Electromagnetically-controlled filler spout

#A filler spout known in particular from document WO 01/40098 comprises a tubular body having mounted therein a valve member extending over a valve seat, and a magnetic actuator element associated with a coil outside the tubular body and connected to the valve member via an axial coupling member. The assembly formed in this way is radially rigid so that in order to ensure that the valve member is accurately positioned relative to the valve seat in order to obtain satisfactory leaktightness, it is necessary not only for the valve member to be guided accurately along the axis of the valve seat, but also for the magnetic actuator element to be guided in very precise manner along the axis of the valve member, thereby leading to very significant manufacturing constraints. In particular, the valve member and the magnetic actuator element need to be mounted accurately on the same axis as each other, and when the body of the filler spout is made up of a plurality of assembled-together elements, it is necessary for the elements of the body to be mounted relative to one another in a manner that ensures they are accurately on the same axis. These constraints lead to high manufacturing cost for the filler spout.

#A first object of the invention is to propose a filler spout that operates in satisfactory manner while being less expensive to manufacture than prior filler spouts.

#A second object of the invention is to propose a filler spout that can easily be adapted to different substances.

#Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear further on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention and of different variants thereof, given with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

#FIG. 1 is an axial section view of a filler spout of the invention in a valve-closed position;

#FIG. 2 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 1, in a valve-open position;

#With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the filler spout of the invention comprises a tubular body 1 made up of three body elements 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 interconnected by quick coupling members 2 and respectively containing the elements performing the control, shut-off, and outlet delivery or secondary shut-off functions of the filler spout of the invention.

#The control function is performed by a magnetic actuator element 3 mounted to slide in body element 1.1. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the magnetic actuator element 3 comprises a solid magnetic core 4 provided at its periphery with guide fins 5 which provide accurate guidance for the core 4 inside the body element 1.1 while allowing a substance to flow between the core 4 and the inside face of the body element 1.1. The body element 1.1 is made of non-magnetic material, and it is surrounded by a coil 6 connected by a feed wire 9 to power supply means (not shown) for forming an electromagnetic actuator device.

#In the embodiment shown, the coil 6 is also surrounded by rings of magnetic material 7 surrounding a ring 8 forming a permanent magnet, e.g. a ring of ferrite whose permanent magnetic field extends in an axial direction of the coil 6. At its ends, the coil 6 is also covered by plates of magnetic material 10 having their peripheries in contact with the rings 7. The ferrite ring 8 is preferably dimensioned to exert a force on the magnetic actuator element 3 that is nearly equal to the weight of said element and of the equipment associated therewith so that very little power is required in the coil in order to cause the magnetic actuator element 3 to be moved.