JP3712257B2 - Liquid level detector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid level detector that detects the amount of liquid in a tank such as a fuel tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a float arm that swivels according to the displacement of the liquid level of the fuel has been installed in the fuel tank of an automobile, the float arm is connected to a variable resistor, and the electric resistance value that changes as the float arm turns is changed. Liquid level detectors that detect and display the fuel level on a fuel meter are well known.
[0003]
Such a liquid level detector has no problem when the tank shape is horizontally long, but when applied to a vertically long tank T as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the float arm 1 is limited by the lateral width of the tank. There is no problem in the display of the liquid level displayed on the meter 3 when 2 is in the A position and B position, but when the float 2 comes to the C position, the liquid level is higher than the full liquid level in the tank T. Despite the low level, the meter 3 has a problem that a full signal is displayed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a liquid level detector in which the liquid level in a tank is accurately displayed on a meter.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, a float arm 1 that pivots in response to the displacement of the liquid level of the tank T is installed in the tank T, the float arm 1 is connected to a variable resistor 4, and the float arm 1 is swung. In the liquid level detector for detecting the changing electric resistance value and displaying the remaining amount of the liquid in the tank T, the structure of the float arm 1 is the auxiliary arm 1b having a float at the tip, and the base is the variable resistor 4 The sandwiching angle regulating member 5 is installed so that the sandwiching angle between the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a is not less than a predetermined angle.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a liquid level detector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, which is an example implemented in a vertically long fuel tank similar to FIG.
[0007]
As shown in the detailed view of FIG. 2, the float arm 1, which is a feature of the present invention, has an auxiliary arm 1b having a float 2 at the tip, and a pin at the tip of the base arm 1a whose base is connected to the variable resistor. A clamping angle regulating member 5 that regulates the angle between the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a so that it is not less than a predetermined angle (about 90 degrees in the illustrated example) is provided close to the axis mounting portion. Thus, it is installed on the base arm 1a side.
[0008]
The sandwiching angle regulating member 5 is a plate body having a shape obtained by cutting off the corners of a right triangle, but it may also be an angled shape, and in short, a shape having a stopper function that can regulate the sandwiching angle not to be less than a predetermined angle. The installation position is not limited to the base arm 1a side, and may be the auxiliary arm 1b side.
[0009]
Next, the reason why the included angle regulating member 5 is installed will be described with reference to FIG.
Let A be the position of the float 2 when the liquid level in the tank is h1. When the liquid level drops to the height of h2, the float 2 and the auxiliary arm 1b descend while maintaining the vertical level as the liquid level drops, so that the base arm 1a is α degrees counterclockwise around the pivoting portion of the variable resistor 4. By rotating, the included angle between the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a is narrowed to β degrees.
[0010]
When the liquid level further falls, the base arm 1a further rotates counterclockwise and the remaining amount is displayed on the meter 3. Since the float 2 and the auxiliary arm 1b are lowered while maintaining the vertical state, the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a are narrowed at a narrower angle, and the pivoting portions of both are at the lowest point via the locus indicated by the arc chain line in the figure. Stop at. At this time, the position of the float is at the D position, the height of the liquid level is h4, and the liquid is still remaining in the tank, but the meter 3 indicates that the remaining amount is zero.
[0011]
When the liquid level further drops to the height of h5 from this state, the base arm 1a remains stationary, and the float 2 and the auxiliary arm 1b rotate with the pin 1c of the shaft attachment portion as a fulcrum while widening the included angle counterclockwise. When the tank descends to the E position and the tank becomes empty, the float 2 stops at the F position.
Accordingly, the remaining amount change is not displayed on the meter 3 from the float position D to F (until the liquid level is changed from h4 to zero).
[0012]
From the above, when the included angle regulating member is not installed, the remaining amount is displayed on the meter 3 until the liquid level height is h3 (float is C position). As the angle between the base arm 1a and the auxiliary arm 1b is reduced, the change in the remaining amount is not accurately displayed on the meter, and the pivoting portions of the base arm 1a and the auxiliary arm 1b reach the lowest point. Since the base arm 1a connected to the variable resistor 4 does not rotate, the phenomenon that the change in the remaining amount is not displayed on the meter occurs. However, such trouble can be prevented by installing the sandwiching angle regulating member.
[0013]
Since the float arm according to the present invention has the above-described structure, the angle between the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a is regulated so as not to be a predetermined angle in conjunction with the rise and fall of the liquid level in the tank. The remaining amount in the tank can be accurately displayed on the meter 3.
Needless to say, the liquid level detector according to the present invention can be applied to water and other liquid tanks other than the liquid fuel tank.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, the structure of the float arm 1 is such that an auxiliary arm 1b having a float at the tip is pivotally attached to a base arm 1a whose base is connected to the variable resistor 4, and the auxiliary arm 1b and the base arm 1a are formed. The remaining amount in the vertically long tank is accurately displayed on the meter 3 with a very simple structure in which the included angle restricting member is installed in the vicinity of the shaft attachment portion of the base arm 1a and the auxiliary arm 1b so that the included angle does not become a predetermined angle or less. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a liquid level detector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory view of a float arm according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of a float arm.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a known liquid level detector.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Float arm 3 Meter 1a Base arm 4 Variable resistor 1b Auxiliary arm 5 Nipping angle control member 1c Pin T Tank 2 Float

Claims (2)

In the tank (T), a float arm (1) that pivots in response to the displacement of the liquid level of the tank (T) is installed, and the float arm (1) is connected to the variable resistor (4). In the liquid level detector that detects the electric resistance value that changes as the float arm (1) turns and displays the remaining amount of liquid in the tank (T), the structure of the float arm (1) is floated at the tip. An auxiliary arm (1b) having a base is pivotally attached to a base arm (1a) whose base is connected to the variable resistor (4), and the included angle in the vicinity of the pivotal attachment does not fall below a predetermined angle. A liquid level detector, characterized in that a sandwiching angle regulating member (5) is installed on the surface. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the included angle regulating member (5) is formed of a plate and is installed in the vicinity of the shaft attachment portion of the auxiliary arm (1b) and the base arm (1a).

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