DEVICE FOR INDICATING A FLUID LEVEL

Abstract

A device for indicating a fluid level, having a device housing (2), which has a viewing window (4), which provides a view of a transparent indicator body (6), which can be at least partially filled with the fluid via at least one port piece (24), the cavity (26) of which is reached through by a securing part (14), which has a fluid guide (22) and which can serves to secure the device housing (2) to a third component, such as a fluid storage tank, is characterized in that the port piece (24) comprises a support structure, at least consisting of individual ribs (34, 36) interconnecting plate-shaped wall parts (30, 32) of the port piece (24), and in that the support structure encompasses the cavity (26).

Claims

1. A device for indicating a fluid level, having a device housing (2), which has a viewing window (4), which provides a view of a transparent indicator body (6), which can be at least partially filled with the fluid via at least one port piece (24), the cavity (26) of which is reached through by a securing part (14), which has a fluid guide (22) and which serves to secure the device housing (2) to a third component, such as a fluid storage tank, characterized in that the port piece (24) comprises a support structure, at least consisting of individual ribs (34, 36) interconnecting plate-shaped wall parts (30, 32) of the port piece (24), and in that the support structure encompasses the cavity (26).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity for the passage of the securing part (14) has a cylindrical passage section (26), into which a supply section (28) for the indicator body (6) opens in a fluid-conveying manner, which can be placed on an annular mount (42) that at least partially encloses the supply section (28).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular mount (42) is shaped in the manner of an ellipsoid and forms the seat (46) for a sealing ring (44) sealing the interior of the indicator body (6) from the environment, wherein said indicator body (6) is seated on the one wall part (30), adjacent to the indicator body (6), of the port piece (24).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs consist of longitudinal ribs (36) and transverse ribs (34), of which the longitudinal ribs (36), extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the indicator body (6), connect the one wall part (30) to a further wall part (32), which co-delimits the port piece (24) to the outside, and in that the transverse ribs (34), which are arranged in pairs opposite from each other and are reached through by an assigned longitudinal rib (36) each, which extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the passage section (26).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage section (26) has, on its end, facing the device housing (2), an annular mount (42) for flush mounting of an annular seal (44).

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage section (26) forms a projecting annular contact surface (52) for the contact of a further annular seal (44) on its side facing the third component.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the port piece (24), conceived as an injection-molded part, preferably consists of a plastic material, such as PA6, which is particularly preferably glass-fiber-reinforced.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device housing, viewed in cross-section, is a U-shaped profile piece (2) and that the port piece (24) closes off an assigned free end of the device housing (2) in a plug-like manner.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second wall part (32) protrudes beyond the end of the profile piece (2) and has a corrugated section (40) at its free end.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a port piece (24) each is arranged at the opposite ends of the profile piece (2), and in that the two annular seals (44), one for the supply section (28) and one for the passage section (26) of the port piece (24), are formed identical.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a circular protrusion (54) as an integral part of an annular surface (52), encompassing the passage section (26), increases the sealing effect of the flat seal.

Description

[0016] Below the invention is explained in detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the Figures:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective oblique view of the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective oblique view of the individual parts, pulled apart in the manner of an exploded drawing, of the exemplary embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a perspective oblique view, magnified compared to FIG. 2, of a port piece of the exemplary embodiment, viewed to the front side facing the device housing; and

[0020] FIG. 4 shows an perspective oblique view, corresponding to FIG. 3, of the exemplary embodiment, viewed to the rear side facing a third component, such as a tank.

[0021] The exemplary embodiment, shown in the drawing, has a device housing 2, which in its front end 3 has a cutout, which forms a viewing window 4, which exposes a view on an indicator body 6. The latter is a riser tube made of a transparent plastic material that permits the direct visual observation of the fluid level of a fluid contained in the indicator body 6. The device housing 2 consists of a profile piece made of aluminum, steel or stainless steel, which has a U-shaped cross-section with lateral profile legs 8 and 10, which laterally adjoin to the profile bar, forming the front side 3, and laterally surround the indicator body 6. Near the upper end of the profile and near the lower end of the profile a drilled hole 12 is formed each, which each are centrally in the front side 3 and provided for a banjo bolt 14 to pass therethrough. The viewing window 4, formed by an elongated cutout in the front side 3, terminates at equal distances from the upper and the lower drilled holes 12. The banjo bolts 14 at one end of their shaft have a hexagonal head 16 and at the other end they have an outer thread 18 as well as a coaxial internal drilled hole, extending from this end to a shaft part 20, reduced in external diameter and spaced apart from both the head 16 and the outer thread 18. Transverse drilled holes 22 are formed in this shaft part 20 to provide a fluid connection to the internal drilled hole of the banjo bolt 14.

[0022] As in the aforementioned prior art, the fluid connection between the third component, such as a tank (not shown), is established via a port piece 24, which has an internal cavity in the form of a cylindrical passage section 26. To form a fluid connection from the passage section 26 to the riser tube 6 forming the indicator body, in the port 24 a supply section 28 opens into the passage section 26. The fluid connection between the passage section 26 and the third component (tank) is made via the banjo bolt 14, which in the assembled state reaches through the passage section 26 and its end-sided outer thread 18 forms a screw connection (not shown), by means of which the device housing 2 together with the port 24 and the riser tube 6 is secured to the third component. In this assembly state, the shaft part 20, reduced in diameter, of the banjo bolt 14 is located in the area where the supply section 28 opens into the passage section 26, so that the fluid path to the supply section 28 is formed via the axial drilled hole of the banjo bolt 14 and its transverse drilled holes 22.

[0023] Unlike in the prior art, the port piece 24 is not a solid body but has a support structure formed of ribs and wall members connected thereto. In detail, as can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support structure has a plate-shaped wall part 30 on the side, facing the riser tube 6, and a plate-shaped wall part 32 on the outside opposite thereto. Having the side rims, facing each other in pairs and extending on both sides next to the passage section 26, the wall parts 30 and 32 form transverse ribs 34 interconnected by a centrally located longitudinal rib 36 each, extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the supply section 28. The wall parts 30 and 32 form the upper and lower boundary walls, respectively, of the port piece 24. The outer sides and the rounded corner areas 38 of the transverse and longitudinal ribs 34, 36 delineate the shape of a block, which as a shaped body is adapted to the inside of the profile piece, forming the device housing 2, so that in the assembled state the ribs 34, 36 form contact surfaces for the housing 2. The outline of the wall part 32, forming the outside, is slightly larger than the outline of the inner wall part 30 and of the ribs 34, located between the wall parts 30 and 32, so that in the assembled state shown in FIG. 1, the port piece 24 forms a plug-like closure of the housing 2, wherein the wall part 32 reaches over the free end rim of the housing 2. As also most clearly shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of the wall part 32 has a corrugated section 40.

[0024] At the top of the wall part 30, the passage section 26 continues in an annular mount 42, formed by a connector, formed by the wall part 30 and having the shape of an ellipsoid, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the passage section 26. When the riser tube 6 is fitted to the annular mount 42, the seal is formed by means of an O-ring 44, for which in the annular mount 42 an annular groove 46 is formed, having a flat groove bottom. As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 3, on the end part, facing the device housing 2, of the passage section 26 an annular surface 48 is formed, which forms the mount for an O-ring 44 of the same type as that provided on the annular mount 42.

[0025] On the opposite side of the port piece 24, which is visible in FIG. 4, on a circular and planar surface 52, which comprises a cylindrical passage surface as part of the passage section 26, preferably a circumferential projection 54 is provided centrally, which projects outwards and, when in contact with a third component, such as a tank, results in an increased sealing force effect in the concerning contact area. In this respect, the annular surface 52 forms a flat seal with the third component. Furthermore, the elevation 54 is triangular in shape, viewed in cross-section. As per usual, at both ends of the device housing 2, the mechanical and fluidic connection to the third component is formed via another port piece 24 and other identical parts. The respective port piece 24 is preferably manufactured as an injection-molded part from a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material, such as PA6, wherein advantageously a predeterminable glass-fiber content is provided.