Fuel level sensor for a rotating fuel tank

Claim 2

A liquid level sensor for a cylindrical tank carried by a rotating shaft extending through its axis comprising: slip ring retaining means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith; first and second slip rings carried by the slip ring retaining means for rotation relative thereto; a potentiometer assembly including a resistive element circumferentially disposed on the first slip ring and a wiper arm carried by the second slip ring and cooperating with the resistive element to present an impedance which is a function of the relative angular positions of the first and second slip rings; means for maintaining one of said slip rings at a constant angular position relative to a vertical reference; and means responsive to liquid level for rotating the other of said slip rings to an angular position relative to the vertical reference representing the liquid level in the tank, whereby the impedance presented by the resistive element and the wiper arm is independent from shaft and the carried tank rotation and represents the liquid level in the tank.

Claim 3

A fuel level sensor for a cylindrical fuel tank carried by a rotating shaft extending through its axis comprising: slip ring retaining means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith; first and second slip rings carried by the slip ring retaining means for rotation relative thereto; a potentiometer assembly including a resistive element circumferentially disposed on the first slip ring and a wiper arm carried by the second slip ring and cooperating with the resistive element to present an impedance which is a function of the relative angular positions of the first and second slip rings; a weight arm having a first end secured to one of said slip rings; weight means secured to the remaining end of said weight arm, the weight arm and weight means maintaining said one of the slip rings at a constant angular position relative to a vertical reference; a float arm having a first end secured to the other of said slip rings; a float secured to the remaining end of the float arm, the float being operative to rotate said other of the slip rings to an angular position relative to the vertical reference representing the level of fuel in the fuel tank, whereby the impedance presented by the resistive element and the wiper arm is independent from shaft and the carried fuel tank rotation and represents the level of fuel in the fuel tank.

Claim 4

A fuel level sensor for a cylindrical fuel tank carried by a rotating shaft extending through its axis comprising: slip ring retaining means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith; first and second slip rings carried by the slip ring retaining means for rotation relative thereto; a potentiometer assembly including a resistive element circumferentially disposed on the first slip ring and a wiper arm carried by the second slip ring and cooperating with the resistive element to present an impedance which is a function of the relative angular positions of the first and second slip rings; a weight arm having a first end secured to one of said slip rings; weight means secured to the remaining end of said weight arm, the weight arm and weight means maintaining said one of the slip rings at a constant angular position relative to a vertical reference; a float arm having a first end secured to the other of said slip rings; a float secured to the remaining end of the float arm, the float being operative to rotate said other of the slip rings to an angular position relative to the vertical reference representing the level of fuel in the fuel tank, whereby the impedance presented by the resistive element and the wiper arm is independent from shaft and the carried fuel tank rotation and represents the level of fuel in the fuel tank.

Claim 5

A fuel level sensor for a cylindrical tank carried by an elecTrically grounded rotating tubular member extending through its axis comprising: electrically insulating slip ring retaining means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith; first and second spaced conducting bands circumferentially disposed on the slip ring retaining means; first and second electrically insulating slip rings carried by the slip ring retaining means over the first and second conducting bands respectively; a potentiometer assembly including a resistive element circumferentially disposed on the first slip ring and a wiper arm carried by the second slip ring and cooperating with the resistive element; a first brush contact extending through the first slip ring and engaging the first conducting band; means electrically coupling one end of the resistive element to the first brush contact; contact means extending through the tubular member and engaging the first conductive band; means electrically insulting the last mentioned means from the tubular member; a second brush contact extending through the second slip ring and contacting the second conducting band; means electrically coupling the wiper arm to the second brush contact; means electrically coupling the second band to the tubular member so as to electrically ground said second band; means for maintaining one of said slip rings at a constant angular position relative to a vertical reference; and means responsive to the level of fuel in the tank for rotating the other of said slip rings to an angular position relative to the vertical reference representing the level of fuel in the fuel tank, whereby the impedance between the first and second conducting bands and between the contact means and ground represents the level of fuel in the fuel tank.

Claim 6

A fuel level sensor for a cylindrical tank carried by an elecTrically grounded rotating tubular member extending through its axis comprising: electrically insulating slip ring retaining means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith; first and second spaced conducting bands circumferentially disposed on the slip ring retaining means; first and second electrically insulating slip rings carried by the slip ring retaining means over the first and second conducting bands respectively; a potentiometer assembly including a resistive element circumferentially disposed on the first slip ring and a wiper arm carried by the second slip ring and cooperating with the resistive element; a first brush contact extending through the first slip ring and engaging the first conducting band; means electrically coupling one end of the resistive element to the first brush contact; contact means extending through the tubular member and engaging the first conductive band; means electrically insulting the last mentioned means from the tubular member; a second brush contact extending through the second slip ring and contacting the second conducting band; means electrically coupling the wiper arm to the second brush contact; means electrically coupling the second band to the tubular member so as to electrically ground said second band; means for maintaining one of said slip rings at a constant angular position relative to a vertical reference; and means responsive to the level of fuel in the tank for rotating the other of said slip rings to an angular position relative to the vertical reference representing the level of fuel in the fuel tank, whereby the impedance between the first and second conducting bands and between the contact means and ground represents the level of fuel in the fuel tank.