A dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product from a flexible reservoir supported by the dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a frame and a body coupled to the frame. The body defines a cavity for receiving the flexible reservoir. The body includes: a bottom wall defining an opening; a sloped wall extending upward from the bottom wall and the opening, the sloped wall promoting a flow of flowable food product from the flexible reservoir towards the opening; and a pair of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall and the sloped wall. The dispenser further includes a fitment acceptor at least partly received in the opening. Additionally, a shape of the fitment acceptor corresponds with a shape of the opening such that the fitment acceptor is only correctly received in the opening one way.

An intelligent self-balancing downstream device that can obtain accurate flow measurements (e.g., flow of a liquid or gas through a tube) that can perform the self-balancing in situ and during operation to satisfy a set point and without k factors or the use of TAB balancers. The downstream device may be controllable by a single software system or network. The downstream device can operate in a single zone or be coupled with multiple like apparatuses. It has a high turndown ratio and self-balances, which can allow for continuous commissioning with built-in fault diagnostic systems. A fluid metering device can include control systems that operate progressively based on unique actuation mechanisms and/or algorithms that allow for precise flow control and feedback to self-balance and commission the system.

A fluid distribution apparatus that can serve as a fluid metering device that is operable on a single platform by building automation systems. The building automation system may be controllable by a single software system or network accessible locally on site or remotely off site. The fluid distribution apparatus can operate independently or coupled with multiple like apparatuses for system operation. It is a high turndown, self-balancing system which allows for continuous commissioning with built-in fault diagnostic systems and that may be used as a supply system, exhaust system, or a combination thereof. The fluid distribution apparatus includes fluid metering devices that operate progressively based on unique actuation mechanisms and/or algorithms that allow for precise flow control and feedback to self-balance and commission the system.

A water utility meter arranged to register the volume of water delivered to a consumption site through a distribution network and connect or disconnect the consumption site from the utility distribution network is disclosed. The water utility meter comprises: a flow sensor arranged to measure a flow rate and/or a volume of water delivered to the consumption site; a valve for connecting and disconnecting the consumption site from the distribution network; an actuator for opening and closing the valve; and a controller unit arranged to control the actuator. The controller unit is configured to connect the consumption site to the distribution network by operating the actuator to open the valve. After opening the valve the controller unit analyses flow rate and/or volume measurements from the flow sensor to determine if a reference profile is violated. If the reference profile is violated the controller unit will disconnect the consumption site from the distribution network by closing the valve.

A fluid meter has a housing comprising a flow channel for fluid to be measured and at least one elongate module-receiving opening forming a passage from an outer surface of the housing to the flow channel. At least one fluid-measuring module, prefabricated separately, from the housing with a base section formed as a waveguide for surface acoustic waves, and at least one signal transformer to excite surface acoustic waves in the waveguide and/or receive surface acoustic waves from the waveguide is provided. When inserted into the module-receiving opening, the base section of the fluid-measuring module forms part of the flow channel inner wall and contacts fluid flowing through it. Surface acoustic waves emitted by the signal transformer can be coupled out of the waveguide and can propagate through fluid in the flow channel as bulk acoustic waves and/or bulk acoustic waves can be coupled into the waveguide and received by the signal transformer.

The innovation relates to a device and a method for measuring a powder mass flow for powder cladding. Before the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is set by means of a powder mass determining device and a powder mass flow sensor is calibrated on the basis of the setting. Then a powder switch is used to begin the powder cladding without interrupting the delivery of the powder mass. During the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is monitored by means of the powder mass flow sensor.

A pressure-type flow rate control device includes a restriction part; a control valve provided upstream of the restriction part; an upstream pressure sensor for detecting pressure between the restriction part and the control valve; and an arithmetic processing circuit connected to the control valve and the upstream pressor sensor. The device is configured to perform flow rate control by controlling the control valve according to an output of the upstream pressure sensor. The arithmetic processing circuit performs an operation of closing the control valve in order to reduce a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the restriction part, and performs an operation of closing the control valve by feedback control in which a target value is an exponential function more gradual than the pressure drop characteristic data when a gas flows out of the restriction part.

A method for controlling a water heater appliance includes energizing the heating element for an energization period, such as less than two seconds. During the energization period, the appliance controller measures the electrical current passing through the heating element. The measured electrical current and a base signal are passed through a correlation filter to determine a correlation value. The base signal may correspond to the electrical current passing through the heating element when the tank is full or when the tank is empty, and the correlation value may be used to determine to which base signal the measured electrical current more closely correlates. In this manner, the correlation value is used to determine whether the heating element is submerged in water.

A fluid distribution manifold may receive a first required flow rate for a first flow of fluid that flows to a fluid handling device or a reservoir. A first operation state may be determined for a first valve assembly that regulates the first flow, the manifold may operate the first valve assembly based on the first operation state, and a first valve tracker may be incremented based on the first operation. Based on a value of a cycle tracker, the manifold may identify a second valve assembly in an operation cycle and access a second control input that includes a second required flow rate for a second flow of fluid regulated by the second valve assembly. The manifold may cause the second valve assembly to operate based on at least one of a second operation state and a change in the second actual flow rate resulting from the first operation.

A housing assembly for a manifold includes a first housing with an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a second housing, and a valve retainer engaged with the first and second housings. The valve retainer includes a retention plate defined between first and second surfaces, a plurality of slot walls extending from the first surface, and a protruding edge that extends from a flanged lip and surrounds the plurality of slot walls. The retention plate defines a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of slot walls. The first housing may define a groove that receives the protruding edge, and the second housing may include a rim that engages the flanged lip of the valve retainer. Valve housings including first and second mating structures separated by wall segments may be positioned in outlets of the first housing and corresponding slots of the valve retainer.