GB968386A - - Google Patents

Abstract

968, 386. Liquid level indicators. D. V. STEYNOR. Dec. 13, 1960 [Dec, 14, 1959], No. 42486/59. Heading G1H. [Also in Division B8] Apparatus for indicating the level of solid powdered material or liquid in a container 1, particularly when it is being slowly filled, comprises a weight or float 8 carried by a wire 5 that passes over a pulley 7 and round a drum 3 keyed to a shaft 4 rotatably mounted in a casing 2 and connected to an indicator pointer 9 the weight or the float being periodically lifted from the upper surface of the material or liquid by a fractional horse power motor 11 acting on the drum 3 through an intermittent friction clutch mechanism which, during disengaged periods, allows the wire to unwind from the drum 3 and the weight or float 8 to drop back on top of the material or liquid after each lift. The friction clutch mechanism comprises a pulley 15 which is eccentrically mounted on a shaft 13 driven by the motor 11 through a gearbox 14 and is connected by a belt 16 to a drive pulley 17 fast on the shaft 4, the motor 11 being mounted on a plate 12 which is hinged at 18 to an adjustable support plate 21 so that the motor 11, the gearbox 14 and the pulley 15 can rock as a unit about the hinge pin 18 against springs 22. As the pulley 15 rotates it alternately takes up and relieves the tension on the belt 16 to correspondingly drive the drum 17 and allow it to unwind the motor unit 11 rocking clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, when the true centre of the pulley 15 is at a maximum distance from the shaft 4. The belt 16 passes through a guide 26 which is adjustably mounted in a bracket 27, a friction brake 28 being provided to prevent the drum from overrunning when the weight, or float, makes contact with the liquid or material.