US 4,363,339 A · Filling valve arrangement for counter-pressure container filling apparatus

Abstract

A filling valve arrangement for a counter-pressure container filling apparatus in which the filling valve arrangement is mounted in a bottom outlet opening in the usual bowl which holds the liquid under gas pressure, and an extension on the filling valve supports a filling head to receive the neck of a container in operative position so that a gas vent control carried by the vent tube is located in the container to admit gas into the container and to vent gas from the container as liquid replaces the gas in a rapid exchange of liquid for the gas up to the desired liquid level. The filling valve arrangement provides a space adjacent the liquid admitting valve for retaining a body of liquid in position for immediate admission in a very short period of time, and the gas vent control provides a device that can be snap-fitted onto many of prior types of vent tubes, but which is especially adapted to permit a range of weight adjustments to improve the positive response to the cut-off of the liquid fill as the gas is expelled from the container.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In counter-pressure container filling apparatus having a liquid containing bowl with a pressure exerting gas on the liquid therein, the improvement of:

a filling head containing a liquid admitting control valve;
a bowl extension interconnecting said filling head and said bowl for conducting the liquid to said control valve;
a gas passage means extending from an open end in the gas in said bowl through said bowl extension to an opposite end position adjacent said control valve;
passage means extending through said control valve;
a second control valve positioned between said gas passage and passage means for controlling the flow of gas through said control valve;
means on said filling head in alignment with said passage means for sealing about the entrance mouth of a container;
a gas vent tube extending from said passage means beyond said sealing means for penetrating into a container for regulating the liquid filling level;
first operating means adjacent said bowl for opening and closing said second control valve to control the admission of gas under pressure into a container and establish a counter pressure on said control valve substantially equal to the gas pressure in the bowl exerted on said control valve;
and means operably connected to said control valve for opening said valve to admit the liquid from the bowl to a container and for displacing the gas back through said gas vent tube to the bowl upon substantial equalization of pressure across said control valve, the liquid displacing the gas in a container to a level determined by the liquid reaching said gas vent tube.

6 more elements

A filling valve arrangement for counterpressure container filling apparatus in which a bowl for holding a liquid under pressure from a gas for delivery to a container is provided with a bottom outlet, said filling valve comprising:

(A) a base positioned in the bottom outlet of the bowl and supporting a movable primary sleeve projecting into the bowl to position with its end above the liquid level;
(B) a tubular extension depending from said base and communicating with the bowl through said base for receiving liquid from the bowl;
(C) a filling head connected to said tubular extension and formed with a valve seat and a flow passage extending outwardly from said valve seat;
(D) a secondary sleeve disposed inside said primary sleeve and extending from an open end above the liquid level in the bowl to an opposite end adjacent said valve seat, said secondary sleeve carrying a body at its opposite end which is carrying a valve element in position to cooperate with said valve seat, and said body being formed with a second valve seat;
(E) resilient means operably disposed in said tubular extension and connected to said secondary sleeve in position for moving said valve element off said valve seat in said filling head;
said resilient means being normally opposed by the liquid under gas pressure in said tubular extension and the liquid head from the bowl;
(F) gas flow control means disposed in said secondary sleeve and extending from one end operatively connected to said primary sleeve to a valve end cooperating with said second valve seat, said gas flow control means being movable with said primary sleeve and independent of said secondary sleeve;
(G) operating means in said base in position for initiating movement of said primary sleeve in a direction to move said gas flow control means for opening said second valve seat to release gas therethrough;
(H) and a gas vent tube connected to said body carried by said secondary sleeve, said vent tube extended through said filling head flow passage and to a position therebeyond for entering a container to receive the liquid.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Filling valve arrangement for counter-pressure container filling apparatus

Life of this patent

Filling valve arrangement for counter-pressure container filling apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15