# US 10,766,648 B2 · Propellant filling apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,648 B2 - Document ID: US10766648B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/336,254 - Filed: 2017-09-18 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29 - Assignees: Mexichem Fluor S.A. De C.V. - Applicants: Mexichem Fluor S.A. De C.V. - Inventors: Paul Alan Dowdle; Stuart Corr; Paul Watkinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766648B2 ## CPC - B65B 31/003: {Adding propellants in fluid form to aerosol containers (in solid form B65B31/10)} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - B65B 31/10: Adding propellants in solid form to aerosol containers - B65B 55/027: {Packaging in aseptic chambers} - B65B 57/14: and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged - F24F 3/163: Clean air work stations, i.e. selected areas within a space which filtered air is passed - A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A propellant filling apparatus (10) comprising a filling booth (11) for receiving within it one or more containers for filling with a propellant; a propellant inlet (12) to the filling booth (11) that is capable of supplying propellant into one or more containers within the filling booth (11) from a propellant supply; an inert gas inlet (13) supplying inert gas from an inert gas supply (14) into the filling booth (11), a discharge outlet (16) from the filling booth (11); an extraction fan (17) that is capable of adjusting its fan speed to maintain the pressure of gas in the filling booth (11) to be lower than atmospheric pressure; and an oxygen detector (27) that is capable of detecting levels of oxygen in the filling booth (11) and triggering circulation of inert gas in the filling booth (11) when the level of oxygen in the filling booth (11) falls below an oxygen threshold level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A propellant filling apparatus (10) comprising a filling booth (11) for receiving within it one or more containers for filling with a propellant; a propellant inlet (12) to the filling booth (11) that is capable of supplying propellant, for filing into one or more containers within the filling booth (11), from a propellant supply; an inert gas inlet (13) supplying inert gas from an inert gas supply (14) into the filling booth (11); a discharge outlet (16) from the filling booth (11); an extraction fan (17) that is capable of adjusting its fan speed to maintain the pressure of gas in the filling booth (11) to be lower than atmospheric pressure outside the filling booth (11); and an oxygen detector (27) that is capable of detecting levels of oxygen in the filling booth (11) and triggering circulation of inert gas in the filling booth (11) when the level of oxygen in the filling booth attains or exceeds an oxygen threshold level that is proportional to the maximum oxygen concentration of the propellant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a propellant detector (31) that is capable of detecting levels of propellant in the filling booth (11) and triggering circulation of inert gas in the filling booth (11) when the level of propellant in the filling booth (11) rises above a propellant threshold level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) according to claim 1 supplying in use a said propellant, wherein the propellant is a flammable gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises one or more of R32 (difluoromethane), R152a (1,1-difluoroethane), R1234yf (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene), R1234ze(E) and (Z) (1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene) and the HCFC R1233zd(E) (trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene). ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas consists entirely of R32. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 95 weight % of R32. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 98 weight % of R32. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 99 weight % of R32. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas consists entirely of R152a. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 95 weight % of R152a. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas consists entirely of a mixture of R152a and R32. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 95% by weight of a mixture of R152a and R32. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 98% by weight of a mixtures of R152a and R32. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 3 wherein the flammable gas comprises at least 99% by weight of a mixtures of R152a and R32. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the propellant has a global warming potential (GWP) of below 1000. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the propellant has a global warming potential (GWP) of below 700. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the propellant has a global warming potential (GWP) of below 150. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the propellant includes one or more of the following: solvents, surfactants, lubricants, excipients. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 supplying in use a said inert gas wherein the inert gas is nitrogen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the oxygen threshold level of oxygen triggering circulation of inert gas within the filling booth (11) is 9.8%. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the oxygen threshold level of oxygen triggering circulation of inert gas within the filling booth (11) is 7.8%. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller for controlling the temperature of the inert gas supply. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller for controlling the humidity of the inert gas supply. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 including a pressure controller (23) that controls the speed of the extraction fan (17), the pressure controller (23) measuring gas pressure in the filling booth (11) and comparing it with atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 1 wherein the filling apparatus satisfies “current good manufacturing practices” (cGMP) requirements. ### Claim 26 A method of operating a propellant filling apparatus (10), the method comprising the steps of filling one or more containers in a filling booth (11) with a propellant; supplying an inert gas into the filling booth (11); adjusting the fan speed of an extraction fan (17) to maintain a lower pressure in the filling booth (11) as compared to atmospheric pressure outside the filling booth (11); detecting levels of oxygen in the filling booth (11); and circulating the inert gas in the filling booth (11) when the detected level of oxygen in the filling booth (11) attains or exceeds a threshold level corresponding to the maximum oxygen concentration of the propellant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of operating a propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 26 wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting the level of inert gas in the filling booth (11). ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of operating a propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 26 wherein the propellant is Difluoroethane (R152a). ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method of operating a propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 26 wherein the threshold level of oxygen triggering circulation within the filling booth (11) is 9.8%. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method of operating a propellant filling apparatus (10) of claim 26 wherein the threshold level of oxygen triggering circulation within the filling booth (11) is 7.8%.