Fluid level sensor for a toroid-shaped tank

An engine inlet assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

• an inlet structure symmetrically formed about a first rotational axis, the inlet structure adapted to be coupled to a gas turbine engine;
• a toroid-shaped lubricant tank mounted within the inlet structure and symmetrically disposed about the first rotational axis;
• and
• a fluid level sensor configured to sense a level of lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank, the fluid level sensor comprising:
• a float ring mounted within the toroid-shaped tank and configured to rotate within the toroid-shaped tank about the first rotational axis;
• a float structure coupled to the float ring and configured to exhibit buoyancy in the lubricant disposed within the toroid-shaped tank, the float structure supplying a force to the float ring based on the level of the lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank, thereby causing the float ring to rotate;
• a gauge shaft spaced-apart from the float ring and rotationally mounted on the inlet structure in a manner that allows the gauge shaft to rotate about a second rotational axis, the gauge shaft coupled to receive a rotational drive force and configured, upon receipt of the rotational drive force, to rotate about the second rotational axis to a position representative of the level of the lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank;
• and
• a tiller arm having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the gauge shaft, the second end extending through the float ring and axially movable relative to the float ring, the tiller arm configured to supply the rotational drive force to the gauge shaft when the float ring rotates.

A gas turbine engine assembly, comprising:

• a housing;
• a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine disposed within the housing, the turbine and compressor mounted to rotate about an a first rotational axis;
• an inlet structure coupled to the housing upstream of the compressor, the inlet structure symmetrically disposed about the first rotational axis;
• a toroid-shaped lubricant tank mounted within the inlet structure and symmetrically disposed about the first rotational axis;
• and
• a fluid level sensor configured to sense a level of lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank, the fluid level sensor comprising:
• a float ring mounted within the toroid-shaped tank and configured to rotate within the toroid-shaped tank about the first rotational axis;
• a float structure coupled to the float ring and configured to exhibit buoyancy in the lubricant disposed within the toroid-shaped tank, the float structure supplying a force to the float ring based on the level of the lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank, thereby causing the float ring to rotate;
• a gauge shaft spaced-apart from the float ring and rotationally mounted on the inlet structure in a manner that allows the gauge shaft to rotate about a second rotational axis, the gauge shaft coupled to receive a rotational drive force and configured, upon receipt of the rotational drive force, to rotate about the second rotational axis to a position representative of the level of the lubricant within the toroid-shaped tank;
• and
• a tiller arm having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the gauge shaft, the second end extending through the float ring and axially movable relative to the float ring, the tiller arm configured to supply the rotational drive force to the gauge shaft when the float ring rotates.