Measuring and testing – Liquid level or depth gauge – Float
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-01-09
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Liquid level or depth gauge
Float
C073S305000, C073S319000, C073S322500, C073S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170328
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid level gauges of the lever type having a float arm which pivots to allow a float to remain at the surface of a liquid. In one aspect, it relates to a lever gauge with a float arm and/or counter-balance arm which are/is hinged.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid level lever gauges of the type which have a buoyant float mounted on a pivoting arm for measurement of liquid level are well known. Such lever gauges have a float mounted on a lever arm connected to a rotating shaft. Variations of liquid level cause the float and lever to move thereby imparting rotation to the shaft. This angular movement of the float is used to provide a mechanical or electrical external indication of the liquid level in the tank.
The lever gauges of the present invention have the advantage that they can be inserted into a opening in a vessel and then attached to the vessel wall. In the past it was not possible to insert lever gauges having a counterweight opposite the float into the opening in a tank because the gauge could not be inserted through the small opening in the tank. The present invention provides a construction which allows the employment of a lever gauge having a counterweight by hinging either the counterweight, the float arm or both. This has the advantage of providing a float gauge which does not require the gear mechanism of the typical pivot float gauge, thereby, simplifying construction and minimizing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Liquid lever gauges of the type having a buoyant float and a counterweight rigidly mounted on a rotatable axial member are provided. In one aspect of the present invention, a liquid lever gauge is provided comprising a gauge head, a support member, a float structure which includes an axial member, a float arm segment rigidly attached to the axial member and a counterweight segment rigidly attached to the axial member. The gauge head is adapted for mounting to a portion of a liquid storing container. The support member is rigidly connected to the gauge head and depends therefrom. The float arm structure includes an axial member rotatably held by the gauge head and the support member. The float arm structure has a float arm segment and a counterweight segment which are rigidly attached to the axial member and extending substantially perpendicular from the axial member. In one embodiment of the present invention the counterweight segment contains a hinge to permit deflection of the counterweight section. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the float arm segment contains a hinge to permit deflection of the float arm segment. In yet another embodiment of the present invention both the counterweight segment and the float arm segment each contain a hinge to permit deflection of those sections. The hinge section(s) is/are biased so that they are in a first configuration in which the lever gauge is utilized to provide an indication of the liquid level in a storage container. The hinge section(s) is/are biased to hold the segments in the first configuration. The hinged segments may be deflected to permit insertion of the gauge through a small mounting opening in a storage tank.
In one aspect, the present invention has a hinged counterweight section. In this embodiment the gauge head rotatably supports the axial member which depends therefrom. Rigidly connected to the axial member is a counterweight segment which includes an elongate inner arm section having a hinge attached to its end opposite to the end attached to the axial member. The other end of the spring is connected to the elongate outer arm section and the counterweight is attached to the elongate outer arm section opposite the spring connection. A float arm segment is rigidly attached to the axial member in a direction opposite the counterweight segment. The float arm segment is the float arm section with a float attached distant from the connection of the float arm section and the axial member.
In another embodiment, the invention has a hinged float arm segment. In this embodiment the gauge head has an axial member rotatably depending therefrom. Rigidly attached to the axial member is a counterweight section having a counterweight attached thereto at a location distant from the axial member. Rigidly attached is the axial member and extending in a direction opposite the counterweight is a float arm segment. The float arm segment of this embodiment has an elongate float arm section rigidly attached to said axial member. A spring is attached to the end of the inner float arm section distant from the axial member. Attached to the other end of the spring is an elongate outer float arm section with a float attached to its end opposite the end attached to the spring.
In the third embodiment of the invention both the float arm segment and the counterweight segment are hinged.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1634165 (1927-06-01), Williams
patent: 2551792 (1951-05-01), de Glers et al.
patent: 4641122 (1987-02-01), Hennequin
patent: 4667711 (1987-05-01), Draft
patent: 5085078 (1992-02-01), Baux et al.
patent: 5272918 (1993-12-01), Gaston et al.
Horvath Agoston
Ross, Jr. Herbert G.
Loo Dennis
Rochester Gauges, Inc.
Sidley & Austin
Williams Hezron
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