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A device (15) for measuring the level of a fluid (24) in a container (17) comprising a frame assembly having a first arm (18) and a second arm (19), the first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position (20) to a second expanded position (21), a probe element (22) supported betwe

A device (15) for measuring the level of a fluid (24) in a container (17) comprising a frame assembly having a first arm (18) and a second arm (19), the first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position (20) to a second expanded position (21), a probe element (22) supported between the first arm and the second arm, the probe element having a sensing portion (34, 35) between the arms when the arms are in the second expanded position, the sensing portion configured to have a length (25) in contact with the fluid, an electrical circuit (26, 29) connected to the probe element, the probe element and the circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of the length of the probe that is in contact with the fluid, and the circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of the capacitance.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second ar

1. A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second arm;said probe element having a sensing portion between said arms when said arms are in said second expanded position;said sensing portion configured to have a length in contact with said fluid;an electrical circuit connected to said probe element;said probe element and said circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of said length of said probe that is in contact with said fluid;said circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of said capacitance; andsaid circuit comprising a terminal in electrical contact with said frame assembly. 2. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe element comprises a conductive wire contained in a non-conductive sheath. 3. The device set forth in claim 2, wherein said conductive wire comprises copper wire and said non-conductive sheath comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe element is flexible. 5. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a terminal in direct electrical contact with said tank or said fluid. 6. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a PCB; said frame assembly comprises a mounting hub pivotally supporting said first and second arms and configured to engage said container;said mounting hub comprises and aperture; andsaid PCB is supported within said aperture. 7. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a calibration mechanism for calibrating said output signal such that said output signal has a magnitude that varies linearly with said fluid level in said container. 8. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a calibration mechanism for calibrating said output signal such that said output signal has a magnitude that varies with a variation in the volume of said fluid in said container. 9. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises an oscillator. 10. The device set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit said output signal. 11. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said container comprises an airplane water tank. 12. The device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second arm;said probe element having a sensing portion between said arms when said arms are in said second expanded position;said sensing portion configured to have a length in contact with said fluid;an electrical circuit connected to said probe element;said probe element and said circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of said length of said probe that is in contact with said fluid;said circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of said capacitance;said frame assembly comprising a mounting hub pivotally supporting said first and second arms and configured to engage said container; andsaid mounting hub comprising an annular threaded rim configured to rotationally engage a correspondingly threaded aperture in said container. 13. A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second arm;said probe element having a sensing portion between said arms when said arms are in said second expanded position;said sensing portion configured to have a length in contact with said fluid;an electrical circuit connected to said probe element;said probe element and said circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of said length of said probe that is in contact with said fluid;said circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of said capacitance; andsaid frame assembly comprising a releasable locking bar configured to extend between said first and second arms and to hold said first and said second arms in said second expanded position. 14. A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second arm;said probe element having a sensing portion between said arms when said arms are in said second expanded position;said sensing portion configured to have a length in contact with said fluid;an electrical circuit connected to said probe element;said probe element and said circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of said length of said probe that is in contact with said fluid;said circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of said capacitance; andsaid probe element comprising a first sensing portion extending between said first and second arms, a second sensing portion extending generally perpendicular to said first sensing portion, and a cable tie between said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion. 15. A device for measuring the level of a fluid in a container comprising: a frame assembly having a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms configured to move from a first folded position to a second expanded position;a probe element supported between said first arm and said second arm;said probe element having a sensing portion between said arms when said arms are in said second expanded position;said sensing portion configured to have a length in contact with said fluid;an electrical circuit connected to said probe element;said probe element and said circuit forming a capacitor having a capacitance which is a function of said length of said probe that is in contact with said fluid;said circuit configured to produce an output signal as a function of said capacitance;said frame assembly comprising a mounting hub pivotally supporting said first and second arms and configured to engage said container; andsaid hub comprising an alignment mechanism for orientating said first and second arms in a vertical plane within said container. 16. The device set forth in claim 15, wherein said fluid comprises water.