US1621274A - Gasoline gauge - Google Patents

Description

March 15 1927.

J. D. REEKlE GASOLINE GAUGE Filed April 10, 1926 INVENTOB: 5.. Mb

HTTOBNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

ensoniun GAUGE.

Application filed April 10, 1926. Serial No. 101*,089.

My invention relates to a gasoline gauge particularly applicable for use in the type of automobiles in which the fuel tank .is-

located forward of the drivers seat and above the engine. In such autos-the tank is usually arranged transversely under the cowl and forward of the so-called instrument board. The object of this invention is to provide a simple accurate and inexpensive device readily installed in cars of the class mentioned and by which the driver or any other occupant of the car can readily see at any time what amount of fuel is in the tank.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the instrument board, cowl and fuel tank in approximately their relative positions and my improved gauge in operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view about as on line 22 in Fig.

Fig. 3 is an approximately full size sectional' View as on line 33 in Fig. 2 showing the pivot mounting of the float lever of my device.

Fig. 4 is a face view of the gauge disc of my device about as on line 44 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 5 designates the so-called instrument board of, an automobile; 6 is the cowl normally extending forwardly and downwardly toward the engine hood (not shown) 7 is the fuel intake opening in the cowl and 8 the usual hinged cover for said opening. 9 is the usual fuel tank which is arranged transversely under the cowl and forward of the instrument board 5 about as shown and having a fuel intake 10 under the openmg 7.

My device comprises an indicator disc 11 of arcuate form, or segmental, and having a vertically flanged edge 11". Said disc is pivoted as at 13 to the forward end of the horizontal arm 12 of an inverted L-shaped bracket the vertical arm 12 of which is suitably secured as at 14 to the front side of board 5 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The flange 11 of the disc. is normally directed rearwardly and oscillation of the disc causes its flanged part to-pass an aperture v15 of the instrument board. At one. side of the fulcrum 13 of disc 11 I provide a number of apertures arranged on a segment concentric to 13 and in either one of which may be suitably engaged the rear end of a reach rod 16 the front end of which is pivotally connected with the upper end of one arm 17 of a tilting lever lie-17 Said lever :1=7"1' 7 is fulcrumed 'on a transverse pin '19 extending across a-slot 18 in a flanged,

bushing" 18 projecting upwardly through an aperture 20 in the tank. .21 is anut engaging the upper exposed end of. the bushing 18. The lever 17 is preferably of flat bar material as shown and at its fulcrum is formed with a circular enlargement 17 0f a size to fitsnugly in the-"slot but prevent splashing fuel from passing upof course rocks the lever 17-17 of which 17 automatically moves the reach rod 16 which in turn rotates disc 11. The flange 11 has a graduated scale of numbers on its.

outer face and which are visible through slot 15 thus at all times indicating the quantity of gasoline in the tank. f

The use of my device and its construction have been fully disclosed. It is obvious that when the gasoline tank is being filled the float 22 will rise causing lever arm 17% to push rod 16 rearwardly and the disc 11 is rotated in direction of arrow 25 (Fig.

3) exposing the numbers on flange 11 at opening 15 according to the number of gal,- lons or other units of gasoline in the tank. As the gasoline supply diminishesduring the use ofthe car the float 22 goes down, pulling the reach rod 16 forwardly and the numbers on the flange 11 are exposed accordingly.

26 is a pivot member for holding the forward end of the reach rod 16. It is threaded centrally, horizontally and also drilled transversely of its threaded part and through the threaded part for slidably receiving reach rod 16. '27 is a machine screw or other suitable headed screw passed through an 1. A fuel gauge for automobiles having a fuel tank in proximity to a fixed vertical element, having an aperture therein, said fuel gauge comprising a float within the fuel tank, a lever oscillatable in a vertical plane and mainly Within the tank, said float fixed on. said lever, means for fulcruming said '7 lever at the top part of the fuel tank, said element, a vertical rim on said gauge member with graduated numerals thereon adapted to be exposed consecutively to view in 7 said aperture in the fixed element, said float adapted to oscillate the lever in a vertical plane to actuate the rod and the gauge mem-- her in approximately horizontal plane.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, in which said fulcrum means of the vertically oscillable lever comprises a horizontal pin,

a a flanged bushing removably securable in the upper part of the fuel tank, said bushing having a vertical slot and said horizontal pin fixed in the bushing across said slot, an enlargement of said lever concentric of its fulcrum and adapted to close said slot but permit oscillation of the float-lever.

3. The structure specified in claim 1 in which said adjustable means connecting the reach rod and the lever comprises a horizontally disposed pivot member threaded centrally and drilled transversely through said threaded part for slidably receiving the reach rod, there being an aperture provided in the upper lever arm, a headed screw passed through said aperture and adapted to be screwed into the threaded part of the pivot member and frictionally engage the reach rod.

ture.

JAMES B. REEKIE.

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