Liquid level detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015308880-A1
Application number	US-201514694418-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2015
Priority date	Apr 25, 2014
Publication date	Oct 29, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A liquid level detector may include a float; an arm attached to the float and configured to convert a linear motion of the float in an up-and-down direction to a rotary motion; a sensor configured to detect the rotary motion; and a supporting member supporting the arm to be rotatable relative to the sensor. The supporting member may include: a body fixed to the sensor; a holder rotatably attached to the body; and a cover arranged on an opposite side from the body with the holder intervened in between, and covering the holder from the opposite side. The arm may be supported by the supporting member between the holder and the cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A liquid level detector comprising:
a float; an arm attached to the float and configured to convert a linear motion of the float in an up-and-down direction to a rotary motion; a sensor configured to detect the rotary motion; and a supporting member supporting the arm to be rotatable relative to the sensor, wherein the supporting member comprises:
a body fixed to the sensor;
a holder rotatably attached to the body; and
a cover arranged on an opposite side from the body with the holder intervened in between, and covering the holder from the opposite side, and
the arm is supported by the supporting member between the holder and the cover.

2 . The liquid level detector as in claim 1 , wherein
the holder and the cover are connected to each other by a snap fit structure.

3 . The liquid level detector as in claim 1 , wherein
the arm extends between the holder and the cover at least in a first direction and a second direction being different from the first direction, and at least one of the holder and the cover contacts a portion of the arm extending in the second direction.

4 . The liquid level detector as in claim 3 , wherein
the arm bends at least at a first bending point and a second bending point between the holder and the cover, the first bending point is located on a float side from the second bending point, a portion of the arm located on the float side from the first bending point extends in the first direction, a portion of the arm located on an opposite side of the float side from the first bending point extends in the second direction, and at least one of the holder and the cover contacts a portion of the arm located between the first bending point and the second bending point, and a portion of the arm located on the opposite side of the float side from the second bending point of the arm.

5 . The liquid level detector as in claim 4 , wherein
the arm bends at a third bending point located between the first bending point and the second bending point, the arm bends on a rotation plane of the arm at the first bending point, the second bending point, and the third bending point respectively, a portion of the arm located between the first bending point and the third bending point and the portion of the arm located on the opposite side of the float side from the second bending point of the arm extend in the rotation plane toward the same direction with a space between each other, and the holder is disposed between the portion located between the first bending point and the third bending point of the arm and the portion located on the opposite side of the float from the second bending point of the arm, and the holder contacts the portion located between the first bending point and the third bending point of the arm and the portion located on the opposite side of the float from the second bending point of the arm.

6 . The liquid level detector as in claim 1 , wherein
the holder comprises a regulator configured to regulate the arm to move in a direction orthogonal to the rotation plate of the arm.

7 . The liquid level detector as in claim 2 , wherein
the holder comprises a hook portion protruding toward outside of the holder, the cover comprises an engaging portion engaging with the hook portion, in the snap fit structure, the engaging portion engages with the hook portion while the engaging portion is located on a body side than the hook portion, the body comprises a rotation regulating portion configured to regulate a rotation of the arm and disposed at an outer peripheral end of the cover with an interval provided between the rotation regulating portion and the outer peripheral end of the cover, the engaging portion and the rotation regulating portion are disposed with an interval between each other in a state where the hook portion and the rotation regulating portion oppose each other and the engaging portion is engaged with the hook portion, and a clearance between the hook portion and the rotation regulating portion is smaller than a thickness of the hook portion in a state where the hook portion and the rotation regulating portion oppose each other.

8 . The liquid level detector as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnet retained by the holder and disposed to be rotatable with respect to the sensor, wherein the sensor detects the rotary motion of the arm by detecting a direction of a magnetic field of the magnet.

Assignees

• Aisan Ind

Inventors

• Go Masashi
• Suzuki Nobuo

Classifications

• G01F23/38 Primary

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• G01D5/142

  using Hall-effect devices (measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06) · CPC title

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16B17/00

  Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by a part of or on one member entering a hole in the other {and involving plastic deformation}(riveting F16B19/04) · CPC title