Liquid gauge

Claim 2

A capacitance type liquid level measuring gauge comprising: oscillation means including a frequency generator connected to generate a signal having a frequency determined as a function of capacitance and resistance, a measuring capacitor and a resistor connected in series with each other and further connected to said frequency generator, said measuring capacitor including a pair of electrode plates submergible in a liquid having a level to be measured; a condenser connected in series with said measuring capacitor, the capacitance of said condenser being greater than the capacitance established for said measuring capacitor when said electrode plates are substantially fully submerged within the liquid; and indicating means for indicating the quantity of the liquid by processing a signal generated by said oscillation means.

Claim 3

A capacitance type liquid level measuring gauge as claimed in claim 1, in which said condenser has a capacitance which is approximately one hundred times larger than the capacitance established for said measuring capacitor by the electrode plates being fully submerged in said liquid.

Claim 4

A capacitance type liquid gauge as claimed in claim 2, in which said frequency generator of said oscillation means is a 555 type IC.

Claim 5

A liquid gauge comprising continuously oscillating oscillation means including a frequency generator 14, a first capacitor 10 and a resistor 12 which is connected in series with said first capacitor, an indicating means 16 for visually or acoustically indicating the quantity of the liquid by processing a signal generated by said oscillation means, said first capacitor including a pair of spaced electrode plates which are submersible in a liquid the quantity of which is to be measured, which is characterized in that a second capacitor 18 is interposed in series between said first capacitor and said resistor, the capacitance of said second capacitor is determined greater than that of said first capacitor which is established by said electrode plates being substantially fully submerged in the liquid, said oscillating means is connected for continuously oscillating so long as the electrode plates are submerged in the liquid.

Claim 6

A liquid gauge comprising continuously oscillating oscillation means including a frequency generator 14, a first capacitor 10 and a resistor 12 which is connected in series with said first capacitor, an indicating means 16 for visually or acoustically indicating the quantity of the liquid by processing a signal generated by said oscillation means, said first capacitor including a pair of spaced electrode plates which are submersible in a liquid the quantity of which is to be measured, which is characterized in that a second capacitor 18 is interposed in series between said first capacitor and said resistor, the capacitance of said second capacitor is determined greater than that of said first capacitor which is established by said electrode plates being substantially fully submerged in the liquid, said oscillating means is connected for continuously oscillating so long as the electrode plates are submerged in the liquid.

Claim 7

In a capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge having an oscillator connected to a measuring capacitor for producing a signal having a frequency determined by said capacitor, and an indicating means for providing a substantially continuously variable indication of the quantity of a liquid being measured, said capacitor including a pair of spaced electrode plates submergible in the liquid to be measured, the improvement comprising: compensating means, connected to said measuring gauge for maintaining oscillation of said oscillator and for maintaining accurate indication by said indicating means of the quantity of liquid for different liquids having different dielectric characteristics.

Claim 8

In a capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge having an oscillator connected to a measuring capacitor for producing a signal having a frequency determined by said capacitor, and an indicating means for providing a substantially continuously variable indication of the quantity of a liquid being measured, said capacitor including a pair of spaced electrode plates submergible in the liquid to be measured, the improvement comprising: compensating means, connected to said measuring gauge for maintaining oscillation of said oscillator and for maintaining accurate indication by said indicating means of the quantity of liquid for different liquids having different dielectric characteristics.

Claim 9

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 5, wherein said compensating means comprises means for forcing said measuring capacitor to discharge and to charge in liquids having a high dielectric loss.

Claim 10

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 6, wherein said different liquids include gasoline and gasohol, respectively.

Claim 11

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 6, wherein said compensating means comprises a further capacitor connected to said measuring capacitor.

Claim 12

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 8, wherein said further capacitor is connected in series with said measuring capacitor.

Claim 13

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 5, wherein said plates of said measuring capacitor are arranged to provide a capacitance determined as a sum of first and second capacitances determined, respectively, by the dielectric constants of air and of the liquid being measured and by a ratio of a portion of an area of said plates submerged in the liquid to an effective surface area thereof.

Claim 14

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 10, wherein said compensating means comprises a further capacitor connected to said measuring capacitor.

Claim 15

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 11, wherein said further capacitor is connected in series with said measuring capacitor.

Claim 16

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 12, wherein said further capacitor has a capacitance selected to have minimal effects on the frequency generated by said oscillator as determined by said measuring capacitor.

Claim 17

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 13, wherein said further capacitor has a capacitance substantially larger than the capacitance of said measuring capacitor.

Claim 18

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 14, wherein the capacitance of said further capacitor is at least 100 times the capacitance of said measuring capacitor when said plates thereof are fully submerged in the liquid.

Claim 19

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 5, wherein said indicating means comprises means for providing a visual indication of said liquid quantity.

Claim 20

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 5, wherein said indicating means comprises means for providing an acoustical indication of said liquid quantity.

Claim 21

The improved capacitance type liquid quantity measuring gauge recited in claim 10 wherein the plates of said measuring capacitor are arranged to provide a capacitance determined by ##EQU4## wherein E L is the dielectric constant of the liquid being measured E A is the dielectric constant of air d is the distance between the two dielectric plates, s is the effective surface area of the electrode plates, and x is the ratio of the liquid submerged portion of the area of one electrode plate to the effective surface area S.