Tube holding apparatuses for filling of multiple containers and methods for using the same

A filling system for filling storage containers with a fluid, the filling system comprising:

• a first storage container;
• a second storage container stacked above the first storage container;
• a valve tower positioned horizontally spaced apart from the first storage container and the second storage container, the valve tower having a manifold, the manifold configured to receive a fluid;
• and
• a transfer tube set comprising:
• an inlet at an upstream end of the transfer tube set, the inlet fluidly coupled to the manifold;
• an outlet at a downstream end of the transfer tube set, the outlet open to an environment surrounding the filling system;
• a first connection tube fluidly coupled to the first storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the first storage container, the first connection tube extending horizontally from the first storage container towards the valve tower;
• a second connection tube fluidly coupled to the second storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the second storage container, the second connection tube extending horizontally from the second storage container towards the valve tower;
• and
• a riser extending between and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet, the riser secured to the valve tower to extend substantially vertically from the inlet to the outlet, the riser including a first interlink tube, a second interlink tube, a first connector, and a second connector that are in fluid communication with one another, the first interlink tube extending from the inlet to the first connector, the second interlink tube extending between the first connector and the second connector, the second connector positioned above the first connector, the first connector comprises:
• a first interlink portion fluidly coupled to the first interlink tube;
• a second interlink portion fluidly coupled to the second interlink tube;
• and
• a connection portion extending from the first interlink portion and the second interlink portion, the connection portion of the first connector fluidly coupled to the first connection tube and configured to fill the first storage container with the fluid received by the manifold, the connection portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction and angled downward at an inclination angle from horizontal.

A transfer tube set comprising:

• an inlet at an upstream end of the transfer tube set, the inlet configured to fluidly couple to a manifold to receive fluid;
• an outlet at a downstream end of the transfer tube set, the outlet open to an environment surrounding the transfer tube set;
• a first connection tube configured to fluidly couple to a first storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the first storage container;
• a second connection tube configured to fluidly couple to a second storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the second storage container;
• and
• a riser extending between and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet, the riser including a first connector that fluidly couples the first connection tube to the riser, the riser including a second connector that fluidly couples the second connection tube to the riser, the riser configured to extend substantially vertically from the inlet to the outlet, the first connection tube configured to extend laterally from the riser to the first storage container, the second connection tube configured to extend laterally from the riser to the second storage container;
• the first connector comprising:
• a first interlink portion defining a first interlink central longitudinal axis;
• a second interlink portion defining a second interlink central longitudinal axis, the second interlink central longitudinal axis offset at a Y-angle from the first interlink central longitudinal axis, the Y-angle being less than 135 degrees;
• and
• a connection portion extending from the first interlink portion and the second interlink portion to form a Y-shape with the first interlink portion and the second interlink portion, the connection portion of the first connector fluidly coupled to the first connection tube.