Filling element for filling machines for dispensing liquid

A filling element for filling machines for dispensing a liquid material into containers, including:

• a valve seat, a liquid flow valve that is disposed in liquid passage means of said filling element and has a valve body that cooperates with said valve seat of said filling element and can be moved back and forth between a position that closes said liquid flow valve off and a position that opens said liquid flow valve;
• and a discharge opening that is provided on an underside of said filling element a via which, when said liquid flow valve is opened, said liquid material flows to a respective container that is to be filled;
• said filling element further comprising:
• a gas channel that at said underside of said filling element is open to form a return gas opening for a return gas stream, whereby in this region said gas channel is concentric to a filling element axis and is surrounded by said discharge opening of said filling element;
• and
• an electrical probe for determining filling heights of said liquid material in said containers, said probe including:
• a first probe element, which projects beyond said underside of said filling element and has at least one portion that is provided with at least one electrode that forms a probe contact, and a second probe element that is provided on said filling element, extends in the direction of said filling element axis, and at least partially surrounds said at least one portion of said first probe element, with a lower end of said second probe element being spaced further from said underside of said filling element than is said at least one portion of said first probe element, and with said second probe element not only being axially open at said lower end thereof but also having a radially open portion in at least one side portion thereof.