FLUID LEVEL MEASURING DEVICE FOR A BEVERAGE DISPENSER

• US 20100212419A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Woods, Scott Alan, Radhakrishnan, Suresh, Biba, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304.C
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2203/00 Devices having filling level indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/50 Urns with devices for keeping beverages hot or cool
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/263 by measuring variations in capacitance of capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes

Abstract

A level sensing apparatus and method of use for use with a beverage server to indirectly sense the level of beverage retained in the server. The server having a body for receiving and retaining beverage with an opening in the body for receiving the level sensing apparatus and beverage there through. The level sensing apparatus includes at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly retained in a housing to separate the probe assembly from contact with beverage. The housing containing the capacitive sensing probe assembly being disposable into the opening in the body of the server. The capacitive sensing probe indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage retained in the beverage server. A separate display assembly is provided and selectively couplable to the capacitive sensing probe assembly. A power source is provided and coupled to the display assembly and to the capacitive sensing probe assembly to provide power to sense and display the level of beverage in the server.

Claims

1. A level sensing apparatus for use with a beverage server having a body for receiving and retaining beverage, an opening in the body, the level sensing apparatus comprising:

a housing having a wall defining at least one chamber therein, the housing being disposable in the opening of the body of the sever;

a funnel assembly associated with the housing, the funnel assembly configured to receive beverage there through for dispensing into the serving;

at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly retained in the housing for indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage retained in the beverage server;

a separate display assembly selectively couplable to the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly;

a power source coupled to the display assembly and to the capacitive sensing probe assembly; and

a retainer configured for operatively coupling the housing and funnel assembly with the display assembly to the server.

2. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly further comprising at least a pair of spaced apart capacitive plates, an electric field defined between the plates for indirectly sensing a change in materials in the electric field.

3. The level sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the capacitive sensing probe assemblies further comprising multiple in spaced apart capacitive plates for sensing multiple levels of beverage in the server.

4. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitive sensing probe assemblies is configured for constantly sensing.

5. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitive sensing probe assemblies is configured for constantly sensing and the display assembly is configured to time out after a predetermined period of time.

6. The level sensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly and display assembly are configured to start up when level of beverage in the server changes a predetermined quantity.

7. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is positioned completely external to the server body.

8. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is positioned in the display assembly.

9. The level sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power source is positioned in the display assembly and the display assembly is positioned completely external to the server body.

10. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is provided in the form of replaceable batteries.

11. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly selectively couplable to the server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

the display assembly being selectively couplable to the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the probe and a wireless receiver carried on server;

the wireless transmitter producing a signal received by the wireless transmitter.

12. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly being selectively couplable to a server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

at least one display assembly being at least one of selectively couplable to the server and spaced from the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the probe and a wireless receiver carried on server;

the wireless transmitter producing a beverage level signal received by a corresponding one of the at least one wireless transmitter.

13. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly being selectively couplable to a server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

multiple display assemblies being positioned spaced from the server, one of the display assemblies being selectively couplable to the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the capacitive sensing probe assembly and a wireless receiver carried on a corresponding server;

the wireless transmitter producing a signal received by a corresponding one of the at least one wireless transmitter.

32. The level sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly being selectively couplable to a server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

at least one display assembly being at least one of selectively couplable to the server and spaced from the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the probe and a wireless receiver carried on server;

the wireless transmitter producing a beverage level signal received by a corresponding one of the at least one wireless transmitter.

14. A method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server using a capacitive sensing probe assembly to indirectly sense the level of beverage, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a capacitive sensing probe assembly;

providing a housing for separating the probe assembly from contact with beverage;

disposing the probe assembly in proximity to beverage retained in a server;

providing power to the probe assembly; and

indirectly sensing the presence or absence of beverage in relation to the probe.

15. The method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server as in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a display assembly having a display device for displaying a representation of the level of beverage in the server.

16. The method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server as in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

terminating power to at least one of the display assembly and probe assembly to conserve energy.

17. The method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server as in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

terminating power to the display device of the display assembly for conserving power; and

maintaining power to the probe assembly for sensing a level of beverage in the server.

18. The method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server as in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

terminating power to the display device of the display assembly for conserving power;

maintaining power to the probe assembly for sensing a level of beverage in the server; and

providing power to the display device when a change in beverage level is sensed.

19. The method of indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage in a beverage server as in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

decreasing the frequency of sensing the level of beverage in the server to further conserve energy.

20. A level sensing apparatus for use with a beverage server having a body for receiving and retaining beverage, an opening in the body, the level sensing apparatus comprising:

at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly retained in a housing to provide a barrier against contact with beverage, the housing containing the capacitive sensing probe assembly being disposable into the opening in the body of the server, the capacitive sensing probe indirectly sensing at least one level of beverage retained in the beverage server;

a separate display assembly selectively couplable to the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly;

a power source coupled to the display assembly and to the capacitive sensing probe assembly.

21. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a retainer configured for operatively coupling the housing with the display assembly to the server.

22. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly further comprising at least a pair of spaced apart capacitive plates, an electric field defined between the plates for indirectly sensing a change in materials in the electric field.

23. The level sensing apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one of the capacitive sensing probe assemblies further comprising multiple in spaced apart capacitive plates for sensing multiple levels of beverage in the server.

24. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitive sensing probe assemblies is configured for constantly sensing.

25. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitive sensing probe assemblies is configured for constantly sensing and the display assembly is configured to time out after a predetermined period of time.

26. The level sensing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly and display assembly are configured to start up when level of beverage in the server changes a predetermined quantity.

27. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power source is positioned completely external to the server body.

28. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power source is positioned in the display assembly.

29. The level sensing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the power source is positioned in the display assembly and the display assembly is positioned completely external to the server body.

30. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power source is provided in the form of replaceable batteries.

31. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the capacitive sensing probe assembly selectively couplable to the server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

the display assembly being selectively couplable to the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the probe and a wireless receiver carried on server;

the wireless transmitter producing a signal received by the wireless transmitter.

33. The level sensing apparatus of claim 20, further comprising the at least one capacitive sensing probe assembly being selectively couplable to a server for indirectly sensing beverage dispensed into the server;

multiple display assemblies being positioned spaced from the server, one of the display assemblies being selectively couplable to the server;

a wireless transmitter carried on the capacitive sensing probe assembly and a wireless receiver carried on a corresponding server;

the wireless transmitter producing a signal received by a corresponding one of the at least one wireless transmitter.