GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURE AND LEVEL SENSOR EMPLOYING THE SAME

摘要

A float-type liquid level gauge assembly (20) is provided for measuring the level of a liquid, such as liquefied petroleum gases, in a tank. The liquid level gauge (20) includes a gear housing (50) which provides for an efficient way to couple gears together as well as to accurately assemble and align the components of a liquid level gauge. The liquid level gauge (20) includes a movable pivot arm assembly (70) supporting a float arm assembly (74). A gear on the pivot arm assembly (70) is coupled with a pinion gear (65) located in the gear housing (50). The pinion gear (65) has a shaped passageway (69) which accepts a similarly shaped drive shaft (40) which has a magnet (36) at one end. The magnet (36) extends into a passageway (44) on the lower side (30b) of a gauge head (30) so as to be magnetically coupled to a level indicating dial assembly (32) provided on the upper side (30a) of the gauge head (30). The shaped drive shaft (40) only allows for a limited number of ways the drive shaft (40) will fit into the pinion gear passageways (69), thus allowing efficient alignment of the magnet (36) with the level indicating dial (32).