US1744110A - Tank indicator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21';- 1930. G. J. 'DUNBAUGH, JR

TANK INDICATOR Filed oct. 10, 1923 xzgf 2 Sheets-Sheet that as Tilltlil Application filed hotel or 10,

invention rel tes to indicators for de- .ning the level of gasoline or other liquid in tanks, and has among its objects the pro duction of a device of the kind described, which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable, oitlicient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

ltlany other objects and advantages oi the construction herein shown and described will e obvious to those skilled in the art from disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ct parts herein shown and described,

J and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 shows my device as applied to a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the gasoline tank with my device applied thereto;

3 is a section taken substantially on line d-3 of Fig. 2;

l3 is a plan view of the indicator portion cl? my device, taken from the front thereof;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line h-5 ott l; and

6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-ti of 5.

ln t drawings, wherein I have illustrated the pr red embodiment oi? my invention, there is shown a motor vehicle ot any desired struction or type and having the usual hit or receptacle l for holding a supply of gasoline. The tank has a filling inlet 2 and is provided with an outlet opening; 8. A. flanged fitting l is positioned about the opening 3 oi the tank, the outer end of said fitting;- being preferably threaded.

bracket is adapted to be inserted through the fitting and to extend within the tank in order to carry a iloat mechanism tor actuating an indicator located at a remote point. This bracket is formed of any desired material, aluminum being found especially desirable and suitable for the purpose, the same comprising an arm 5, at the ends of which are arranged arms 6 and 7, respectively, these arms at w "TUE TU Gl-IILTPIQN MANU- srlliOl'fd Gi l ILLINOIEE being termed integrally with and lateral to the arm 5. Aligned apertures are provided through the portions 6 and 7 and into these apertures are i serted bushing or bearings 8 and 9, respectively, of bakelite, or any other suitable material.

Integral with the bracket and arranged transversely thereto at the outer end is a closure disk 10, adapted to seat on the fitting; t so as to prevent the passage of liquid there through. ll. collar 11 is arranged to be sc ewed onto the ill 4E- ove -ie closure disk so as to clamp the c in place against movement.

A bored sleeve portion 12 extends from the closure disk 10, in line with the bored portion '4", but on the opposite side of said disk, the outer end of sair. board portion 12 being threaded so as to receive a clamping nut 13, as will be hereinafter described.

ll. float mechanism comprising a float l l arranged at one end of a bent rod having legs 15 and 16 is adapted to be arranged within tank and carried by the bracket, the float inn; or falling with changes in the level o gasoline. ln 2 the float is shown at its lowest position, or, in other words, the t The leg 16 ot the float no liquid, the free end of the pin 1'? projecting radially collar 8 secured to the inst the bushing; 8 and preis 1 l movement oi the float mechanism inwardly beyond the bracket.

'rible shat't 18 has one end connected ,nsion 19 rotatably arranged within the closure disk 10, the free end non having socket to receive nd of rod portion 16 and having 0 inwardly of the outer end of the slidably rece re the pin 17. Any 1 ional movement oi v the rod 16 will be tirnismitted to the flexible shaft through the picslot connection.

1 conduit or sheath 21, having an enlarged portion is arranged about the flexible shaft 18 and is retained against longitudinal movement by having its enlarged portion 22 clamped between the sleeve 12 and the nut 13. In order to transmit the rotational movement of the flexible shaft to a suitable indicating means, so that the amount of gasoline in the tank may be ascertained, I have arranged an indicator at the instrument board of the ve hicle with a flexible shaft and fasing run to the ii'istrument board as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5, a cup-shaped member 26, having a flange 27 is inserted through an opening in the instrument board 25 and a dial portion 28 is arranged across the interior of the cup. A bezel 29 is inserted into the cup to bear against the dial and hold it in place, there being spacer rings 31 and 32 to further assist in this purpose. A glass or transparency 30 is held in place in the bezel and thro In which the dial may be view ,d. A. hearing part 3-1 is arranged within the cup 26 and is provided with a threaded extension to project beyond the cup, this extension adapted to cooperate with the nut 13 for securing the end of the conduit 21. in place thercat.

The part 34 is provided with a pair of par allcl laterally spaced bores and 36 there through. the former intended for receiving the flexible shaft 18 and the latter to form a bearing for a spindle shaft 37 upon which a needle or pointer 38 is mounted so as to move across the face of the dial 28. A plate 33 is arranged across the cup intermediate the spacer rings 31 and 32 to form a second bearing for the spindle 37. The outer portion. of the bore 36 is enlarged so as to frictionally receive a plug 39 extending through the cup and by means of which the spindle may be adjusted from the exterior of the cup.

A shaft extension part 23 is attached at one end by suitable means to the end of the flexible shaft 18 arranged within the bearing 35, said extension having a pair of axially spaced rounded enlargements 24 thereon to bear against the wall of the bearing aperture 35 and provide an annular chamber therebetween. Lock nuts 34 may be arranged on the part 34 to clamp it in place within the cup, and a bracket part 42 may be arranged to be secured to the cup by bolts 43, the ends of said bracket bearing against the inside wall of the instrument board 25.

It will be noted that there are no gears at the tank portion of the device and it therefore becomes necessary to provide gears or other motion reducing means at the indicator portion so that the needle will not be re volved through more than a single revolution. This reduction of angular movement of the needle is done by arranging intermeshing gears or pinions 40, 41 on the shafts 37 and 23. Obviously, any movement of the float will be transmitted directly to the flexible shaft through the pin and slot connection, and, in turn, transmitted to the needle through the meshing gears.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various in'nnaterial modifications may be made in the same without dcparting from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting nryself to the exact form, construction, arrangei'nent and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

hat I cl im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the kind described an d in combination, a tank having an openin therein, a fitting arranged at the opening, a onepicce bracket in sortable into the opening from the exterior thereof and having aligned bearings, means for securing the bracket to the iittin floatmeans arranged in the tank, a bent one-pic e rod hav' 5 one end secured to the heat means and having its other end jourd in the boarin a iiejzible shaft projec into the brac t, 2: member secured to the flexible shaft an d having a slotted socket adapted to receive one end of the bent rod, and a pin projecting from the rod and engaging the slot.

In te, imony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE J. DUNBAUGH, Jr.

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