(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,316,522 B2

Transcription

1 USOO B2 (12) United State Patent (10) Patent No.: Kopanky et al. (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 19, 2016 (54) VISUAL INDICATOR WITH SENSOR 3,893,339 A * 7/1975 Melone... 73/327 4,064,826 A * 12/1977 Pauli , ,537 A * 6/1980 Meginni... 29,447 (75) Inventor: E. R.E. Pitt, EN 4,363,240 A 12, 1982 Mizuaki... T3,334 (US); Rollan ame, ollingwood, 4,387,594. A * 6/1983 Bthold... 73,293 (US); George Birch, Turnville, NJ 4,397,182 A * 8/1983 Bakul... 73,293 (US) 4,440,022 A 4, 1984 Maom 4,840,137 A * 6/1989 Beauvai et al ,227 (73) Aignee: Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH 4,961,069 A - 10/1990 Taprazi US 5,072,595 A * 12/1991 Barbi... 62/129 (US) 5,072,616 A * 12/1991 Shrick... 73,293-5,279,157 A * 1/1994 Matti... GO1F 23,2925 (*) Notice: Subject to any diclaim, the tm of thi 250/.557 patent i extended or adjuted und 5,616,929 A * 4/1997 Hara... 25Of 573 U.S.C. 154(b) by 399 day. 5,763,776 A * 6/1998 Birch et al.... T3,323 6,047,720 A * 4/2000 Stein ,199 6, A * 10/2000 Okoren et al , (21) Appl. No.: 13/569,629 6,161,395 A * 12/2000 Okoren... FO4B 39, (22) Filed: Aug. 8, ,276,901 B1* 8/2001 Farret al /13 6,9,742 B1* 3/2002 Canty et al ,894 (65) Prior Publication Data 6, B1 * 10/2003 Cheng... 9,894 US 2014/ A1 Feb. 13, 2014 (Continued) (51) Int. Cl. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS GOIF 23/284 ( ) GB TO , 1954 GOIF 23/02 ( ) WO , 1987 GOIF 23/292 ( ) (52) U.S. Cl. Primary Examin John Lee CPC... G0IF23/02 ( ); G0IF 23/2922 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Benech, Friedland, ( ); G0IF 23/2925 ( ) Coplan & Aronoff LLP (58) Field of Claification Search CPC... G01F 23/02; G01F 23/28: G01F 23/284; (57) ABSTRACT G01F 23/292; G01F 23/2921; G01F 23/2922: G01F 23/2925; G01F 23/2928 A fluid level gauge include a houing having a firt end and USPC /577,573,574, 575, 576, 901, 900, a econd end, and a window dipoed in the houing, proxi 250/902,903; 73/290 R, 293,334, 323,3, mate to the firt end. The fluid level gauge furth include an 73/331; 340/619 optical enor dipoed in the houing, proximate to the ec See application file for complete earch hitory. ond end. A prim i dipoed in the houing, between the optical enor and the window. Such that the prim and the (56) Refence Cited window define a fluid chamb thebetween. The houing 3,570,311 A * 3,817,625 A * U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3/1971 Nelon... 3/327 6, 1974 Jordan... 6,139.1 furth include a plurality of through hole that provide a fluid path from outide the houing to the fluid chamb. 20 Claim, 2 Drawing Sheet Y. w 2. 5

2 Page 2 (56) Refence Cited 8,6,814 B2* 1/2014 Cheng et al.... 7O2/ / A1* 10, 2005 Wirthin /577 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2007, A1* 10, 2007 Summ , , A1* 11/2007 Pham et al , ,664,558 B1* 12/2003 Barbi / / A1 1/2008 Bell et al.... T3,323 6, B1* 2/2005 Bay et al , A1* 3, 2008 Pham et al , ,040,728 B2 * 5, 2006 Mz... B41J 2/ / A1* 3, 2008 Sabini et al.. 73,4 C w w 347/7 2008/01788 A1* 7/2008 Quill... 73,323 7,116,236 B2 * 10/2006 Denietoli et al A1* 5/2009 Bech et al /325 7,157,727 B2* 1/2007 Kimura / / A1 1/2010 Ramu... A47J 31/44 7,199,388 B2 4/2007 Omatoi... 25Of ,293 T B1 * 6, 2009 Dillon 73/ A1* 1/2010 De Sanzo et al.... T3,323 - I W 3 in Si." 2011/ A1 3/2011 Sabini et al ,758,696 B2* 7/2010 Stoddard et al , /O A1* 6, 2011 Pham et al ,565 7,788,973 B2 ck 9/2010 Quill 2012fO A1* 11, 2012 Cofini , ,787 B2 * 10/2010 Sabini et al.... T3,4 C 2014/ A1 ck 2/2014 Kopanky et al. 250/577 8,069,724 B2 12/2011 Bech et al. T3/ / A1* 6/2015 Kopanky et al /577 8,316,708 B2 * 1 1/2012 Hort... T3,323 8,604,455 B2 * 12/2013 Wildchuetz et al Of 573 * cited by examin

3 U.S. Patent Apr. 19, 2016 Sheet 1 of 2 e w i

4 U.S. Patent Apr. 19, 2016 Sheet 2 of 2 ce e w g : r e f S o ef 2 e go -- r e y wd o wd

5 1. VISUAL INDICATOR WITH SENSOR FIELD OF INVENTION The preent dicloure relate to ight glae. More par ticularly, the preent dicloure relate to ight glae having a viual indicator and an electro optic enor. BACKGROUND A ight gla i a tranparent tube through which an opa tor of a tank, boil, gearbox, or oth machine can obve a level of liquid (uch a oil or hydraulic fluid) contained within. A ight gla include gla or a polymic matial that act a a reflector when no liquid i preent. When liquid i in contact with the gla or polymic matial, light pae through the ight gla. Accordingly, the preence of liquid in the ytem can be quickly vified. In oth known ytem, the ight gla i replaced with a enor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment, a fluid level gauge include a houing having a firt end and a econd end, and a window dipoed in the houing, proximate to the firt end. The fluid level gauge furth include an optical enor dipoed in the houing, proximate to the econd end. The optical enor and the window define a fluid chamb thebetween. The houing furth include a plurality of through hole that provide a fluid path from outide the houing to the fluid chamb. The houing may include a light hield dipoed between the window and the enor. In an additional embodiment, a fluid gauge include a houing having a window dipoed in a firt end, and a enor dipoed in a econd end, with a fluid chamb dipoed between the window and the enor. The houing include a plurality of apture that define a plurality of fluid path to the fluid chamb. The window provide an unobtructed view of the fluid chamb to an opator. The window at leat partially reflect light when the fluid chamb i empty, and light at leat partially pae through the window when fluid i in contact with the window. The houing may include a light hield dipoed between the window and the enor. In anoth additional embodiment, a liquid level indicator include a hollow houing defining a liquid chamb. The houing ha a plurality of apture defining a liquid path to the liquid chamb. The liquid level indicator alo include a window dipoed proximate to a firt end of the hollow hou ing and an optical enor dipoed proximate to the econd end of the hollowing houing. The hollow houing may include a light hield dipoed between the window and the SSO. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawing, tructure are illutrated that, togeth with the detailed decription provided below, decribe exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention. Like element are identified with the ame refence num al. It hould be undtood that element hown a a ingle component may be replaced with multiple component, and element hown a multiple component may be replaced with a ingle component. The drawing are not to cale and the proportion of ctain element may be exaggated for the purpoe of illutration. FIG. 1 i a ide view of one embodiment of a fluid level gallge FIG. 2 i a front view of the fluid level gauge; FIG. 3 i a cro-ection of the fluid level gauge; and FIG. 4 i a front view of one embodiment of a light hield. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illutrate a ide view of one embodiment of a fluid level gauge 100. The fluid level gauge 100 may alo be refred to a a liquid level gauge or a fluid gauge. The fluid level gauge 100 include a houing 110 having a firt end 120 and a econd end 1, and a window 140 dipoed in the houing 110, proximate to the firt end 120. The fluid level gauge 100 i configured to be placed in a fluid revoir (not hown), uch a a fluid tank in a vehicle or oth machine, or a tandalone fluid tank. The placement of the fluid gauge 100 i uch that the firt end 120 of the houing 110 extend outide of the revoir, o that the window 140 may be viewed by an opator. The econd end 1 of the houing i inide the machine and in contact with the fluid. In the illutrated embodiment, the houing 110 include a hexagonal portion, and eval cylindrical portion of diff ent diamet. Howev, it hould be undtood that the houing may take any hape that may be practical. The fluid level gauge 100 furth include a pod 150 that i connected to the houing 110 by a cable 160. The pod 150 may include electronic (not hown), uch a a proceor, and a pow ource (not hown), uch a a batty. The pod 150 may furth include a connector, cable, or wire (not hown) to intface with a machine, Such a a vehicle, comput, or any oth extnal device. The pod may include an indicator 170 that convey information to an opator. Exemplary indi cator include, without limitation, light emitting diode, incandecent light, an LCD diplay, and a touch creen, a pop out indicator, or oth electro-mechanical, non-volatile device. Howev, it hould be undtood that any electro mechanical indicator, or oth indicator may be ued. It may be prefable to poition the indicator at an acceible loca tion. FIG. 2 illutrate a front view of the fluid level gauge 100. A can be een from thi view, the window 140 may include a plurality of concentric circle 210. In one embodiment, the concentric circle are formed by ridge dipoed on the win dow. In an altnative embodiment, the concentric circle 210 are etched into the window 140. In an altnative embodi ment, the concentric circle are painted or othwie adhed to the window 140. The window 140 may alo be refred to a a ight gla due to it function a a viual inpector and viual indicator of a fluid level. Although the window 140 may be refred to a a ight gla, it hould be undtood that the window 140 need not be contructed of gla, but may be contructed of a polymic matial. The window 140 at leat partially reflect light when it i urrounded by air. Howev, when fluid i in contact with the window 140, the window 140 allow at leat a portion of light to pa through. The window may be con figured, uch that when the fluid i at a minimum fluid level, light pae through at leat a portion of the window 140. At any given fluid level, light that pae through the fluid at leat partially pae through the window 140, and light that travel above the fluid i at leat partially reflected by the window 140. FIG. 3 illutrate a cro-ection of the fluid level gauge 100. A can be een from thi view, the fluid level gauge 100 furth include an optical enor including a light tranmitt 5, a light receiv 310, and a prim 320 dipoed in the houing 110, proximate to the econd end 1 of the houing 110. In the illutrated embodiment, the enor i in ignal

6 3 communication with a printed circuit board 315. The enor may include infrared photoenor, photodiode, phototran itor, or any photoenitive component. It hould be und tood that any light Source and photoening component may be ued. In the fluid level gauge 100, the prim 320 of the optical enor i dipoed in the houing 110, uch that the prim 320 and the window 140 define a fluid chamb 325thebetween. In one embodiment, the prim i contructed of a polymic matial. In oth embodiment, the prim may be con tructed of gla, fued ilica (quartz), or oth light tranmit ting matial. In an altnative embodiment, the prim may be omitted and the device may intead employ one or more reflective urface to define one or more light path. The houing 110 furth include a plurality of through hole 3 that provide a fluid path from outide the houing to the fluid chamb 325. A can be een in the illutrated embodiment, the window 140 provide an unobtructed view of the fluid chamb 325 to an opator. In the illutrated embodiment, the window 140 include a plurality of ridge that define the concentric circle 210 that are viible to the opator. The ridge increae the contrat of viual indication by furth bending light. In an altnative embodiment (not hown), the window may be flat. A one of ordinary kill would undtand, the ridge may be more ueful in intance whe the fluid i imilar in color to the window, or whe the light mut travel a relatively long ditance. A light hield 3 i dipoed in the fluid chamb 325 between the prim 320 and the window 140, theby defining a firt fluid chamb 325a and a econd fluid chamb 325b. In an altnative embodiment (not hown), a plurality of light hield are employed. In anoth altnative embodiment (not hown), the light hield i omitted entirely. FIG. 4 illutrate a front view of the light hield 3. The feature of the light hield 3 are decribed with refence to both FIGS. 3 and 4. The light hield 3 include a plurality of apture 340 that allow fluid to flow between the firt fluid chamb 325a and the Second fluid chamb 325b. While twelve apture 340 are hown in the illutrated embodi ment, it hould be undtood that any numb of apture may be employed. The apture may be any hape. In an altnative embodiment (not hown), the light hield i a olid component without any apture. The light hield 3 include a firt ide 345a that face the prim 320, and a econd ide 345b that face the window 140. In one embodiment, the firt ide 345a i formed of an infra red light aborbing matial, including, without limitation, infrared aborbent paint, or an abolute black coating. The econd ide 345b may or may not need to aborb infrared light. It may be reflective. Accordingly, the econd ide 345b may be contructed of metal. Such a aluminum or teel, or a polymic matial. Howev, it hould be undtood that the econd ide may be the ame matial a the firt ide. In an altnative embodiment, neith ide i formed of an infrared light aborbing matial. With refence back to FIG. 3, the plurality of through hole 3 include a firt through hole 3a that provide a fluid path to the firt fluid chamb 325a, and a econd through hole 3b that provide a fluid path to the econd fluid chamb 325b. In an altnative embodiment (not hown), the through hole only provide an extnal fluid path to one of the fluid chamb, and fluid pae between the firt and econd chamb via intnal apture. The houing 110 alo include a bore 0 extending from the firt end 120 to the Second end 1. Wire 5 extend from the printed circuitboard 310 through the bore 0 to the firt end 120 of the houing 110. The wire may furth extend through the cable 160 to the pod 150 and the indicator 170 or a connector or intface. In opation, light i tranmitted from the light tranmitt 5, into the bae of the prim 320. When fluid i not preent in the fluid chamb 325, the preence of air caue the light to be intnally reflected within the prim. Accordingly, light i reflected back to the light receiv 310. When the light i received by the light receiv 310, the printed circuit board 315 tranmit a ignal through the wire 5 to the pod 160, which provide an indication that the fluid level i low. It hould be undtood that the enor may tranmit informa tion in the form of an output voltage via one or more output pin of a connector. When fluid i preent in the fluid chamb 325, light i tranmitted through the prim and doe not reach the light receiv 310. The pod 160 then indicate that the fluid level i acceptable. A cov 360 i dipoed on the econd end 1 of the houing 110, coving the enor component 5,315, 320. The cov 360 prevent the enor component 5,310,320 from being directly expoed to the fluid. The cov 360 may be tranparent, tranlucent, or opaque. In the illutrated embodiment, the prim 320 i affixed to the houing 110 by a firt nap-on ring 365a and a firt ealing o-ring 370a. The window 140 i affixed to the houing 110 by a econd nap-on ring 365b and a econd ealing o-ring 370b. The light hield 3 i affixed to the houing 110 by a third nap-on ring 365c. Howev it hould be undtood that any mean may be employed to affix the component to the inte rior of the houing. To the extent that the tm include or including i ued in the pecification or the claim, it i intended to be incluive in a mann imilar to the tm "compriing a that tm i intpreted when employed a a tranitional word in a claim. Furthmore, to the extent that the tm or i employed (e.g., A or B) it i intended to mean A or or both. When the applicant intend to indicate only A or B but not both then the tm only A or B but not both will be employed. Thu, ue of the tm or hein i the incluive, and not the excluive ue. See, Bryan A. Garn, A Dictionary of Modn Legal Uage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Alo, to the extent that the tm in or into are ued in the pecification or the claim, it i intended to additionally mean on or onto. Furth more, to the extent the tm connect i ued in the pecifi cation or claim, it i intended to mean not only "directly connected to. but alo indirectly connected to uch a connected through anoth component or component. While the preent application ha been illutrated by the decription of embodiment theof, and while the embodi ment have been decribed in conidable detail, it i not the intention of the applicant to retrict or in any way limit the Scope of the appended claim to uch detail. Additional advantage and modification will readily appear to thoe killed in the art. Thefore, the application, in it broad apect, i not limited to the pecific detail, the repreentative apparatu and method, and illutrative example hown and decribed. Accordingly, departure may be made from Such detail without departing from the pirit or cope of the appli cant genal inventive concept. What i claimed i: 1. A fluid level gauge compriing: houing having a firt end and a econd end; a window dipoed in the houing, proximate to the firt end; an optical enor dipoed in the houing, proximate to the econd end Such that the optical enor and the window

7 5 define a fluid chamb thebetween, whein the hou ing furth include a plurality of through hole that provide a fluid path from outide the houing to the fluid chamb, and whein the optical enor face the win dow. 2. The fluid level gauge of claim 1, whein the window provide an unobtructed view of the fluid chamb to an opator. 3. The fluid level gauge of claim 1, furth compriing a light hield dipoed in the fluid chamb between the optical enor and the window, theby defining a firt fluid chamb and a econd fluid chamb. 4. The fluid level gauge of claim3, whein the light hield include a plurality of apture, allowing fluid to flow between the firt fluid chamb and the econd fluid chamb. 5. The fluid level gauge of claim3, whein the plurality of through hole include a firt through hole that provide a fluid path to the firt fluid chamb, and a econd through hole that provide a fluid path to the econd fluid chamb. 6. The fluid level gauge of claim3, whein the light hield include an infrared light aborbing ide that face a prim and a econd ide that face the window. 7. The fluid level gauge of claim 1, whein the optical enor include a printed circuit board. 8. The fluid level gauge of claim 7, whein the houing include abore extending from the firt end to the econd end, and whein wire extend from the printed circuit board through the bore to the firt end of the houing and to an indicator. 9. The fluid level gauge of claim 1, furth compriing a cov dipoed on the econd end of the houing, coving the optical enor. 10. A fluid gauge compriing: a houing having a window dipoed in a firt end, and a enor dipoed in a econd end, with a fluid chamb dipoed between the window and the enor, whein the houing include a plurality of apture that define a plurality of fluid path to the fluid chamb, whein the window provide an unobtructed view of the fluid chamb to an opator, and whein the window at leat partially reflect light when the fluid chamb i empty, and light at leat partially pae through the window when fluid i in contact with the window, and whein the enor face the window. 11. The fluid gauge of claim 10, whein the window i contructed of a matial elected from the group coniting of gla and a polymic matial. 12. The fluid gauge of claim 10, furth compriing a light hield dipoed between the window and the enor, whein the light hield comprie a firt ide that face the window and a econd ide that face the enor. 13. The fluid gauge of claim 10, whein the enor include an optic enor. 14. The fluid gauge of claim 10, whein the enor i in ignal communication with an indicator elected from the group coniting of a light emitting diode, an incandecent light, and a liquid crytal diplay. 15. The fluid gauge of claim 10, whein the window include a plurality of viible concentric circle dipoed theon. 16. The fluid gauge of claim 10, whein the window ha a flat out urface and a flat inn urface. 17. A liquid level indicator compriing: a hollow houing defining a liquid chamb, the houing having a plurality of apture defining a liquid path to the liquid chamb; a window dipoed proximate to a firt end of the hollow houing; and an optical enor dipoed proximate to the econd end of the hollow houing, whein the optical enor face the window. 18. The liquid level indicator of claim 17, furth compri ing a light hield dipoed between the optical enor and the window, whein the light hield comprie a firt ide that face the optical enor and a econd ide that face the prim. 19. The liquid level indicator of claim 17, whein the window at leat partially reflect light when the liquid cham b i empty, and light at leat partially pae through the window when liquid i preent in the liquid chamb and in contact with the window. 20. The liquid level indicator of claim 17, furth compri ing a eal adjacent the window.