Patent ID: 7174784

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring a fluid level in a tank with a tank opening and a float guide member adapted to engage a tank opening, the apparatus comprising: a) a housing including a level indicator adapted to display a measured fluid level; b) a float associated with the level indicator; c) an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the float; d) a spool adapted to store at least a portion of the elongated flexible member, the second end of the elongated flexible member being attached to the spool; e) a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible member as the float travels towards the housing and adapted to allow the elongated flexible member to unwind from the spool as the float travels away from the housing; and f) a mounting device attached to the housing and including an interior passageway, wherein a length of the elongated flexible member is adapted to extend through the interior passageway, and wherein the mounting device is adapted to attach to a portion of a tank adjacent a tank opening after a separate float guide member is separately engaged with the portion of the tank adjacent the tank opening.