Filling level sensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535228-B2
Application number	US-202016843756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2020
Priority date	Apr 16, 2019
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A filling level sensing device for a liquid reservoir, in particular for a compensation tank of a vehicle brake system, includes at least one float, at least one sensor element connected to the at least one float, and at least two sensors for detecting the position of the at least one sensor element. The float may be designed to come into contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir. At least one of the two sensors may sense a change in the filling level of the liquid reservoir depending on the position of the at least one sensor element relative to the at least two sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filling level sensing device for a liquid reservoir, in particular for a compensation tank of a vehicle brake system, comprising:
at least one float which is designed to come into contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir,
at least one sensor element which is connected to the at least one float, the at least one sensor element producing a magnetic field, and
at least two sensors for detecting the position of the at least one sensor element, the at least two sensors reacting to the magnetic field which is produced by the at least one sensor element, one sensor of the at least two sensors having a higher magnetic sensitivity than the respectively other sensor, wherein at least one of the sensors senses a change in the filling level of the liquid reservoir depending on the position of the at least one sensor element relative to the at least two sensors.

2. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element can be displaced relative to the at least two sensors in the vertical direction.

3. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one float has at least one connecting element on which the at least one sensor element is arranged.

4. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 3 , wherein there is a guide for the at least one connecting element, which guide guides a displacement of the connecting element in the vertical direction.

5. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two sensors is connected to an electrical circuit.

6. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is a switch which changes its switching state depending on the magnetic field which is produced by the at least one sensor element.

7. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors are arranged at the same height in the vertical direction.

8. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors are arranged in a sensor housing which can be connected to the liquid reservoir.

9. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 8 , wherein the sensor housing has a guide for at least one connecting element on the at least one float in order to guide a movement of the at least one connecting element relative to the sensor housing in the vertical direction, the at least one sensor element being arranged on the at least one connecting element.

10. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least one connecting element has at least one travel limiting element.

11. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least two sensors can be connected to a control unit.

12. A filling level sensing device for a liquid reservoir, in particular for a compensation tank of a vehicle brake system, comprising:
at least one float which is designed to come into contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir,
at least one sensor element which is connected to the at least one float, and at least two sensors for detecting the position of the at least one sensor element, the at least two sensors being arranged at the same height in the vertical direction, wherein at least one of the sensors senses a change in the filling level of the liquid reservoir depending on the position of the at least one sensor element relative to the at least two sensors.

13. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor element can be displaced relative to the at least two sensors in the vertical direction.

14. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the at least one float has at least one connecting element on which the at least one sensor element is arranged.

15. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 14 , wherein there is a guide for the at least one connecting element, which guide guides a displacement of the connecting element in the vertical direction.

16. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor element produces a magnetic field, the at least two sensors reacting to the magnetic field which is produced by the at least one sensor element.

17. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 16 , wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is a switch which changes its switching state depending on the magnetic field which is produced by the at least one sensor element.

18. The filling level sensing device as claimed claim 12 , wherein the at least two sensors are arranged in a sensor housing which can be connected to the liquid reservoir.

19. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the sensor housing has a guide for at least one connecting element on the at least one float in order to guide a movement of the at least one connecting element relative to the sensor housing in the vertical direction, the at least one sensor element being arranged on the at least one connecting element.

20. The filling level sensing device as defined in claim 19 , wherein the at least one connecting element has at least one travel limiting element.

Assignees

• Zf Active Safety Gmbh

Inventors

• Noll Daniel
• Wagner Dennis
• Lehmler Soeren

Classifications

• B60T17/06

  Applications or arrangements of reservoirs · CPC title

• F16K37/005

  for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K33/00

  Floats for actuation of valves or other apparatus {(float actuated valves F16K31/18)} · CPC title

• B60T17/222 Primary

  by filling or bleeding of hydraulic systems · CPC title

• B60T17/225 Primary

  brake fluid level indicators (level indication in general G01F; H01H) · CPC title