Liquid level transducer with pivoting and linear motion

A transducer for determining the level of liquid within a container, the transducer comprising:

• a mounting head adapted for connection to the container;
• a housing extending from the mounting head and having a hollow interior isolated from liquid within the container;
• an actuator portion having:
• an actuator body connected to the housing, the actuator body being restrained to travel in a linear direction with respect to the housing;
• and
• an actuator connected to the actuator body for movement therewith;
• a first pivot axis operably associated with one of the housing and the actuator portion;
• at least one sensor located in the hollow interior, the at least one sensor changing an electrical state in response to external input from the actuator;
• at least one guide member connected to the housing and extending along the linear direction, wherein the actuator portion is slidably connected to the at least one guide member for movement therealong in the linear direction;
• a float rod having a proximal end operably associated with the actuator portion for movement therewith along the linear direction, the float rod being constrained to pivot about the first pivot axis, wherein the float rod is slidably connected to the actuator and pivotally connected to the housing such that arcuate movement of the float results in linear movement of the actuator portion;
• and
• a float connected to the float rod to thereby cause pivoting movement of the float rod about the first axis and linear movement of the actuator portion in response to a change in liquid level within the container to thereby change the electrical state of the at least one sensor proportional to the level of liquid within the container.