Filling level indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11460335-B2
Application number	US-201716318992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A filling level indicator for determining a filling level in a tank, having a resistor network arranged on a carrier substrate, a contact element, and a magnetic element. The contact element is arranged adjacent to the resistor network and the magnetic element is movable relative to the resistor network and the contact element. The contact element has a contact region deflectable by the magnetic element. An electrically conductive connection between the contact region and the resistor network is produced by the deflection of the contact region. The contact element has an attachment region connected to the carrier substrate, and the contact region is formed spaced apart from the resistor network and the carrier substrate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filling level indicator for determining a filling level in a tank, comprising:
a resistor network arranged on a carrier substrate;
a one-piece contact element arranged adjacent to the resistor network comprising:
a contact region at a first longitudinal end of the one-piece contact element;
an attachment region at a second longitudinal end of the one-piece contact element opposite the contact region, that is connected directly to the carrier substrate; and
a steplike transition between the contact region and the attachment region so that the contact region and the attachment region are offset with respect to one another in a stepped manner in a rest state;

a magnetic element configured to be movable relative to the resistor network and the contact element;
wherein the contact region is configured to be deflected by the magnetic element;
wherein an electrically conductive connection between the contact region and the resistor network is produced by deflection of the contact region; and
wherein the contact region is formed spaced apart from the resistor network and the carrier substrate.

2. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact element is formed from a metallic material.

3. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact element is produced by deep-drawing of a plate-like blank.

4. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact region is formed as a circular-arc-shaped band portion, which is oriented to be parallel to and offset with respect to the resistor network.

5. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact region is deflectable along a deflection direction toward the resistor network, wherein, in a manner dependent on a position of the magnet element on that side of the resistor network which is averted from the contact element, in each case only a partial region of the contact region is deflected and deflected toward the resistor network.

6. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the contact region is foil-like,
wherein a material thickness along a main deflection direction is less in relation to a spatial extent of the contact region in other spatial directions.

7. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the contact region is formed by removal of material of the contact element in portions,
wherein, as a result of the removal of material, a material thickness is produced at the contact region which is reduced in relation to that in the attachment region.

8. The filling level indicator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact region and the attachment region are planar.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Gmbh
• Vitesco Tech Gmbh

Inventors

• Benner Hans Guenter
• Pauer Bernd

Classifications

• G01F23/46

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• G01F23/38 Primary

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• G01F23/62

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title