JPH034896Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a liquid level gauge suitable for example as a fuel gauge for automobiles.

As a conventional liquid level gauge, one is known that uses a parent-child type display to more accurately display the amount of remaining liquid below the 1/4 point, for example.

However, in the case of such a conventional liquid level gauge, the display part requires a parent and child indicator, that is, two indicators, which approximately doubles the cost, and the cost of the parent indicator and child indicator is 1. There was a problem in that it was difficult to accurately match the index between the parent and child indicators around the /4 point.

This invention was created by focusing on these conventional problems, and aims to solve the above problems by creating a structure that allows one indicator to function as both a parent and child indicator. The purpose is

This invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of this invention. First, to explain the configuration, in the figure, 1 is a float, 2 is an arm, and 3 is a variable resistance sensor.
A resistor board 4, a resistor 5 exhibiting the characteristics shown in FIG. 2, a mover 6 driven by the arm 2, and a resistor board 4.
An F point indicator conductor 7 and an E point indicator conductor 8 are provided above and are in contact with the ground via the movable element 6.
It is made up of. 9 is a crossed coil type indicator, crossed coils 10 to 12, movable magnet 1
3. Resistor 14, 15, F point indicator LED 16, E
It is composed of a point indicator LED 17, a pointer 18 driven by a movable magnet 13, and a scale plate 19 (see FIG. 3). 20 is an ignition switch, and 21 is a battery. In other words, the cross-coil indicator 9 will display F←→1/4 when the remaining liquid level is 1/4 (this is an intermediate indicator of the present invention, and other values are also acceptable) or more, and 1/4. When the score is 4 or less, the display changes to 1/4←→E. The E point and F point indicators are also configured to switch near the 1/4 point. Therefore, the pointer 18 moves back and forth from F to E. Figure 3a shows when 1/4 or more is displayed, and Figure 3b shows when 1/4 or less is displayed. Note that the E point index and F point index are displayed by printing the letters E and F on the scale plate 19, and by switching the respective index LEDs 16 and 17 according to the amount of remaining liquid and lighting them using a transmitted illumination method. However, it goes without saying that other types may also be used.

Next, the action will be explained. As shown in Fig. 2, the resistance value characteristic of the resistor 5 of the variable resistance sensor 3 is such that the 1/4 point is the maximum resistance value R ₀ and both points E and F are set to the minimum resistance value. Assuming that the value is set to gradually decrease linearly along the point, if a cross-coil type indicator 9 is connected to this variable resistance type sensor 3, the cross-coil type indicator 9 will be as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in the figure, it will reciprocate so that it can swing to the farthest right at the 1/4 point and to the farthest left at points E and F.

In the above example, the resistance value characteristic of the variable resistance sensor is maximum at the intermediate mover position corresponding to the intermediate detected liquid level (1/4 point), and reaches the lowest detected liquid level (point E). We have explained the case where the lowest movable element position corresponds to the lowest movable element position and the highest movable element position corresponding to the highest detected liquid level (point F), but conversely, the lowest movable element position In addition, it may be made to be the highest at the lowest movable element position and the highest movable element position. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the resistance value characteristic of the variable resistance type sensor changes linearly (in a broken line) is explained, but it goes without saying that it may change non-linearly, for example, in a quadratic curve. A bimetal type indicator may be used instead of the crossed coil type indicator 9, but in this case, even if the power is turned off, the indicator will not become an indicator, but will move to the right or left and remain stationary.

As explained above, according to this idea,
The configuration is such that the output resistance value at the lowest movable element position corresponding to the lowest detected liquid level and the output resistance value at the highest movable element position corresponding to the highest detected liquid level are set to be the same, and From the intermediate mover position to the lowest mover position and the highest mover position, with the output resistance value at the intermediate mover position corresponding to one intermediate detected liquid level between the highest detected liquid level being the maximum or minimum. It has a variable resistance type sensor 3 whose output resistance value is set to gradually change along each, and a pointer 18 which is driven according to the output resistance value of the variable resistance type sensor 3. The lowest index 17 indicating the surface level and the highest index 16 indicating the highest detected liquid level are both selectively displayed at one end of the scale, and the intermediate index indicating the intermediate detected liquid level is at the other end. When the indicator 9 having a scale plate 19 disposed at a scale position and the movable element 6 of the variable resistance sensor 3 are within the range of the lowest movable element position to the intermediate movable element position, the lowest index 17 is selected. a switching means 6 for selectively displaying the highest index 16 when the movable element 6 is within the range from the intermediate movable element position to the highest movable element position;
Since the liquid level gauge is characterized by having 7 and 8 points, it is not only possible to reduce the cost, but also has only 1 pointer.
Since it is only a book, it is possible to eliminate the problem of misalignment between the hands near the switching point, which was seen in conventional parent-child indicators. Furthermore, according to the present invention, as the liquid level changes at the intermediate detection liquid level, the pointer can provide continuous instructions such as turning back at the position of the intermediate index, so that the pointer can be used for starting or starting like a liquid tank for a vehicle. Even when the liquid level fluctuates, such as when stopping or turning, the deflection of the pointer can be kept to a minimum.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a liquid level meter according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between resistance value and liquid level of a resistor according to an embodiment of this invention, and Fig. 3 is FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display section of an indicator according to an embodiment of the invention. 1... Float, 2... Arm, 3... Variable resistance type sensor, 4... Resistance board, 5... Resistor, 6
...Mover, 7...F point indicator conductor, 8...E point indicator conductor, 9...Indicator (cross coil type indicator), 10-12...Cross coil, 13...Movable magnet, 14, 15...Resistance, 16...LED for F point indicator, 17...LED for E point indicator, 18...
... pointer, 19 ... scale plate, 20 ... ignition switch, 21 ... battery.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The output resistance value at the lowest movable element position corresponding to the lowest detected liquid level and the output resistance value at the highest movable element position corresponding to the highest detected liquid level are set to be the same, and the lowest detected liquid level and the highest detected liquid level are set to be the same. The output resistance value at the intermediate mover position corresponding to one intermediate detected liquid level between the liquid level and the liquid level is set as the maximum or the minimum, and the output resistance value is set as the maximum or minimum, and the output resistance value is set as It has a variable resistance sensor 3 whose output resistance value is set to gradually change, and a pointer 18 that is driven according to the output resistance value of the variable resistance sensor 3, and has a pointer 18 that is driven according to the output resistance value of the variable resistance sensor 3, The lowest index 17 indicating the highest detected liquid level and the highest index 16 indicating the highest detected liquid level are both selectively displayed at one end of the scale position, and the intermediate index indicating the intermediate detected liquid level is at the other end of the scale position. When the indicator 9 having a scale plate 19 and the movable element 6 of the variable resistance sensor 3 are within the range of the lowest movable element position to the intermediate movable element position, the lowest index 17
and selecting and displaying the highest index 16 when the movable element 6 is within the range of the intermediate movable element position to the highest movable element position. Liquid level indicator.