Container filling apparatus and methods
AssigneeKnight, LLC
InventorsPaul M. Beldham, Donald W. Smeller, Christopher W. Nesselroad
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular container filling apparatus includes a simple pilot valve which can be operated by a push button, a bottle-engaging yoke, or a manual valve at the distal end of a bucket filling hose. The modular construction of the apparatus allows a plurality of units to be mounted side by side on a modular water manifold by bayonet-type sealing connections. An anti-foam venturi and spout mixes chemicals with the water and minimizes foaming when filling a bottle. A plurality of chemicals can be selected by a rotational selector without intermixing.
Claims3
A modular container filling apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of container filling devices interlockingly mountable side by side on a support;
- each of said devices including a section of a liquid manifold, said section having a male bayonet fitting on one end and a female bayonet fitting on the other end;
- said bayonet fittings being dimensioned so that the female fitting of one device sealingly engages the male fitting of the device interlockingly mounted adjacent thereto;
- said bayonet fittings having ears slidably receivable in hooks formed in said devices for locking engagement with said devices.
An anti-foam splash-proof nozzle for filling containers, comprising:
- an air gap section, said air gap section comprising:
- a hollow barrel having a water inlet and lateral openings;
- an elastic sleeve surrounding said barrel and forming therewith a resiliently openable seal, said sleeve, when said seal is opened, defining a water path between said barrel and said sleeve into said plenum while at the same time sealing said plenum against ambient air;
- a venturi section, said venturi section comprising:
- a venturi;
- a water inlet from said plenum to said venturi;
- a passage for conveying a foam-prone chemical into the throat of said venturi to mix it with water flowing through said venturi;
- and
- an outlet adapted to communicate with a container to be filled:
- wherein said venturi section is comprised of integrally molded plastic;
- and
- a plenum between said air gap section and said plenum section, said plenum being in communication with ambient air in the absence of water flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.