External sealed intrusive mounting arrangement for a fuel level sensor

Claim 2

An intrusive fluid level sensor mounting arrangement for a fluid container, said mounting arrangement comprising first and second tubes, said first tube being attachable to a wall of the container such that a first end of said first tube is open to the container exterior through the container wall and a second end of said first tube extends into the container; said second tube being sized to slide axially within said first tube between first and second positions; said second tube having a first end accessible from outside the container such that a sensor can be installed in and removed from said second tube; said second tube providing fluid communication between the sensor and fluid in the container when said second tube is in said first position, and substantially preventing fluid loss from the container when said second tube is in said second position.

Claim 3

The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first and second tubes each comprise a fluid opening, said fluid openings being generally aligned and permitting fluid communication between the sensor and fluid in the container when said second tube is in said first position, and a portion of said second tube wall blocking said first tube fluid opening when said second tube is in said second position.

Claim 4

The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first tube comprises a stillwell attached to a flange unit, said flange unit being attachable to the container wall and extending there through to provide a rigid support for said stillwell.

Claim 5

The mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein said second tube comprises a second stillwell, said second stillwell having means for slidably mounting one end of said second stillwell in said flange so that said second stillwell can be accessed from outside the container and slid to said second position to prevent loss of fluid from the container.

Claim 6

The mounting arrangement of claim 4 wherein said one end of said second stillwell includes means for releasably retaining the sensor, said second stillwell having an end opposite said one end, said second stillwell opposite end comprising means preventing sliding movement of said second stillwell beyond said second position.

Claim 7

The mounting arrangement of claim 5 wherein said second stillwell opposite end includes vent ports that are open to the container interior when said second stillwell is in said first position and are blocked by said first stillwell when said second stillwell is in said second position.

Claim 8

The mounting arrangement of claim 6 wherein said preventing means comprising an enlarged flange on said second stillwell opposite end, said enlarged flange being at least the diameter of said first stillwell to prevent said second stillwell from being pulled out of the container.

Claim 9

The mounting arrangement of claim 7 further comprising a resilient seal that provides a fluid tight seal between said first and second stillwells to seal said vent ports when said second stillwell is in said second position.

Claim 10

The mounting arrangement of claim 8 further comprising a second resilient seal that provides a fluid tight seal between a fill hole in said first stillwell and a fill hole in said second stillwell when said second stillwell is in said second position, said fill holes being generally aligned when said second stillwell is in said first position to permit fluid to flow from the container interior into said second stillwell and engage the sensor.

Claim 11

The mounting arrangement of claim 5 wherein said retaining means comprises a hole that extends through said flange and said second stillwell one end and a pin on the sensor that registers with the hole when the sensor is installed in said second stillwell, said hole providing access to said pin so that said pin can be displaced from said hole when the sensor is to be removed.

Claim 12

The mounting arrangement of claim 2 wherein said first tube is arcuate so that when said second tube is in said first position said second tube fluid opening is generally axially transverse the container wall.

Claim 13

The mounting arrangement of claim 11 wherein the container wall is the bottom wall of an aircraft fuel tank or wing.

Claim 14

The mounting arrangement of claim 6 wherein the container wall is a bottom wall of a fuel tank, said first and second stillwells being mounted generally axially transverse the container wall so as to extend upward into the fuel tank interior with the sensor being positioned at the tank bottom and emitting ultrasonic pulses up towards the fuel surface generally along said second stillwell interior.

Claim 15

An intrusive assembly for installing and removing a fuel sensor on a fuel tank, said assembly comprising a first tube fixed to a tank wall such that a first end of said first tube is open to the tank exterior through a tank wall and a second end of said first tube extends into the tank interior, said first tube having a fill hole through a wall thereof, said fill hole being axially spaced from said first tube ends and inside the tank; a second tube slidably received in said first tube and moveable between a first position and a second position; said second tube having a fluid passageway in fluid communication with a fuel level sensor when the sensor is installed in one end of said second tube accessible from outside the tank; said second tube blocking said fill hole when said second tube is in said first position to facilitate installing and removing the sensor; said second tube fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said fill hole when said second tube is in said second position to permit fuel to wet the sensor.

Claim 16

An intrusive assembly for installing and removing a fuel sensor on a fuel tank, said assembly comprising a first tube fixed to a tank wall such that a first end of said first tube is open to the tank exterior through a tank wall and a second end of said first tube extends into the tank interior, said first tube having a fill hole through a wall thereof, said fill hole being axially spaced from said first tube ends and inside the tank; a second tube slidably received in said first tube and moveable between a first position and a second position; said second tube having a fluid passageway in fluid communication with a fuel level sensor when the sensor is installed in one end of said second tube accessible from outside the tank; said second tube blocking said fill hole when said second tube is in said first position to facilitate installing and removing the sensor; said second tube fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said fill hole when said second tube is in said second position to permit fuel to wet the sensor.

Claim 17

The mounting assembly of claim 14 wherein said fluid passageway directs ultrasonic pulses from the sensor into the fuel tank towards the fuel surface.

Claim 18

The mounting assembly of claim 15 wherein said second tube comprises means for preventing complete removal of said second tube from said first tube during routine removal and installation of a sensor.

Claim 19

The mounting assembly of claim 16 comprising means for locking said second tube in said second position.

Claim 20

The mounting assembly according to claim 17 wherein said first tube is arcuate so that said fluid passageway lies on an axis that is generally transverse the tank wall when said second tube is in said second position.

Claim 21

The mounting assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first tube is an outer stillwell supported on a mounting flange and said second tube is an inner stillwell, said mounting flange having a first portion attached to the fuel tank wall exterior and a second portion extending into said tank through a tank wall orifice.

Claim 22

The mounting assembly of claim 19 wherein said mounting flange has a central passageway therethrough, said inner stillwell being slidably received in said central passageway.

Claim 23

The mounting assembly of claim 20 wherein said inner stillwell has a fill port near the sensor end thereof, said outer stillwell fill hole registers with said inner stillwell port when said inner stillwell is in said second position, said inner stillwell fill port being axially displaced from said outer stillwell fill hole when said inner stillwell is in said first position, said inner stillwell blocking fuel flow through said outer stillwell fill hole into said inner stillwell when said inner stillwell is in said first position.

Claim 24

The mounting assembly of claim 20 wherein said inner stillwell is attached to a retractable collar that is mateable with said mounting flange.

Claim 25

The mounting assembly of claim 22 wherein said collar is threadably engaged to said mounting flange and the sensor is threadably engaged to said collar.

Claim 26

The mounting assembly of claim 22 wherein the sensor includes a locking means accessible when said collar is retracted so that said inner stillwell is in said first position in order for the sensor to be installed or removed.

Claim 27

An intrusive mounting arrangement for mounting a fluid sensor in a fluid container such that the sensor is exposed to fluid in the container, said mounting arrangement comprising means for mounting the sensor to the container through a hole in the container wall, and means for slidably positioning the sensor in first and second positions so that the sensor is exposed to fluid in the container when the sensor is in said first position, and the fluid is substantially blocked from said hole by said slidable positioning means during sensor removal when the sensor is in said second position.

Claim 28

An intrusive mounting arrangement for mounting a fluid sensor in a fluid container such that the sensor is exposed to fluid in the container, said mounting arrangement comprising means for mounting the sensor to the container through a hole in the container wall, and means for slidably positioning the sensor in first and second positions so that the sensor is exposed to fluid in the container when the sensor is in said first position, and the fluid is substantially blocked from said hole by said slidable positioning means during sensor removal when the sensor is in said second position.