Level sensor assembly

Abstract

To provide an assembly for a level sensor capable of suppressing electrolytic corrosion of a current-carrying part.SOLUTION: The level sensor assembly 100 includes the plate 1 fixed to the tank, the current-carrying part electrically connected to the covered electric wire 220 extending from the body of the level sensor, the insulating member 3 provided on the inner part 11 of the plate 1 and having the housing chamber 30 that opens toward the inside of the tank and houses the current-carrying part, the lid 4 that is attached to the insulating member 3 and closes the opening portion of the housing chamber 30, and the first packing 5 that seals between the lid 4 and the insulating member 3. An insertion hole 40 through which the covered electric wire 220 passes is formed in the lid 4. The level sensor assembly 100 further includes a second packing 6 that seals between the covered electric wire 220 passed through the insertion hole 40 and the insertion hole 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an assembly for a level sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a level sensor (detection device in the same document) that detects the liquid level inside a tank. The level sensor described in Patent Document 1 is provided inside a fuel tank of a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-93907 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In some cases, this type of level sensor employs a structure in which wiring extending from the body of the level sensor is connected to an electrical conductor inside the tank, and electrical continuity is established with the outside of the tank via this electrical conductor. If the fuel contained in the tank has characteristics that make it prone to absorbing moisture, there is a risk of electrical corrosion of the electrical conductor unless some measures are taken to protect the electrical conductor.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a level sensor assembly that can suppress electrical corrosion of a current-carrying part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the level sensor assembly according to the present disclosure comprises: A level sensor assembly used in a level sensor that detects a liquid level inside a tank, comprising: a plate fixed to the tank, the plate having an inner side facing the inside of the tank and an outer side facing the outside of the tank; a conductive portion electrically connected to a coated electric wire extending from the body of the level sensor; an insulating member provided on the inner portion, the insulating member having an accommodation chamber that opens toward the inside of the tank and accommodates the conductive part; a lid attached to the insulating member to close an opening of the storage chamber; a first packing that is sandwiched between the lid and the insulating member and seals the gap between the lid and the insulating member, The cover has an insertion hole through which the insulated wire passes, The connector further includes a second packing that seals the space between the insulated electric wire passed through the insertion hole and the insertion hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, electrical corrosion of the current-carrying portion can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly for a level sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the level sensor according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the configuration of the level sensor according to the embodiment, and is a view for mainly explaining the accommodation chamber and the conductive portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] A level sensor assembly 100 (hereinafter also simply referred to as assembly 100) shown in Fig. 1 is used in a level sensor 200 shown in Fig. 2. First, the level sensor 200 will be described.

[0011] The level sensor 200 is provided in a tank (not shown) that stores fuel for a vehicle such as a car, and detects the liquid level of the fuel. The type of fuel may be any, but the assembly 100 is suitable for ethanol fuel and methanol fuel, which have the property of absorbing water more easily than gasoline and diesel.

[0012] As the level sensor 200, various known structures can be adopted, such as the structure described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2023-93907), but an example configuration of the level sensor 200 will be briefly described with reference to Figure 2.

[0013] (Level Sensor 200) The level sensor 200 includes a main body 210 and a covered electric wire 220 extending from the main body 210. The main body 210 includes a float 211, an arm 212, a rotating part 213 that rotates together with the arm 212, and a case 214 that rotatably supports the rotating part 213.

[0014] The float 211 floats on the liquid (fuel) contained in the tank. The arm 211 connects the float 211 to the rotating part 213, and rotates the rotating part 213 in response to the displacement of the float 211.

[0015] Rotating portion 213 is configured to be rotatable about shaft portion 214a provided on case 214. Rotating portion 213 includes a magnet (not shown) and holder 213a that holds the magnet. For example, holder 213a holds a pair of magnets.

[0016] Inside the case 214, there are provided components (not shown) including a magnetic detection element that detects a magnetic field that changes in response to the rotation of the rotating part 213, and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) electrically connected to the magnetic detection element. For example, the magnetic detection element is a Hall IC (Integrated Circuit) that is provided inside the shaft part 214a. The magnetic detection element outputs a detection signal corresponding to the strength of the detected magnetic field to the PCB. This detection signal indicates a value corresponding to the magnetic field that changes in response to the rotation of the rotating part 213, and therefore indicates a value corresponding to the fuel level.

[0017] The insulated electric wires 220 are cords or cables for transmitting detection signals from the magnetic detection elements to a target device located outside the tank, and are configured by covering a conductor with an insulator. The target device is, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of a vehicle. In this embodiment, there are three insulated electric wires 220, including a signal line for transmitting the detection signal. The three insulated electric wires 220 are electrically connected to a PCB inside the case 214 and are drawn to the outside of the main body 210 through grommets 215 provided at the end of the case 214. The assembly 100, which will be described next, is configured to ensure a conductive structure from the insulated electric wires 220 located inside the tank to the outside of the tank.

[0018] (Assembly 100) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the assembly 100 includes a plate 1, a current-carrying portion 2, an insulating member 3, a lid 4, a first packing 5, and a second packing 6.

[0019] Plate 1 is a plate-like member fixed to the tank in a manner that closes an opening formed in the tank. Plate 1 has an inner portion 11 facing the inside of the tank and an outer portion 12 facing the outside of the tank. As shown by the arrows in Figures 1 and 3, "In" is the direction toward the inside of the tank, and "Out" is the direction toward the outside of the tank.

[0020] For example, a connecting member (not shown) that connects the main body 210 of the level sensor 200 to the plate 1 is provided on the inner portion 11 of the plate 1. The level sensor 200 is disposed inside the tank by fixing the plate 1, which supports the level sensor 200, to the tank via the connecting member.

[0021] The current-carrying unit 2 shown in Fig. 3 is configured to be electrically connected to the insulated electric wires 220 extending from the main body 210 of the level sensor 200, and is made of, for example, metal. Three current-carrying units 2 are provided corresponding to the three insulated electric wires 220 (Fig. 3 shows one of these current-carrying units 2). Since the three current-carrying units 2 have the same configuration, the following mainly describes one current-carrying unit 2 shown in Fig. 3 and the configuration related to that one current-carrying unit 2.

[0022] The current-carrying part 2 penetrates the plate 1 and has a first part 21 that protrudes from the inner part 11 into the storage chamber 30 (described later) and a second part 22 that protrudes from the outer part 12 toward the outside of the tank. For example, the current-carrying part 2 is made of a metal screw terminal, and penetrates the plate 1 while being screwed into a nut N provided at the bottom of the storage chamber 30.

[0023] The insulating member 3 is provided on the inner portion 11 of the plate 1, and specifically, is provided so as to stand from the inner portion 11 toward the inside of the tank. For example, the insulating member 3 is formed from an insulating resin. The insulating member 3 has a housing chamber 30 that opens toward the inside of the tank and houses the current-carrying unit 2. Specifically, the housing chamber 30 houses the first portion 21 of the current-carrying unit 2.

[0024] The insulating member 3 has three accommodating chambers 30 corresponding to the three current-carrying parts 2, respectively. Each of the three accommodating chambers 30 is a cylindrical portion with a bottom in the insulating member 3. Figure 3 shows two of these accommodating chambers 30 and also shows a cross section of the configuration corresponding to one of the accommodating chambers 30.

[0025] A wiring clamp 31 that clamps the outer periphery of the insulated electric wire 220 is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the accommodation chamber 30. While the insulated electric wire 220 is held down by the wiring clamp 31, its tip portion is connected to the current-carrying part 2. The tip portion of the insulated electric wire 220 that is connected to the current-carrying part 2 has its coating removed. The tip portion and the current-carrying part 2 are connected by a well-known electrical connection method such as soldering or crimping.

[0026] 1 is attached to the insulating member 3 and configured to close the opening of each storage chamber 30. The lid 4 is made of insulating resin and is attached to the insulating member 3 by known fixing means such as engagement, fitting, or screwing.

[0027] The lid 4 is formed with three insertion holes 40 through which the three insulated electric wires 220 pass, and three tubular portions 41 that protrude toward the respective storage chambers 30. One insertion hole 40 communicates with the interior of one tubular portion 41 that corresponds to that insertion hole 40. The three insulated electric wires 220 extending from the main body 210 of the level sensor 200 pass through the corresponding insertion holes 40 and tubular portions 41, with their tip portions reaching the current-carrying portion 2.

[0028] The first packing 5 and the second packing 6 shown in FIG. 1 are each made of an insulating elastomer such as rubber.

[0029] The first packing 5 is plate-shaped and is sandwiched between the lid 4 and the insulating member 3 to seal the space between the lid 4 and the insulating member 3. The first packing 5 has three through holes formed therein corresponding to the three storage chambers 30.

[0030] The second packing 6 seals the gap between the insulated electric wire 220 passed through the insertion hole 40 and the insertion hole 40. Specifically, three second packings 6 are provided corresponding to the three insulated electric wires 220, and each second packing 6 is generally cylindrical. One insulated electric wire 220 is passed through the inside of one second packing 6. The one second packing 6 is fitted into the corresponding insertion hole 40 and cylindrical portion 41.

[0031] As described above, the second portion 22 of the current-carrying portion 2 that penetrates the plate 1 and protrudes toward the outside of the tank is connected to the target device by wiring (not shown). This realizes an electrical connection between the level sensor 200 located inside the tank and the target device located outside the tank. The target device calculates the remaining fuel amount in the tank based on the detection signal obtained from the level sensor 200 using a known method. As shown in FIG. 3, an outer insulating member 7 that surrounds the second portion 22 of the current-carrying portion 2 is provided on the outer portion 12 of the plate 1.

[0032] In the assembly 100 described above, the insulating member 3, the lid 4, the first gasket 5, and the second gasket 6 provide a liquid-tight structure that prevents fuel in the tank from entering the storage chamber 30. This prevents the current-carrying part 2 housed in the storage chamber 30 from coming into contact with the fuel, thereby suppressing electrical corrosion of the current-carrying part 2. This assembly 100 can also be used for tanks that store gasoline or diesel, but is particularly suitable for tanks that store ethanol fuel or methanol fuel, which have the property of easily absorbing moisture.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and modifications (including the omission of components) can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] Although the above example shows three insulated electric wires 220, the number of insulated electric wires 220 is arbitrary, and the number of components such as the conductive section 2, the accommodating chamber 30, the insertion hole 40, etc., which are provided in a number corresponding to the insulated electric wires 220, is also arbitrary.

[0035] In the above, an example has been shown in which the first packing 5 and the second packing 6 are separate bodies, but the first packing 5 and the second packing 6 may be formed integrally.

[0036] The type of the level sensor 200 in which the assembly 100 is used is not limited to the above example and may be any type. For example, the level sensor 200 may be a sliding type as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-59132 or the like.

[0037] The present invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 100...Level sensor assembly 1...plate, 11...inner part, 12...outer part 2...Electrifying part, 21...First part, 22...Second part 3...insulating member, 30...accommodating chamber, 31...wiring clamp, N...nut 4...lid, 40...through hole, 41...tubular portion 5...First packing 6...Second packing 200...Level sensor 210...Main unit 211...float, 212...arm, 213...rotating part, 213a...holder 214...case, 214a...shaft portion, 215...grommet 220...Insulated wire

Claims

1. A level sensor assembly used in a level sensor that detects a liquid level inside a tank, comprising: a plate fixed to the tank, the plate having an inner side facing the inside of the tank and an outer side facing the outside of the tank; a conductive portion electrically connected to a coated electric wire extending from the body of the level sensor; an insulating member provided on the inner portion, the insulating member having an accommodation chamber that opens toward the inside of the tank and accommodates the conductive part; a lid attached to the insulating member to close an opening of the storage chamber; a first packing that is sandwiched between the lid and the insulating member and seals the gap between the lid and the insulating member, The cover has an insertion hole through which the insulated wire passes, The connector further includes a second packing that seals a gap between the insulated electric wire passed through the insertion hole and the insertion hole. Level sensor assembly.

2. the conductive portion has a first portion protruding from the inner portion toward the inside of the storage chamber and a second portion protruding from the outer portion toward the outside of the tank, and penetrates the plate; The first portion is accommodated in the accommodation chamber.

2. The level sensor assembly according to claim 1.

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