Device for contacting at least one conducting track of a filling-level sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9500510-B2
Application number	US-201214361542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2012
Priority date	Nov 30, 2011
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A device for contacting at least one conducting track has a contact spring that is connected to a pivotable bow by a pivot bearing. The contact spring also has spring elements connected in series for preloading contacts against the conducting track. An axis of the pivot bearing is arranged parallel to the direction of motion of the contacts over the conducting tracks.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for making contact with at least one conductor track ( 9 ) of a filling level sensor ( 1 ), comprising:
at least one bow ( 6 ) pivotable over the conductor track ( 9 );
a contact spring ( 10 ) arranged on the at least one box ( 6 ) and having at least one spring element ( 16 , 17 ); and
at least one contact ( 11 ) prestressed against the conductor track ( 9 ) by at least one spring element ( 16 , 17 ) of the contact spring ( 10 ),
wherein the at least one box ( 6 ) is configured such that movement of the at least one contact ( 11 ) during pivoting of the at least one box ( 6 ) corresponds to an arc, and the contact ( 11 ) is fabricated in one piece with the at least one spring element ( 16 , 17 ) of the contact spring ( 10 ), and
wherein the at least one box ( 6 ) has a rotary bearing ( 12 ), and an axis of rotation ( 13 ) of the rotary bearing ( 12 ) is arranged parallel to a direction of movement of the at least one contact ( 11 ) over the conductor tracks ( 9 ).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact comprises two contacts, and wherein the axis of rotation ( 13 ) of the rotary bearing ( 12 ) forms an equilateral triangle with the two contacts ( 11 ), which are prestressed against a conductor track ( 9 ).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one spring element of the contact spring ( 10 ) comprises first spring elements ( 16 ) and second spring elements ( 17 ), which are fabricated in one piece and arranged in series.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the two contacts ( 11 ) are each arranged directly on the first spring elements ( 16 ), and the first spring elements ( 16 ) are connected to one another via a crossweb ( 19 ).

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein two second spring elements ( 17 ) are connected parallel to one another.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the contact spring ( 10 ) has two bearings connected to one another via a bridge ( 18 ) on the at least one box ( 6 ).

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the contact spring ( 10 ) has bearing eyelets ( 14 ) for bearing pins ( 15 ) arranged on the at least one box ( 6 ).

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the contact spring ( 10 ) is formed from sheet metal in one piece with the first and second spring elements ( 16 , 17 ), the bearing eyelets ( 14 ) and the contacts ( 11 ).

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the contacts ( 11 ) comprise a plurality of contact tongues ( 20 , 20 ′), connected in parallel and prestressed with different prestressing forces against the conductor tracks.

Assignees

• Benner Hans-Guenter
• Pauer Bernd
• Peter Robert
• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Benner Hans-Guenter
• Pauer Bernd
• Peter Robert

Classifications

• G01F23/363 Primary

  using electromechanically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• G01L1/2287

  constructional details of the strain gauges (adjustable resistors H01C10/00) · CPC title

• G01F23/20 Primary

  by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas · CPC title