# US 11,078,012 B2 · Cap for refillable tote > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,012 B2 - Document ID: US11078012B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/883,217 - Filed: 2016-07-29 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-30 - Assignees: NCH Corporation - Applicants: NCH Corporation - Inventors: Matthew David Aston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078012B2 ## CPC - B65D 90/48: Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices - B01D 53/0415: {Beds in cartridges} - B01D 53/261: {by adsorption} - B65D 77/0466: {the containers being mounted on a pallet} - B65D 77/061: {the containers being mounted on a pallet} - B65D 90/54: Gates or closures - G01F 1/36: the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction - G01F 23/14: by measurement of pressure - G01F 23/18: Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically - G01S 19/13: Receivers - B01D 2259/4525: for storage and dispensing systems - B65D 2590/0083: Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A cap with refill capability and the ability to track various aspects of the tote, cap, and equipment has been developed for use on chemical totes. It provides the ability to refill the tote without removing the cap and remove water from the fluid and air in the hose. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cap for a tote comprising: a bonnet, wherein the bonnet can be threadedly attached to the tote; at least one pipe adapter attached to the bonnet; a flexible pipe attached to the at least one pipe adapter by at least one hose clamp; a fluid-level monitoring fixture located within the at least one pipe adapter; a GPS receiver present within a structure attached to the at least one pipe adapter; a hygroscopic substance present within a structure attached to the at least one pipe adapter, and a connection for refilling the tote attached to the at least one pipe adapter; wherein the flexible pipe is in a y-configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, further comprising a power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the hygroscopic substance is contained within a cartridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the fluid-level monitoring fixture is a differential pressure sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor measures a difference between two pressures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor is used to measure a fluid level of a fluid in the tote by comparing a pressure above the fluid and another pressure below the fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of a fluid by measuring a pressure on a first side of a restriction and another pressure on a second side of the restriction as the fluid flows at least one of a) into the tote and b) out of the tote. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor measures a pressure difference across a filter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor is located inside the tote. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The cap of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor is located outside of the tote. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises an O-ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the at least one pipe adapter is selected from the group consisting of 2 inches, 1.75 inches, 1.5 inches, 1.25 inches, 1 inch, 0.75 inches, and 0.5 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the at least one pipe adapter is comprised of polypropylene. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the at least one pipe adapter is comprised of polyvinyl chloride. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the fluid-level monitoring fixture is selected from the group consisting of sight glasses, current loops, floats, hydrostatic devices, load cells, magnetic level gauges, capacitance transmitters, time-of-flight measurements, ultrasound, radar, scales, and light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, further comprising an antenna. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method of utilizing the cap of claim 17, comprising: detecting a fluid level in the tote with the fluid level monitoring fixture; transmitting the fluid level via the transmitter; detecting a GPS location of the tote with the GPS receiver; transmitting the GPS location via the transmitter; receiving the fluid level with a receiver; receiving the GPS location with the receiver; monitoring the fluid level in the tote; and monitoring the GPS location of the tote. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The cap of claim 1, wherein the hygroscopic substance is configured to change color when the hygroscopic substance is consumed.