IP Library Patent Application 12717594
Patent Application
App. No. 12/717,594

FLUID LEVEL DETECTION DEVICE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/717,594
Abstract

A fluid level detection device includes a float floating in a bio fuel, a float arm, and a sensor for detecting a rotating amount of the float arm. The sensor has a circuit board and a sliding contact having a contact portion. The float arm is made of a stainless steel based material. The contact portion of the sliding contact and a metallic piece extended from the contact portion are made of nickel silver, and a Ni plating layer is applied to a surface of the nickel silver. A current of 10 ms to 15 ms per cycle is supplied to the resistor and the contact portion.

Claims (12)

1 . A fluid level detection device comprising:

a float which floats in a bio fuel and changes its position in accordance with a change in height of a surface of the bio fuel;

a float arm coupled to the float at one end thereof; and

a sensor which detects a rotating amount of the float arm that rotates in accordance with a change in position of the float,

wherein the sensor includes:

a circuit board on which a resistor is disposed; and

a sliding contact coupled to the other end of the float arm so as to rotate in accordance with a rotation of the float arm, and that has a contact portion, an electrical connecting position of the contact portion with respect to the resistor on the circuit board being changed in accordance with a rotation of the sliding contact to detect the rotation amount of the float arm based on an electrical potential difference between voltages applied to the resistor and the contact portion;

wherein the float arm is made of a stainless steel based material;

wherein the contact portion of the sliding contact and a metallic piece extended from the contact portion are made of nickel silver, and a Ni plating layer is applied to surfaces of the contact portion and the metallic piece; and

wherein a current of 10 ms to 15 ms per cycle is supplied to the resistor and the contact portion.

2 . The fluid level detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the bio fuel is a bio ethanol fuel containing 10 to 100% of ethanol.

3 . The fluid level detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the bio fuel is a bio diesel fuel containing 5 to 30% of fatty methyl ether.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2010
From: SHIMIZU, TAKAFUMI; OHIKE, TOSHIO; FUKUHARA, TOSHIAKI
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024030/0324 →