JP5223269B2 - Liquid level detector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid level detector that detects a liquid level and measures the amount of liquid.

Conventionally, various liquid level detectors for detecting the liquid level in a fuel tank provided in a vehicle have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the liquid level detector. In such a liquid level detector, a float 3 that moves up and down in accordance with the remaining amount of fuel 2 in the tank 1 is attached to one end of an arm 4 and the movement of a holder 5 that holds the arm 4 is detected by a detection element. It is to be detected (see FIG. 5). As the detection element, there are a variable resistance element whose electric resistance is changed by a sliding contact interlocked with the holder 5 and a magnetic detection element which detects a magnetic change caused by a magnet rotating together with the holder 5.
JP 2006-153679 A

  The holder 5 has a holding part 5 a for inserting the other end part 4 a of the arm 4 and a holding part 5 b for locking the vicinity of the other end part 5 a of the arm 4. The holder 5 is supported by the frame 6 and is prevented from being detached from the frame 6 by the frame cover 7. The holder 5 is rotatably held by the frame 6. The frame 6 is formed with contact portions 6 a and 6 b that restrict the rotation range of the holder 5 when the arm 4 contacts.

However, there is a possibility that the arm 4 is detached from the holding portions 5a and 5b of the holder 5 due to vibration of the vehicle and the arm 4 is dropped from the holder 5. In particular, when the float 3 moves vigorously as the liquid level moves up and down and the arm 4 collides with the contact portions 6 a and 6 b of the frame 6, the arm 4 comes off from the holding portions 5 a and 5 b of the holder 5. Had the problem.
The present invention has been made in view of this problem, and provides a liquid level detector capable of reducing the possibility that an arm is detached from a holder.

According to the present invention, as described in claim 1, the arm 11 provided with a float that moves up and down according to the displacement of the liquid level, the holder 12 having the holding portions 12a and 12b for holding the arm 11, and the arm And a frame 14 that has contact portions 14d and 14e for restricting the rotation range of the motor 11 and supports the holder 12 so as to be rotatable. Has an elastic locking piece 12c for preventing the holding portion 12a, 12b from coming off, and the frame 14 elastically deforms the elastic locking piece 12c within a predetermined angular range B of the arm 11 with respect to the frame 14. A groove portion 14b that enables the step 14c and a step portion 14c that suppresses elastic deformation of the elastic locking piece 12c outside the angle range B, and the arm 11 is in contact with the contact portion In the rotational position of at least one point in contact with the 14d, the elastic latching pieces 12c are those located in the stepped portion 14c.

  In addition, the present invention includes a magnet 13 provided in the holder 12 and a magnetic detection element 15 that detects a magnetic change accompanying the rotation of the magnet 13. is there.

  With the holding portion provided in the holder, the arm can be held by the holder, and the arm can be prevented from being detached from the holder by the elastic locking piece.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The liquid level detector detects the remaining amount of fuel by the vertical movement of the float following the liquid level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank of the vehicle. The liquid level detector mainly includes an arm 11, a holder 12, a magnet 13, a frame 14, a magnetic detection element 15, and a circuit board 16.

  The arm 11 is made of a rod-shaped metal, and a float is provided at one end, and the other end 11 a of the arm 11 is bent and held by a holder 12. The holder 12 is made of resin and has a holding portion 12a for inserting the other end portion 11a of the arm 11 and a holding portion 12b for locking the vicinity of the other end portion 11a. The holder 12 is formed with an elastic locking piece 12c having a circular arc when viewed from the front, and the arm 11 held by the holding portions 12a and 12b is locked by the elastic locking piece 12c. The magnet 13 has a ring shape and is dipolarized. The magnet 13 is coaxially molded into the cylindrical portion 12 d of the holder 12 and rotates together with the holder 12.

  The frame 14 is made of resin and has a support portion 14a that supports the holder 12 in a rotatable manner. The frame 14 has an arcuate groove 14b that allows the elastic locking piece 12c of the holder 12 to be elastically deformed within a predetermined angle range B, and the elasticity of the elastic locking piece 12c of the elastic locking piece 12c of the holder 12. A step portion 14c that suppresses deformation is formed. The groove 14b of the frame 14 has an inclined surface 14f and a vertical surface 14g. Further, contact portions 14d and 14e are formed on the frame 14, and the rotation range A of the arm 11 is restricted by the contact portions 14d and 14e.

  The magnetic detection element 15 is disposed in the hole 14 h of the frame 14 and detects a magnetic change caused by the rotation of the magnet 13. The circuit board 16 is made of a hard board such as glass epoxy resin, and is electrically connected to the magnetic detection element 15 via a lead. A terminal 17 is connected to the circuit board 16 by solder. The magnetic shield member 20 is made of a material such as iron nickel and is formed in a cup shape. The magnetic shield member 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the frame 14 so as to surround the magnet 13 and the magnetic detection element 15.

  The frame cover 21 is made of resin. The frame cover 21 includes an arcuate opening 21a formed according to the rotation range of the holding portions 12a and 12b of the holder 12, and a support portion 12a of the holder 12. A circular opening 21b that is fixed to the shaft is formed.

Next, the operation of the elastic locking piece 12c of the holder 12 and the groove 14b and step 14c of the frame 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the elastic locking piece 12c of the holder 12 is on the groove portion 14b, the elastic locking piece 12c is elastically deformable, and the arm 11 can be assembled to the holding portions 12a and 12b of the holder 12 ( (Refer FIG. 4 (a), (b)). That is, even after the holder 12 and the frame cover 21 are assembled to the frame 14, the arm 11 can be assembled to the holder 12.

When the elastic locking piece 12c of the holder 12 is on the step portion 14c, the elastic locking piece 12c is restrained from elastic deformation, and the arm 11 is held between the holding portion 12b of the holder 12 and the elastic locking piece 12c. Therefore, the arm 11 is not detached from the holding portions 12a and 12b of the holder 12 (see FIG. 4C). In particular, in the rotation position where the arm 11 held by the holder 12 is in contact with the contact portion 14 d of the frame 14, the elastic locking piece 12 c of the holder 12 is positioned on the step portion 14 c of the frame 14. . In other words, in the rotational position in which the arm 11 abuts against the abutment portion 14 d of the frame 14 at a position where the resilient locking pieces 12c of the holder 12 corresponds to the stepped portion 14c of the frame 14, the elasticity of the elastic latching pieces 12c Deformation is suppressed, and there is no possibility that the arm 11 falls off the holder 12.

  According to the present embodiment, the holding portions 12 a and 12 b and the elastic locking pieces 12 c provided on the holder 12 can hold the arm 11 on the holder 12 and prevent the arm 11 from being detached from the holder 12. .

The front view which shows embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows embodiment same as the above. The front view of the flame | frame which shows embodiment same as the above. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part which shows embodiment same as the above. The front view which shows a prior art example.

11 Arm 12 Holder 12a Holding portion 12b Holding portion 12c Elastic locking piece 13 Magnet 13
14 Frame 14b Groove 14c Step 14d Contact 14e Contact 15 Magnetic detection element

Claims (2)

An arm provided with a float that moves up and down according to the displacement of the liquid level, a holder having a holding portion for holding the arm, and two contact portions for restricting the rotation range of the arm, and the holder A liquid level detector comprising: a frame that is rotatably supported;
The holder has an elastic locking piece for preventing the arm from coming off from the holding portion,
The frame includes a groove portion that allows the elastic locking piece to be elastically deformed within a predetermined angle range of the arm with respect to the frame, and a step portion that suppresses elastic deformation of the elastic locking piece outside the angle range. Have
It said arm at a rotational position of one location that have contact with the contact portion, the resilient locking piece is a liquid level detector, characterized in that located in the stepped portion. The liquid level detector according to claim 1, further comprising: a magnet provided in the holder; and a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic change accompanying rotation of the magnet.

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