# US 9,751,746 B2 · Probe for use in filling elements of filling machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,746 B2 - Document ID: US9751746B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/408,332 - Filed: 2013-04-24 - Published: 2015-09-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-19 - Assignees: KHS GmbH - Applicants: KHS GmbH - Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751746B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/1238: {comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes} - B67C 3/285: {using liquid contact sensing means (B67C3/283 takes precedence)} - B67C 2003/2685: {Details of probes} - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS ## Abstract An apparatus for filling a container with a free-flowing material includes a probe, a probe end, a return gas pipe, a gas channel, an opening, and a first electrical probe contact. During filling, the probe extends into the container along an axial direction with the probe's end determining the filling height. The probe includes a return gas pipe with an opening disposed at its end. The first electrical probe contact is formed at the probe end so that it is offset along the axial direction from the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for filling a container with a free-flowing material, said apparatus comprising a filling element, wherein said filling element comprises a probe, a probe end, a return gas pipe, a gas channel, an opening, and a first electrical probe contact, wherein, during filling, said probe extends into said container along an axial direction, wherein said probe end is an end of said probe, wherein a location of said probe end determines a filling height of said filling material, wherein said probe comprises a return gas pipe, wherein said gas channel is a channel through said return gas pipe, wherein said opening is an opening of said gas channel, wherein said probe end comprises said opening, wherein said first electrical probe contact is formed at said probe end and at an end of said gas channel, and wherein said first electrical probe contact is offset from said opening along said axial direction by a non-zero distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lance, wherein said lance projects from said return gas pipe, and wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed on said lance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed at an end of said lance that is furthest from said return gas pipe. ### Claim 4 An apparatus for filling a container with a free-flowing material, said apparatus comprising a filling element, wherein said filling element comprises a probe, a probe end, a return gas pipe, a gas channel, an opening, and a first electrical probe contact, wherein, during filling, said probe extends into said container along an axial direction, wherein said probe end is an end of said probe, wherein a location of said probe end determines a filling height of said filling material, wherein said probe comprises a return gas pipe, wherein said gas channel is a channel through said return gas pipe, wherein said opening is an opening of said gas channel, wherein said opening is disposed at said probe end, wherein said first electrical probe contact is formed at said probe end, wherein said first electrical probe contact is offset from said opening along said axial direction by a non-zero distance, wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed at an end of said lance that is furthest from said return gas pipe, wherein said return gas pipe comprises a notched portion, wherein said notched portion forms a part segment, and wherein said lance is formed from said part segment. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for filling a container with a free-flowing material, said apparatus comprising a filling element, wherein said filling element comprises a probe, a probe end, a return gas pipe, a gas channel, an opening, and a first electrical probe contact, wherein, during filling, said probe extends into said container along an axial direction, wherein said probe end is an end of said probe, wherein a location of said probe end determines a filling height of said filling material, wherein said probe comprises a return gas pipe, wherein said gas channel is a channel through said return gas pipe, wherein said opening is an opening of said gas channel, wherein said opening is disposed at said probe end, wherein said first electrical probe contact is formed at said probe end, wherein said first electrical probe contact is offset from said opening along said axial direction by a non-zero distance, wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed at an end of said lance that is furthest from said return gas pipe, wherein said return gas pipe comprises a notched wall, wherein said notched wall forms a part segment, and wherein said lance is formed from said part segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lance, wherein said lance projects from said return gas pipe, and wherein said first electrical probe contact is formed from said lance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strip, wherein said strip projects from said return gas pipe, and wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed on said strip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first electrical probe contact is disposed outside said gas channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filling element further comprises a second electrical probe contact, wherein said first and second electrical probe contacts are separated along said axial direction, wherein one of said first and second electrical probe contacts is disposed outside said gas channel at a distance in front of said opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filling machine, wherein said probe is a constituent of said filling machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine comprises a plurality of filling positions, each of which comprises a filling element, and a container carrier, wherein said first electrical probe contact is offset in a direction towards said container carrier and opposite said opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein in response to a signal from said first probe contact, said control device causes closing of a liquid valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein in response to a signal from said first probe contact, said control device switches said filling element from a first operational mode to a second operational mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein in response to a signal from said first probe contact, said control devices activates a timer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein in response to a signal from said first probe contact, said control device causes a liquid valve to close following lapse of a selected delay. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein said delay is selected to cause said liquid valve to close at a selected filling height based on process parameters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said process parameters comprise container size. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said process parameters comprise filling material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said process parameters comprise container type. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said filling machine further comprises a control device, wherein in response to a signal from said first probe contact, said control device switches said filling element from operating in a rapid filling mode to operating in a slow filling mode.