Flexible tank gauge

Claim 2

A stick for a liquid level gauge adapted to be wholly contained within a tank, said stick always being free to be in stressful contact with bodies outside the tank when said stick is at least partially exposed outside the tank, said stick carrying magnetic means for co-operatively engaging magnetic floating means for positioning said stick to represent fluid level, said stick comprising: an elongated, flexible plastic slat-like member of substantially elongated cross section having measuring indicia on at least one face thereof, said member being sufficiently rigid to resist coiling and be self-supporting vertically without bending when supported from a lower end, said stick during normal measurement being able to flex upon stressful contact with bodies outside the tank instead of breaking or otherwise causing damage.

Claim 3

The stick of claim 1 above, wherein said stick cross section is rectangular.

Claim 4

The stick of claim 1 above, wherein said stick cross section is substantially bi convex.

Claim 5

A liquid level gauge for use with a tank, comprising in combination: a tubular housing arranged to be secured in the tank with its interior separated from the contents of the tank; a float, slidably mounted exterior to said housing for motion relative thereto with liquid level changes; first magnetic means carried by said float; and a measuring stick, insertable in said housing and carrying second magnetic means, said stick always being free to be in stressful contact with bodies outside the tank when said stick is at least partially exposed outside the tank, said first and second magnetic means being arranged to co-operate to support said stick at a height exterior to the tank corresponding to the liquid level within the tank, said stick comprising a relatively flexible, thin slat of bi-convex cross secretion bearing graduation marks on at least one surface thereof, said stick being sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting vertically without bending when supported from a lower end, and sufficiently inflexible to resist coiling, said stick during normal measurement being able to flex upon stressful contact with bodies outside the tank instead of breaking or otherwise causing damage.

Claim 6

A liquid level gauge for use with a tank, comprising in combination: a tubular housing arranged to be secured in the tank with its interior separated from the contents of the tank; a float, slidably mounted exterior to said housing for motion relative thereto with liquid level changes; first magnetic means carried by said float; and a measuring stick, insertable in said housing and carrying second magnetic means, said stick always being free to be in stressful contact with bodies outside the tank when said stick is at least partially exposed outside the tank, said first and second magnetic means being arranged to co-operate to support said stick at a height exterior to the tank corresponding to the liquid level within the tank, said stick comprising a relatively flexible, thin slat of bi-convex cross secretion bearing graduation marks on at least one surface thereof, said stick being sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting vertically without bending when supported from a lower end, and sufficiently inflexible to resist coiling, said stick during normal measurement being able to flex upon stressful contact with bodies outside the tank instead of breaking or otherwise causing damage.

Claim 7

For use with a liquid level tank gauge combination, the process comprising measuring liquid level by means of an elongated plastic member of elongated cross section carrying measuring indicia on at least one surface thereof, said member always being free to be in stressful contact with bodies outside the tank when said member is at least partially exposed outside the tank, said member being flexible yet capable of being self-supporting when held at one end in a substantially vertical orientation as an improved measuring element to visually display the level of liquid within a tank, said element during normal measurement being able to flex upon stressful contact with bodies outside the tank instead of breaking or otherwise causing damage; said longated member is placed in position in said tank and is observed.

Claim 8

For use with a liquid level tank gauge combination, the process comprising measuring liquid level by means of an elongated plastic member of elongated cross section carrying measuring indicia on at least one surface thereof, said member always being free to be in stressful contact with bodies outside the tank when said member is at least partially exposed outside the tank, said member being flexible yet capable of being self-supporting when held at one end in a substantially vertical orientation as an improved measuring element to visually display the level of liquid within a tank, said element during normal measurement being able to flex upon stressful contact with bodies outside the tank instead of breaking or otherwise causing damage; said longated member is placed in position in said tank and is observed.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5, above wherein said member is an elongated flexible slat having a bi convex cross section, the radii of curvature of which are orthogonal to the elongate dimension, and said slat is sufficiently inflexible to resist coiling.