Beverage dispenser with level measuring apparatus and display

Abstract

A beverage dispenser () has a double-walled tubular, preferably cylindrical, sensor () that is immersed in liquid (), such as coffee or tea, within an opaque, stainless steel container, or beverage dispenser () has a double-walled tubular sensor connected via two conductive paths () to two inputs (), respectively, of a resistance measuring circuit () that measures the resistance between the two inputs () to produce an electrical, direct current, resistance output signal that varies with changes in the instantaneous resistance between the two inputs () The resistance output signal is connected to an input () of an electronic controller () The electronic controller () calculates the depth of the liquid () based on the magnitude of the resistance output signal applied to the input (). The sensed and calculated level is then converted to display control output signals produced on a controller output terminal and connected to electronic display () to provide a visual indication of the level or quantity of beverage within the dispenser (). Alternatively, resistance is measured between the interior of the beverage dispenser () and a sensor tube.