US3842673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tank level unit with wave potentiometer and transverse coil spring deflection
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A liquid level responsive sending unit for use in fuel tanks or the like including a coil spring support affixed at one end to an inner wall of the tank and having a pivotally movable member attached to its free end. The pivotal member operably engages a float which moves in a generally vertical direction when the liquid level changes in the tank. A stationary member extends in side-by-side relation to the pivotal member. An elongated wirewound resistor is mounted on one of the aforesaid members and is insulated therefrom. Changes in the liquid level causes movement of the float which, in turn, pivots the movable member and produces relative sliding contact between one of the members and the resistor. The sliding contact completes an electrical circuit through the resistor at various places along its length corresponding to different liquid levels in the tank to produce a variable resistance in the circuit extending through the resistor and the contacting member.
Inventors
- 👤 J Riddel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/64; G01F23/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks or the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; a first end of said coil spring supported by a tank wall; the second end of said coil spring attached to one end of an elongated pivotal member; an elongated stationary member having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member and supported in the tank; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; float in the tank interior movable as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby relative movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member caused by axial movement of said member along said elongated resistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks or the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; a first end of said coil spring supported by a tank wall; the second end of said coil spring attached to one end of an elongated pivotal member; an elongated stationary member having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member and supported in the tank; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; float in the tank interior movable as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby relative movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member caused by axial movement of said member along said elongated resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
318 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks and the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; means supporting and rotatably positioning one end of said coil spring to a tank wall leaving the other end free to move transversely to the axis of said spring; an elongated pivotal member with one end attached to the free end of said coil spring and generally extending in a radial direction therefrom; an elongated stationary member supported in the tank and having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; said coil spring supporting means biasing said first end of said coil spring in an angular direction with respect to said free end and attached pivotal member prior to angular positioning said coil spring to the tank wall thereby producing a rotative force on said movable member and a relative pressure between said pivotal member and said stationary member; a float in the tank interior movable as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member by the moving contact of said member with the resistor at infinitely variable positions along the length of the resistor corresponding to movement of said buoyant float.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
318 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks and the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; means supporting and rotatably positioning one end of said coil spring to a tank wall leaving the other end free to move transversely to the axis of said spring; an elongated pivotal member with one end attached to the free end of said coil spring and generally extending in a radial direction therefrom; an elongated stationary member supported in the tank and having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; said coil spring supporting means biasing said first end of said coil spring in an angular direction with respect to said free end and attached pivotal member prior to angular positioning said coil spring to the tank wall thereby producing a rotative force on said movable member and a relative pressure between said pivotal member and said stationary member; a float in the tank interior movable as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member by the moving contact of said member with the resistor at infinitely variable positions along the length of the resistor corresponding to movement of said buoyant float.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
261 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks or the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; a first end of said coil spring supported by a tank wall; the second end of said coil spring attached to one end of an elongated pivotal member; an elongated stationary member having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member and supported in the tank; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; a discharge conduit extending through a wall of said tank and generally in a vertical direction toward the bottom wall of said tank; a generally cylindrically shaped float in the tank interior having an axially extending bore therethrough encircling said discharge conduit and in a movable axial direction thereon as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby relative movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member caused by axial movement of said member along said elongated resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
261 words
A liquid level responsive sending unit for fuel tanks or the like comprising: a coil spring support within the tank interior; a first end of said coil spring supported by a tank wall; the second end of said coil spring attached to one end of an elongated pivotal member; an elongated stationary member having a portion extending generally in side-by-side relation with respect to said pivotal member and supported in the tank; an elongated wire-wound resistor supported by one of said members and having an end of said resistor electrically connected thereto; insulation means between said resistor and said one member for providing an electrical circuit extending through said one member, said connected end of said resistor and through said resistor; a discharge conduit extending through a wall of said tank and generally in a vertical direction toward the bottom wall of said tank; a generally cylindrically shaped float in the tank interior having an axially extending bore therethrough encircling said discharge conduit and in a movable axial direction thereon as the level of liquid therein changes; means on said float operably engageable with the other end of said pivotal member to pivot said pivotal member by lateral deflection of said free end from the unstressed axis of said coil spring whereby relative movement between said resistor and the other of said members causes a sliding engagement and an electrical connection therebetween to vary the resistance of the circuit extending through said pivotal member, said resistor and said stationary member caused by axial movement of said member along said elongated resistor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |