Abstract: A reusable closure device which is especially intended for use on conventional 18.9 liter plastic bottles in common use for supplying bottled drinking water. The device includes a plastic cap with a replaceable resilient seal. A pair of levers are mounted on the cap for pivoting movement between a first position which allows the cap to be placed on or removed from the bottle and a second position in which cam surfaces on the proximal ends of the levers engage a groove in the neck of the bottle to press the cap down on the bottle. The levers are approximately L-shaped and legs of the levers containing their distal ends interengage in the second position to form a carrying handle. At the present time, the abovementioned bottles are provided with non-reusable heat-shrink plastic caps which are discarded by users resulting in environmental waste. The present invention eliminates this waste.

Abstract: Sensor assembly and system for sensing conductivity and thereby controlling the concentration and level of a solution includes first and second probes adapted to be at least partially immersed in the solution whose conductivity is to be sensed. The probes are fixedly supported in a predetermined geometrical relationship with respect to each other in an externally mounted housing. Each of the first and second probes has an outer insulative sheath and an inner conductive electrode, the electrodes being exposed to the solution at least one point when their probes are immersed therein. At least one of the electrodes is recessed a predetermined distance from an open end of its respective sheath so that the solution must fill a predetermined volume in the sheath corresponding to the predetermined distance before contacting the electrode. The probe including that one of the electrodes has a clear path therethrough to permit solution to rise therein to a level of the electrode.

Abstract: Bottle filling machines are known in which a centering bell is attached to a bushing for vertical movement up and down on a filler tube. Downward movement of the bushing and bell is limited by a shoulder on an enlarged tip portion of the filler tube. The area of contact between the bushing and shoulder in prior art arrangements is a narrow circular flat area perpendicular to the long axis of the filter tube. Repeated contact between the bushing and the shoulder on the tube tip causes wear on the bushing and on the shoulder. The present invention reduces the rate of wear of the contact areas by forming the shoulder so that it slopes downwardly and outwardly an an angle of about 20.degree. to 45.degree. with respect to a vertical axis. The region of the bushing which engages the shoulder is also sloped downwardly and outwardly at substantially the same angle.

Abstract: Bottle filling machines are known in which bottles travel in a circular path and, while doing so, are filled with liquid under pressure, e.g. beer, by individually associated filler mechanisms. If, because of the pressure, a bottle explodes, glass fragments can adhere to the associated filler mechanism and it is important that these be removed, to keep glass from entering the next bottle coming in. Resort has been made to using water sprays but heretofore such means have been relatively ineffective and in some cases, very messy in operation. The present invention provides apparatus which can thoroughly clean a filler mechanism in the event of an exploding bottle. A broken bottle sensor is located between the infeed mechanism and outfeed mechanism on the bottle filling machine.

Abstract: In a known type of bottle filling machine, a bottle travels on a platform which is raised so that the bottle encircles a filler tube and sealingly engages a filler bell which is slidable up and down on the filler tube. If a bottle explodes during filling, particles of glass can adhere to the filler tube and the filler bell and it is obviously desirable to clean off these glass particles so that they cannot get into a subsequent bottle. However, with the presently known filler machine, when a bottle explodes the filler bell drops to the end of the filler tube and is suspended just above the platform on which a bottle rides. This makes access to the underside of the bell difficult and hence makes it difficult to spray water to clean off the underside of the filler bell and the filler tube. At present, it is known to have an operator manually flush the tube and bell with a low pressure water spray but this is a slow and inefficient operation.