A variable diameter oil level sensor

Abstract

The invention discloses a variable diameter oil quantity sensor, which belongs to the technical field of capacitive oil quantity sensors and comprises a mounting seat, wherein an inner tube is arranged at one end of the mounting seat, a variable diameter inner cavity is arranged inside the inner tube, an outer tube group is coaxially arranged outside the inner tube, the outer tube group comprises at least two groups of coaxially arranged outer tubes with different diameters, and adjacent outer tubes can move axially relative to each other, and a driving device for driving different outer tubes to move axially is arranged on the mounting seat; a capacitor is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, a circuit board is arranged inside the mounting seat, and the capacitor is connected to the circuit board; the invention can change the dielectric gap between the inner tube and the outer tube according to the change of the oil tank specification and the measurement accuracy requirement, thereby ensuring that the capacitance change curve finally measured can adapt to the oil quantity change curve followed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of capacitance oil quantity sensors and relates to a variable diameter oil quantity sensor. Background Art

[0002] The capacitive fuel level sensor is one of the commonly used sensors for detecting fuel level. Its principle is to coaxially set an inner tube and an outer tube inside the fuel tank. When the fuel medium is immersed between the inner and outer tubes, a capacitor can be formed. When the fuel level changes, the capacitance value of the capacitor changes. The change in capacitance value can be used to calculate the change in fuel level.

[0003] However, the existing capacitive oil level sensor has a fixed inner diameter of the inner tube and the outer tube, resulting in a fixed dielectric gap between the inner tube and the outer tube, which cannot ensure that the capacitance change curve adapts to the oil level change curve. At the same time, the existing capacitive sensors with a fixed dielectric gap are also not compatible with different specifications of oil tanks and different oil level detection accuracy requirements.

[0004] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned defects of the existing capacitive oil level sensor, the present invention discloses a variable diameter oil level sensor. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a variable diameter oil level sensor, which can change the dielectric gap between the inner tube and the outer tube according to the changes in the oil tank specifications and the measurement accuracy requirements, thereby ensuring that the final measured capacitance change curve can adapt to the following oil level change curve.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A variable diameter oil level sensor comprises a mounting seat, an inner tube is arranged at one end of the mounting seat, a variable diameter inner cavity is arranged inside the inner tube, an outer tube group is coaxially arranged outside the inner tube, the outer tube group comprises at least two groups of coaxially arranged outer tubes with different diameters, and adjacent outer tubes can move axially relative to each other, and a driving device for driving different outer tubes to move axially is arranged on the mounting seat; a capacitor is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, a circuit board is arranged inside the mounting seat, and the capacitor is connected to the circuit board.

[0008] The driving device drives the outer tubes with different inner diameters to move axially, so that the outer tubes with different inner diameters and the inner tube form capacitors with different dielectric gaps. At the same time, the variable diameter inner cavity inside the inner tube changes the dielectric gap of the capacitor formed between the outer tube and the inner tube to adapt to oil level detection with different measurement accuracy requirements.

[0009] In order to better implement the present invention, further, the outer tube group includes a first outer tube and a second outer tube arranged coaxially, the inner diameter of the first outer tube is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second outer tube, the driving device includes a first driving part and a second driving part, the first driving part is transmission-connected to the first outer tube to drive the first outer tube to move axially, and the second driving part is transmission-connected to the second outer tube to drive the second outer tube to move axially.

[0010] In order to better realize the present invention, further, the first driving part includes a first driving sleeve, a first driving ring gear, a first motor, and a first gear. The first driving sleeve is rotatably arranged at the bottom of the mounting seat, the first driving sleeve is mounted on the outside of the first driving sleeve, and the first gear is mounted on the output shaft of the first motor, and the first gear is meshed and connected with the first driving ring gear; the top outer wall of the first outer tube is provided with an external thread, and the inner tube wall of the first driving sleeve is provided with an internal thread, and the internal thread is threadedly matched with the corresponding external thread.

[0011] In order to better realize the present invention, further, the second driving part includes a second screw and a second motor. The inner tube wall of the second outer tube is provided with an internal thread. The bottom end of the second screw extends to the inside of the second outer tube and is connected with the corresponding thread of the internal thread. The top end of the second screw is transmission-connected to the output shaft of the second motor. The outer tube wall of the second outer tube is slidingly connected to the inner tube wall of the first outer tube.

[0012] In order to better implement the present invention, further, a guide ring is coaxially arranged between the outer tube wall of the second outer tube and the inner tube wall of the first outer tube, the guide ring is sleeved on the outside of the second outer tube, and the outer ring surface of the guide ring is slidably connected to the inner tube wall of the first outer tube.

[0013] In order to better implement the present invention, further, the diameter of the variable diameter inner cavity decreases successively from bottom to top.

[0014] In order to better implement the present invention, further, the variable diameter inner cavity includes a first inner cavity and a second inner cavity coaxially arranged from bottom to top, and the inner diameter of the first inner cavity is greater than the inner diameter of the second inner cavity.

[0015] In order to better implement the present invention, further, a quick-plug cable connector is provided on the mounting seat, and the quick-plug cable connector is connected to the circuit board.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention arranges a variable diameter inner cavity inside an inner tube, and coaxially arranges a first outer tube and a second outer tube with different inner diameters outside the inner tube, drives the first outer tube to move axially through a first driving part, and drives the second outer tube to move axially through a second driving part, so that the first outer tube and the inner tube, and the second outer tube and the inner tube cooperate to form capacitors with different dielectric gaps, thereby meeting the requirements of oil tanks of different specifications and different oil level detection accuracy, and making the capacitance change curve obtained by detection more conformable to the oil level change curve, so that the finally calculated oil level is more accurate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a variable diameter oil level sensor;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the variable diameter inner cavity;

[0020] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a first driving unit;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second driving unit.

[0022] Among them: 1-mounting seat; 2-inner tube; 3-variable inner cavity; 4-outer tube; 5-driving device; 6-quick-plug cable connector; 31-first inner cavity; 32-second inner cavity; 41-first outer tube; 42-second outer tube; 51-first driving part; 52-second driving part; 53-guide ring; 511-first driving sleeve; 512-first driving gear ring; 513-first motor; 514-first gear; 521-second screw; 522-second motor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following detailed descriptions are all illustrative and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in the present invention have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0024] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. As used herein, unless the present invention explicitly states otherwise, singular forms are also intended to include plural forms. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0025] For the convenience of description, if the words "up", "down", "left" and "right" appear in the present invention, they only indicate that they are consistent with the up, down, left and right directions of the drawings themselves, and do not limit the structure. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0026] Terminology explanation section: The terms "install", "connect", "connect", "fixed" and the like in the present invention should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be an internal connection between two elements, or an interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] Embodiment 1:

[0028] A variable diameter oil level sensor of this embodiment, such as Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, it includes a mounting seat 1, an inner tube 2 is provided at one end of the mounting seat 1, a variable diameter inner cavity 3 is provided inside the inner tube 2, an outer tube group is coaxially provided on the outer side of the inner tube 2, the outer tube group includes at least two groups of coaxially arranged outer tubes 4 with different diameters, and adjacent outer tubes 4 can move axially relative to each other, and a driving device 5 for driving different outer tubes 4 to move axially is provided on the mounting seat 1; a capacitor is formed between the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 4, a circuit board is provided inside the mounting seat 1, and the capacitor is connected to the circuit board.

[0029] Both the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 4 are made of aluminum material, which reduces the weight of the variable diameter oil level sensor while ensuring the overall rigidity of the variable diameter oil level sensor. The mounting seat 1 is fixed to the top of the fuel tank through a mounting flange, and the bottom of the mounting seat 1 is provided with an inner tube 2 extending to the inside of the fuel tank, and at least two outer tubes 4 are coaxially provided outside the inner tube 2, and the inner diameters of the outer tubes 4 are different. The outer tubes 4 with different inner diameters are driven axially by the driving device 5, so that the outer tubes 4 with different inner diameters and the inner tube 2 form a capacitor with different dielectric gaps. At the same time, when the liquid level inside the fuel tank changes, the dielectric gap can also be changed through the variable diameter inner cavity 3 inside the inner tube 2, so that the capacitance change curve of the capacitor body adapts to the liquid level change curve inside the fuel tank of different aircraft, thereby improving the anti-interference performance of the sensor.

[0030] Furthermore, a quick-plug cable connector 6 is provided on the mounting base 1, and the quick-plug cable connector 6 is connected to the circuit board. The quick-plug cable connector 6 is connected to an external computer through a quick-plug cable. The liquid level change signal is converted into an electrical signal through the circuit board, and the electrical signal is transmitted to the external computer through the quick-plug cable. The external computer can obtain the change value of the oil level inside the tank by solving the electrical signal.

[0031] Embodiment 2:

[0032] A variable diameter oil level sensor, improved on the basis of embodiment 1, such as Figure 1 As shown, the outer tube group includes a first outer tube 41 and a second outer tube 42 which are coaxially arranged, the inner diameter of the first outer tube 41 is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second outer tube 42, the driving device 5 includes a first driving part 51 and a second driving part 52, the first driving part 51 is drivingly connected to the first outer tube 41 to drive the first outer tube 41 to move axially, and the second driving part 52 is drivingly connected to the second outer tube 42 to drive the second outer tube 42 to move axially.

[0033] The first driving unit 51 drives the first outer tube 41 to rise, while the second driving unit 52 drives the second outer tube 42 to descend, so that a capacitor is formed between the second outer tube 42 and the inner tube 2. The first driving unit 51 drives the first outer tube 41 to descend, while the second driving unit 52 drives the second outer tube 42 to rise, so that a capacitor is formed between the first outer tube 41 and the inner tube 2. By changing the inner diameters of the first outer tube 41 and the second outer tube 42, capacitors with different dielectric gaps are formed to adapt to different requirements for excellent liquid level detection accuracy.

[0034] The other parts of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1, and thus will not be described in detail.

[0035] Embodiment 3:

[0036] A variable diameter oil level sensor, improved on the basis of embodiment 1 or 2, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first driving part 51 includes a first driving sleeve 511, a first driving ring gear 512, a first motor 513, and a first gear 514. The first driving sleeve 511 is rotatably arranged at the bottom of the mounting seat 1. The first driving sleeve 511 is sleeved with the first driving ring gear 512 on the outside, and the first gear 514 is sleeved on the output shaft of the first motor 513. The first gear 514 is meshed and connected with the first driving ring gear 512. The top outer wall of the first outer tube 41 is provided with an external thread, and the inner tube wall of the first driving sleeve 511 is provided with an internal thread, and the internal thread is threadedly matched with the corresponding external thread.

[0037] The first motor 513 drives the first drive ring gear 512 and the first drive sleeve 511 to rotate through the first gear 514. When the first drive sleeve 511 rotates, the internal internal thread cooperates with the external thread on the outer side of the top of the first outer tube 41, thereby driving the first outer tube 41 to move up and down axially. When the first outer tube 41 descends to a predetermined position, it can form a capacitor body with the inner tube 2.

[0038] The other parts of this embodiment are the same as those of Embodiment 1 or 2, and thus will not be described in detail.

[0039] Embodiment 4:

[0040] A variable diameter oil level sensor, improved on the basis of any one of embodiments 1-3, such as Figure 4 As shown, the second driving part 52 includes a second screw 521 and a second motor 522. The inner tube wall of the second outer tube 42 is provided with an internal thread. The bottom end of the second screw 521 extends into the interior of the second outer tube 42 and is threadedly connected with the corresponding internal thread. The top end of the second screw 521 is drivingly connected with the output shaft of the second motor 522. The outer tube wall of the second outer tube 42 is slidably connected with the inner tube wall of the first outer tube 41.

[0041] The second motor 522 drives the second screw 521 to rotate, and the second screw 521 cooperates with the internal thread of the second outer tube 42 to drive the second outer tube 42 to move up and down axially. When the second outer tube 42 descends to a predetermined position, it can form a capacitor with the inner tube 2.

[0042] Furthermore, a guide ring 53 is coaxially arranged between the outer tube wall of the second outer tube 42 and the inner tube wall of the first outer tube 41. The guide ring 53 is sleeved outside the second outer tube 42, and the outer ring surface of the guide ring 53 is slidably connected with the inner tube wall of the first outer tube 41. By providing the guide ring 53, the inner tube guides the axial movement of the second outer tube 42, thereby ensuring the smoothness of the axial movement of the second outer tube 42.

[0043] The other parts of this embodiment are the same as any one of Embodiments 1-3, so they are not described again.

[0044] Embodiment 5:

[0045] A variable diameter oil level sensor, improved on the basis of any one of embodiments 1-4, such as Figure 2 As shown, the diameter of the variable diameter inner cavity 3 decreases successively from bottom to top; the variable diameter inner cavity 3 includes a first inner cavity 31 and a second inner cavity 32 coaxially arranged from bottom to top, and the inner diameter of the first inner cavity 31 is greater than the inner diameter of the second inner cavity 32.

[0046] Preferably, the difference between the inner diameter of the first inner cavity 31 and the inner diameter of the second inner cavity 32 is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

[0047] The other parts of this embodiment are the same as any one of Embodiments 1-4, so they are not described again.

[0048] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any form. Any simple modifications or equivalent changes made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable diameter oil level sensor, comprising a mounting seat (1), characterized in that: An inner tube (2) is arranged at one end of the mounting seat (1), a variable diameter inner cavity (3) is arranged inside the inner tube (2), an outer tube group is coaxially arranged outside the inner tube (2), the outer tube group comprises at least two groups of coaxially arranged outer tubes (4) with different diameters, and adjacent outer tubes (4) are capable of relative axial movement, and a driving device (5) is arranged on the mounting seat (1) for driving the different outer tubes (4) to move axially; a capacitor is formed between the inner tube (2) and the outer tube (4), a circuit board is arranged inside the mounting seat (1), and the capacitor is connected to the circuit board. The outer tube group comprises a first outer tube (41) and a second outer tube (42) which are coaxially arranged, the inner diameter of the first outer tube (41) being greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second outer tube (42), the driving device (5) comprising a first driving part (51) and a second driving part (52), the first driving part (51) being drivingly connected to the first outer tube (41) to drive the first outer tube (41) to move axially, and the second driving part (52) being drivingly connected to the second outer tube (42) to drive the second outer tube (42) to move axially; the first driving part (51) comprises a first driving sleeve ( 511), a first driving ring gear (512), a first motor (513), and a first gear (514); the first driving sleeve (511) is rotatably arranged at the bottom of the mounting seat (1); the first driving ring gear (512) is sleeved on the outside of the first driving sleeve (511); the first gear (514) is sleeved on the output shaft of the first motor (513); the first gear (514) is meshingly connected with the first driving ring gear (512); the top outer wall of the first outer tube (41) is provided with an external thread; the inner tube of the first driving sleeve (511) is provided with an inner thread of the first driving sleeve (511); An internal thread is provided on the wall, and the internal thread is thread-matched with the corresponding external thread; the second driving part (52) comprises a second screw rod (521) and a second motor (522); an internal thread is provided on the inner tube wall of the second outer tube (42); the bottom end of the second screw rod (521) extends into the interior of the second outer tube (42) and is thread-matched with the corresponding internal thread; the top end of the second screw rod (521) is drivingly connected to the output shaft of the second motor (522); the outer tube wall of the second outer tube (42) is slidably matched with the inner tube wall of the first outer tube (41).

2. A variable diameter oil level sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: A guide ring (53) is coaxially arranged between the outer tube wall of the second outer tube (42) and the inner tube wall of the first outer tube (41); the guide ring (53) is sleeved outside the second outer tube (42); and the outer ring surface of the guide ring (53) is connected to the inner tube wall of the first outer tube (41) in a sliding fit.

3. A variable diameter oil level sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the variable diameter inner cavity (3) decreases in sequence from bottom to top.

4. A variable diameter oil level sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The variable diameter inner cavity (3) comprises a first inner cavity (31) and a second inner cavity (32) which are coaxially arranged from bottom to top, and the inner diameter of the first inner cavity (31) is greater than the inner diameter of the second inner cavity (32).

5. A variable diameter oil level sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The mounting seat (1) is provided with a quick-plug cable connector (6), and the quick-plug cable connector (6) is connected to the circuit board.

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