Patent ID: 7104422

Claim:
A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid comprising: (a) a fluid reservoir with a fluid inlet for the introduction of the fluid into said fluid reservoir, and a fluid outlet for the release of said fluid from said fluid reservoir; (b) a fill tube assembly connected to said fluid outlet, the fill tube assembly comprising (i) a fill valve capable of controlling the flow of fluid released from said fluid reservoir into the fill tube assembly, and (ii) a drain line provided with a discharge valve for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid from said fill tube assembly; and wherein the fill tube assembly further consists of a means for continuously and electronically measuring fluid volume therein, said means consisting of a pair of electroconductive terminals proximate either said fill tube assembly or said fluid reservoir and means for connecting said terminals to an energy source so that a current can be passed from one terminal to the other terminal; and control means responsive to the capacitance of said current for selectively controlling said dispensing of fluid from said tube assembly, or said introduction of fluid from said reservoir, or said release of fluid from said reservoir.