US1247317A

US1247317A - Liquid-gage.

Info

Publication number: US1247317A
Application number: US8093116A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tetsushiro Nakamigawa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-02-28
Filing date: 1916-02-28
Publication date: 1917-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1934-11-20

Description

T. NAKAMIG'AWA,

LIQUID GAGE.. APPLIATlQN FILED FEB. 28. l9l6. I

' Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

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LIQUID GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2B. 1916.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ml fa A (a////// /A 7 5] wvwvtoz g Wvwi - as auow TETSUSHIRO NAKAMIGAWA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917 Application filed February 2 8, 1916. Serial No. 80,931.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TETSUSHIRO NAKAMI- GAWA, a subject of the Emperor of Japan,

residing in the city, county, and State of.

New York, have made a. certain new and useful Invention in Liquid-Gage, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liquid gages.

The object of the invention is to provide a gage which will register the height of a liquid in a tank at some distant point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage for the purpose specified which is controlled by a source of electricity and associated circuits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type and for the purposes specified wherein arcing or sparking due tomaking or breaking contact in an electric circuit is eliminated thereby enabling the use of the device with tanks or receptacles containing highly volatile and explosive liquids.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage of the type and for the purposes specified, which is simple in structure, efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially .in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, and to the sev eral views appearing therein,-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a motor vehicle, showing one application of a gage embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring diagram as employed in connection with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a gage.

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on the

line

4, 4, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the

line

5, 5, Fig. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation and in vertical section of the gage employed at the point distant from the tank or receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same taken on the

line

7, 7, Fig. 6, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8, 8, Fig. 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken 'onthe line 9, 9, Fig. 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral, wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide a distant gage controlled by electric circuits and a float on the top of the liquid in the tank but wherein the circuits are not made and broken within the tank, and wherein all danger due to sparks caused by themaking and breaking of the respective circuits is entirely eliminated.

In accordance with my invention I provide a frame with vertical portions 1 held together by means of spiders 2, 3, 'at the top and bottom thereof. The frame is adapted to be inserted into the tank containing the liquid, such as the gasolene tank 4, of Fig. 1, and is provided at its top with a gage as will be hereinafter described. The vertical portions 1 of the frame form guides, for a float 5, on which float is mounted a horizontal shaft 6, suitably journaled in brackets 7, 8, carried by the floats. On the respective ends of the shaft 6 are mounted to rotate therewith gear wheels 9, 10, respectively. Suitably journaled in the spiders 2 and 3, and extending the vertical length of the frame is a rack 11. The teeth 12 thereof mesh with the teeth of the gear wheel 9, as shown in dotted linesyFig. 4. A-shaft 13, preferably angular in cross section, extends the vertical length of the frame, and is journaled in the spider 3 at its lower end and extends through the cen ter of the float 5, and through the top spider 2, as shown. Loosely mounted on the shaft 13, to allowvertical movement therealong, and to cause the rotation thereof, is a sleeve 15 provided at its upper end with a gear.

wheel 16 which meshes with the gear wheel 10 on the shaft 6. The sleeve 15 passes through the approximate center of the float 5, and a bearing sleeve 17 positioned between the same and the float 5, permits the rotation thereof relative to the float.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the float 5 rises or falls, according to the rise or drop of the level of the liquid in the tank, on which the float rests, the shaft 6, due to the movement of the float and the actuation thereof secured by the gear wheel 9 traveling up and down the rack 11, will cause the gear wheel 10 to rotate the gear wheel 16, and sleeve 15, and consequently the shaft 13, in one direction or the other according to the direction of movement of the float 5, as is clearly shown.

As has been herei nbefore stated, the shaft 13 projects "through the top Spider 2 and has mounted on its end, horizontally relative thereto, a'permanent bar magnet 18 so mounted as to rotate therewith. A suitable air tight cap or cover secured to the spider 2,-incloses the magnet 18 and in effect in conjunction with the body portion 19 of the gage, which is also secured to the frame, makes the entire structure air-tight relative to the exterior, and, especially, to the interior of the body portion of the gage. I show one simple arrangement for making the cap or cover for the frame air tight wherein I clamp a plate 20 thereover and secure it thereto by means of screws as shown.

In practice I employ a round top or cover of thin material, such as thin sheet brass or other non-magnetic material, the thinnest portion of which, indicated at 21, is directly opposite and closely adjacent to the poles of the magnet 18, so that the magnet 18 will be free to rotate within the cap or cover, but the distance between its poles and the wall 21 of the cap or cover will be very small, but at all times substantially equal.

Secured to the body 19 of the gage is a spider 22, the center of which forms a guide journal for a pin 23. The lower end of the pin 23 is pointed, as shown, and rests on the plate 20. Secured to and suspended from the lower end of the pin 23 is a horse shoe magnet 24, the legs or poles of which are bent or formed to lie in close proximity to the thin wall 21 of the cap or cover, directly opposite to the poles of the bar magnet 18, as shown. The upper end of the pin 23 has secured to it a pointer 25, adapted to revolve horizontally over a scale member or plate 26 suitably secured to the top surface of the spider 22. If desired, and as shown, the body of the gage may be inclosed by any suitable casing, such as shown at 28, over which may be screwed a can or cover 29, provided with the usual window of glass 30.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 23 is a commutator 31 which is held in place by a disk 32, secured to the shaft 23 and provided with an upwardly extending 33, pass--- ing through a circular slot 34, in the surface of the commutator 31, as shown.

This arrangement affords a lost motion connection between the spindle 23 and the commutator which compensates for a certain amount of vertical movement of the float 5, due to the wash of the liquid caused by vibration or other disturbances to the tank in which it is contained, without affecting the rotation of the commutator 31.

Suitably secured to the body 19 of the gage, at equally spaced intervals, are electrical contacts 36, normally out of contact with the commutator 31, but adapted to be placed in contact therewith through the contact element 37, which is secured to the commutator 31, to rotate therewith. Each of the contacts 36 is provided with an independent wire 38, and a wire 39, connected with a brush 40, which is maintained in bearing contact with the commutator 38, may be inclosed in any suitable tubing 41, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each individual contact 36 is connected by its wire 38 to a corresponding contact 43, inclosed in the casing 44, of the distant indicator dial. The contacts 43 are arranged around and in contact with a rotary commutator 45, which is provided in its surface with a longitudinally extending insulation strip 46, for a purpose to be hereinafter de scribed. The shaft 47 of the commutator 45 has mounted thereon a wheel 48, with ratchet teeth and a yoke 49 carried by suitable guides 50 and provided with teeth 51, on opposite sides of the ratchet wheel adapted to engage the teeth thereof and secure positive counter-clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel for horizontal movement of the yoke in either direction. For example, and referring particularly to Fig. 8, if the yoke 49 is moved toward the right, the lower tooth 51 forces the ratchet wheel 48 counter clockwise, and if the yoke is moved toward the left the upper tooth 51, forces the ratchet yoke I provide an arm 55 as shown best in 'Figs. 6 and 7, secured thereto, which arm is attached to cores 56, operating in suitable solenoids 57 The arm 55 is provided with a contact point 58, held normally in position between two

terminals

59, 60, and normally pressed outwardly therebetween by means of a spring 61 acting upon the core 56 to which is secured the arm 55. The shaft 47 is provided with the pointer 62, adapted to read on the scale 63 through the opening 64, and the glass cover 65 in the usual manner.

The operation of the device is very simple, and to more clearly describe the same reference is made particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing which diagrammatically illustrates the wirin of the device, and wherein 70 designates generally the device shown in gage hereinbefore described located at the distant point. The brush 40, commutator 31, the contacts 36, and the contacting element 37 of the commutator, are all 1llustrated in the device 7 O, and'the commutator 45, insulating strip 46, contacts 43, shaft '47, ratchet wheel 48, yoke 49, and coil 57,

cores 56, and the

terminals

59, 60, and the contactor 58, are all illustrated in the device 71.

Assuming that the tank is full of liquid, and the pointer of the device 71' registers Full on the scale member 63, then when, say

one gallon of the liquid is used or withdrawn the gear wheel 9, rolling down the rack 11, rotates the shaft 6, gear wheels 10, 16, shaft 13, bar magnet 18, and consequently horse shoe magnet 24, shaft 23, disk 32, and commutat0r 31, all as has hereinbefore been described. The commutator 31, on rotation brings the contactor 37 in contact with the terminal of one of the wires 38, say number 75. Circuit 'is then established from any suitable source, .say the battery 76, through Wire 39 to the brush 40, commutator 31, contact element 37, terminal 75, wire 77, to one of the contacts 43 of the commutator 45, in this instance, the contact 78, through commutator 45, to brush 7 9, wire 80, through solenoid 57,

contacts

59, 58 and 60, and back to the source 76. It will be seen that this energizes the solenoid 57, thereby drawing'the core 56, and consequently the yoke 49 into the same thereby securing the rotation of the ratchet wheel. When the core 56 is drawn into the solenoid 57, the contact 58 is drawn from between the

terminals

59, 60, thereby breaking the circuit of the battery 76, and the sprmg 61, (see Fig. 6), there upon forces the core 56 out of the solenoid 57, causing the ratchet wheels to again be partially rotated in the same direction by the teeth 51, of the yoke 49, as has been described, in connection with Fig. 8. It will be seen that this action again closes the cir comes in contact with the next contact, say

81, or in other words, as long. as the liquid ontained in the tank remains at substantially the same level. I

It is obvious that as many readings may be secured or as many graduations of the contents of the tank may be employed as desired, depending entirely on the number of

contacts

43, 36, and wires 38, are employed one of each of the contacts and one wire being necessary for each reading or graduation for the scale. In other words theheight of the liquid in the tank 4 will determine the displacement of the commutator 31, or rather, of the contact member 37 thereof, and the cooperation of said contact member 37 with one or another of the contacts 36, controls the circuit of the solenoid 57, which correspondingly operates to relatively displace the scale and the pointer members 62, 63. In this manner the scale and pointer devices of the indicator 44 follow the rotative displacements of the

drag element

24, 18, of the magnet system and this displacement is controlled by theheight or level of the fluid contained in tank 4. It will be observed that the consumption of current required is very slight, and continues only until the active contact 43, of the indicator mechanism is brought to bear upon the insulating strip 46, and while being brought into this position, the circuit is maintained closed intermittently through the action of the solenoids in effecting the make and break of the circuit through

contacts

58, 59 and 60.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient electrically operated device for reading the level of liquids in a tank at a distant point, which is especially adapted for use in connection with volatile, explosive liquids, and wherein all danger of ignition due to sparking of the contacts is entirely eliminated, as the contacts are at all times effectively air sealed from the contents of the tank.

\Vhile I have shown and described specific structures embodying my invention, it will be understood that many changes and variations in details will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

Therefore, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a liquid indicating device an air sealed liquid container, a magnet system in cluding a pair of relatively displaceable members, said members being respectively located inside and outside of said container, means controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicatedfor displacing one of said members, an electrically operated indicating device, circuits therefor, a commutator for controlling said circuits, and connections between said commutator and the other of said members.

2. In a liquid indicating device, an air sealed I liquid container, a magnet system including a pair of relatively displaceable members, said members being respectively located inside and outside of said container, means controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for displacing one of said members, an electrically operated indicating device, circuits therefor, a commutator for controlling said circuits, and lost motion connections between said commutator and the other of said members.

3. In a liquid indicating device, an air sealed liquid container, a magnet system including relatively displaceable members, said members being respectively located inside and outside of said container, means controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for relatively displacing one of said members, and an electrically actuated indicating device controlled by the cooperating displacement of the other of said members, and means for sealing said magnet system, from the container of said liquid.

4. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an'indicating device located at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at a distance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicating device, circuits therefor, contacts for controlling said circuits, means controlled by the level of the liquid in said receptacle for controlling said contacts, and means for completely sealing said contacts from said receptacle.

In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating device located at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at a distance therefrom,electrical devices for operating said indicating device, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, means for operating the same, means c011- trolled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for controlling said circuits, and means controlled by the operation of said second device for also controlling said circuits. i

6. In a liquid indicatin mechanism for vehicles, an indicating dev1ce located at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at a distance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicating device,

circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scale and displaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer member and means for automatically opening the circuit of said electrical devices When said pointer member attains a displaced position corresponding to the level of the liquid.

7. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating device located at the front end of the vehicle, a fiuid receptacle located at; a distance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicating device, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scale and displaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer member and means for automatically opening the circuit of said devices when said pointer member attains a displaced position corresponding to the level of the liquid and means for intermittently opening and closing the circuit of said electrical devices to effect the displacement of said pointer member.

8. In a liquid indicating mechanism for vehicles, an indicating device located at the front end of the vehicle, a fluid receptacle located at a distance therefrom, electrical devices for operating said indicating device, circuits therefor, a second indicating device, including a scale and displaceable pointer member, magnetic devices controlled by the level of the liquid to be indicated for displacing said pointer member and means for automatically opening the circuit of said electrical devices when said pointer member attains a displaced position corresponding to the level of the liquid, said means controlled by the movement of said pointer member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 21st day of February, A. D. 1916.

TETSUSHIRO N AKAMIGAWA.