LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE WITH FLOAT GUIDES

1 . A liquid level gauge for determining the level of liquid within a container, the liquid level gauge comprising:

a mounting head adapted for connection to the container; and

a sensor assembly adapted to extend into the container from the mounting head, the sensor assembly comprising:

a support tube extending downwardly from the mounting head;

a gauge rod positioned in the support tube for selective movement out of the tank for visually determining the liquid level;

a first magnet connected to the gauge rod;

a float assembly comprising:

a float surrounding the support tube for sliding therealong in response to a change in liquid level;

a second magnet for selective coupling to the first magnet so that the gauge rod and float are selectively coupled together;

at least a first bearing positioned in the float and surrounding the support tube for sliding movement of the float therealong in response to change in liquid level; and

at least a first support ring positioned at least adjacent to the first bearing to prevent the first bearing from becoming dislodged from the float.

2 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 1 , wherein the float assembly further comprises:

a central tube having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central bore; and

a first annular projection formed at a first location on the central tube, the first annular projection extending generally radially inwardly from the inner surface of the central bore;

wherein the first annular projection prevents the first support ring from sliding out of the central bore in a first axial direction.

3 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 2 , wherein the float assembly further comprises:

a second annular projection formed at a second location on the central tube and axially spaced from the first annular projection, the second annular projection extending generally radially inwardly from the inner surface of the central bore and being in proximity to the first annular projection;

a second support ring positioned in the inner bore between the first and second annular projections, the second annular projection preventing the first and second support rings from sliding out of the bore in a second axial direction; and

the first bearing being positioned between the first and second support rings to thereby retain the first bearing within the central bore between the first and second annular projections.

4 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 3 , wherein the float assembly further comprises:

third and fourth annular projections formed at a third and fourth locations, respectively, on the central tube and axially spaced from the first and second annular projections, the third and fourth annular projections extending generally radially inwardly from the inner surface of the central bore and being in proximity to each other;

third and fourth support rings positioned and retained between the third and fourth annular projections, respectively; and

a second bearing positioned in the central bore between the third and fourth support rings to thereby retain the second bearing within the central bore.

5 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 4 , wherein an outer diameter of the first and second bearings is greater than an inner diameter of at least the first and third annular projections.

6 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 5 , wherein an outer diameter of the first, second, third, and fourth support rings is greater than an inner diameter of the annular projections.

7 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 6 , wherein at least the first and second bearings are sufficiently resilient to slip past at least one of the annular projections during installation and spring back to a larger diameter after installation so that the support rings are retained between their respective projections.

8 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 7 , wherein the support rings are sufficiently resilient to slip past the annular projections during installation and spring back to a larger diameter after installation so that the support rings are retained between their respective annular projections.

9 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 4 , wherein the outer diameter of the first and second bearings is greater than an inner diameter of the first, second, third, and fourth annular projections.

10 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 9 , wherein at least the first and second bearings are sufficiently resilient to slip past at least one of the annular projections during installation and spring back to their original diameter after installation so that the support rings are locked between their respective projections.

11 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 10 , wherein an outer diameter of the first, second, third, and fourth support rings is greater than an inner diameter of the annular projections.

12 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 11 , wherein the support rings are sufficiently resilient to slip past the annular projections during installation and spring back to a larger diameter after installation so that the support rings are retained between their respective projections to thereby further retain the annular bearings in place.

13 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 2 , wherein the wall of the central tube is thin in cross section and the first annular projection is created by forming an annular groove in the outer surface of the wall to thereby deform the thin wall inwardly into the central bore.

14 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 2 , wherein the first support ring comprises a split ring that contracts to a dimension smaller than the first annular protrusion and expands to a dimension larger than the first annular protrusion to thereby retain the split ring within the central bore.

15 . A liquid level gauge according to claim 2 , wherein the first support ring comprises a solid resilient ring that deforms to a dimension smaller than the first annular protrusion and expands to a dimension larger than the first annular protrusion to thereby retain the resilient ring within the central bore.

16 . A float assembly for use in a liquid level gauge having a vertical support tube that extends into a tank for measuring a level of liquid therein, the float assembly comprising:

a float adapted to surround the vertical support tube for sliding movement therealong in response to a change in liquid level within the tank, the float having a central axis that is adapted to be coincident with a longitudinal axis of the vertical support tube;

a central tube extending through the float and being coincident with the central axis thereof, the central tube having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central bore that is adapted to surround the support tube;

first and second annular projections formed at first and second locations on the central tube, the annular projections extending generally radially inwardly from an inner surface of the central bore;

first and second support rings located within the central bore and retained between the annular projections; and

a first bearing having a first opening for slidably receiving the support tube and being positioned in the central bore between the first and second support rings to thereby retain the first bearing between the first and second annular projections.

17 . A float assembly according to claim 16 , and further comprising:

third and fourth annular projections formed at third and fourth locations, respectively, on the central tube and axially spaced from the first and second annular projections, the third and fourth annular projections extending generally radially inwardly from the inner surface of the central bore and being in proximity to each other;

third and fourth support rings retained within the third and fourth annular projections, respectively; and

a second bearing having a second opening for slidably receiving the support tube so that the float assembly slides linearly along the support tube, the second bearing being positioned in the central bore between the third and fourth support rings to thereby retain the second bearing between the third and fourth projections.

18 . A float assembly according to claim 17 , wherein an outer diameter of the first and second bearings is greater than an inner diameter of the first and third annular projections.

19 . A float assembly according to claim 18 , wherein an outer diameter of the first, second, third, and fourth support rings is greater than an inner diameter of the annular projections.

20 . A float assembly according to claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second bearings and the support rings are sufficiently resilient to slip past at least one of the annular projections during installation and spring back to a larger diameter after installation so that the support rings and/or the bearings are retained between their respective annular projections.