CN111333007B

CN111333007B - Device for filling a filling product

Info

Publication number: CN111333007B
Application number: CN201911293598.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斯特凡·波斯切尔
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2018-12-19
Filing date: 2019-12-16
Publication date: 2022-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-16
Also published as: CN111333007A; EP3670433B1; SI3670433T1; DE102018132953A1; EP3670433A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling a filling product into containers (7), preferably for filling beverages into beverage containers in a beverage filling plant, comprising: a valve housing (2) having a valve seat (20); a valve cone (3) movable relative to the valve seat (20); and a swirl body (4) arranged downstream of the valve cone (3), the swirl body (4) being used to impart a swirl to the filling product flowing through the valve cone (3), wherein the valve cone (3) is supported on the valve housing (2) by means of the swirl body (4).

Description

Device for filling a filling product

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, for example for filling a beverage into a beverage container in a beverage filling plant.

Background

It is known to use devices or filling devices for filling a filling product in beverage filling plants in order to introduce a corresponding filling product, for example a beverage, into a container to be filled. For this purpose, containers, for example PET bottles, are arranged below the filling device, in particular below the product outflow opening of the filling device. The respective product valve is then opened in the filling device, by means of which the respective amount of filling product is filled into the container to be filled.

As product valves, so-called cone valves are generally used in filling devices, which have a substantially conical valve cone that can be moved relative to a valve seat. In order to be able to discharge the filling product out of the product outlet opening, the valve insert is accordingly removed from the valve seat, so that the filling product located above it can flow through the annular gap formed between the valve cone and the valve seat and correspondingly out of the product outlet opening, in order then to flow into the container to be filled.

In conventional devices for filling with filling products, the space available for the filling product upstream of the valve cone is divided in such a way that a valve shaft, on which the valve cone is guided and by means of which the valve cone can be raised and lowered, extends inside the upstream valve housing. The valve rod is usually guided towards the outside of the valve space which the product contacts and is connected there with an actuator for moving the valve cone. The transition between the product contact space and the outer space, in which the drive is arranged, is sealed, for example by means of a bellows. Thus, the flow of filling product is disturbed by the introduced components above the valve seat.

In particular when the filling product is a filling product which is admixed with an additive, for example syrup, in the device, the space provided above the valve seat is made correspondingly long in order to achieve a sufficient mixing of the filling product with the additive or the additive product, which results in a correspondingly high overall height of the device.

In addition, in the conventional device, the gas which is discharged from the container during filling of the container with the filling product is conducted away in a concentrated manner via a return gas pipe which is arranged in the valve cone and which extends inside the valve housing from the valve cone in the flow direction through the valve cone and the valve rod. The presence of the return gas pipe also requires a minimum cross-section of the valve stem.

Thus, such devices do not have an optimal flow geometry. In addition, the flushing of the filling product present above the valve seat, as is desirable, for example, in the metered dispensing of additives such as syrups, is made difficult by the geometry of the device or the structural height of conventional devices must be selected to be correspondingly high.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for filling with a filling product, preferably for filling beverages in a beverage filling plant.

This object is achieved by a device for filling with a filling product, preferably for filling beverages in a beverage filling installation, having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

Accordingly, an apparatus for filling a filling product into a container, preferably for filling a beverage into a beverage container in a beverage filling device, is proposed, comprising: a valve housing having a valve seat; a valve cone movable relative to the valve seat; and a swirling body arranged downstream of the valve cone for imparting a swirling flow to the filling product flowing through the valve cone. The device is characterized in that the valve cone is supported on the valve housing by the swirling body.

Since the valve cone is supported on the valve housing by the swirl body, complex mounting of the valve cone upstream of the valve cone can be dispensed with. In addition, the flow cross section of the supply line provided by the valve housing upstream of the valve cone can be made substantially undisturbed. Thereby, the device can be constructed more compact upstream of the valve cone than can be achieved with conventional devices.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the swirl body is arranged firmly on the valve housing and the valve cone is supported displaceably on the swirl body. As a result, a safe support and guidance of the valve cone can be achieved in a simple manner. In addition, complex supporting structures which narrow the inflow cross section upstream of the valve cone can be dispensed with.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the valve cone is firmly connected to the swirl body and the swirl body is displaceably supported on the valve housing. Thus, the valve cone and the swirling body can be pre-installed before the assembly of the device, so that the assembly can be reduced.

It has proven to be advantageous if the swirl body is optionally arranged downstream of the valve cone. Thus, the flow of the filling product, which can be adjusted according to the position of the valve cone relative to the valve seat, can always be imparted with a swirling flow in a constant manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment, an actuator for moving the valve cone relative to the valve seat is arranged downstream of the valve seat, wherein the actuator preferably comprises an electrically, magnetically, pneumatically and/or hydraulically acting actuator, wherein the actuator is preferably arranged downstream of the valve cone.

The position of the valve cone relative to the valve seat can thereby be controlled/regulated without the device having a reduced flow cross section for the filling product or having an extended structural height due to the components arranged upstream of the valve cone for controlling the position of the valve cone. Such a device may therefore provide a particularly compact structure.

By means of the mentioned drive, the expansion of the annular gap between the valve seat and the valve cone can also be regulated or controlled, in order in this way to achieve a control or regulation of the filling product flow out of the filling means. Thus, a predetermined or desired volume flow distribution can be achieved, for example, during the filling process.

Upstream of the valve housing, for example in the filling product supply line, a regulating valve, for example a proportional valve, can also be provided, by means of which the flow of filling product from the filling means can be regulated or controlled. If such a regulating valve is provided, the regulation or control of the annular gap between the valve seat and the valve cone can be dispensed with. In this case, the valve cone can only be switched between the fully open position and the fully closed position.

The swirl body can optionally be designed as a support for driving the valve cone, if the swirl body is arranged firmly on the valve housing and the valve cone is mounted displaceably on the swirl body. The relative force generated by the driving or displacement of the valve cone relative to the valve seat can thus be absorbed and transmitted by the swirl body in such a way that the device can be constructed particularly compact.

Preferably, a seal, preferably a bellows, is arranged between the valve cone and the swirl body, so that the mutually contacting surfaces of the swirl body and the valve cone and/or the surfaces which are movable relative to each other can be sealed.

Alternatively, the drive can optionally be designed to move the unit formed by the swirl body and the valve cone when the valve cone is firmly connected to the swirl body and the swirl body is displaceably mounted on the valve housing. In this way, a dynamic seal for sealing the relative movement between the swirl body and the valve cone can be dispensed with, since they are rigidly connected to one another. Preferably, in this preferred embodiment, a dynamic seal is provided between the cyclone body and the valve body.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the driver is arranged at the side of the cyclone body, seen in the flow direction of the filling product. In this way, a particularly compact design of the device, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the device, can be achieved. In particular, the overall existing structural height can be reduced in this way compared to an embodiment in which the drive is arranged at the upper end of the valve body.

In order to optionally enable the discharge of gas which is discharged from the container to be filled by the inflowing filling product during filling with the filling product, according to a further preferred embodiment a discharge line for laterally discharging gas which is discharged from the container to be filled during filling with the filling product can be provided in the valve housing, wherein the discharge line can preferably be in fluid communication with a return gas pipe running in the swirling gas and/or in the valve cone and/or with the return gas pipe.

In order to be able to optionally incorporate the filling product before filling into the container to be filled, a metering and dispensing unit for metering and dispensing the additional product, in particular syrup, is arranged above the valve cone.

A particularly compact design of the device can be achieved if the swirl body is arranged at the outlet opening of the valve housing in accordance with a further preferred embodiment. In addition, it can be ensured thereby that the filling product enters the container with a predetermined rotational flow.

Drawings

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail by the following description of the drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for filling with a filling product according to a preferred embodiment;

fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the device for filling with a filling product;

fig. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for filling with a filling product according to another preferred embodiment;

fig. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the device for filling with a filling product; and

fig. 5 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the device for filling with a filling product.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the same, similar or equivalent elements in the drawings are attached with the same reference numerals, and repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancy.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for filling with a filling product according to a preferred embodiment.

The device 1 is designed to fill drinks into drink containers, not shown here, such as glass bottles or PET bottles, in a drink filling plant. The apparatus 1 comprises: a valve housing 2 having a valve seat 20; a valve cone 3 movable relative to the valve seat 20; and a swirling body 4 arranged downstream of the valve cone 3, the swirling body 4 being adapted to impart a swirling flow to the filling product flowing through the valve cone 3.

The valve cone 3 is supported on the valve housing 2 by means of a swirl body 4, so that the swirl body 4 is arranged firmly on the valve housing 2 and the valve cone 3 is supported displaceably on the swirl body 4.

For this purpose, the valve cone 3 is held displaceably in the longitudinal direction 10 of the device 1 in a guide bore 41 of the cyclone body 4 by means of a valve cone rod 30.

Alternatively, the valve cone 3 can also be firmly connected to the swirl body 4, and the swirl body 4 can then be mounted displaceably on the valve housing 2.

By moving the valve cone 3 relative to the valve seat 20, an annular gap 90, which is formed in a manner known per se and which corresponds to the distance between the valve cone 3 and the valve seat 20, can be provided or closed, wherein the size of the annular gap 90 can be used to control/regulate the volume flow of the filling product through the valve cone 3 and through the cyclone body 4 arranged downstream of the valve cone 3.

The swirl body 4 has a plurality of guide vanes 40, by means of which guide vanes 40 a swirl flow can be imparted to the filling product flowing through the valve cone 3 in the flow direction 9. It can thereby be achieved in particular that the filling product bears against the inner wall of the outlet opening 21 of the valve housing 2 and thus flows into the container to be filled on its inner wall. Thus, a space for a return gas flow of gas expelled from the container by the inflowing filling product can be provided in the center of the flow of filling product flowing into the container.

Downstream of the valve seat 20 and the valve cone 3, an actuator 5 is arranged, which actuator 5 serves to move the valve cone 3 relative to the valve seat 20, wherein the actuator 5 in this alternative embodiment comprises an electrically acting actuator 5. The swirl body 4 serves here as a support for the driver 5 of the valve cone 3.

The driver 5 is arranged on the side of the cyclone body 4, seen in the flow direction 9 of the filling product. Here, a controllable/adjustable excitation unit 50 is provided on the valve housing 50, which excitation unit 50 acts in a manner known per se on a rotor unit 51 arranged on the valve cone shaft 30, whereby the position of the valve cone 3 in the longitudinal direction 10 can be controlled/adjusted or set.

The device 1 also has a discharge line 6 integrated into the valve housing 2, which discharge line 6 serves for laterally discharging return gas discharged from the container to be filled when the filling product is filled.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device 1 for filling with a filling product, which device corresponds in its structure substantially to the structure of fig. 1.

The device 1 of fig. 2 also has a discharge line 6 integrated into the valve housing 2, which discharge line 6 serves for laterally discharging return gas discharged from the container to be filled when the filling product is filled, wherein the discharge line 6 is in fluid communication with a return gas tube 42 extending in the cyclone body 4. The return gas pipe extends through the middle part 43 of the cyclone body 4 and one of its guide vanes 40. Alternatively, the return gas pipe 42 can also extend towards the valve housing 2 independently of the guide vanes 40. The valve cone 3 is sealed on its valve cone shaft 30 with respect to the central region 43 of the cyclone body 4 by means of the two bellows 22, so that no filling product can enter the contact region between the valve cone shaft 30 and the guide opening 41 and settle there.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a sectional view of the device 1 for filling with a filling product according to another preferred embodiment. The device 1 corresponds in its construction substantially to that of fig. 2, wherein the swirl body 4 is arranged substantially directly upstream of the valve housing 2 or at the outlet 21.

The guide opening 41 is in the present case designed as a blind hole, so that a downstream bellows can be dispensed with.

Furthermore, fig. 3 shows a container 7 to be filled, which container 7 is in sealing contact with the outlet 21.

Above the valve cone 3, an optional metering and dispensing unit 8 is also provided, which metering and dispensing unit 8 serves for metering and dispensing additional products, such as syrup.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device 1 for filling with a filling product.

The device 1 corresponds approximately to the device of fig. 3, wherein instead of an electric drive a pneumatic drive 5 is provided. For this purpose, a cylinder chamber 53 of the drive 5 is arranged in the swirl body 4, in which cylinder chamber 53 a piston 54 connected to the valve cone rod 30 is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction 10.

The actuator 5 has, above and below the piston 54, lines 55 extending through the valve housing 2 and the cyclone body 4, which lines 55 can be opened or closed by means of a controllable/adjustable valve 52, so that the pressure above and below the piston 54 in the cylinder chamber 53 can be adjusted in a manner known per se in order to adjust the position of the valve cone 3 relative to the valve seat 20.

Alternatively, the actuator 5 may be a hydraulic actuator instead of the shown pneumatic construction.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device 1 for filling with a filling product. The device 1 corresponds to the device of fig. 1 for the most part. As an alternative to the embodiment according to fig. 1, in the device of fig. 5 the valve cone 3 is firmly connected to the cyclone body 4. In order to provide a relative movement of the valve cone 3 with respect to the valve seat 20, the swirl body 4 is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction 10 on the valve housing 2. The contact point between the valve housing 2 and the cyclone body 4 is sealed by a bellows 22.

Therefore, the actuator 5 of the device 1 is configured to move the unit consisting of the swirling body 4 and the valve cone 3. In the present preferred embodiment, the drive 5 is designed as a pneumatic drive 5 similar to the embodiment of fig. 4, wherein a cylinder chamber 53 is arranged in the valve housing 2 and a piston 54 is connected to the swirl body 4. Thus, a displacement of the piston 54 in the cylinder chamber 53 results in a displacement of the cyclone body 4 in the longitudinal direction 10.

Alternatively, the driver 5 may of course also comprise: the electric drive shown in fig. 1-3 may be a hydraulic drive substantially similar to the drive constructed as shown here, or any other type of suitable drive known per se.

Where applicable, all individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined with each other and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference features

1 apparatus

2 valve body

20 valve seat

21 outflow opening

22 corrugated pipe

3 valve cone

30 valve taper rod

32 piston

4 swirl body

40 guide vane

41 guide opening

42 return gas pipe

43 middle part

5 driver

50 excitation unit

51 rotor unit

52 valve

53 cylinder chamber

54 piston

55 pipeline

6 lead-out pipeline

7 container

8 metering and dispensing unit

9 direction of flow

90 annular gap

10 longitudinal direction

Claims

1. Device (1) for filling a container (7) with a filling product, comprising:

a valve housing (2) having a valve seat (20);

a valve cone (3) movable relative to the valve seat (20); and

a swirl body (4) arranged downstream of the valve cone (3), the swirl body (4) being used to impart a swirl to the filling product flowing through the valve cone (3),

characterized in that the valve cone (3) is supported on the valve housing (2) by means of the swirl body (4),

wherein a driver (5) is arranged downstream of the valve seat (20), the driver (5) being used to move the valve cone (3) relative to the valve seat (20).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the swirl body (4) is arranged firmly on the valve housing (2) and the valve cone (3) is supported displaceably on the swirl body (4).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve cone (3) is firmly connected with the swirl body (4) and that the swirl body (4) is displaceably supported on the valve housing (2).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the driver (5) comprises an electrically acting driver (5), a magnetically acting driver (5), a pneumatically acting driver (5) and/or a hydraulically acting driver (5), and in that the driver (5) is arranged downstream of the valve cone (3).

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the swirl body (4) is arranged firmly on the valve housing (2) and the valve cone (3) is supported displaceably on the swirl body (4), wherein the swirl body (4) is designed as a support for the drive (5) of the valve cone (3).

6. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve cone (3) is firmly connected to the swirl body (4) and the swirl body (4) is displaceably supported on the valve housing (2), wherein the drive (5) is configured to move a unit consisting of swirl body (4) and valve cone (3).

7. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive (5) is arranged at the side of the cyclone body (4) seen in the flow direction (9) of the filling product.

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a discharge line (6) is provided in the valve housing (2), which discharge line (6) serves for laterally discharging gas which is discharged from a container (7) to be filled when filling the filling product.

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the lead-out line (6) can be in fluid communication with a return gas pipe (42) extending in the cyclone body (4) and/or in the valve cone (3).

10. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a metering and dispensing unit (8) is arranged above the valve cone (3), which metering and dispensing unit (8) serves for metering and dispensing the additional product.

11. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said additive product is a syrup.

12. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the swirl body (4) is arranged at the outflow opening (21) of the valve housing (2).