Housing for capacitive liquid level sensor
View Patent ↗A housing for a capacitive liquid level sensor, for providing an insulating cover over the functional assembly ( 1 ) of a capacitive liquid level sensor, consisting of two independent half-bodies ( 2 ) and ( 3 ), which overlap one another and are secured with a perimeter joint ( 5 ) therebetween, the assembly of the half-bodies ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) determining an intermediate cavity ( 4 ) for accommodating the functional assembly ( 1 ) of the capacitive liquid level sensor of the application.
1 . A capacitive liquid level sensor apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising:
a first independent half-body;
a second independent half-body coupled to the first independent half-body, the second independent half-body comprising an end, the end having an opening, wherein a joint between the first and second independent half-bodies is sealed;
an internal cavity defined between the first and second independent half bodies; and
a capacitive liquid level sensor having a first portion and a second portion, wherein:
the first portion of the capacitive liquid level sensor is disposed in the internal cavity of the housing, wherein the first portion comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface opposite the first flat surface, wherein an entirety of the first flat surface is in contact with the first independent half-body, wherein an entirety of the second flat surface is in contact with the second independent half-body, wherein the first portion is held within the housing without any material between the first portion and the housing; and
the second portion of the capacitive liquid level sensor protrudes through the opening in the end of the second independent half-body and is disposed external to the housing.
2 . The capacitive liquid level sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a perimeter joint defined where a perimeter of the first independent half-body contacts the second independent half-body, wherein the perimeter joint is established by means of a leak-tight securing between the first and second half-bodies.
3 . The capacitive liquid level sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second half-body comprises a transverse plate structure at the first end, wherein the opening comprises a groove disposed in the transverse plate structure, the groove adapted to receive the capacitive liquid level sensor.
4 . The capacitive liquid level sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second independent half-body comprises:
a first wall having a first external surface and a first internal surface; and
a second wall having a second external surface and a second internal surface, wherein the second internal surface faces the first internal surface and is separated from the first internal surface; and
wherein the internal cavity is further defined between the first and second internal surfaces;
the first independent half-body is coupled to the second independent half-body along a side of the second independent half-body that is adjacent to the end, the first independent half-body forming a third external wall along the side perpendicular to the first and second external walls.
5 . A capacitive liquid level sensor apparatus formed by:
coupling a first independent half-body to a second independent half-body, wherein the first independent half-body comprises a perimeter, wherein the second independent half-body comprises an end having an opening, wherein the first independent half-body contacts the second independent half-body along the perimeter, wherein an internal cavity between the first and second independent half-bodies is formed by the coupling;
sealing a perimeter joint between the first and second independent half-bodies along the perimeter of the first independent half-body; and
inserting, subsequent to the sealing, a first portion of a capacitive liquid level sensor through the opening in the end of the second independent half-body into the internal cavity;
wherein after the first portion of the capacitive liquid level sensor is inserted into the internal cavity:
the first portion of the capacitive liquid level sensor is disposed in the internal cavity, wherein the first portion comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface opposite the first flat surface, wherein an entirety of the first flat surface is in contact with the first independent half-body, wherein an entirety of the second flat surface is in contact with the second independent half-body, wherein the first portion is held within the housing without any material between the first portion and the housing; and
a second portion of the capacitive liquid level sensor protrudes through the opening in the end of the second independent half-body and is disposed external to the internal cavity between the first and second independent half-bodies.