DE102018132953A1 - Device for filling a filling product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling a filling product into a container (7), preferably for filling a drink into a beverage container in a beverage filling system, comprising a valve housing (2) with a valve seat (20), one relative to the valve seat ( 20) movable valve cone (3), and a swirl body (4) arranged downstream of the valve cone (3) for applying a swirl to the filling product flowing past the valve cone (3), the valve cone (3) via the swirl body (4) on the Valve housing (2) is mounted.

Description

Technical field

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

State of the art

It is known to use devices for filling a filling product or filling elements in beverage filling systems to introduce the respective filling product, for example a beverage, into the containers to be filled. For this purpose, the containers, for example PET bottles, are arranged below the filling element and in particular below a product outlet of a filling element. A corresponding product valve is then opened in the filling element, by means of which a corresponding amount of filling product is filled into the container to be filled.

So-called cone valves, which have an essentially conical valve cone, which can be moved relative to a valve seat, are often used as product valves in filling elements. In order to allow the filling product to flow out of the product outlet, the valve cone is lifted out of the valve seat accordingly, so that the filling product above it can flow through the annular gap that then arises between the valve cone and the valve seat and accordingly emerges from a product outlet and then runs into the container to be filled .

In conventional devices for filling a filling product, the space located upstream of the valve cone and available to the filling product is intersected by the fact that a valve rod, on which the valve cone is guided and by means of which the valve cone can be raised and lowered, is located upstream in the interior of the valve housing extends. The valve rod is usually guided outside the valve chamber in contact with the product and is there connected to a drive for moving the valve cone. The transition between the product-contacting space and the outside space in which the drive is arranged is sealed, for example, by means of a bellows. The flow of the filling product is therefore disrupted above the valve seat by the introduced components.

In particular, if the filling product is a filling product to which an additive, for example a syrup, is added in the device, in order to enable adequate mixing of the fill product and additive or additional product, the space to be provided above the valve seat correspondingly run long, which leads to a correspondingly high height of the device.

Furthermore, in conventional devices, a gas displaced from the container during the filling of a container with the filling product is discharged centrally through a return gas pipe provided in the valve cone, which extends inside the valve housing from the valve cone against the direction of flow through the valve cone and the valve rod. The presence of the return gas pipe also requires a minimum cross section of the valve rod.

Such devices therefore do not have an optimal flow geometry. In addition, the geometry of the devices can make it more difficult to rinse out the filling product present above the valve seat, as is desired, for example, when metering in an additive, for example a syrup, or the overall height of the conventional device must be chosen to be correspondingly high.

Presentation of the invention

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

The object is achieved by a device for filling a filling product, preferably for filling a beverage in a beverage filling system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a device for filling a filling product into a container, preferably for filling a beverage into a beverage container in a beverage filling system, is proposed, comprising a valve housing with a valve seat, a valve cone movable relative to the valve seat, and a swirl body arranged downstream of the valve cone for applying a swirl to the filling product flowing past the valve cone. The device is characterized in that the valve cone is mounted on the valve body via the swirl body.

The fact that the valve cone is mounted on the valve housing via the swirl body means that there is no need for expensive mounting of the valve cone upstream of the valve cone. In addition, the flow cross-section through the Valve housing provided supply line upstream of the valve cone can be designed essentially undisturbed. As a result, the device upstream of the valve cone can be made more compact than was possible in conventional devices upstream of the valve cone.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the swirl body is fixed to the valve housing and the valve cone is slidably mounted on the swirl body. As a result, secure mounting and guidance of the valve cone can be achieved in a simple manner. In addition, there is no need for a complex bearing construction that narrows the inflow cross section upstream of the valve cone.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the valve cone is fixedly connected to the swirl body and the swirl body is mounted displaceably on the valve housing. As a result, the valve cone and the swirl body can be preassembled before the device is assembled, so that the assembly can be facilitated.

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

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

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

The drives mentioned can also be used to regulate or control the expansion of the annular gap between the valve seat and the valve cone, in order in this way to achieve a control or regulation of the filling product flow emerging from the filling element. In this way, for example, a predetermined or desired volume flow profile can be achieved during the filling process.

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

If the swirl body is fixedly arranged on the valve housing and the valve cone is slidably mounted on the swirl body, the swirl body can optionally be designed as a counter bearing for driving the valve cone. Thus, the relative forces resulting from driving or moving the valve cone relative to the valve seat can be absorbed and transmitted via the swirl body, so that the device can be constructed in a particularly compact manner.

A seal, preferably a bellows, is preferably provided between the valve cone and the swirl body in order to be able to seal mutual contact surfaces and / or surfaces of the swirl body and the valve cone which are movable relative to one another.

Alternatively, if the valve cone is fixedly connected to the swirl body and the swirl body is slidably mounted on the valve housing, the drive can optionally be designed to move the unit consisting of swirl body and valve cone. As a result, a dynamic seal for sealing off a relative movement between the swirl body and the valve cone can be dispensed with, since these are rigidly connected to one another. In this preferred embodiment, a dynamic seal is preferably provided between the swirl body and the valve body.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the drive, viewed in the flow direction of the filling product, is arranged on the side of the swirl body. This enables a particularly compact construction of the device, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the device, to be achieved. In particular, the overall structural height can be reduced in this way compared to designs in which the drive is arranged at the upper end of the valve body.

In order to optionally allow gases displaced during the filling of the filling product from a container to be filled by the inflowing filling product, according to a further preferred embodiment, a discharge line for the lateral discharge of gases displaced when filling the filling product from a container to be filled can be provided in the valve housing be provided, wherein the discharge line can preferably enter into fluid communication and / or be in fluid communication with a return gas pipe extending in the swirl body and / or in the valve cone.

In order to be able to optionally mix the filling product into a container to be filled before filling, a metering unit for metering an additional product, in particular a syrup, can optionally be provided above the valve cone.

If, according to a further preferred embodiment, the swirl body is arranged at an outlet of the valve housing, a particularly compact structure of the device can be achieved. This also ensures that the filling product enters the container with a predetermined swirl.

Figure list

• 1 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 2 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts;
• 3 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts gemäß einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 4 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts; und
• 5 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Show:

• 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for filling a filling product according to a preferred embodiment;
• 2nd schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device for filling a filling product;
• 3rd schematically shows a sectional view of a device for filling a filling product according to a further preferred embodiment;
• 4th schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device for filling a filling product; and
• 5 schematically shows a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device for filling a filling product.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. The same, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In 1 is a schematic sectional view of a device 1 for filling a filling product according to a preferred embodiment.

The device 1 is designed for filling a beverage into a beverage container (not shown here), for example a glass bottle or PET bottle, in a beverage filling system. The device 1 includes a valve housing 2nd with a valve seat 20 , one relative to the valve seat 20 movable valve cone 3rd , and one downstream of the valve plug 3rd arranged swirl body 4th for applying a swirl to that on the valve cone 3rd pasted filling product.

The valve cone 3rd is over the swirl body 3rd on the valve housing 2nd stored such that the swirl body 4th firmly on the valve housing 2nd is arranged and the valve cone 3rd slidably on the swirl body 4th is stored.

This is the valve cone 3rd by means of a valve plug stem 30th in a guide opening 41 of the swirl body 4th longitudinal 10 the device 1 slidably held.

Alternatively, the valve cone 3rd firmly with the swirl body 4th be connected and the swirl body 4th then slidably on the valve housing 2nd be stored.

By moving the valve cone 3rd relative to the valve seat 20 can vary according to the distance between the valve cone 3rd and valve seat 20 forming annular gap 90 can be provided or closed in a manner known per se, the dimension of the annular gap 90 for controlling a volume flow of the filling product on the valve cone 3rd past and through the downstream of the valve cone 3rd arranged swirl body 4th can be used.

The swirl body 4th has a plurality of guide vanes 40 by means of which in the direction of flow 9 on the valve cone 3rd a swirl flowing past can be applied. In this way it can in particular be achieved that the filling product is on an inner wall of the outlet 21st of the valve housing 21st creates, and thus flows into an inner wall of a container to be filled in this. Thus, in the middle of the filling product flow flowing into the container, a space for a return gas flow of the gas displaced from the container by the inflowing filling product can be provided.

Downstream of the valve seat 20 and the valve cone 3rd is a drive 5 for moving the valve cone 3rd relative to the valve seat 20 arranged, the drive 5 in this optional embodiment an electrically acting drive 5 includes. The swirl body 4th acts here as a counter bearing for the drive 5 of the valve cone 3rd .

The drive 5 is in the direction of flow 9 of the filling product seen from the side of the swirl body 4th arranged. Here is a controllable / adjustable excitation unit 50 on the valve housing 50 provided which on a on the valve stem 30th arranged rotor unit 51 acts in a manner known per se, causing the position of the valve cone 3rd longitudinal 10 is controllable / adjustable or adjustable.

The device 1 also has one in the valve housing 2nd integrated discharge line 6 for the lateral discharge of the return gas displaced from the container to be filled when the filling product is filled.

2nd shows schematically a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of a device 1 for filling a filling product, which essentially consists of that in its structure 1 corresponds.

The device 1 out 2nd also has one in the valve housing 2nd integrated discharge line 6 for the lateral discharge of the return gas displaced from the container to be filled when the filling product is filled, the discharge line 6 with one in the swirl body 4th extending return gas pipe 42 is in fluid communication. The return gas pipe extends through a central part 43 of the swirl body 4th and one of its vanes 40 . Alternatively, the return gas pipe 42 independent of the guide vanes 40 to the valve body 2nd extend there.

The valve cone 3rd is on its valve stem 30th towards the middle part 43 of the swirl body 4th by means of two bellows 22 sealed so that no fill product in the contact area between the valve stem 30th and the guide opening 41 can penetrate and settle there.

3rd shows schematically a sectional view of a device 1 for filling a filling product according to a further preferred embodiment. Its structure essentially corresponds to that 2nd , the swirl body 4th essentially directly upstream or at the outlet 21st of the valve housing 2nd is arranged.

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

Furthermore, in 3rd a container to be filled 7 shown which is in sealing contact with the spout 21st brought.

Above the valve cone 3rd is also an optional metering unit 8th for metering an additional product, such as a syrup, provided.

In 4th is a schematic sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a device 1 shown for filling a filling product.

The device 1 essentially corresponds to that from 3rd , with a pneumatic drive instead of the electric drive 5 is provided. For this is in the swirl body 4th a cylinder chamber 53 of the drive 5 arranged in which one with the valve plug stem 30th connected piston 54 longitudinal 10 is guided.

Above and below the piston 54 shows the drive 5 through the valve body 2nd and the swirl body 4th extending lines 55 on which by means of controllable / regulatable valves 52 can be opened or closed, so that the pressures above and below the piston in a manner known per se 54 in the cylinder chamber 53 are adjustable, so the position of the valve cone 3rd relative to the valve seat 20 adjust.

Alternatively, the drive 5 instead of the pneumatic training shown, a hydraulic drive.

In 5 is a schematic sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a device 1 shown for filling a filling product. The device 1 largely corresponds to that of 1 . Alternatively to the execution according to 1 is in the device 5 the valve cone 3rd firmly with the swirl body 4th connected. To a relative movement of the valve cone 3rd relative to the valve seat 20 is to provide the swirl body 4th longitudinal 10 slidably on the valve housing 2nd stored. The contact point between the valve housing 2nd and the swirl body 4th is through bellows 22 sealed.

The drive 5 the device 1 is consequently for moving the swirl unit 4th and valve cone 3rd educated. In the present preferred embodiment, the drive is 5 as a pneumatic drive 5 analogous to the embodiment 4th formed, the cylinder chamber 53 in the valve housing 2nd is arranged and the piston 54 with the swirl body 4th connected is. A displacement of the piston 54 in the cylinder chamber 53 consequently results in a displacement of the swirl body 4th longitudinal 10 .

Alternatively, the drive 5 of course also an electric drive, as in the 1 to 3rd shown, comprise a hydraulic drive, which can be designed essentially analogously to the one shown here, or any other type of suitable drives known per se.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention.

Reference list

1

contraption

2nd

Valve body

20

Valve seat

21

Spout

22

Bellows

3rd

Valve cone

30th

Valve stem

32

piston

4th

Swirl body

40

vane

41

Guide opening

42

Return gas pipe

43

Middle section

5

drive

50

Excitation unit

51

Runner unit

52

Valve

53

Cylinder chamber

54

piston

55

cables

6

Discharge line

7

container

8th

Dosing unit

9

Flow direction

90

Annular gap

10th

Longitudinal direction

Claims (11)

Device (1) for filling a filling product into a container (7), preferably for filling a beverage into a beverage container in a beverage filling system, comprising a valve housing (2) with a valve seat (20), a valve cone (movable relative to the valve seat (20)) 3), and a swirl body (4) arranged downstream of the valve cone (3) for applying a swirl to the filling product flowing past the valve cone (3), characterized in that the valve cone (3) via the swirl body (4) on the valve housing ( 2) is stored. Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the swirl body (4) is fixed to the valve housing (2) and the valve cone (3) is slidably mounted on the swirl body (4). Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the valve cone (3) is firmly connected to the swirl body (4) and the swirl body (4) is slidably mounted on the valve housing (2). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swirl body (4) is arranged downstream of the valve cone (3). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive (5) for moving the valve cone (3) relative to the valve seat (20) is arranged downstream of the valve seat (20), the drive (5) preferably being electrically acting drive (5), a magnetically acting drive (5), a pneumatically acting drive (5) and / or a hydraulically acting drive (5), the drive (5) preferably being arranged downstream of the valve cone (3). Device (1) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the swirl body (4) is fixedly arranged on the valve housing (20) and the valve cone (3) is slidably mounted on the swirl body (4), the swirl body (4) acting as a counter bearing for the drive (5) of the Valve cone (3) is formed. Device (1) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the valve cone (3) is fixedly connected to the swirl body (4) and the swirl body (4) is slidably mounted on the valve housing (2), the drive (5) for moving the swirl body unit (4) and valve cone (3) is formed. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 5 to 7 , characterized in that the drive (5) seen in the flow direction (9) of the filling product is arranged laterally of the swirl body (4). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a discharge line (6) is provided in the valve housing (2) for the lateral discharge of gases displaced when filling the filling product from a container (7) to be filled, the discharge line ( 6) can preferably enter into fluid communication with a return gas pipe (42) extending in the swirl body (4) and / or in the valve cone (3). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a metering unit (8) for metering an additional product, in particular a syrup, is provided above the valve cone (3). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swirl body (4) is arranged at an outlet (21) of the valve housing (2).

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