Liquid level detector

{
  "publication_number": "US9645005B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Liquid level detector",
  "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.",
  "claims": [
    "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, the arm is supported by the supporting member between the holder and the cover, the holder comprises a first hook portion protruding toward outside of the holder, the cover comprises a cover side engaging portion engaging with the first hook portion, the holder and the cover are connected to each other by engaging the cover side engaging portion with the first hook portion while the cover side engaging portion is located on a body side than the first hook portion.",
    "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 a rotation plane of the arm.",
    "7. The liquid level detector as in claim 1, wherein 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 cover side engaging portion and the rotation regulating portion are disposed with an interval between each other in a state where the first hook portion and the rotation regulating portion oppose each other and the cover side engaging portion is engaged with the first hook portion, and a clearance between the first hook portion and the rotation regulating portion is smaller than a thickness of the first hook portion in a state where the first 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.",
    "9. The liquid level detector as in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a notch having a width that is substantially equal to a diameter of the arm, a part of the arm is disposed within the notch, and the notch regulates a movement of the arm in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the arm in a rotation plane of the arm.",
    "10. The liquid level detector as in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a guide rail protruding from a surface of the body and having an annular shape, the holder comprises: a holder side engaging portion extending from an inner peripheral side of the guide rail beyond an outer peripheral end of the guide rail, and toward the body along an outer side of the outer peripheral end of the guide rail; and a second hook portion protruding from the holder side engaging portion toward a lower position than the guide rail, the holder is rotatably attached to the guide rail by engaging the second hook portion to the guide rail.",
    "11. 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, the arm is supported by the supporting member between the holder and the cover, the arm bends at least at a first bending point, a second bending point and a third bending point between the holder and the cover, the first bending point is located on a float side from the second bending point, the third bending point is 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 on the float side from the first bending point extends in a first direction, a portion of the arm located on an opposite side of the float side from the first bending point extends in a second direction being different from the first direction, and a portion of the arm located between the first bending point and the third 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 extend in the rotation plane toward the second 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."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Disclosed herein are exemplary liquid level detectors configured to detect a level of liquid (for example, a device configured to detect an amount of fuel stored in a fuel tank of an automobile or the like).\n\nJapanese Patent Application Publication, No. 2006-226843 A discloses a liquid level detector including: a float configured to move up and down depending on a liquid level; and an arm configured to convert an up-and-down motion of the float to a rotary motion; and a holder supporting the arm. The holder holds the arm with a holding portion, a hook, and a stopper. The holding portion, the hook, and the stopper are all exposed to outside of the liquid level detector.\n\nIn the art described above, there is a possibility that when the liquid level detector is placed into a container, any of the holding portion, the hook, and the stopper, which are exposed to outside, may come into contact with the container. As a result of this, the arm may come off a supporting member supporting the arm.\n\nThe present specification provides for restraining an arm from coming off a holder.\n\nThis application discloses a liquid level detector. The liquid level detector may comprise: 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 of the arm; and a supporting member supporting the arm to be rotatable relative to the sensor.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01F 23/38",
    "G01D 5/142"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 17/00",
    "F16B 2/22",
    "G01F 23/38"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Aisan Industry Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Masashi Go",
    "Nobuo Suzuki"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-04-23",
  "publication_date": "2017-05-09",
  "grant_date": "2017-05-09",
  "priority_date": "2014-04-25",
  "application_number": "US-201514694418-A",
  "family_id": "54334492",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US4987400A",
    "JP2006226843A",
    "US20090038395A1",
    "JP2009244016A",
    "JP2012154691A",
    "KR20130019081A",
    "JP2013137256A",
    "US20150000398A1",
    "JP2014025888A",
    "JP2014071041A"
  ]
}