Liquid-surface detection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9752920-B2
Application number	US-201414762044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2014
Priority date	Jan 21, 2013
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

Provided is a liquid-surface detection device in which a holder, which turns concurrently with movement of a float arm that moves based on a change in a liquid surface, is securely and rotatably mounted on a frame. A liquid-surface detection device includes a holder that includes an upper piece and a lower piece, and a frame that includes a bearing, a first groove, and a second groove. When mounting the holder onto the frame, the first groove guides the lower piece to the second groove, and the second groove further guides the lower piece to the bearing part so that the bearing part of the frame is disposed between the upper piece and the lower piece of the holder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid-surface detection device comprising:
a holder configured to turn concurrently with movement of a float arm that moves based on a change in a liquid surface, wherein the holder comprises:
an upper piece that houses a circuit board and comprises a first through-hole;
a lower piece that comprises a second through-hole; and
a holding part that connects the upper piece and the lower piece;

a frame that comprises:
an upper surface;
a lower surface; and
a lateral surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the lateral surface comprises:
a bearing part that comprises a third through-hole;
a first groove being disposed adjacent to the bearing part, wherein the first groove extends from the upper surface to the lower surface; and
a second groove being disposed adjacent to the bearing part, wherein the second groove extends from the first groove to the bearing part,

wherein the holder is configured to be mounted on the frame so that the bearing part of the frame is disposed between the upper piece and the lower piece of the holder,
wherein when mounting the holder onto the frame, the first groove guides the lower piece of the holder from the upper surface to the second groove of the frame, and the second groove further guides the lower piece of the holder from the first groove to the bearing part to align the first through-hole of the upper piece and the second through-hole of the lower piece with the third through-hole of the bearing part,
wherein a first section of the float arm is inserted into the first through-hole, the third through-hole, and the second through-hole, and
wherein the frame houses a contact point of a terminal, the contact point is configured to be in contact with the circuit board of the upper piece when the holder is mounted on the frame.

2. The liquid-surface detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing part further comprises a protrusion part that protrudes from the upper surface of the frame, and
the upper piece of the holder comprises a third groove that guides the protrusion part of the bearing part while the lower piece is guided along the second groove on the lateral surface of the frame.

3. The liquid-surface detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuit board is disposed on a first surface of the upper piece of the holder,
a first locking part and a second locking part are disposed on a second surface of the upper piece of the holder,
the first locking part is configured to hold a second section of the float arm onto the holder, and
the second locking part is configured to prevent the second section of the float arm from coming off from the first locking part.

4. A liquid-surface detection device comprising:
a holder configured to turn concurrently with movement of a float arm that moves based on a change in a liquid surface, wherein the holder comprises:
an upper piece that houses a circuit board and comprises a first through-hole;
a lower piece that comprises a second through-hole; and
a holding part that connects the upper piece and the lower piece;

a frame that comprises:
an upper surface;
a lower surface; and
a lateral surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the lateral surface comprises:
a bearing part that comprises a third through-hole;
a first groove being disposed adjacent to the bearing part, wherein the first groove extends from the upper surface to the lower surface; and
a second groove being disposed adjacent to the bearing part, wherein the second groove extends from the first groove to the bearing part,

wherein the holder is configured to be mounted on the frame so that the bearing part of the frame is disposed between the upper piece and the lower piece of the holder,
wherein when mounting the holder onto the frame, the first groove guides the lower piece of the holder from the upper surface to the lower surface of the frame, and the second groove further guides the lower piece of the holder from the first groove to the bearing part to align the first through-hole of the upper piece and the second through-hole of the lower piece with the third through-hole of the bearing part,
wherein the lateral surface of the frame further comprises a first stopper surface and a second stopper surface that restrain the turning of the holder,
wherein the upper piece of the holder further comprises a hanging part, the hanging part being a part of a lateral surface of the upper piece that extends towards the frame,
wherein the hanging part comprises a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface abutting against the first stopper surface and the second stopper surface, respectively, when the holder turns,
wherein when the first abutment surface is abutting the first stopper surface to restrain the turning of the holder, a first angle formed between the second abutment surface and the first stopper surface is perpendicular and a second angle formed between the second abutment surface and the second stopper surface is perpendicular, and
wherein when the second abutment surface is abutting the second stopper surface, a third angle formed between the first abutment surface and the first stopper surface is perpendicular and a fourth angle formed between the first abutment surface and the second stopper surface is perpendicular.

5. The liquid-surface detection device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first stopper surface and the second stopper surface of the frame extend from the upper surface of the frame along the lateral surface.

6. The liquid-surface detection device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first stopper surface and the second stopper surface comprise a slippage proof wall that prevents the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface from slipping from the first stopper surface and the second stopper surface, respectively.

Assignees

• Nippon Seiki Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sato Tetsuya
• Sakamaki Akira
• Yamaura Takayuki
• Koide Shigeki

Classifications

• G01F23/34 Primary

  using mechanically actuated indicating means {(G01F23/38 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01F23/303

  characterised by means to prevent fault-level readings due to turbulence of the fluid, e.g. special float housings · CPC title

• G01F23/363 Primary

  using electromechanically actuated indicating means · CPC title