Abstract: A protection mechanism for a lubricant reservoir is mounted within a valve protection chamber disposed on an actuator. The protection mechanism includes a valve actuating plate and an elastic member biasing the valve actuating plate upwards. The actuator is pushed upwards by a rising level of lubricant as the lubricant reservoir is filled. When the reservoir is full, the actuator causes the valve actuating plate to contact a valve stem. The valve actuating plate pushes the valve stem up to shut off a flow of lubricant to the reservoir through the shut off valve. During an overfill event the actuator shifts upward due to the rising level of the lubricant in the reservoir. As the actuator shifts upward, the elastic member compresses such that valve actuating plate remains static relative to the lubricant reservoir as actuator rises.

Abstract: A handheld fluid meter includes circuitry configured to invert the orientation of a visual output provided by a display of the handheld fluid meter and to modify the functionality of buttons that control scrolling on the display. The control circuitry inverts the orientation of the visual output based on a command provided to the control circuitry by a user or by a position sensor.

Abstract: A fluid management controller includes a processor, a wireless interface, and a memory. The wireless interface is configured to communicate between the processor and one or more fluid management components. The processor is configured to authorize control of the one or more fluid management components over the wireless interface. The memory is encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide dispense authorizations to the one or more fluid management components and record fluid dispense information from the one or more fluid management components in the memory.

Abstract: A fluid management system includes an authentication device and a fluid dispensing meter, and the fluid dispensing meter includes a processor and a memory. The authentication device is configured to provide user-identification data to the processor. The processor is configured to recall approved user identities from the memory, to compare the approved user identities to the user-identification data received from the authenticator, and to control a trigger control mechanism between the activated state and the deactivated state based on the comparison of the user-identification data and the approved user identities.

Abstract: A fluid management system includes an authentication device and a fluid dispensing meter, and the fluid dispensing meter includes a processor and a memory. The authentication device is configured to provide data to the processor. The processor is configured to recall information from the memory, to compare the information to the data received from the authenticator, and to control a trigger control mechanism between the activated state and the deactivated state based on the comparison.

Abstract: A fluid management controller includes a processor, a wireless interface, and a memory. The wireless interface is configured to communicate between the processor and one or more fluid management components. The processor is configured to authorize control of the one or more fluid management components over the wireless interface. The memory is encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide dispense authorizations to the one or more fluid management components and record fluid dispense information from the one or more fluid management components in the memory.

Abstract: A handheld fluid meter includes circuitry configured to invert the orientation of a visual output provided by a display of the handheld fluid meter and to modify the functionality of buttons that control scrolling on the display. The control circuitry inverts the orientation of the visual output based on a command provided to the control circuitry by a user or by a position sensor.

Abstract: A system for harvesting energy from a lubrication event includes a fluid pump, a fluid injector, an energy harvesting device, a wireless transmitter, and a controller unit. The fluid injector receives fluid from the fluid pump. The fluid injector is connected to the energy harvesting device, which is configured to produce electrical energy in response to a firing of the fluid injector. Electrical energy produced by the energy harvesting device powers the wireless transmitter, which is configured to transmit a wireless signal. The wireless signal indicates that the fluid injector fired. The wireless signal is received by the controller unit, which controls the fluid pump.

Abstract: A centerfill assembly for a lubricant reservoir includes a hollow tube for receiving lubricant from the top of the reservoir and loading the lubricant into the reservoir near the bottom of the reservoir. Loading the lubricant near the bottom of the reservoir introduces lubricant near where the stirring paddles mix the lubricant and near where the lubricant is loaded to the lubricant pump. Adding the lubricant near where the pumps load and near the stirring paddles helps to eliminate air pockets in the lubricant.