Liquid/flowable product filling apparatus with seal system

A cylindrical seal assembly for defining a cylindrical chamber for sealingly and slidingly receiving a cylindrical body, said cylindrical seal assembly comprising

• a first cylindrically hollow member having a first section with a first hollow diameter for snugly receiving the cylindrical body, and a second section extending axially from the first section to terminate in a free end, said second section having an enlarged hollow diameter and interior threads at the free end,
• a second cylindrically hollow member having a forward end and a rearward end, the exterior of the rearward end including threads compatible with the threads of the hollow of said section to allow screwing the second member into the hollow of the second section of the first member to a certain distance spaced from the first section to define an annular channel between the first section and the second member, and
• an annular seal for disposition in the annular channel to seal against the cylindrical body when the cylindrical body is inserted in the cylindrical chamber, said annular seal including
• an annular flexible channel member comprising a channel having a radially outwardly facing opening, and an interior wall circumscribing a central hollow whose diameter is generally the same as said first hollow diameter,
• a support collar for disposition in the channel of the channel member, said support collar including an annular groove formed in an interior wall of the support collar, adjacent the interior wall of the channel member, and
• an O-ring disposed in the groove to press against the interior wall of the channel member and force the interior wall against the cylindrical body to form a seal therewith.

A sealing system for a liquid/flowable product filling apparatus which comprises a hopper for holding the product, and at least one filling assembly, each of which includes a nozzle, a cylinder, a valve for selectively passing product from the hopper to the cylinder and from the cylinder to the nozzle, a piston selectively moveable in the cylinder to draw product from the hopper through the valve into the cylinder or to push product from the cylinder into the valve and out of the nozzle, and a plunger selectively moveable in the valve to prevent the flow of product from the hopper into the valve or prevent the flow of product from the valve and out of the nozzle, said system including

• an annular piston seal circumscribing the piston to press against the cylinder walls, the piston seal comprising:
• a resilient annulus having a sidewall with upper and lower, vertically spaced-apart, inwardly projecting lips, and
• a support ring comprised of three arcuate segments which, when placed end-to-end, form a ring for disposition within the annulus, between the upper and lower lips and against the sidewall,
• wherein the valve includes an annular wall section through which the plunger moves, and an annular recess formed in the wall section, and
• an annular valve seal disposed in the recess to press against the plunger as it moves through the wall section.