A system for estimating a flowable substrate level in a storage unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a transmitter and a conductor that extend downwardly into a grain storage bin, which cycles through a range of frequencies in order to determine the resonant frequency of the conductor which changes depending on the amount of grain in the bin.

A liquid level detection device that is provided in a vessel and configured to detect a liquid level of fluid stored in the vessel includes a first plate formed in a plate shape, and a second plate formed in a plate shape and disposed to face the first plate. The first plate is disposed in such a manner that a surface opposite to a surface facing the second plate is orthogonal to a flow direction of fluid around the first plate in the vessel.

A liquid level detection device that is provided in a vessel and configured to detect a liquid level of fluid stored in the vessel includes a first plate formed in a plate shape, and a second plate formed in a plate shape and disposed to face the first plate. The first plate is disposed in such a manner that a surface opposite to a surface facing the second plate is orthogonal to a flow direction of fluid around the first plate in the vessel.

A beverage dispenser having a beverage-level indicating system. The beverage dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing head arranged on the housing for dispensing a beverage into a beverage container. The beverage dispenser further includes a beverage-level sensor arranged on the housing and which determines a beverage level within the beverage container without contacting the beverage within the beverage container, a beverage-level indicator that provides a visual indication of the beverage level within the beverage container, and a control unit that causes the beverage-level indicator to indicate the beverage level within the beverage container based on the beverage level as determined by the beverage-level sensor.

A monitoring unit for a fluid storage receptacle includes a sensor to attach to the fluid storage receptacle and detect an amount of empty space between fluid contents of the fluid storage receptacle and the sensor, and a transmitter to receive and transmit data from the sensor. The monitoring unit also includes a proximity sensor to detect a presence of a beacon within a proximity range of the proximity sensor, a controller to selectively open a fluid control valve of the waste oil receptacle, or both the proximity sensor and the controller.

A water softener apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for accommodating at least one compressed salt block having an elongated block form, the configuration accommodating the compressed salt block within the chamber with its longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation. The water softener apparatus includes a manually detachable front cover enclosing the chamber and a non-touch salt level indicator device arranged in or on the front cover of the housing above the chamber to determine a salt level from an upper end face of the compressed salt block accommodated in the chamber, the non-touch salt level indicator device determining the salt level from the upper end face of the compressed salt block through a wall of the front cover of the housing. The non-touch salt level indicator device is a battery powered device and the water softener apparatus is a non-electric powered water softener apparatus.

A water softener apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for accommodating at least one compressed salt block having an elongated block form, the configuration accommodating the compressed salt block within the chamber with its longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation. The water softener apparatus includes a manually detachable front cover enclosing the chamber and a non-touch salt level indicator device arranged in or on the front cover of the housing above the chamber to determine a salt level from an upper end face of the compressed salt block accommodated in the chamber, the non-touch salt level indicator device determining the salt level from the upper end face of the compressed salt block through a wall of the front cover of the housing. The non-touch salt level indicator device is a battery powered device and the water softener apparatus is a non-electric powered water softener apparatus.

Disclosed is a device for measuring fill level of a liquid comprising: a measuring tube having a tube wall extending between first and second terminal openings and which surrounds a volume for guiding the liquid, wherein a tube axis extends between the two tube openings; a first conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the volume; a second conductor extending at least sectionally around the volume and is electrically insulated from the first conductor and from the volume, wherein the two conductors extend essentially in parallel with one another and form a waveguide for microwaves; an HF circuit for in-coupling a microwave signal into the waveguide and for receiving reflected microwave signals out-coupled from the waveguide; an operating and evaluating circuit for determining fill level of the liquid in the measuring tube based on received microwave signals.

The innovation described herein generally pertains to a system and method related a wireless remote monitoring system for a tank, wherein the wireless monitoring system is incorporated into or coupled to a lid for the tank. The wireless remote monitoring system for the tank can include a cover system that includes a lid mountable on a corresponding tank, the lid comprising a space sized and shaped for receiving the wireless remote monitoring system therein, wherein the wireless remote monitoring system is operatively coupled to a sensor.

A dispenser and methods for dispensing a material into a receptacle comprises a dispenser outlet for dispensing material into the receptacle; a support for receiving a receptacle; at least one lateral sensor positioned to laterally sense a receptacle received on the support; an upper sensor positioned to sense a receptacle received on the support from above; and a controller operatively connected to the lateral and upper sensors. The controller is configured to sense the presence of a receptacle received on the support, calculate the volume of the receptacle and/or the volume of material within the receptacle from data received from the lateral and upper sensors, and control the volume of material dispensed from the dispenser outlet into the receptacle based upon the calculated volume of the receptacle and/or the volume of material within the receptacle.