A tank and liquid level indicator has first housing that holds a liquid and a second elongated housing in fluid communication with the first elongated housing so that a liquid level in the second housing is approximately equal to the level in the first housing. A float in the second housing cooperat
A tank and liquid level indicator has first housing that holds a liquid and a second elongated housing in fluid communication with the first elongated housing so that a liquid level in the second housing is approximately equal to the level in the first housing. A float in the second housing cooperates with the circuitry to operate one or more light switches. A light-transmissive cover is disposed over the light source.
대표청구항▼
1. A tank and liquid level indicator comprising: a first housing enclosing a first volume that holds a liquid;a second elongated housing enclosing a second volume, wherein the second housing is attached to an exterior of the first housing so that the second volume is in fluid communication with the
1. A tank and liquid level indicator comprising: a first housing enclosing a first volume that holds a liquid;a second elongated housing enclosing a second volume, wherein the second housing is attached to an exterior of the first housing so that the second volume is in fluid communication with the first volume so that a level of the liquid within the second volume is approximately equal to a level of the liquid in the first volume;a float disposed within the second volume and being buoyant with respect to the liquid so that the float moves with the level of the liquid in the second volume along a first axis passing through a center of the float, wherein at least a portion of the float is magnetic so that a magnetic field extends from the float;a plurality of magnetic sensors aligned sequentially with respect to each other in a direction having a vertical component, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed with respect to the second volume so that movement of the float within the second volume in response to the level of the liquid within the second volume causes sequential detection of the magnetic field by respective said magnetic sensors of the plurality of sensors;at least one light source in electrical communication with the plurality of magnetic sensors so that the magnetic sensors control actuation of the at least one light source in response to the detection of the magnetic field; anda light-transmissive cover attached to the second housing so that the at least one light source is disposed between the second housing and an outer surface of the light-transmissive cover, wherein the outer surface is disposed on at least one side of a first plane that is parallel to the first axis and at an outer surface of the second housing and is disposed on an opposite side of the first axis from the first housing,wherein the at least one light source is disposed with respect to the outer surface of the cover so that a first portion of light from the at least one light source passes through the first plane and a second portion of the light from the light source travels away from the first plane. 2. The tank and liquid level sensor of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the cover extends across and beyond both sides of the first plane. 3. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources. 4. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 3, wherein each said at least one light source connects to at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, wherein the at least one sensor is in electrical communication with said at least one light source and a power source so that actuation of the at least one sensor by the magnetic field delivers current from the power source to actuate the at least one light source. 5. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is viewable from an angle that is greater than 180 degrees, wherein the angle is defined as an angle swept about a second axis, defined by an intersection between the first plane and a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and upon which the first axis lies, and wherein the angle is bisected by the second plane. 6. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 5, wherein the angle is greater than 270 degrees. 7. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the liquid level indicator further provides an electrical output corresponding with the liquid level, wherein the electrical output is one of a current, a voltage, and a resistance. 8. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator is further configured to provide an output signal, wherein the output signal is determined by the detection of the magnetic field. 9. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors have an elongation direction, a center point of sensitivity, and a length, and wherein the magnetic sensors' elongation directions are nonparallel to the second housing's elongation direction and the magnetic sensors are spaced so that a distance between each magnetic sensor's center point of sensitivity and each adjacent′ magnetic sensor's center point of sensitivity is less than each magnetic sensor's length. 10. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors are reed switches. 11. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive cover is removably attachable to the second housing. 12. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 11, wherein the light-transmissive cover attaches to the second housing via a clip. 13. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 12, wherein the clip is a portion of the light-transmissive cover. 14. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors each have a center of sensitivity, and each magnetic sensor's center of sensitivity is spaced by no more than one-half inch from the adjacent magnetic sensors' centers of sensitivity in the second housing's elongation direction. 15. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs, wherein at least one LED is in electrical communication with each magnetic sensor. 16. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 15, wherein a portion of light from the plurality of LEDs is reflected and another portion of the light from the plurality of LEDs is transmitted. 17. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 15, wherein reflection within the light-transmissive cover causes the plurality of LEDs to be viewable from the angle greater than 180 degrees. 18. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensors are spaced with respect to each other and spaced from the float so that a condition is true, wherein the condition is selected from the group of: one magnetic sensor detecting the magnetic field and two adjacent magnetic sensors detecting the magnetic field. 19. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 18, wherein the float comprises a plurality of vertically-spaced slots for receiving the magnet. 20. The tank and liquid level indicator of claim 1, wherein the float comprises a magnet selectively spaced in the vertical direction with respect to a bottom of the float so that the magnet is at the level of liquid in the second volume when the float is floating on the liquid. 21. A tank and liquid level indicator comprising: a first housing enclosing a first volume that holds a liquid;a second generally cylindrical housing having annular cross-sections and enclosing a second volume, wherein the second housing is attached to an exterior of the first housing so that the second volume is in fluid communication with the first volume so that a level of the liquid within the second volume is approximately equal to a level of the liquid in the first volume;a generally cylindrical float disposed within the second volume and being buoyant with respect to the liquid so that the float moves with the level of the liquid in the second volume along a first axis passing through a center of the float, wherein at least a portion of the float is magnetic so that a magnetic field extends from the float;a plurality of magnetic sensors aligned sequentially with respect to each other in a direction having a vertical component, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed with respect to the second volume so that movement of the float within the second volume in response to the level of the liquid within the second volume causes sequential detection of the magnetic field by respective said magnetic sensors of the plurality of sensors;at least one light source in electrical communication with the plurality of magnetic sensors so that the magnetic sensors control actuation of the at least one light source in response to the detection of the magnetic field; anda light-transmissive cover attached to the second housing so that the at least one light source is disposed between the second housing and an outer surface of the light-transmissive cover, wherein the outer surface extends across and beyond both sides of a first plane that is parallel to the first axis and tangential to an outer surface of the second housing, and the at least one light source is disposed on an opposite side of the first axis from the first housing, wherein the at least one light source is disposed with respect to the outer surface of the cover so that light from the at least one light source passes through the first plane and away from the first plane.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (19)
Yasuda Mieji (Osaka JPX), Apparatus for indicating the level of a fluid.
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