanks to to springs, and a gauging assembly comprising a housing integral with the cover of the reserve tank and which houses a circuit cooperating with a float.

The structure of these different devices is quite complex.

The present invention therefore aims to perfect existing systems.

This object is achieved in the context of the present invention, thanks to a device of the type defined in claim 1 attached.

• la figure 1 représente une première vue latérale schématique d'un dispositif d'aspiration/jaugeage conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 2 représente une seconde vue latérale, orthogonale à la figure 1, du même dispositif d'aspiration/jaugeage,
• la figure 3 représente une vue latérale similaire à la figure 1 d'un bol de réserve équipé d'un ensemble de jaugeage conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 4 représente une seconde vue latérale similaire à la figure 2, c'est-à-dire orthogonale à la figure 3, du même bol de réserve équipé d'un ensemble de jaugeage conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 5 représente une vue similaire à la figure 3 en cas d'élévation du fond du réservoir par rapport à cette figure 3,
• la figure 6 représente une vue de dessous du bol de réserve équipé de l'ensemble de jaugeage conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 7 représente une vue en perspective du bol de réserve,
• la figure 8 représente une vue latérale du bol de réserve,
• la figure 9 représente une vue de dessous du bol de réserve,
• les figures 10 et 11 représentent deux vues en perspective d'un boítier de l'ensemble de jaugeage conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 12 représente une vue latérale du même boítier de l'ensemble de jaugeage,
• la figure 13 représente une vue orthogonale à la figure 12 du même boítier,
• la figure 14 représente une vue en coupe du même boítier selon le plan de coupe référencé XIV-XIV sur la figure 12,
• la figure 15 représente une vue latérale opposée à la figure 12 du même boítier,
• la figure 16 représente une vue en bout de dessus du même boítier,
• la figure 17 représente une vue en coupe transversale du même boítier, selon le plan de coupe référencé XVII-XVII sur la figure 12,
• la figure 18 représente une vue en bout inférieure du même boítier conforme à la présente invention,
• les figures 19 à 28 représentent un ensemble de jaugeage conforme à une variante de la présente invention, plus précisément :
  • les figures 19 à 20 représentent deux vues opposées en perspective d'un pied support de cet ensemble,
  • les figures 21 et 22 représentent deux vues opposées en perspective d'un boíter de cet ensemble,
  • la figure 23 représente une vue latérale du pied support,
  • la figure 24 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale du pied support,
  • la figure 25 représente une vue latérale, opposée à la figure 23, du pied support,
  • la figure 26 représente une autre vue latérale, orthogonale aux figures 23 et 25 de ce pied support,
  • la figure 27 représente une vue latérale du boítier, et
  • la figure 28 représente une vue en coupe transversale du pied support, selon le plan de coupe référencé XXVIII-XXVIII.

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting example and in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a first schematic side view of a suction / gauging device according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a second side view, orthogonal to FIG. 1, of the same suction / gauging device,
• FIG. 3 represents a side view similar to FIG. 1 of a reserve bowl equipped with a gauging assembly according to the present invention,
• FIG. 4 represents a second side view similar to FIG. 2, that is to say orthogonal to FIG. 3, of the same reserve bowl equipped with a gauging assembly according to the invention,
• FIG. 5 represents a view similar to FIG. 3 in the event of an elevation of the bottom of the tank relative to this FIG. 3,
• FIG. 6 represents a bottom view of the reserve bowl equipped with the gauging assembly according to the present invention,
• FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the reserve bowl,
• FIG. 8 represents a side view of the reserve bowl,
• FIG. 9 represents a bottom view of the reserve bowl,
• FIGS. 10 and 11 show two perspective views of a housing of the gauging assembly according to the present invention,
• FIG. 12 represents a side view of the same housing of the gauging assembly,
• FIG. 13 represents a view orthogonal to FIG. 12 of the same housing,
• FIG. 14 represents a sectional view of the same casing according to the cutting plane referenced XIV-XIV in FIG. 12,
• FIG. 15 represents a side view opposite to FIG. 12 of the same housing,
• FIG. 16 represents an end view from above of the same housing,
• FIG. 17 represents a cross-sectional view of the same housing, according to the cutting plane referenced XVII-XVII in FIG. 12,
• FIG. 18 represents a bottom end view of the same housing according to the present invention,
• FIGS. 19 to 28 show a gauging assembly according to a variant of the present invention, more precisely:
  • FIGS. 19 to 20 show two opposite perspective views of a support leg for this assembly,
  • Figures 21 and 22 show two opposite perspective views of a box of this assembly,
  • FIG. 23 represents a side view of the support leg,
  • FIG. 24 represents a view in longitudinal section of the support leg,
  • FIG. 25 represents a side view, opposite to FIG. 23, of the support leg,
  • FIG. 26 shows another side view, orthogonal to FIGS. 23 and 25 of this support leg,
  • FIG. 27 represents a side view of the case, and
  • Figure 28 shows a cross-sectional view of the support leg, according to the section plane XXVIII-XXVIII.

We see in Figures 1 and 2 attached a general view of the gauging / suction device according to the present invention.

We distinguish in these figures 1 and 2 a device which comprises a base 100, a suction assembly 200, and a gauging assembly 300.

The base 100 is preferably made by molding in material plastic. It can be the subject of numerous variant embodiments.

Preferably, this base 100 comprises a collar upper 110 generally flat adapted to be fixed on the wall top of a fuel tank. This flange 110 extends on its lower surface 112 by a skirt 120, generally cylindrical on which is fixed, advantageously by clipping, the top of a bowl of reserve 210 integrated into the suction assembly 200. For this, the bowl reserve 210 is advantageously provided at its top with teeth or lugs 212 adapted to come in additional through windows 122 formed at the base of the skirt 120.

In a manner known per se, the flange 110 is provided with through pipes 113, 114 used for conveying fuel to the point of use, carburetor or injector, and back from the excess fuel, to the tank, preferably to the reserve bowl 200.

The flange 110 of the base 100 is also provided with a electrical connector 115 which ensures connection to the pump electric placed in the bowl 200 and on the gauging assembly 300.

The suction assembly 200 comprises a bowl 210, as we have indicated previously. This bowl 210 is advantageously made by plastic molding.

This bowl 210 has at its base a through bore which communicates with the fuel tank. More specifically, the bowl 210 preferably has at its base 214 a tip 216 on which is engaged a filter or strainer 250.

Preferably, the bowl 210 is provided in the endpiece 216 with a anti-drain valve which prevents free flow of fuel placed in the reserve bowl 210 towards the internal volume of the fuel tank while by authorizing on the contrary the entry in the opposite direction of the reservoir of fuel to the internal volume of the bowl 210.

The filter or strainer 250 can be the subject of many variant embodiments. However, in the context of the invention, it has sufficient flexibility to allow deformations on a vertical amplitude equal to at least the maximum amplitude of deformation of the lower wall of the fuel tank.

In addition, preferably the filter or strainer 250 accommodates advantageously an internal elastic structure which urges said filter or strainer 250 resting against the lower wall of the tank. On the FIG. 1 this elastic structure is shown diagrammatically under the reference 252.

Thanks to the stress of the filter or strainer 250 against the wall lower of the tank, avoiding any defusing of the assembly whatever the deformation of the tank.

Typically the filter or strainer 250 is suitable for allow deformations on a vertical amplitude of the order of 40 to 60mm.

In practice, the elastic structure 252 can be formed of a helical spring supported by the end piece 216 and placed in the filter or the strainer 250.

However, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the elastic structure 252 is formed by a tab coming from plastic molding on the end piece 216 or the bottom wall of the bowl 210.

As previously suggested, for versions with petrol the bowl 210 houses an electrically controlled pump whose output is connected to the outlet pipe 113.

On the other hand, for diesel versions, the starting pipe can simply be extended by a hose dipping into the bottom of the bowl reserve 210. A pump is then not necessary.

The strainer or filter 250 can be immobilized on the nozzle 216 by any appropriate means. Preferably, the filter or strainer 250 is maintained by snap-fastening on openwork tabs referenced 220 on the attached figures. The legs 220 came from molding at the base of the bowl 210.

As seen in particular in Figures 6 and 7, the bowl 210 has a generally circular cross section of revolution around of a vertical axis. However, it will be noted that the bowl 210 has on its external surface an inward offset 230 designed for receive the gauging assembly 300.

This clearance 230 is preferably provided in the vicinity of one of its vertical edges, a vertical slide 260 designed to receiving vertically sliding the gauging assembly 300.

This slide 260 can be the subject of numerous variants of production. Preferably, as seen in particular in FIG. 7, this vertical slide 260 is formed by a groove of cross section rectangular, with converging edges 264, 266 symmetrical, i.e. central longitudinal channel opening 268.

This slide 260, and more precisely the channel 268, are closed at one end, preferably the upper end, by a structure referenced 270 in FIG. 7.

Thus, the gauging assembly 300 is engaged on the slide 260 by the lower end of it. At this level, it is provided in the clearance 230, an elastic tooth 272.

Elastic tooth 272 is designed to flex when the engagement of the housing 310 of the gauging assembly 300 in the slide 260 while subsequently prohibiting an untimely withdrawal of this gauging set 300.

In practice, tooth 272 can be formed for example of a finger straight inclined of the order of 30 to 45 ° in the longitudinal direction of the slide 260, approaching the end of channel 268, towards the free end of finger 272. This free end of finger 272 is thus preferably placed opposite the lower end of channel 268.

Clearance 230 is closed at its upper end by a collar 232 which carries a hollow sheath 234 centered on an axis vertical 236, that is to say an axis parallel to the central axis of the bowl 210.

This sheath 234 essentially fulfills three functions: all first it serves as a guide for a spring 400 which requests the gauging 300 towards the bottom of the tank then it serves as a guide for this gauging assembly 300 and finally it serves as a high stop for this 300 gauging.

For this purpose, the cross section of the internal channel formed in the sheath 234 is adapted to the section of a barrel 350 formed on the housing of the 300 gauge assembly.

The gauging assembly 300 essentially comprises a housing 310 shown in Figures 10 and following, a set to float 390 and a resistive track shown diagrammatically under the reference 380 on the figure 1.

The float assembly 390 is of conventional structure in itself. This assembly 390 essentially comprises a float 392 carried by an arm 394 pivotally pivoted about a horizontal axis 396 on the housing 310. The arm 394 or, where appropriate, a plastic plate 398 linked to this arm and visible in Figures 1, 3 and 5 carries an electric cursor conductor guided on the resistive track 380.

In practice, this resistive track 380 can be formed of a thick layer deposited on an electrically insulating support, by example a ceramic support.

Thus, in a conventional manner in itself, one can take between this resistive track 380 and the cursor linked to the plate 398 or to the arm 394 a information representative of the fuel level and / or volume contained in the tank.

The housing 310 of the gauging assembly 300 includes essentially a central box provided with an upper barrel 350, as previously indicated, and a lower foot 370.

The central housing 310, the barrel 350 and the base 370 are preferably formed from a single piece by plastic molding.

The central box 310 can be the subject of many variants of achievement. It includes in particular, coming from molding, a barrel 312 centered on the aforementioned axis 396 and which serves as a guide for the float arm 394 as well than plate 398 associated with it.

In addition, preferably the central housing 310 carries various elastic teeth tabs, 314 designed for fixing the support resistive track 380.

On one of its main faces, visible in particular on the Figure 10, the central housing 310 carries a guide 320 designed to be guided in the slide 260 of the bowl 210. Preferably and without limitation, this guide 320 includes a straight vertical wall 322. The wall 322 is provided respectively at its upper and lower ends, and at its top away from the wall of the housing 310, with two opposite fingers 323, 324, 325.326.

The fingers 323, 325 thus protrude on a side of the wall 322, respectively at the upper and lower ends of the latter. Of symmetrically, the fingers 324 and 326 protrude from the second flank of the low wall 322 respectively at the upper and lower ends of this latest.

The width of the wall 322 is less than the width of the channel 268 of the slide 260. Furthermore, the overall dimensions defined by fingers 323, 324 on the one hand and 325, 326 on the other hand, considered perpendicular to the wall 322, is less than the width of the groove main of slide 260, while being greater than the width of the channel opening 268 above.

It is thus understood that when the fingers 323, 324, 325, 326 are engaged in the slide 260 by elastic deformation of the tooth 272, the housing 310 is held on the slide 260 while remaining free from vertical sliding relative thereto.

It is understood that the aforementioned guide 320 has at its ends upper and lower a cross section in T whose head is formed by fingers 323, 324 and 325, 326 respectively. Between these ends of cross section in T, guide 320 has a cross section in the form of straight bar.

Relative to a guide structure 320 having a cross section in constant T over its entire height, the use of simple fingers 323, 324, 325 and 326 on the ends of the guide 320 makes it easier to engage of the housing 310 on the slide 260 and limits the elastic stress resulting from toothing 272.

In addition, the guide 320 is preferably provided with a member elastic 330 bearing against one of the sides of the slide 260 for press the guide 320 against the opposite side of this slide 260.

This elastic structure eliminates the play between the housing 310 and bowl 210, and consequently limit the noise of system operation.

This elastic structure can be the subject of numerous variant embodiments.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this elastic structure 330 is formed by a handle 332 formed by a sector cylindrical molded on one of the sides of the wall 322.

The loop 332 is thus connected to the aforementioned flank of the wall 322, respectively at its upper and lower ends. Shackle 322 is centered on a generally horizontal axis.

The handle 322 is preferably provided substantially at mid-length of the wall, that is to say substantially equidistant from the pairs of fingers 323, 324 upper and 325, 326 lower.

Note also that preferably the housing 310 is provided, at its base, with a recess or hook 340 located opposite the top of toothing 272 and designed to serve as a support for this toothing for avoid a weakening of it. Thus the cooperation defined between the offset 340 and the toothing 272 safely prohibits that the housing 310 does not escape the slide 260.

After mounting the step 340 is unnecessary. However, before mounting, the offset 340 makes it possible to guarantee the maintenance of the housing 310 on the bowl 210.

The foot 370 molded in the lower part of the housing 310 is designed to rest elastically on the bottom of the tank under the effect of the spring 400.

In practice, this 370 foot came from molding on the basis of housing 310. Alternatively, it can receive at its base an anti-wear part by example in the form of a disc resting on the bottom of the tank. A such a part makes it possible to avoid a drift in the measurement following a deformation or wear of the foot 370 or of the wall of the tank, in particular under the effect of vibrations or aging of the material. Such an anti-wear part is shown diagrammatically under the reference 3700 in FIG. 14.

This 370 foot preferably has a cross section in the form cross or four-pointed star tilted 90 ° two by two. These four branches are referenced 371, 372, 373 and 374 in FIG. 18.

Each branch 371, 372, 373 and 374 is provided advantageously protruding fingers 375, 376, 377 and 378 at its base, which fingers 375 to 378 are designed to rest on the bottom of the tank or receive the aforementioned anti-wear part 3700. Of course this anti-wear part can be either added or molded on the base of the base 370.

To allow the realization of this four-pointed star, 371, 372, 373 and 374 and associated fingers 375, 376, 377 and 378 using a simple mold with two shells, without requiring a complex drawer, preferably two fingers 375, 376, are formed in the extension of the associated branches 371, 372, while the two fingers 377, 378 provided on the two branches 373 and 374 orthogonal to the abovementioned branches 371, 372 are offset from their support branches 373 and 374, respectively in opposite directions as seen in the figure 18.

The barrel 350 came from molding on the top of the case 310. It presents a cross section complementary to the internal channel of the barrel 234 so that the barrel 350 can be engaged free from vertical sliding in the sheath 234.

It will be noted that preferably, the barrel 350 is provided at its base, that is to say in the vicinity of the top of the housing 310 of a flange circular 352. The purpose of this flange 352 is to serve as a support for the base of the spring 400.

Thus, the spring 400 is engaged on the sheath 234 and trapped between the collar 232 of the bowl 210 and the integral collar 352 from barrel 350.

It will also be noted, in particular on examining FIG. 16, that the barrel 350 and the flange 352 are provided over their entire height a longitudinal vertical groove 354. This groove makes it possible to reinforce the elasticity of the barrel 350 in order to improve the guiding of the latter in the sheath 234. This groove 354 above all makes it possible to produce the barrel 350 with a substantially constant wall thickness which is necessary for obtain a part by plastic molding, without constraint harmful.

The present invention offers many advantages by compared to previously known gauging / suction devices.

The present invention makes it possible in particular to place a pump suction in the bowl 210, fixed relative to the base, and in particular by compared to the suction pipe 113. The invention thus makes it possible to remove the classic hose connecting the pump outlet and the tubing linked to the base 100 by directly connecting the pump outlet to this tubing. Therefore, the structure is simpler than in the previous devices, has improved sealing and allows the realization of gauging / suction assemblies of lower height. She therefore allows easier integration into the tanks of fuel which presently have a low height.

Furthermore, the present invention leads to noise reduction Operating.

Note that thanks to the clearances 230 formed in the bowl 210, the gauging assembly 300 can be integrated in an envelope external cylindrical of limited diameter, typically 80mm with a electric pump assembly, and 60mm without pump.

In FIG. 6, this fictitious envelope containing the set of gauging is referenced 500.

The present invention also allows the realization of a bowl 210 and / or a universal gauging assembly 300, i.e. can be reused in various variants of sets of gauging / aspiration. Indeed, the flexibility of the filter or the strainer 250 and the sliding movement authorized for the 300 gauge set compared to the reserve bowl is adapted to take into account not only maximum deformation of the bottom of a tank, but also for allow the same suction / gauging device to be adapted in accordance with the present invention on tanks of different height.

For this, preferably but not limited to, flexibility of the strainer filter 250 and the authorized displacement of the gauging assembly 300 with respect to the reserve bowl 210 is of the order of 40 to 60mm.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention makes it possible to facilitate the assembly / disassembly of this assembly. In particular, the invention makes it easy to decouple the gauging assembly 300 from the suction assembly 200. It also makes it easier to replacement, in the event of failure of one or the other of these two assemblies and limits the cost of replacement since it no longer requires, as by past, replacing the entire gauging / suction assembly.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the mode of particular embodiment which has just been described.

For example, we can reverse the barrel 234 / barrel arrangement 250, by placing the barrel 250 on the bowl 210 and the sheath 234 on the case 310.

We will now describe the variant embodiment shown in Figures 19 to 28.

According to this alternative embodiment, the gauging assembly 300 is not made of a single piece, as was the case in the previous production, but of two separate parts: a housing 310 and a support leg 370.

The housing 310 is essentially adapted to support a resistive track 380 cooperating with a cursor linked to the float 392.

The housing 310 includes a barrel 312 which serves as a guide for rotation on the float arm 394. It also includes teeth 314 designed for fixing the resistive track support 380.

The support leg 370 comprises a lower section 3700, a middle section 360 and an upper barrel 350.

The middle section 360 carries the guide 320, formed by the wall 322 and of the two pairs of opposite fingers 323, 324 and 325 and 326, engaged in the slide 260 of bowl 210.

The guide 320 is provided with an elastic member 330 formed of a handle 332, as indicated previously.

In addition, the median section 360 includes a step or hook 340 adapted to cooperate with the toothing 272.

The barrel 350 is designed to be engaged in the barrel 234. The barrel 350 is provided at its base with a flange 352 serving to support the spring 400, and along its length, a groove 354.

The spring 400 biases the support leg 370 towards the bottom of the tank.

According to the variant shown in Figures 19 to 28, the base of the lower section 3700 is tapered downwards, so that this section lower 3700 rests against the bottom of the tank via of a zone 3702 of small amplitude.

The housing 310 is also adapted to be fixed in a predetermined position on the support leg 370, by any appropriate means, for example by clipping.

To this end, according to the nonlimiting embodiment shown in Figures 19 to 28, the housing 310 is provided with a section guide 3100 straight in T, adapted to be engaged in a slide complementary to converging edges 362 provided on the median section 360. The guide 3100 and the slide 362 extend vertically. They are immobilized in position relative by a toothing 3102 projecting laterally from the guide 3100, and suitable for engaging in additional housing 364 opening into the slide 362.

The variant illustrated in Figures 19 to 28 allows for several support legs 370 of different lengths, adapted to respective tank heights, and to use on these support legs 370 a standard 310 box.

Claims (30)

1. An intake-and-gauging device for the fuel in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

   a fixing base (100) designed to be fixed on a wall of a fuel tank;

   an intake assembly (200) carried by said base and provided with a reserve receptacle (210) provided at its base with a flexible strainer (250); and a gauging assembly (300), the device being characterized by the fact that said gauging assembly (300) is slidably mounted in a generally vertical direction on the reserve receptacle (210) and is resiliently urged towards the bottom of the relative to said receptacle.
2. A device according to claim 1. characterized by the fact that the strainer (250) has flexibility that is adapted to allow deformation over an amplitude that is not less than the maximum amplitude of deformation of the bottom wall of the fuel tank.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the strainer (250) is associated with a resilient structure (252) which urges said strainer (250) against the bottom of the fuel tank.
4. A device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the resilient structure is constituted by a helical spring.
5. A device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the resilient structure (252) is formed by a tab integrally molded on the reserve receptacle (210) and placed in the strainer (250).
6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that the gauging assembly (300) is received in a setback (230) formed on the outside surface of the reserve receptacle (210).
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the reserve receptacle (210) has a vertical slideway (260) formed by a groove of generally rectilinear right cross-section and having symmetrical converging edges (264, 266).
8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the receptacle (210) has a slideway (260) which is closed at its top end.
9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that the slideway (260) has a resilient tooth (272) at one of its ends, which is adapted to prevent the gauging assembly (300) being accidentally withdrawn.
10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the reserve receptacle (210) carries a vertical socket (234) at its top.
11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that the gauging assembly (300) comprises a central housing (310), a bottom leg (370, 3700) and a top peg (350).
12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that the gauging assembly (300) is provided on one of its faces with a guide (320) adapted to be held captive while still being slidably guided in a slideway (260) provided on the reserve receptacle (210).
13. A device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the guide (320) comprises a rectilinear wall (322) provided at its ends and at its outer edge with pairs of projecting fingers (323, 324, 325, 326) for forming a guide of T-shaped right section at its ends.
14. A device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by the fact that the guide (320) also includes a resilient structure (330) bearing against one of the flanks of the slideway (260) provided on the reserve receptacle (210).
15. A device according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the resilient structure is formed by an arc (330) that is generally in the form of a cylindrical sector integrally molded with and connected to the wall (322) of the guide, via the ends of the arc.
16. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by the fact that the gauging assembly (300) includes a setback (340) suitable for serving as a bearing surface for a resilient finger (272) integrally molded on the reserve receptacle (210) and facing a slideway (260).
17. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 12 to 16, taken in combination with claim 11, characterized by the fact that the leg (370) has a right cross-section that is star-shaped.
18. A device according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that each branch (371, 372, 373, and 374) of the leg is provided with a projecting finger (375, 376, 377, and 378) at its base.
19. A device according to claim 18, characterized by the fact that the leg (370) possesses a four-branch star (371, 372, 373, and 374) each branch being provided with a projecting finger (375, 376, 377, 378) at its base, two of the fingers (375, 376) provided on two diametrically opposite branches (371, 372) being in line therewith, while the other two fingers (377, 378) provided on the other two branches (373 and 374) are offset in opposite directions relative thereto.
20. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, taken in combination with claim 11, characterized by the fact that the peg (350) is provided at its base with a collar (352).
21. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, taken in combination with claim 11 or 19, characterized by the fact that the right cross-section of the peg (350) is smaller than the right cross-section of a channel formed in a socket (234) integrally molded on the reserve receptacle (210).
22. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by the fact that a spring (400) is interposed between the reserve receptacle (210) and the gauging assembly.
23. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized by the fact that the gauging assembly (300) is made of two parts: a housing (310) suitable for receiving a support (380) for a resistive track; and a support leg (3700).
24. A device according to claim 23, characterized by the fact that the housing (310) is fixed in a predetermined position on the support leg (3700) and the support leg (3700) is guided in vertical displacement on the reserve receptacle (210).
25. A device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized by the fact that the housing (310) includes a T-shaped guide (3100) engaged in a slideway (362) having converging edges formed in the support leg (3700), and a projection (3102) suitable for fixing the position of the housing (310) on the support leg (370).
26. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized by the fact that the housing (310) is made in the form of a single standard model whereas the support leg (3700) is provided in a plurality of lengths adapted to tanks of different depths.
27. A device according to any one of claims 11 to 26, characterized by the fact that the base (3700) of the leg (3700) tapers.
28. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized by the fact that the reserve housing (210) is snap-fastened onto a skirt (120) of the fixing base (100).
29. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized by the fact that the displacement allowed to the gauging assembly (300) relative to the reserve receptacle (210) is of the order of 40 mm to 60 mm.
30. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 29, taken in combination with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the flexibility of the strainer (250) is adapted to allow movement of the order of 40 mm to 60 mm.

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