A cartridge loader includes a lever arm, a hinge axle and a cam centered on the hinge axle, and a housing for receiving a cartridge, the housing having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to connect to an appliance, and the second end adapted to allow the lever arm to open and close, the housing having an aperture exposing an interior of the housing, the aperture shaped to receive the cartridge and the lever arm, wherein the cam is adapted to assist in seating the cartridge in the housing when the lever arm is closed, and ejecting the cartridge when the lever arm is opened.

Disclosed herein are devices, methods, and systems that useful for allowing consumers to purchase a fluid in limited and/or discrete amounts or volumes, for example as-needed, daily, weekly, etc. In various embodiments, the disclosed devices, systems, and methods provide for an innovative fluid distribution system, including a device that can receive and monitor payment for a discrete amount of fluid, measure the fluid as it flows through the device, and stop fluid flow when the discrete amount of fluid has flowed through the device. The disclosed device may be in communication with a central server for receiving payment from the user, and providing information to the central server of the device's status.

The invention relates to a filling level measuring device (10) for measuring the filling level in a container (2) through the wall (9) thereof by means of ultrasound, having an ultrasonic measuring head (12), a controller (20), and a fastening device (24) by means of which the filling level measuring device (10) can be fastened to the container (2) such that the ultrasonic measuring head (12) is pressed against the wall (9) of the container (2). The invention further relates to a method of operating such a filling level measuring device (10), wherein a sampling rate is used which is situation-dependent. The invention finally relates to an assembly made up of such a filling level measuring device and at least one spacer (50) which can be attached to the lower edge of a container (2) to be provided with the filling level measuring device (10).

The invention relates to a filling level measuring device (10) for measuring the filling level in a container (2) through the wall (9) thereof by means of ultrasound, having an ultrasonic measuring head (12), a controller (20), and a fastening device (24) by means of which the filling level measuring device (10) can be fastened to the container (2) such that the ultrasonic measuring head (12) is pressed against the wall (9) of the container (2). The invention further relates to a method of operating such a filling level measuring device (10), wherein a sampling rate is used which is situation-dependent. The invention finally relates to an assembly made up of such a filling level measuring device and at least one spacer (50) which can be attached to the lower edge of a container (2) to be provided with the filling level measuring device (10).

An LPG reclaim system for withdrawing and reclaiming liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from an unspent LPG cylinder. The reclaim system has a reclaim station for reclaiming unspent LPG from LPG bottle containers, a compressor for applying a vacuum on the reclaim station and pressurizing LPG vapor from the reclaimed LPG fluid, and a receiving tanlc for receiving a stream of pressurized liquid LPG. The reclaim system has a pair of shell-and-tube heat exchangers include cold-side tubes and a hot side shell. The reclaimed LPG fluid is passed through the cold-side tubes, while the pressurizing LPG vapor is passed through the hot-side shell of the heat exchanger. The heat applied to the cold-side reclaimed LPG fluid promotes evaporation of the LPG fluid to LPG vapor for pressurizing, and the cooling applied to the hot-side pressurized LPG vapor promotes condensation of the LPG vapor to LPG liquid for the refill containers.

Provided is a foot ring secured to a tank having a collar, The foot ring includes a base having an inner and outer surface, a central portion, and an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectable longitudinal lock tabs extending around the base for securing the foot ring to the tank, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectable rotational lock tabs extending around the base for preventing rotational movement of the foot ring relative to the tank. Each of the circumferentially spaced deflectable longitudinal lock tabs have a first projection and a catch extending from the first projection for engaging a flange of the collar, and each of the circumferentially spaced deflectable rotational lock tabs have a second projection configured to be received in a respective notch in the flange.

A tank-in-tank fill level indicator, making use of noninvasive tank-in-tank measuring techniques. A vibration device, such as an exciter or resonator, vibrates the outer tank at its natural frequency of vibration, thereby inducing the vibration of the inner tank and a beating effect as a result of the interaction of the vibrations of the two tanks. A vibration detection device, such as an accelerometer, detects the resultant beating effect of the two tanks' induced vibrations. A data processing device, such as a microcontroller, processes the detection data to obtain the liquid volume. A display, wired or wireless data transmission device, or combination thereof, is then used to provide tank or container fill-level information.

A liquid container refill management system including a machine learning algorithm and method of training the same, the system and method making use of noninvasive tank-in-tank measuring techniques. The system can comprise of a container fill level indicator. The container fill level indicator can be capable of detecting a vibration response signal on the outer surface of a container, wherein the system is capable of transmitting the response signal to a remote data processor for processing using a trained machine learning algorithm. The trained machine learning algorithm can be trained by the process of selecting model inputs and outputs to define an internal structure of the machine learning algorithm, applying a collection of input and output data samples to train the machine learning algorithm, and verifying the accuracy of the machine learning algorithm by applying input data samples and comparing received output values with expected output values.

The filling station according to the invention enables an automated refilling of a gas bottle by an end-user. This comprises an insertion device, which enables an end-user to insert an emptied gas bottle into the filling station. The filling station comprises a closing device for closing the filling station after the insertion of the gas bottle such that a removal of the gas bottle subsequent to the closing is not possible. The end-user may not remove the gas bottle in a closed state. Furthermore, the filling station comprises a filling device for an automated filling of an into the filling station inserted emptied gas bottle subsequent to the closing. A filling may thus only take place, if the filling station is closed and in consequence the gas bottle cannot be removed. There is a gas testing device for an automated gas leakage test after a refilling of an inserted gas bottle. With it, the tightness of a once again filled gas bottle is tested. There is a release device that releases an afore filled or full gas bottle only after a successful gas leakage test and thus enables a removal of a once again filled gas bottle. A removal of a gas bottled filled with gas respectively liquid gas is thus only possible, if the gas leakage test revealed that no gas escapes from the filled bottle. The invention further concerns a method for refilling.

A check valve assembly includes a valve, cam and arm with float rotatably connected to the valve for insertion into a fluid storage container for filling of the container without overfilling. The valve includes a channel of narrowing diameter and restricting member movably retained within the channel. One end of the restricting member rides along the cam profile as the arm rotates the cam with the changing fluid levels. When the fluid reaches maximum fill level, the restricting member contacting the cam drops into the cam valley, driving the restricting member head into engagement with the channel neck walls and automatically sealing off the valve. First and second biasing members are disposed in the channel, preferably around the stem, and collectively provide counter force sufficient to overcome the frictional forces of the seal to open valve and move the restricting member upward.