JPH0323541Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention relates to a liquid level detection device installed in a fuel tank to measure the remaining amount of fuel in an automobile.
In particular, the present invention relates to a contact support structure in a contact liquid level detection device for converting the height of a liquid level into an electrical signal.

[Problems to be solved by conventional techniques and ideas]

An example of a conventional device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The illustrated liquid level detection device includes a float 1 floating on the liquid level in a fuel tank, a float arm 2 holding the float 1 at one end, and a frame 3 fixed to the fuel tank and rotatably supporting the float arm 2.
, a contact 5 attached to the other end of the float arm 2 via a holder 4, and a resistor 6 fixed in the frame 3 facing the contact 5 so that the contact 5 slides thereon. It consists of

When the float 1 moves up and down depending on the height of the liquid level, the float arm 2 rotates around the frame 3, so the contact 5 slides on the resistor 6 and its contact position changes. Therefore, the change in the resistance value of the resistor 6 in the detection circuit can be extracted as an electrical signal and displayed on the meter.

To explain the structure of the above conventional device in more detail,
The frame 3 has a box shape integrally molded from synthetic resin, and the resistor 6 is housed therein. Resistor 6
is held by a pair of elastic locking portions 3a formed inside the frame 3, with its resistance surface facing upward. The frame 3 has a cylindrical bearing part 3b on its side, and the bearing part 3b is provided with a hole 3c that passes through it vertically.

The holder 4 is a substantially U-shaped synthetic resin member, and the upper surface of a relatively long first arm 4a is provided with a locking portion 4b for the float arm 2, which is made up of two pairs of elastic pieces, and the lower surface thereof is provided with a locking portion 4b for the float arm 2, which is made of two pairs of elastic pieces. As can be seen from FIG. 4 (a sectional view in FIG. 3), a plate-shaped contact 5 is held by a holding portion 4d. The distance between the first arm 4a and the second arm 4c is approximately equal to the bearing part 3b of the frame 3, and the bearing part 3b is located between the arms 4a and 4c. Holes 4 provided in arms 4a, 4c
e, 4f, hole 5a of contact 5 and bearing part 3b
The float arm 2 passes through the hole 3c. As a result, the float arm 2 and the holder 4 are integrated and are rotatably supported on the frame 3.

When assembling this device, first the resistor 6 is inserted into the frame 3 in the direction of the arrow along the X-axis in the figure, and is fixed in the frame 3 by the elastic locking portion 3a. On the other hand, insert the contact 5 into the holder 4 from the direction of the arrow along the Z axis, and
The contact 5 is held on the lower surface by the holding portion 4d. Next, the holder 4 is brought closer to the frame 3 in the direction of the arrow along the Z axis, and the first and second arms 4
A bearing portion 3c is positioned between a and 4c. Then, the bent tip of the float arm 2 is inserted into the holes 4e, 5a, 3c, and 4f from the X-axis direction, and the main body side of the float arm 2, which is perpendicular to the tip, is inserted into the engagement on the first arm 4a. Fit it into the stop portion 4b.

However, in the contact support structure described above, the plate-shaped contacts are inserted into the holding part 4d from the side along the lower surface of the holder, which makes the installation work difficult and difficult to assemble using an automatic machine. .

The present invention has been devised in view of this point, and aims to provide a contact support structure for a liquid level detection device that is easy to assemble.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention forms a slit on the lower surface of the holder and a locking step on the side of the slit, and the contact is provided with an upright piece and an elastic locking pawl on the side of the upright side. , by pressing the contact from the bottom surface of the holder, an upright piece is inserted into the slit, the elastic locking pawl is engaged with the locking step, and the holder and contact are integrated. .

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention, and the main components are a float 1, a float arm 2, a frame 3, a holder 4, a contact 5, and a resistor 6, which are the same as the conventional device.

In the figure, the holder 4 is formed into a substantially crank shape, and the first arm 4a is provided with a holding portion 4d for the contact 5 on its lower surface, and has a hole 4e bored in one side. As shown in FIG. 2, this holding part 4d consists of a pair of vertical slits 4g provided on both sides, and a locking stepped part 4h provided with both sides open at the top of the slit 4g. A pair of upright pieces 5b of the contact 5 as shown in FIG. are integrated. Note that 4i in FIG. 2 is a pin protruding from the lower surface of the first arm 4a of the holder 4, which abuts the contact 5.
positioning.

The second arm 4c of the holder 4 has a locking portion 4b of the float arm 2 on its lower surface. This locking part 4b
Although it does not appear in FIG. 1, it consists of two pairs of elastic pieces, similar to the locking part 4b of the conventional structure shown in FIG. It is something that you will learn to do.

The structure of the frame 3 is basically the same as the conventional one, and the elastic locking part 3a provided inside allows the resistor 6 to
It holds cylindrical bearing parts 3b and 3c on one side.

To assemble this device, first place the
The resistor 6 is installed from the X′ axis direction. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the first arm of the holder 4, the contact 5 is pressed and attached to the holding portion 4d from the X' axis direction and integrated. Next, the holder 4 is moved from the X' axis direction (above) so that the bent tips of the float arms 2 approach the frame 3 from the X' axis direction (downward), and the tips of the float arms 2 are inserted into the holes 3c, 5a, 5a, 4e, and the main body portion of the float arm 2 is pressed and fitted to the locking portion 4b formed on the lower surface of the second arm 4c.

As a result, the float arm 2, holder 4, and contact 5 are integrated and rotatably supported by the frame 3.

[Effect of idea]

The present invention is as described above, and in particular, when the contact is pressed against the lower surface of the holder, the upright piece is inserted into the slit, and the elastic locking pawl automatically engages with the locking step and maintains that state. It was designed so that

Therefore, since the contact is extremely easy to attach and will not fall off during subsequent operations after attachment, it is possible to attach the contact using an automatic machine, which is useful for improving the efficiency of the entire assembly operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the mounting structure of the contact to the holder in the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional device, and Fig. 4. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure for attaching a contact to a holder in a conventional device. 1...Float, 2...Float arm, 3...
...Frame, 4...Holder, 4g...Slit,
4h...Locking step, 5...Contact, 5b...
Standing piece, 5c...Elastic locking claw, 6...Resistor.

Claims (1)

[Claim for Utility Model Registration] A float arm with a float attached to one end and a contact holder attached to the other end is rotatably supported on a frame, and a resistor fixed to the frame has a contact held in the contact holder. In a liquid level detection device that detects the height of the liquid level from a change in resistance value as the float moves, the holder has a slit on the lower surface and a locking step on the side of the slit. and the contact includes:
By providing an upright piece and an elastic locking claw on the side of the upright side, and pressing the contact from the bottom of the holder,
A contact support structure that integrates a holder and a contact by inserting an upright piece into a slit and engaging an elastic locking pawl with a locking step.