Liquid containment and measurement apparatus and method

An assembly for monitoring the volume of liquid used in a system, comprising:

• a machine that uses at least one fluid;
• a liquid measurement and containment apparatus, comprising:
• a reservoir having a plurality of side walls, a bottom surface, a top surface and defining a first interior region configured to hold a liquid therein;
• a cavity defined in a portion of the top surface;
• an orifice defined in the cavity providing access into the first interior region;
• a valve having a first position and a second position, the valve coupled to the reservoir on one of the plurality of side walls proximate to the bottom surface;
• a measurement apparatus extending from a top portion to a bottom portion coupled to the valve and defining a second interior region;
• a tube extending through the top portion and disposed at least partially within the second interior region of the measurement apparatus;
• and
• an intake end of the tube positioned proximate to the bottom portion;
• wherein the valve fluidly isolates the first interior region from the second interior region when the valve is in the first position;
• wherein the valve fluidly couples the first interior region with the second interior region when the valve is in the second position;
• further wherein, when the valve is in the second position, liquid travels from the first interior region to the second interior region before being withdrawn through the intake end of the tube;
• further wherein, the cavity corresponds in size with a container and is adapted to receive the container partially within the cavity where a portion of the container is within the orifice to transfer liquid from the container to the interior region;
• wherein the tube fluidly couples the machine to the liquid measurement and containment apparatus.

A method of determining the liquid consumption of a machine, comprising:

• providing a liquid measurement and containment apparatus, comprising:
• a reservoir having a plurality of side walls, a bottom surface, a top surface, and defining a first interior region configured to hold a liquid therein;
• a cavity defined in a portion of the top surface;
• an orifice defined in the cavity providing access into the first interior region;
• a valve having a first position and a second position, the valve coupled to the reservoir on one of the plurality of side walls proximate to the bottom surface;
• a measurement apparatus extending from a top portion to a bottom portion coupled to the valve and defining a second interior region;
• a tube extending through the top portion and disposed at least partially within the second interior region of the measurement apparatus;
• and
• an intake end of the tube positioned proximate to the bottom portion;
• wherein the valve fluidly isolates the first interior region from the second interior region when the valve is in the first position;
• further wherein the valve fluidly couples the first interior region with the second interior region when the valve is in the second position;
• further wherein, when the valve is in the second position, liquid travels from the first interior region to the second interior region before being withdrawn through the intake end of the tube;
• further wherein, the cavity corresponds in size with a container and is adapted to receive the container partially within the cavity where a portion of the container is within the orifice to transfer liquid from the container to the interior region;
• providing a machine that uses at least one liquid during a machine operation;
• fluidly coupling the machine to the measurement apparatus with the tube;
• placing the container partially within the cavity and aligned with the orifice;
• filling the reservoir through the orifice with a volume of a liquid from the container;
• transitioning the valve to the second position to allow the liquid to enter the measurement apparatus;
• transitioning the valve to the first position after at least some of the liquid has entered the measurement apparatus;
• recording a first liquid height in the measurement apparatus;
• operating the machine for a period of time;
• recording a second liquid height of the measurement apparatus;
• comparing the first liquid height to the second liquid height to determine the amount of liquid used by the machine during the machine operation.