Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to apparatus and methods for automatic fluid flow system connectors. The system generally includes a load cell interface coupled to a console and a ring connector coupled to a fluid collection system. The ring connector can be releasably engaged with the load cell using an engagement structure such as a latch, locking arm, or spring clip mechanism. The ring connector and load cell can include electrical contacts configured to engage along an axis that extends perpendicular to a surface that the electrical contacts are disposed on. Advantageously, reduced wear on the electrical contacts should extend the usable life of the system.

A liquid consumption monitoring device for monitoring and encouraging consumption of a liquid includes a cup and a lid, which is selectively engageable to the cup to close a top thereof. The user is positioned to tilt the cup to dispense a liquid from the cup, through an opening positioned in the lid, into a mouth of the user. A flow meter engaged to the cup, proximate to the opening, measures a volume of the liquid passing through the opening. An interface is engaged to at least one of the cup and the lid and is operationally engaged to the flow meter. The interface receives a signal from the flow meter when the liquid passes through the opening. The interface selectively actuates at least one of a speaker and a bulb, upon receipt of the signal from the flow meter, to provide a sensory reward to the user.

The method according to the invention provides a way to continue gravimetric weighing of bulk material during refilling of a gravimetric metered dispensing unit, and to determine the mass of the refilled bulk material using a refilling container during the filling operation material and so determine the actual mass flow discharged during refilling in real time or on average in order to adjust it to a target mass flow.

An intravenous infusion detection device is provided in the invention. The intravenous infusion detection device includes a radar device, a digital signal processing (DSP) device and a controller. The radar device includes a plurality of transmission antennas and a plurality of receiving antennas. The transmission antennas are configured to transmit a plurality of radar signals and the receiving antennas are configured to receive a plurality of reflection signals corresponding to the radar signals. The DSP device transforms the plurality of reflection signals received from the plurality of receiving antennas into a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) waveform diagrams, transforms the plurality of 1D waveform diagrams into a three-dimensional (3D) waveform diagram, and obtains a drip level of a drip bag according to the 3D waveform diagram. The controller obtains the drip level of the drip bag from the DSP device and calculates the flow rate of the intravenous infusion.

Disclosed is a seepage meter device, which is capable of detecting groundwater seepage fluxes to surface water bodies in a variety of aquatic environments. The device comprises a seepage meter body and an electronics component.

Systems and methods for forming a liquid mixture having a predetermined mix ratio and reforming systems, reforming methods, fuel cell systems, and fuel cell methods that utilize the liquid mixture. The methods include apportioning a preselected volume of liquid from a liquid source. During the apportioning, the liquid is a first liquid, and the methods further include providing a first preselected volume of the first liquid to a mix tank. The methods also include repeating the apportioning with a second liquid providing a second preselected volume of the second liquid to the mix tank to generate the liquid mixture. The methods also may include providing the liquid mixture to a reforming region, reforming the liquid mixture to generate a mixed gas stream that includes hydrogen gas, and providing the hydrogen gas to a fuel cell assembly to generate an electric current.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for accurately determining the volume of liquid in a container, such as after or prior to a fluid transfer into/from the container. The volume of liquid flowing through a flow meter can be measured at multiple data intervals by a flow meter. Further, the height of a liquid inside the container can be measured by a liquid level sensor at the multiple data intervals. A register can receive data indicative of the respective measurements, and the volume of liquid in the container can be determined based on the relationship between data indicative of the measurement of the volume of liquid flowing through a flow meter at the multiple data intervals and the measurement of the height of a liquid inside the container at the multiple data intervals.

Systems and methods for sensing an amount of a liquid in a container are provided. A conduit is provided that has a length positioned relative to a portion of the container where a level of the liquid in the container changes when liquid is added to the container or liquid is removed from the container. The conduit is in fluid communication with the container to therefore allow an amount of the liquid to enter the conduit that is proportional to the amount of the liquid in the container. An outlet is provided along with a valve. The valve is in fluid communication with the conduit and the outlet, where the valve is selectable to allow the amount of liquid in the conduit to pass to the outlet, the amount of liquid passing to the outlet proportional to the amount of liquid in the container.

A method for detecting a phase separation of a waterborne or solvent-borne or solvent-free coating composition includes providing the coating composition in a receptacle; providing a measurement instrument for receiving the receptacle, the measurement instrument including a measurement probe; controlling the measurement instrument to a) displace the measurement probe through the coating composition along a predefined measurement path with a predefined speed profile, the predefined measurement path extending along a length axis of the receptacle, b) acquire a force-displacement profile by measuring a force exercised on the measurement probe while the probe is being displaced along the predefined measurement path with the predefined speed profile; processing the force-displacement profile for detecting at least one phase separation of the coating composition; and outputting a detection result.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to apparatus and methods for automatic fluid flow system connectors. The system generally includes a load cell interface coupled to a console and a ring connector coupled to a fluid collection system. The ring connector can be releasably engaged with the load cell using a push-button actuated locking mechanism. Embodiments of the locking mechanism can include a latch and aperture engagement, a shelf and ledge engagement, or a track and channel engagement, or combinations thereof. The ring connector and load cell can include electrical contacts configured to engage along an axis that extends perpendicular to a surface on which the electrical contacts are disposed. This is believed to reduce wear on the electrical contacts, thereby extending the usable life of the system.