US 11,892,335 B2
System for indicating fluid level in fluid tanks of machines
Andrew Rafael Kopca, Andover, MN (US); Lee Michael Hogan, Mackinaw, IL (US); Jared Todd Woodruff, St. Francis, MN (US); and Nathan Mashek, Albertville, MN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/647,503.
Prior Publication US 2023/0221161 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. G01F 23/00 (2022.01)
CPC G01F 23/00 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for indicating a fluid level in a fluid tank of a machine, the system comprising:
a plurality of lighting units sequentially arranged with respect to each other and configured to be sequentially activated or sequentially deactivated to correspondingly indicate a real-time level of a fluid in the fluid tank;
at least one indicia disposed along the plurality of lighting units to correspondingly indicate at least one threshold level of the fluid in the fluid tank; and
a headlight of the machine that is separate from the plurality of lighting units and from the at least one indicia, wherein:
the at least one indicia allows inference of the real-time level to recede below the at least one threshold level if a sequential deactivation of the plurality of lighting units moves past the at least one indicia in a first direction,
the at least one indicia allows inference of the real-time level to exceed the at least one threshold level if a sequential activation of the plurality of lighting units moves past the at least one indicia in a second direction,
the at least one indicia is interposed between, and is adjacent to, first and second lighting units of the plurality of lighting units,
the at least one indicia is configured to emit light having a first attribute,
the first and second lighting units are configured to emit light having a shared second attribute different from the first attribute,
activation of the headlight causes a decrease in a brightness of light emitted by the plurality of lighting units, and
deactivation of the headlight causes an increase in the brightness of light emitted by the plurality of lighting units.