# US 2020/0400482 A1 · Oil level sensor guide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0400482 A1 - Document ID: US20200400482A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/012,237 - Filed: 2020-09-04 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-12 - Assignees: Raytheon Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Raytheon Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Hung Duong; Wesley P. Long; Jonathan Zimmitti; David A. Stachowiak; Lakshminarayan S. Bettagere; Brian V. Abedon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400482A1 ## CPC - G01F 23/60: using electrically actuated indicating means - G01F 23/68: using electrically actuated indicating means - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)} - G01F 23/00: Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm - G01F 23/62: using magnetically actuated indicating means - G01F 23/76: characterised by the construction of the float - B60K 2015/03217: {Fuel level sensors} - B60Y 2200/51: Aeroplanes - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - G01F 23/04: by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A fluid tank system comprises a fluid container that includes a sensor opening in a fluid container wall defined by a rim, and a fluid level sensor comprising a radial flange on a proximate end of a longitudinally extending electronics stem that includes a distal end. The distal end of the electronic stem is inserted into the fluid container via the sensor opening and the radial flange seats on the rim. The distal end of the electronics stem is guided via a first radial support and a second radial support to a seat that is located coaxial with the sensor opening, where the first and second radial supports are longitudinally separated and radially spaced apart to allow the electronics stem to longitudinally pass between the first and second radial supports until the flange seats on the rim ensuring that the distal end of the electronic stem is longitudinally positioned adjacent to the seat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid tank system, comprising: a fluid container that includes a sensor opening in a fluid container wall defined by a rim; a fluid level sensor comprising a radial flange on a proximate end of a longitudinally extending electronics stem that includes a distal end; a guide tube that radially surrounds the longitudinally extending electronics stem and axially contacts a flanged surface of the longitudinally extending electronics stem located within the fluid container, where the longitudinally extending electronics stem, the guide tube and the sensor opening are co-axial about a central axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid tank system of claim 1, wherein the guide tube free floats about the longitudinally extending electronics stem. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid tank system of claim 1, wherein the guide tube comprises an inner radial surface which defines a sensor cavity and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface and the fluid container defining a fluid cavity therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid tank system of claim 3, wherein the guide tube comprises at least one fluid leak hole extending through the guide tube from the outer radial surface to the inner radial surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid tank system of claim 4, wherein the fluid container comprises a first end having the sensor opening and a second end opposite the first end and wherein the guide tube extends from the sensor opening to the second end of the fluid container and contacts the second end of the fluid container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid tank system of claim 5, wherein a proximate end portion of the sensor cavity located at the sensor opening has a first diameter and a distal end portion of the sensor cavity opposite the proximate end portion has a second diameter and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid tank system of claim 6, wherein the at least one fluid leak hole is located in the guide tube adjacent the proximate end portion of the sensor cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid tank system of claim 1, wherein the guide tube is integrally formed with the fluid container. ### Claim 9 A gas turbine engine comprising: a split case fluid tank comprising: a first case and a complementary second case that when secured together form a fluid vessel, the first case comprising a fluid level sensor opening; and a guide tube extending from the fluid level sensor opening along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the guide tube adjacent the fluid level sensor opening to a second end of the guide tube having a closed end, the guide tube comprising an inner radial surface which defines a sensor cavity and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface and the fluid vessel defining a fluid cavity therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gas turbine engine of claim 9, further comprising a fluid level sensor comprising a proximate end of a longitudinally extending electronics stem and a distal end of the longitudinally extending electronics stem opposite the proximate end, the fluid level sensor comprising a radial flange at the proximate end which is configured to be seated on a rim of the fluid level sensor opening when the longitudinally extending electronics stem is inserted into the sensor cavity of the guide tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the longitudinally extending electronics stem, the guide tube, and the fluid level sensor opening are configured to be co-axial about a central axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the guide tube comprises at least one fluid leak hole extending through the guide tube from the outer radial surface to the inner radial surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The gas turbine engine of claim 12, wherein the first case comprises a first end having the fluid level sensor opening and a second end opposite the first end and wherein the guide tube extends from the fluid level sensor opening to the second end of the first case and contacts the second end of the first case. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gas turbine engine of claim 13, wherein a proximate end portion of the sensor cavity located at the fluid level sensor opening has a first diameter and a distal end portion of the sensor cavity opposite the proximate end portion has a second diameter and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gas turbine engine of claim 14, wherein the at least one fluid leak hole is located in the guide tube adjacent the proximate end portion of the sensor cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the guide tube is integrally formed with the first case. ### Claim 17 A split case fluid tank comprising: a first case and a complementary second case that when secured together form a fluid vessel, the first case comprising a fluid level sensor opening; a guide tube extending from the fluid level sensor opening along a longitudinal axis from a first end of the guide tube adjacent the fluid level sensor opening to a second end of the guide tube having a closed end, the guide tube comprising an inner radial surface which defines a sensor cavity and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface and the fluid vessel defining a fluid cavity therebetween, the guide tube comprising at least one fluid leak hole extending through the guide tube from the outer radial surface to the inner radial surface; and a fluid level sensor comprising a radial flange on a proximate end of a longitudinally extending electronics stem that includes a distal end, the radial flange seated on a rim of the fluid level sensor opening with the longitudinally extending electronics stem disposed within the sensor cavity of the guide tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The split case fluid tank of claim 17, wherein the guide tube free floats about the longitudinally extending electronics stem. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The split case fluid tank of claim 17, wherein the first case comprises a first end having the fluid level sensor opening and a second end opposite the first end and wherein the guide tube extends from the fluid level sensor opening to the second end of the first case and contacts the second end of the first case. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The split case fluid tank of claim 19, wherein a proximate end portion of the sensor cavity located at the fluid level sensor opening has a first diameter and a distal end portion of the sensor cavity opposite the proximate end portion has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the at least one fluid leak hole is located in the guide tube adjacent the proximate end portion of the sensor cavity.