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A filler element for filling containers with liquid includes a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a channel formed therein, a liquid valve in the channel, a dispensing opening downstream from the valve, and a fill-level-determining element comprising first and second ends. The fill

A filler element for filling containers with liquid includes a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a channel formed therein, a liquid valve in the channel, a dispensing opening downstream from the valve, and a fill-level-determining element comprising first and second ends. The fill-level-determining element is routed through the housing and extends by the first end into the dispensing opening during filling and is routed out of the housing by the second end at a housing opening area in a sealed manner with a protective space directly adjacent to it. The protective space holds a length of the fill-level-determining element that corresponds to an axial adjustment lift. The protective space opens by an axial opening lift of the fill-level-determining element that differs from its axial adjustment lift. The protective space opens by the axial opening lift of the fill-level-determining element into a space formed in the housing.

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1. An apparatus comprising a filler element for filling containers with liquid contents, said filler element comprising a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a liquid channel, a liquid valve, a dispensing opening, and a fill-level-determining element comprising a first end and a sec

1. An apparatus comprising a filler element for filling containers with liquid contents, said filler element comprising a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a liquid channel, a liquid valve, a dispensing opening, and a fill-level-determining element comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is at a distance from said second end, wherein said liquid channel is formed in said filler element housing, wherein said liquid contents flow through said liquid channel, wherein said liquid valve is in said liquid channel, wherein said dispensing opening is downstream from said liquid valve in a direction of flow of said liquid contents, wherein said liquid contents pass through said dispensing opening into said container when said liquid valve is open, wherein said fill-level-determining element determines a fill level of said liquid contents in said container, wherein said fill-level-determining element is routed through said filler element housing, wherein said fill-level-determining element extends by said first end into said dispensing opening during filling of said container, wherein said fill-level-determining element is routed out of said housing by said second end at said housing opening area in a sealed manner with said protective space directly adjacent to said housing opening area, wherein said protective space is sized and configured to hold a length of said fill-level-determining element, wherein said length corresponds to an extent to which an adjustment device, by causing an axial adjustment lift, moves said fill-level determining element between a maximum fill-level setting and a minimum fill-level setting, wherein said protective space is opened by an enlarged opening lift that differs from said axial adjustment lift, and wherein, as a result of having executed said enlarged opening lift, said protective space opens into a space formed in said filler element housing. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fill-level-determining element comprises a gas-return pipe. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gas pipe enclosing said fill level-determining element and spaced from said fill-level-determining element, wherein said gas pipe projects out of said filler element housing, wherein said gas pipe forms a gas channel that encloses said fill level-determining element, wherein said gas channel opens into said space formed in said filler element housing, and wherein said protective space is between said filler element housing and said gas pipe. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enlarged opening lift moves said fill level-determining element to open said protective space, said enlarged opening lift having an extent that is greater than a maximum extent of said axial adjustment lift. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fill level-determining element can be moved to open said protective space in a direction of an underside of said filler element having said dispensing opening. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element, a housing recess, and a circular cylindrical section of said housing recess, wherein said protective space is formed by said circular cylindrical section, wherein said sealing element is provided on said fill-level-determining element, wherein said sealing element separates said protective space from a structure selected from the group consisting of a process side of said filler element, portions of said filler element that transport process gas, portions of said filler element that transport contents, and portions of said filler element that support a vacuum, wherein said sealing element can be moved by said fill level-determining elements in a piston-like manner in said section of said housing recess. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a further section adjacent to said section that forms said protective space, said further section being in a direction of said enlarged opening lift and forming or being connected to said space formed in said filler element housing. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protective space defines a flow path in said filler element housing, wherein said flow path enables said protective space to be exposed to a pressurized inert gas during filling, wherein, when said protective space is open in a direction of an underside of said filler element having said dispensing opening, said flow path enables at least one of supply and removal of a treatment medium for treatment of said fill-level-determining element and at least one of said protective space and a housing recess that forms said protective space, wherein said treatment medium comprises at least one of cleaning medium and sterilization medium, and wherein treatment comprises one of cleaning and sterilizing. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotary filling machine comprising a transport element, wherein said filling element, and a plurality of identical filling elements, are disposed on said transport element of said rotary filling machine.