TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensor. More particularly embodiments of the disclosure are related to indicate the level of fluid using reed switches.

BACKGROUND

Conventional sensing devices for sensing the liquid level in fuel tanks include a pickup tube and a return tube positioned adjacent to a float. The disclosure provides for an arm type fuel level sensor for using in vehicle fuel tanks such as Car, LCV, HCV, off road vehicle, snowmobiles, etc. An indicating instrument will be used in conjunction with the fuel sensor to read the fuel level in the tank.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
An exemplary embodiment provides housing (1) mounted with a PCB assembly (2), wherein the PCB assembly (2) comprises plurality of reed switches (6) arranged angularly to from an arc. The PCB assembly also comprises of resistors which provides a different resistance value when each of the reed switches gets activated.
In one embodiment, the reed switches (6) are sealed with glass environment in the PCB assembly (2) wherein terminals of the reed switches (6) are open in the absence of magnetic field and closed when activated.

In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a holder (3) pivoted to the housing (1) defined with a magnet (8) to act as a wiper arm which rides on the reed switches (6) to activate the reed switch (6) below the holder (3). The holder (3) has three sides with two sides of it has clamps (7) to hold one end of the lever arm (5).
In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a lever arm (5) connected to a float (4) at one end and to the holder (3) at the other end, wherein the float (4) is placed on the fluid.
In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method of detecting fluid level wherein a float (4) is placed on the fluid. When the fluid level varies the float level varies, which in turn rotates a holder (3) pivoted to a housing through a lever arm having the float (4) connected at one end and the holder (3) connected at the other end.

The pivoted holder (3) with a magnet rides on reed switches (6) which are arranged angularly in a PCB assembly (2) to form an arc. The holder (3) activates a particular reed switch (6) when the float level varies due to the magnetic effect between the magnet (8) in the holder (3) and the terminals of the reed switch (6).

In one embodiment, the resistance value against the activated reed switch (6) is proportional to the variation in the fluid level.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and therefore, not to be considered limitmg of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

FIGS 1 and 2: shows front and rear view of the bottom housing.

FIGS 3 and 4: shows front and rear view of the top housing.

FIGS 5 and 6: shows front and rear view of the PCB assembly (2).

FIG. 7: shows diagrammatic representation of activation of reed switch (6) using a magnet.

FIGS 8 and 9: shows top and side view of the holder (3).

FIGS 10-12: shows front, rear and side views of fluid level sensor in accordance with the present invention.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is. not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a fluid level sensor comprising a housing (1) mounted with a PCB assembly (2), wherein the PCB assembly (2) comprises plurality of reed switches (6) arranged angularly to from an arc and resistors.

a holder (3) pivoted to the housing (1) defined with a magnet (8) to act as a wiper arm on the reed switches (6) to activate the reed switch (6) below the holder (3), and a lever arm (5) connected to a float (4) at one end and to the holder (3) at the other end, wherein the float (4) is placed on the fluid.

In an embodiment the disclosure provides a method of assembling a fluid level sensor wherein a PCB assembly (2) and a holder is mounted onto housing (1). The reed switches (6) are placed angularly to form an arc within the cavity of PCB assembly with resistors below reed switches. The holder (3) carrying a magnet (8) is pivoted with the housing (1) and holds one end of the lever arm (5) using clamps (7) which is present at two sides of the holder (3). The other end of the lever arm is connected to a float (4) placed in fluid.

Referring now to FIGS 1-4, the figures diagrammatically shows different views of housing wherein the top and bottom housing are connected using snap fit. The PCB assembly (2) and the holder (3) are mounted onto the housing (1).

Referring now to FIGS 5 and 6, the figures show front and rear view of the PCB assembly (2).
In an embodiment, the FIGS 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate the PCB assembly, wherein the reed switches are arranged angularly to form an arc. The PCB assembly also consists of resistors below the reed switches (6) to provide different resistance value when each of the reed switches (6) gets activated.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the figure diagrammatically illustrates the activation of reed switch (6) using a magnet (8). The reed switches (6) are sealed with glass environment wherein the terminals of the reed switches (6) are open in the absence of magnetic field and closed when the magnet is near to the reed switch.

Referring now to FIGS 8 and 9, the figures show the top and side views of the holder (3).
In an embodiment, the FIGS 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustrate the holder (3) which is pivoted with the housing (1). The holder (3) comprises of clamps as shown in

FIG. 5 to hold one end of the lever arm. The other end of the lever arm (5) is connected to the float (4) which is placed in the fluid.
In an embodiment, the holder as shown in FIG 4 holds a magnet (8) to activate the reed switches.
Referring now to FIGS 10-12, the figures diagrammatically illustrates the fluid level sensor to indicate the level of fluid in fluid storage tanks.

In an embodiment, the PCB assembly with reed switches (6) arranged angularly to form an arc and resistors is mounted onto the housing (1) as shown in figure 10.

In an embodiment, the lever arm (5) is connected to float (4) at one end and the float (4) is placed in the fluid. The other end of the lever arm (5) is connected to the holder (3) which is pivoted with the housing (1) to act as a wiper arm on the PCB assembly (2).

In an embodiment, the change in the fluid level varies the level of float (4) which in turn rotates the holder (3) through the lever arm (5). The holder (3) being pivoted to the housing act as a wiper arm on the PCB assembly (2) by switching the reed switches (6) on which the holder passes.

In an embodiment, the holder (3) rides on a particular reed switch (6) when the float (4) level varies. The magnet in the holder (3) activates that particular reed switch (6) and the resistance value against the reed switch (6) is proportional to the variation in the fluid level.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Referral Numerals:
1: Housing
2: PCB assembly
3: Holder
4: Float
5. Lever arm
6. Reed Switches
7. Clamp
8. Magnet

We claim:

1. A fluid level sensor comprising:
a housing (1) mounted with a PCB assembly (2), wherein the PCB assembly (2) comprises plurality of reed switches (6) arranged angularly to from an arc,
a holder (3) pivoted to the housing (1) defined with a magnet to act as a wiper arm which rides on the reed switches (6) to activate the reed switch (6) below the holder (3), and
a lever arm (5) connected to a float (4) at one end and to the holder (3) at the other end, wherein the float (4) is placed on the fluid.

2. The fluid level sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reed switches (6) are sealed with glass environment in the PCB assembly (2).

3. The fluid level sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reed switches (6) are open in the absence of magnetic field and closed when activated.

4. The fluid level sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCB assembly (2) provides a different resistance value when each of the reed switch (6) gets activated.

5. The fluid level sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder (3) has three sides with two sides of it has clamps to hold the lever arm (5).

6. A method of detecting fluid level comprising acts of: placing a float (4) on the fluid when the fluid level various the float level varies, rotating a holder (3) pivoted to a housing through a lever arm having the float (4)
cormected at one end and the holder (3) connected at the other end, switching reed switches (6) which are arranged angularly in the housing (1) on a PCB assembly (2) to form an arc, wherein the holder (3) is defined with a magnet which rides on the reed switches (6) to detect fluid level.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein resistance value against each of the reed switches (6) varies is proportion to the variation in the fluid level.

8. A method of assembling a fluid level sensor comprising steps of: mounting a PCB assembly (2) onto a housing (1),placing reed switches (6) angularly within the PCB assembly (2) to form an arc, pivoting a holder (3) carrying a magnet with the housing (1), and connecting lever arm (5) with float (4) at one end and to the holder (3) at the other end.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pivoted holder (3) holds one end of
the lever which is present in the holder (3).arm (5) by the clamps