Abstract: A funnel apparatus for aiding in filling containers, such as gasoline tanks on lawnmowers and similar items, with a liquid material. The funnel apparatus comprises a main body member having a first predetermined shape. There is a throat member having a second predetermined shape and connected to a bottom portion of the main body member for insertion into such container to be filled. A pair of adjustable stabilizing legs are engageable with the main body member for preventing the funnel apparatus from tipping over during filling. The adjustable stabilizing legs are disposed in spaced apart relationship. There is also an indicating means engageable with at least one of the main body member and the throat member for indicating what level such liquid being added to such container is at.

Abstract: A limit-level sensor for measuring level of a liquid has a resistance element which has an electric resistance which suddenly varies a transition temperature which lies above the maximum liquid temperature. The resistance element is first of all heated by electric current. Thereupon, the electric resistance of the resistance element is measured. When the resistance element is covered with liquid, the heat generated by the electric current is led away so that the temperature of the resistance element is less than its transition temperature. If the resistance element is not covered by liquid, this heat is scarcely led away, so that the temperature of the resistance element remains above the transition temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a water supply in a stand supporting a Christmas tree is provided. A rigid funnel body comprises integrally formed top, center, and bottom portions. The funnel has a frusto-conical cross-section that tapers from the top portion to the bottom portion. A flexible coupling is integrally formed between the portions of the funnel to hold them in a desired angular relationship. An indicating system is affixed to the top portion of the funnel. The indicating system indicates when the water supply in the stand has fallen below a desired minimum level. A water level device at the bottom portion of the funnel is coupled to the indicating device by a connecting member. The water level device actuates the indicating system.

Abstract: A funnel body includes an exit tube, wherein a mesh web pocket is arranged for securement to a lowermost end of the exit tube secured to an annular groove, with the pocket including a buoyant sphere arranged for projection into the exit tube exit opening for curtailing fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: An overfill safety adapter is provide which is suitable for use on the outlet end of funnel like devices being used to transfer fluid from one container to another to prevent the overfill of the container and spilling of the fluid which includes an elongated frusto conical shaped housing member adapted to be releasably fitted within an opening of a container to be filled having a bore therethrough, the bore of the housing having a conically shaped upper portion adapted to be releasably mounted on an outlet end of a funnel or spout and a substantially cylindrically shaped lower discharge portion which slidably supports a float operably responsive to the level of fluid in a container; and a magnetically operative valve within the bore of the housing which magnetically co-acts with the float to close the flow of fluid through the bore responsive to the level of fluid in a container to be filled.

Abstract: A fire fighting trainer for use in training fire fighters is provided. The fire fighting trainer includes a structure having one or more chambers having concrete or grating floors. Each chamber contains one or a series of real or simulated items such as furniture and fixtures and equipment. The trainer has a smoke generating system with an outlet for each chamber. The trainer also includes a propane gas flame generating system. The trainer has a main control panel for regulating the flame generating system and the smoke generating system and for controlling the fire, or fires, and smoke in each chamber. The trainer also has a sensor assembly in each chamber, which senses water.

Abstract: Filling units for supplying small tanks or the like with gasoline, kerosene, or other flowable materials which attach to an inlet to such a tank. When the filling unit is in a fill position, a displacer section occupies a substantial volume within the tank. It allows the person filling the tank to supply the liquid until the tank will accept no more and the liquid reaches a predetermined level in a funnel portion of the filler. Thereafter, manipulation of the displacer section vertically within the tank, as for example by sliding a section of the overall unit upward, accommodates all the liquid remaining in the funnel up to such predetermined level within the tank by occupying the volume previously occupied by the displacer section and thereby completing the filling of the tank to a full condition without any spillage.

Abstract: A filling element for filling machines is provided and includes a liquid flow valve, which comprises a valve body that can be moved back and forth in a filling element axis between a position that closes the liquid flow valve off and a position that opens this valve. Also provided is an electrical probe for determining filling heights of liquid material in containers. The probe includes a first probe element that projects beyond the underside of the filling element and has an electrode, and a second probe element that at least partially surrounds at least part of the first probe element. The lower end of the second probe element is spaced further from the underside of the filling element than is the first probe element.

Abstract: A waste-liquid transfer device. In a first embodiment, the device includes a receiver assembly having a horizontal bottom wall and a vertical side wall integral with the bottom wall, providing a receiver cavity for temporarily holding the waste liquid. The vertical side wall defines a cylinder concentric with a standard fifty-five-gallon drum having a top with an opening in it. The receiver assembly fits snugly over the top of the drum, and a drain tube extending downward from the bottom wall fits into the opening in the top of the drum. In a second embodiment, the device includes a receiver assembly having a horizontal bottom wall and a vertical side wall integral with the bottom wall, providing a receiver cavity for temporarily holding the waste liquid. The device further includes a drain pipe leading from the receiver assembly to a storage tank, and a frame supporting the receiver assembly during the transfer operation.

Abstract: Filling units for filling small tanks or the like with gasoline, kerosene, or other flowable materials which attach an inlet to such a tank. When the filling unit is in a fill position, a displacer section occupies a substantial volume within the tank. It allows the person filling the tank to supply the liquid until the tank will accept no more and the liquid reaches a predetermined level in a funnel portion of the filler. Thereafter, removal of the displacer section from the tank, as by sliding a section of the overall unit upward, allows the liquid in the funnel to enter the tank and fill the volume evacuated by the displacer section to complete the filling without any spillage. The overall unit may be removed from the tank each filling operation, or it may be designed to include a protective cap that fits over the upward-protruding portion of the unit, allowing the unit to remain mounted on the tank.

Abstract: An automatic, ultrasonic system for controlling the filling of different sizes of beverage containers which may or may not contain various quantities of ice. The system includes a transducer assembly and a control module, both preferably connected to a beverage dispenser valve assembly. The transducer assembly includes at least two piezo-electric crystals for separately transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave energy from the grate, the cup lip, the top of any ice in the cup, and the rising liquid level, and for generating signals corresponding to the travel time of the ultrasonic energy. The control module includes a microcomputer and associated circuitry. The system can include two separate transmitter and receiver crystals, or in a preferred embodiment two transmitter-receiver paris of crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filling vessels with liquid has a non-electric fill indicator having an air passageway leading up and out of the vessel to an air flow indicator, air escaping during filling causes the indicator to whistle and when the whistle stops, the vessel is filled and the user stops filing; a funnel has an elongate air inlet port through a side wall to an adjustable height air inlet to the indicator, air flow is not stopped until the height level of opened air inlet port is covered by the vessel liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filling vessels with liquid has a non-electric fill indicator having an air passageway leading up and out of the vessel to an air flow indicator, air escaping during filling causes the indicator to whistle and when the whistle stops, the vessel is filled and the user stops filling. The air flow is not stopped until the height level of opened air inlet port is covered by the vessel liquid. The funnel has a full height slot along one side and a vertically slidable air tube in the slot; air is admitted transversely into an aperture through the tube with the aperture being vertically movable along with the tube for easy adjustment of relative fill level.

Abstract: An automatic, ultrasonic system for controlling the filling of different sizes of beverage container which may or may not contain various quantities of ice. The system includes a housing, a front and a rear pair of separate transmitter and receiver crystals mounted in the housing with a lens on the lower surface of each crystal. Each crystal is located within a separate non-ferrous metal tube. Polyurethane foam fills the space within the housing and the tubes.

Abstract: A valve and coacting control circuitry for filling variously sized and shaped receptacles to an exact settable level with a relatively high impedance fluid such as maple syrup. Errors caused by bubbles are avoided by controlling the flow rate through a shaped orifice for essentially laminar flow. Dripping is eliminated by shaping the exit orifice to prevent gravitational emptying of the faucet cavity when the valve is closed. Sensing of the fluid is accomplished with a flexible wire probe, not sensitive to the receptacle shape but may be adjusted to a desired height, connected to a sensitive electronic circuit with a very high input impedance which allows sensing a voltage through the high impedance fluid. Once started, the filling process need not be monitored by an operator who is then free to do other tasks.

Abstract: A funnel has a float member which rises when a container is filled to warn the user to halt the pouring of a liquid. The funnel body has a conical funnel portion with three colored circles, of different colors, at separated levels on the cone. The float member, near its top, has color marks which match the color circles on the funnel cone. When the funnel nozzle (neck) is inserted into the container orifice, one of its colored circles will meet the lip of the container. The user fills the container until the same color mark on the float member reaches the top of a sleeve which guides the float member.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for filling liquid into a container to either of at least two levels has a liquid pouring gun unit for dispensing a liquid and a sensor thereon for sensing that the distance of a surface of the liquid from the end of the gun unit closest to the liquid is a predetermined distance and producing a signal when this distance is sensed. A liquid supply line is connected to the gun unit and has a valve therein and counter for determining the amount of liquid which is flowing in the liquid supply line. The sensor and the counter are connected to a controller, which in turn is connected to the valve. The controller can be set for actuation at either of at least two levels.

Abstract: An indicating funnel for filling a container through an opening is formed as two peripherally joined, coaxially arranged funnels, one nested within the other to define a cavity between adjacent funnel walls. A vertically movable fluid level indicator is reciprocatable between the funnels and behind a transparent wall portion of the exterior funnel for viewing between a first lowered position and a second raised postion. The indicator in its lower portion is operably associated with a float positoned within the lowermost portion of the cavity between funnels to indicate fluid level in a serviced container. The exterior funnel, at its intersection with an associated spout, optionally incorporates positoning flanges for maintaining funnel alignment and stability cooperatively with various sized openings. Additionally, the fluid level indicator may include a luminescent feature enabling enhanced visibility and a cap skirt portion lessening spill potential.

Abstract: A monitor and filler assembly providing an easily observable reading as to the fluid level in a reservoir such as an automatic transmission or crankcase of an automobile. The filler may be integrally formed with the monitor to allow for easy replenishing of the reservoir fluid to ensure proper operation of the automobile.

Abstract: An indicating liquid funnel with simple, inexpensive indicating means which responds freely to rise of the liquid level within a container being filled approaching full fill in any operative position of the funnel.

Abstract: The invention concerns an accessory unit for plant receptacles for hydroponics, this accessory unit forming the water-level gauge-channel and the pouring-in-and emptying-channel, both of the channels being placed close to each other, rigidly connected together but separated along their whole height by a partition wall.