EP0291971B1 - Method and device for the counter-pressure filling of containers or the like, with carbonated liquids, especially beverages - Google Patents

Method and device for the counter-pressure filling of containers or the like, with carbonated liquids, especially beverages Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0291971B1
EP0291971B1 EP88108016A EP88108016A EP0291971B1 EP 0291971 B1 EP0291971 B1 EP 0291971B1 EP 88108016 A EP88108016 A EP 88108016A EP 88108016 A EP88108016 A EP 88108016A EP 0291971 B1 EP0291971 B1 EP 0291971B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure
filling
liquid
vessel
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88108016A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0291971A2 (en
EP0291971A3 (en
Inventor
Ludwig. Dipl.-Ing. Clüsserath
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AG
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Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AG
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Priority to AT88108016T priority Critical patent/ATE62210T1/en
Publication of EP0291971A2 publication Critical patent/EP0291971A2/en
Publication of EP0291971A3 publication Critical patent/EP0291971A3/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
    • B67C3/286—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to flow rate control, i.e. controlling slow and fast filling phases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B67C3/12—Pressure-control devices

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for filling carbonated liquids, in particular beverages, under counterpressure in vessels or the like. According to the preamble of claim 1 and a device for carrying out the method.
  • the discharge of the return gas displaced from a vessel to be filled in the form of a gas or gas mixture with pressure drop into a chamber should allow a high flow rate for fast filling of the vessels and thus a high filling capacity of the filling device, regardless of the manner in which the termination the liquid inflow takes place, which is carried out as a result of the interruption of the return gas discharge by the liquid rising in the vessel itself or on the basis of a signal which is determined by a measurement sensor when the liquid in the vessel rises to a predetermined filling level or after a liquid quantity which has actually flowed into the vessel has been run in.
  • a method or a device of the type mentioned at the outset for filling vessels is known from DE-A 30 01 099, with this known filling device in the manner of a counterpressure filling machine having a plurality of filling elements, thereby reducing the pressure drop in the vessel to be filled is generated that the return gas via a throttle device having a connection in a as a ventilation ring channel for all filling elements of the filling machine, the chamber is discharged, from which it is discharged via an outlet to the atmosphere.
  • Each filling element of the filling machine has such a connection provided with a throttling device and associated with a tension gas valve arrangement, the throttling device being provided with one or more nozzles, the diameter of which, once defined, is dimensioned such that a pressure is established in the vessel to be filled during the liquid inlet , which is at least temporarily below the filling pressure below which the liquid to be filled is fed to the filling machine and thus its liquid container and the filling elements attached to it.
  • each connection is designed to be shut off and each filling element is provided with a vessel relief so that the respective filled vessel can be relieved to atmospheric pressure and removed from the filling element after the liquid inlet has ended.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method or a device with which liquids having different filling properties can be optimally filled in an economical manner by adapting the pressure gradient without making any change to the throttle device assigned to the respective filling element.
  • the method according to the invention is suitable for filling vessels with counterpressure filling machines in a single or multi-chamber construction and enables adjustment of the pressure gradient or the flow rate solely by adjusting the pressure regulated in the chamber to a different size adapted to the filling properties of the liquid to be filled the often very different filling properties of the liquids to be filled with a filling machine, so that not only one type of beverage, but different types of beverage such as beer, wheat beer, lemonade, mineral water or the like can be filled with one machine in an optimal manner.
  • FIG. 1 shows a counterpressure filling machine, for example a three-chamber counterpressure filling machine 10 in a rotating design for carbonated liquids, in particular drinks, with an annular liquid container 11, on the outer circumference of which a large number of filling elements 12 are attached with a uniform mutual spacing is.
  • Each filling element 12 is equipped with a substantially vertically arranged filling tube 13 and a vertically displaceable centering and sealing tulip 14.
  • Each filling element 12 is associated with a lifting and lowering device 15 with a lifting cylinder 16 and a support plate 17 for each vessel 18 to be filled, for example a bottle.
  • the lowering and raising can take place in such a way that the lifting cylinders 16 are constantly pressurized in the sense of lifting and a lifting cylinder control curve 19 is attached in the region of the vessel insert and vessel extension, not shown, on which control rollers 20 attached to the lifting cylinders 16 run around lower each support plate 17 with the filled vessel 18 standing thereon before the extension and let each support plate 17 in the lowered state take up a vessel 18 to be filled at the insert and lift it to the respective filling element 12.
  • annular liquid container 11 At the bottom of the annular liquid container 11, both an annular distribution chamber 25 for tension gas and an annular return gas chamber 26 for return gas are attached. Via a central distributor 27 of the filling machine, the liquid container 11 is connected by means of a liquid line 28 and the ring distributor chamber 25 by means of a tensioning gas line 29 loaded.
  • a control valve 32 is connected to the outlet 30 of the return gas chamber 26 or a line 31 which extends the outlet 30 and is also guided via the distributor 27. Upstream of this a control valve 32 is inserted into the extension line 31 or into the return gas chamber 26, e.g. B. is assigned a pressure regulator on which the pressure to be regulated in the return gas chamber 26 is adjustable.
  • the pressure sensor 33 is a further pressure sensor 34, z. B.
  • the pressure to be set on the pressure sensor 33 is dependent on the filling pressure received by the further pressure sensor 35 in the liquid line 28 or in the liquid container 11 and the control valve 32 is released by a signal from the pressure sensor 33, for example a continuous signal, for releasing back gas then opened when the pressure difference between the pressure received by the pressure sensor 33 and the pressure received by the further pressure sensor 34 exceeds a value when the pressure to be regulated is exceeded.
  • the pressure sensor 33 can also control the control valve 32 itself.
  • the pressure in the ring distribution chamber 25 is also regulated as a function of the filling pressure, and for this purpose a controllable valve 36 is interposed in the tensioning gas line 29, to which a sensor 37, e.g. B. a pressure regulator is assigned.
  • a sensor 37 e.g. B. a pressure regulator is assigned.
  • valve 2 shows in the filling position one of the filling elements 12 attached to the annular liquid container 11, the basic structure of which is known and each in a valve chamber 38 of the filling element housing 40 have a valve body 43 lifted off a valve seat 41 by means of an opening spring 42.
  • the valve chamber 38 is connected to the liquid chamber 45 of the liquid container 11 via a liquid channel 44 and an electrical or electropneumatic actuating device 46 is arranged on the filler element housing 40 and is connected to a central control device 47 of the filling machine 10 by means of a control line a.
  • the actuating device 46 presses the valve body 43 against the opening spring 42 onto the valve seat 41 and thereby establishes the closed position of the liquid valve 48 consisting of the valve seat 41 and the valve body 43.
  • the switching element 49 is connected to the control device 47 via a signal line, not shown.
  • a clamping gas valve arrangement 50 in the manner of a flat slide valve is attached to the side of the filler element housing 40, in the housing 51 of which a flat valve disk 52 is rotatably mounted by means of a carrier 53.
  • the carrier 53 has at its free end protruding from the housing 51 an actuating lever 54, which cooperates with control elements 56, for example control cams or control cams, which are mounted on a control ring 55 of the filling machine 10 at intervals and in different planes, around the valve disk 52 in to swivel the required operating position.
  • a spring 57 presses the valve disk 52 in a gastight manner against a base plate 58, in the surface thereof facing the valve disk 52 the tensioning gas supply channel 59 coming from the ring distribution chamber 25, through the lower leg of the liquid container 11 and through the filler element housing 40, opens. Furthermore, on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52, an equalizing channel 60 leads into an equalizing chamber 61 formed between the liquid valve 48 and the filler pipe 13, as well as a clamping gas which can be connected to the tensioning gas supply channel 59 via a groove of the valve disk 52, not shown -Inlet channel 62, which opens at the lower end of the filling element housing 40 or opens into an annular clamping gas chamber opening at the lower end.
  • connection 64 provided with a throttle device 63 leads through the filling element housing 40 to the return gas chamber 26.
  • This connection 64 consists, on the one hand, of a supply line 68 which leads from an input 79 located at the lower end of the filling element housing 40 to an upward one leading route is divided into a fork in a wiring harness 69 and a further wiring harness 70 and on the other hand from an exhausting wiring harness 71 connected to the return gas chamber 26, in which the wiring harness 69 and the further wiring harness 70 are combined after a sufficient length extension.
  • a nozzle 65 for a slow filling phase is inserted in the line strand 69, and a further nozzle 67 for a common rapid filling phase provided with the nozzle 65 is inserted in the further line strand 70, the nozzle 65 and the further nozzle 67 forming the throttle device 63 of the connection 64.
  • the line string 69 which can be shut off and for this purpose the valve disk 52 is provided with a control groove 72, by means of which the ends of the string 69 opening out on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52 can be connected in order to discharge the back gas displaced during the filling process.
  • an electrically or electropneumatically operable drain valve 66 which is connected in the further line branch 70 and which is connected to the control unit 47 via a control line b and interrupts the further branch 70 with its valve body 76 in the closed position.
  • the wiring harness 69 can also be shut off, by means of a check valve 77 inserted in the wiring harness 69, which allows unhindered return gas discharge, but automatically prevents the backflow of return gas in the event of a bottle break or during vessel relief.
  • a check valve 77 for. B. ball check valve eliminates the switching steps otherwise required to open or shut off the wiring harness 69 for the valve disk 52, but also the control groove 72 formed in the valve disk 52.
  • a vessel relief 73 is also formed in the tensioning gas valve arrangement 50, which also includes the connection 64 including throttle device 63.
  • This has a relief channel 75 provided with a throttle element 74, which extends from the surface of the base plate facing the valve disk 52 58 dissipates and is guided downward in the base plate 58 for muzzle on the outer peripheral surface.
  • a channel, not shown, formed in the valve disk 52 connects the compensating channel 60, the span gas inlet channel 62 and the relief channel 75 in the relief position of the valve disk 52.
  • the throttle device 63 has a diameter of 0.7 mm for the nozzle 65 and a diameter of 0 for the nozzle 67 , 8 mm, the actual filling is started when the machine is rotating.
  • each vessel 18 to be filled in the example a bottle, is placed in the sealing position with the lower end of the filling element housing 40 of the filling element 12 with the interposition of a sealing element 78 and the subsequent prestressing is then carried out with Air or an inert gas, the In special cases, a pre-rinsing can also be carried out, the release of the liquid valve 48 on the basis of a control signal output by the control device 47 via the control line a to the actuating device 46, so that the action of the opening spring 42 causes the liquid valve 48 into the opening position shown in FIG. 2 is adjusted.
  • the valve disk 52 After the actuating lever 54 has started up, assumes a position in which the cable harness 69 is continuously free via the control groove 72, so that during the liquid inlet that is now starting, that of the lower one
  • liquid escaping return gas in the form of a gas mixture of biasing gas and air brought in from the vessel to be filled enters the supply line 68 of the connection 64 via the mouth of the vessel and the sealing element 78 and then then via the line 69 and the nozzle 65 arranged therein and the discharging line 71 of the connection 64 is discharged into the return gas chamber 26 under the pressure to be regulated.
  • a pressure drop to the filling pressure is established in which the liquid slowly emerges from the lower end of the filling tube 13 at a low flow rate. If the liquid rising in the vessel reaches the lower end of the filling pipe 13 when the filling element 12 continues to circulate, then the drain valve 66 is opened on the basis of a control signal output by the control device 47 via the control line b, as a result of which the return gas is additionally added via the further one Nozzle 67 is discharged.
  • a pressure drop to the filling pressure is set, at which the further liquid inlet is continued at the flow rate that is optimal for the liquid to be filled.
  • This rapid filling phase ends when the liquid rises into the narrowing part of the vessel 18 by adjusting the drain valve 66 in the closed position on the basis of a control signal delivered by the control device 47 via the control line b to the drain valve 66.
  • the liquid flow continues at a reduced flow rate until the switching element 49 responds at a predetermined increase in height, whereupon the control device 47 outputs a control signal which, via the control line a, switches the actuating device 46 effectively and for closing the Liquid valve 48 presses the valve body 43 against the opening spring 42 on the valve seat 41, and thus the liquid inlet is ended.
  • the actuating lever 54 runs against a control element 56.
  • valve disk 52 assumes an operating position for relieving the pressure on the vessel to atmospheric pressure, in which the Not shown channel connects the span gas inlet channel 62 and the equalization channel 60 with the relief channel 75, so that the pressure still present in the filled vessel 18 is relieved to atmospheric pressure via this and the throttling element 74 arranged therein.
  • the liquid levels in the inside of the filling tube and in the vessel are also mutually adjusted.
  • the relieved vessel 18 is removed from the filling element 20 by lowering by means of the lifting cylinder 16 and removed from the machine in the region of the vessel extension.
  • the pressure to be regulated should generally correspond to or be above the saturation pressure. Since each filling element 12 of the filling machine 10 is connected via its lockable connection 64, which is provided with a throttle device 63, to the return gas chamber 26 common to all filling elements 12, each pressure change made on the pressure sensor 33 simultaneously affects all throttle devices 63 of the filling elements 12.
  • the invention thus makes it possible to continuously adapt the flow rate to the requirements or the filling behavior of the liquid to be filled simply by changing the pressure to be regulated. This is particularly advantageous for filling machines with which different types of drinks and bottles are to be processed.
  • At least a partial amount of the return gas discharged via the connection 64 into the return gas chamber 26 is used for the vessel preload and / or for a pre-purge preceding the vessel preload.
  • This is of economic importance if the liquid inflow is to be accelerated and largely carried out with the exclusion of air at low CO2 consumption.
  • this presupposes that inert gas, for. B. CO2 is used.
  • valve disc 52 is to be provided with a connecting channel, so that in an operating position preceding the actual prestressing position for pre-rinsing and partial prestressing, the compensation channel 60 can be connected to the outgoing line.
  • the pre-rinsing takes place when the vessel is not yet in the sealing position with the filling element 12, and when the vessel is in the sealing position with the filling element 12, partial pre-tensioning to the pressure to be regulated, whereupon the actual pre-tensioning only when the filling element 12 continues to circulate in the intended operating position of the valve disk 52.
  • the return gas under the pressure to be regulated passes from the return gas chamber 26 via the feed line (not shown) and the connection channel (also not shown) into the equalization channel 60 and from there via the equalization chamber 61 and the inside of the filling pipe 13 into the vessel 18. In this, it flows upward and displaces the air brought from the vessel via the as yet unsealed vessel mouth until the vessel continues to flow from the filling element 12 and the upward stroke of the lifting cylinder 16 from the latter the apparent from Fig. 2 sealing layer has been spent. With The sealed position assumes partial prestressing of the vessel to the pressure to be regulated.
  • tension gas must be supplied to the return gas chamber 26 in appropriate amounts, for example Via a branch line (not shown) connecting the return gas chamber 26 or the extending line 31 to the ring distribution chamber 25 or the span gas line 29, which are controlled by the pressure sensor 33 and also for supplying the return gas chamber 26 with the pressure to be regulated when the operational readiness is established Filling machine 10 can be used.
  • the input 79 of the connection 64 is moved in the usual way into the vessel 18 to be filled for determining the fill level, and a ball check valve 80 for interrupting the liquid supply in the known manner above it in the supply line 68 been assigned to the vessel 18.
  • a ball check valve 80 for interrupting the liquid supply in the known manner above it in the supply line 68 been assigned to the vessel 18.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

In this method, the return gas to be carried away from the container to be filled in each case is carried away by differential pressure via a connection provided with a throttle device to a return- gas chamber, in which a pressure is set which can be adjusted within a pressure range lying between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the throttle device. As a result, the flow rate with which the liquid to be filled flows into the container to be filled can be continuously matched to the filling properties of the liquid to be filled in each case and/or to the particular output requirement set for the filling device.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Füllen von kohlensäurehaltigen Flüssigkeiten, insbesondere Getränken, unter Gegendruck in Gefäße od. dgl. nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 sowie eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens.The invention relates to a method for filling carbonated liquids, in particular beverages, under counterpressure in vessels or the like. According to the preamble of claim 1 and a device for carrying out the method.

Das Abführen des beim Flüssigkeitseinlauf aus einem jeweils zu füllenden Gefäß verdrängten Rückgases in Form eines Gases bzw. Gasgemisches mit Druckgefälle in eine Kammer soll eine hohe Fließgeschwindigkeit zum schnellen Befüllen der Gefäße und somit eine hohe Fülleistung der Füllvorrichtung ermöglichen, unabhängig davon auf welche Weise die Beendigung des Flüssigkeitseinlaufes erfolgt, die infolge Unterbrechung der Rückgasabfuhr durch die im Gefäß aufsteigende Flüssigkeit selbst oder aufgrund eines Signales vorgenommen wird, das von einem Meßwertaufnehmer beim Anstieg der Flüssigkeit im Gefäß auf eine vorbestimmte Füllhöhe oder nach erfolgtem Einlauf einer dem Gefäß tatsächlich zugeflossenen Flüssigkeitsmenge ermittelt wird.The discharge of the return gas displaced from a vessel to be filled in the form of a gas or gas mixture with pressure drop into a chamber should allow a high flow rate for fast filling of the vessels and thus a high filling capacity of the filling device, regardless of the manner in which the termination the liquid inflow takes place, which is carried out as a result of the interruption of the return gas discharge by the liquid rising in the vessel itself or on the basis of a signal which is determined by a measurement sensor when the liquid in the vessel rises to a predetermined filling level or after a liquid quantity which has actually flowed into the vessel has been run in.

Es ist ein Verfahren bzw. eine Vorrichtung der eingangs erwähnten Art zum Füllen von Gefäßen aus der DE-A 30 01 099 bekannt, wobei bei dieser bekannten Füllvorrichtung in der Art einer eine Vielzahl von Füllelementen aufweisenden Gegendruck-Füllmaschine das Druckgefälle im jeweils abzufüllenden Gefäß dadurch erzeugt wird, daß das Rückgas über eine eine Drosseleinrichtung aufweisende Verbindung in eine als Entlüftungsringkanal für alle Füllelemente der Füllmaschine ausgebildete Kammer abgeführt wird, aus der es über einen Ausgang zur Atmosphäre hin abgelassen wird.A method or a device of the type mentioned at the outset for filling vessels is known from DE-A 30 01 099, with this known filling device in the manner of a counterpressure filling machine having a plurality of filling elements, thereby reducing the pressure drop in the vessel to be filled is generated that the return gas via a throttle device having a connection in a as a ventilation ring channel for all filling elements of the filling machine, the chamber is discharged, from which it is discharged via an outlet to the atmosphere.

Ein jedes Füllelement der Füllmaschine weist eine solche mit Drosseleinrichtung versehene, einer Spanngasventilanordnung zugeordnete Verbindung auf, wobei die Drosseleinrichtung mit einer oder mehreren Düsen versehen ist, deren einmal festgelegter Durchmesser so bemessen ist, daß sich während des Flüssigkeitseinlaufes im jeweils zu füllenden Gefäß ein Druck einstellt, der zumindest zeitweise unterhalb des Fülldruckes liegt, unter dem die abzufüllende Flüssigkeit der Füllmaschine und somit deren Flüssigkeitsbehälter sowie den daran angesetzten Füllelementen zugeführt wird. Darüber hinaus ist jede Verbindung absperrbar ausgebildet und jedes Füllelement mit einer Gefäßentlastung versehen, damit das jeweils gefüllte Gefäß nach Beendigung des Flüssigkeitseinlaufes auf Atmosphärendruck entlastet und vom Füllelement entfernt werden kann.Each filling element of the filling machine has such a connection provided with a throttling device and associated with a tension gas valve arrangement, the throttling device being provided with one or more nozzles, the diameter of which, once defined, is dimensioned such that a pressure is established in the vessel to be filled during the liquid inlet , which is at least temporarily below the filling pressure below which the liquid to be filled is fed to the filling machine and thus its liquid container and the filling elements attached to it. In addition, each connection is designed to be shut off and each filling element is provided with a vessel relief so that the respective filled vessel can be relieved to atmospheric pressure and removed from the filling element after the liquid inlet has ended.

Da der Durchgangsquerschnitt der einen oder der mehreren Düsen einer jeden Drosseleinrichtung darauf abgestimmt ist, daß die am häufigsten mit der Füllmaschine abzufüllende Flüssigkeit in die dafür vorgesehene Flaschensorte mit optimaler Fließgeschwindigkeit abgefüllt wird, ist diese jedoch für weitere noch mit der Füllmaschine abzufüllende andere Fülleigenschaften aufweisende Flüssigkeiten nicht geeignet, so daß sich für diese oftmals schwierig abzufüllenden Flüssigkeiten, beispielsweise Weizenbier erhebliche Minderleistungen ergeben, die z. B. Folge übermäßiger Schaumentwicklung sein können.Since the passage cross section of the one or more nozzles of each throttle device is coordinated with the fact that the liquid that is to be filled most frequently with the filling machine is filled into the bottle type provided for this purpose with an optimal flow rate, this is, however, for other filling properties that still have to be filled with the filling machine not suitable, so that for these often difficult to fill liquids, such as wheat beer, there are significant reductions in the z. B. May result from excessive foaming.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, ein Verfahren bzw. eine Vorrichtung anzugeben, womit auf wirtschaftliche Weise auch unterschiedliche Fülleigenschaften aufweisende Flüssigkeiten optimal abgefüllt werden können durch Anpassung des Druckgefälles ohne vorzunehmende Änderung an der dem jeweiligen Füllelement zugeordneten Drosseleinrichtung.The object of the invention is to provide a method or a device with which liquids having different filling properties can be optimally filled in an economical manner by adapting the pressure gradient without making any change to the throttle device assigned to the respective filling element.

Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe sind ein Verfahren entsprechend dem kennzeichnenden Teil des Patentanspruchs 1 bzw. eine Vorrichtung entsprechend dem Patentanspruch 7 ausgebildet.To achieve this object, a method according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 and a device according to patent claim 7 are formed.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren eignet sich zum Füllen von Gefäßen mit Gegendruck-Füllmaschinen in Ein- oder Mehrkammerbauweise und ermöglicht allein durch Einstellung des in der Kammer eingeregelten Druckes auf eine auf die Fülleigenschaften der jeweils abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit abgestimmte andere Größe eine Anpassung des Druckgefälles bzw. der Fließgeschwindigkeit an die oftmals sehr unterschiedlichen Fülleigenschaften der mit einer Füllmaschine abzufüllenden Flüssigkeiten, so daß mit einer Maschine auf optimale Weise nicht nur eine Getränkesorte, sondern unterschiedliche Getränkesorten, wie Bier, Weizenbier, Limonade, Mineralwasser od. dgl. Getränke abgefüllt werden können. Dies bedeutet höhere Abfülleistungen ohne daß zeitaufwendige Änderungen an den Drosseleinrichtungen, wie Austausch von Düsen vorgenommen werden müssen und ist überraschend möglich, weil offenbar durch die dämpfende Wirkung der einem jeden Füllelement zugeordneten Drosseleinrichtung systembedingte Druckschwankungen des einzuregelnden Druckes auf den Flüssigkeitseinlauf im Gefäß ohne störenden Einfluß bleiben.The method according to the invention is suitable for filling vessels with counterpressure filling machines in a single or multi-chamber construction and enables adjustment of the pressure gradient or the flow rate solely by adjusting the pressure regulated in the chamber to a different size adapted to the filling properties of the liquid to be filled the often very different filling properties of the liquids to be filled with a filling machine, so that not only one type of beverage, but different types of beverage such as beer, wheat beer, lemonade, mineral water or the like can be filled with one machine in an optimal manner. This means higher filling capacities without time-consuming changes to the throttling devices, such as exchanging nozzles, and is surprisingly possible because the damping effect of the throttling device assigned to each filling element apparently means that system-related pressure fluctuations in the pressure to be regulated on the liquid inlet in the vessel remain without a disruptive influence .

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen des Verfahrens sind in den Unteransprüchen 2 bis 5 angegeben. Insbesondere wird durch die Maßnahme des Anspruchs 5 eine zwischen dem Zeitpunkt des Erreichens der vorgegebenen Füllhöhe und dem Zeitpunkt des Einsetzens der Gefäßentlastung liegender Zeitraum für eine Beruhigung der abgefüllten Flüssigkeit bei unter dem Fülldruck liegenden einzuregelnden Druck geschaffen, wodurch sich eine erhebliche verkürzte Zeitdauer für die Gefäßentlastung ergibt.Advantageous further developments of the method are specified in subclaims 2 to 5. In particular, by the measure of claim 5 creates a time period between the time the predetermined filling level is reached and the time the vascular relief is used for a calming of the filled liquid at a pressure to be regulated that is below the filling pressure, which results in a considerably shortened period of time for vascular relief.

Die aus Anspruch 6 hervorgehende Weiterbildung des Verfahrens führt zu besonders wirtschaftlicher Arbeitsweise, weil durch Verwendung von Inertgas, z. B. CO₂ als Vorspanngas das verdrängte Gas bzw. Gasgemisch einen hohen Anteil an CO₂ aufweist, so daß durch die erfindungsgemäße Wiederverwertung des unter dem einzuregelnden Druck stehenden Gas bzw. Gasgemisches für Vorspülung und/oder Vorspannung der CO₂-Verbrauch der Maschine wesentlich reduziert wird.The further development of the method resulting from claim 6 leads to particularly economical operation, because by using inert gas, for. B. CO₂ as a bias gas, the displaced gas or gas mixture has a high proportion of CO₂, so that the inventive CO 2 consumption of the pressurized gas or gas mixture for pre-purge and / or bias CO₂ consumption of the machine is significantly reduced.

Eine erfindungsgemäße einfach aufgebaute, funktionssichere Vorrichtung geht aus Anspruch 7 hervor. Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen dieser Vorrichtung sind Gegenstand der Ansprüche 8 bis 15.A simply constructed, functionally reliable device according to the invention can be seen from claim 7. Advantageous developments of this device are the subject of claims 8 to 15.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung ist in der Zeichnung dargestellt und wird im folgenden näher beschrieben.An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Es zeigen

  • Fig. 1 ein Schema einer Gegendruck-Füllmaschine in Mehrkammerbauweise mit gesteuerten Füllelementen
  • Fig. 2 ein Schema eines Füllelements der Gegendruck-Füllmaschine nach Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 eine Einzelheit der absperrbaren Verbindung des Füllelements
  • Fig. 4 eine weitere Einzelheit der absperrbaren Verbindung des Füllelements
Show it
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram of a back pressure filling machine in a multi-chamber design with controlled filling elements
  • FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a filling element of the counterpressure filling machine according to FIG. 1
  • Fig. 3 shows a detail of the lockable connection of the filling element
  • Fig. 4 shows another detail of the lockable connection of the filling element

Das Schema der Fig. 1 zeigt eine Gegendruck-Füllmaschine, beispielsweise eine Dreikammer-Gegendruck-Füllmaschine 10 in rotierender Bauart für kohlensäurehaltige Flüssigkeiten, insbesondere Getränke, mit einem ringförmigen Flüssigkeitsbehälter 11, an dessen Außenumfang ringsum mit gleichmäßigen gegenseitigem Abstand ein Vielzahl von Füllelementen 12 angesetzt ist. Jedes Füllelement 12 ist mit einem im wesentlichen vertikal angeordneten Füllrohr 13 und einer vertikal verschiebbar angeordneten Zentrier- und Abdichttulpe 14 ausgestattet. Jedem Füllelement 12 ist eine Heb- und Senkvorrichtung 15 mit Hubzylinder 16 und Tragteller 17 für jeweils ein zu füllendes Gefäß 18, beispielsweise eine Flasche, zugeordnet. Das Absenken und Anheben kann in der Weise erfolgen, daß die Hubzylinder 16 ständig im Sinne des Anhebens mit Druckmittel beaufschlagt sind und im Bereich des nicht dargestellten Gefäßeinschubes und Gefäßausschubes eine Hubzylindersteuerkurve 19 angebracht ist, an der an den Hubzylindern 16 angebrachte Steuerrollen 20 ablaufen, um jeden Tragteller 17 mit darauf stehendem gefüllten Gefäß 18 vor dem Ausschub abzusenken und jeden Tragteller 17 in abgesenktem Zustand am Einschub ein zu füllendes Gefäß 18 aufnehmen zu lassen und an das jeweilige Füllelement 12 anzuheben.1 shows a counterpressure filling machine, for example a three-chamber counterpressure filling machine 10 in a rotating design for carbonated liquids, in particular drinks, with an annular liquid container 11, on the outer circumference of which a large number of filling elements 12 are attached with a uniform mutual spacing is. Each filling element 12 is equipped with a substantially vertically arranged filling tube 13 and a vertically displaceable centering and sealing tulip 14. Each filling element 12 is associated with a lifting and lowering device 15 with a lifting cylinder 16 and a support plate 17 for each vessel 18 to be filled, for example a bottle. The lowering and raising can take place in such a way that the lifting cylinders 16 are constantly pressurized in the sense of lifting and a lifting cylinder control curve 19 is attached in the region of the vessel insert and vessel extension, not shown, on which control rollers 20 attached to the lifting cylinders 16 run around lower each support plate 17 with the filled vessel 18 standing thereon before the extension and let each support plate 17 in the lowered state take up a vessel 18 to be filled at the insert and lift it to the respective filling element 12.

Am Boden des ringförmigen Flüssigkeitsbehälters 11 sind angesetzt sowohl eine Ring-Verteilerkammer 25 für Spanngas als auch eine ringförmige Rückgaskammer 26 für Rückgas. Über einen zentralen Verteiler 27 der Füllmaschine wird der Flüssigkeitsbehälter 11 mittels einer Flüssigkeitsleitung 28 und die Ring-Verteilerkammer 25 mittels einer Spanngasleitung 29 beschickt. An den Ausgang 30 der Rückgaskammer 26 oder eine den Ausgang 30 verlängernde, ebenfalls über den Verteiler 27 geführte Leitung 31 ist ein Regelventil 32 angeschlossen, dem stromaufwärts ein in die verlängernde Leitung 31 bzw. in die Rückgaskammer 26 eingesetzter Druckfühler 33, z. B. ein Druckregler zugeordnet ist, an dem der in der Rückgaskammer 26 einzuregelnde Druck einstellbar ist. Dem Druckfühler 33 ist ein in die Flüssigkeitsleitung 28 eingesetzter weiterer Druckfühler 34, z. B. ein Druckregler zugeordnet, der ein in die Flüssigkeitsleitung 28 zwischengeschaltetes weiteres Regelventil 35 steuert. Der am Druckfühler 33 eingestellte einzuregelnde Druck steht in Abhängigkeit von dem vom weiteren Druckfühler 35 in der Flüssigkeitsleitung 28 bzw. im Flüssigkeitsbehälter 11 aufgenommenen Fülldruck und es wird das Regelventil 32 durch ein vom Druckfühler 33 anstehendes Signal, beispielsweise ein kontinuierliches Signal, zum Ablassen von Rückgas dann geöffnet, wenn die Druckdifferenz zwischen dem vom Druckfühler 33 aufgenommenen Druck und dem vom weiteren Druckfühler 34 aufgenommenen Druck einen Wert überschreitet, bei dessen Erreichen der einzuregelnde Druck überschritten wird. Im einfachsten Fall kann aber auch der Druckfühler 33 das Regelventil 32 selbst steuern. Der Druck in der Ring-Verteilerkammer 25 wird ebenfalls in Abhängigkeit vom Fülldruck geregelt, und es ist hierzu in die Spanngasleitung 29 ein regelbares Ventil 36 zwischengeschaltet, dem ein in der Spanngasleitung 29 eingesetzter regeltechnisch mit dem weiteren Druckfühler 34 verbundener Fühler 37, z. B. ein Druckregler zugeordnet ist.At the bottom of the annular liquid container 11, both an annular distribution chamber 25 for tension gas and an annular return gas chamber 26 for return gas are attached. Via a central distributor 27 of the filling machine, the liquid container 11 is connected by means of a liquid line 28 and the ring distributor chamber 25 by means of a tensioning gas line 29 loaded. A control valve 32 is connected to the outlet 30 of the return gas chamber 26 or a line 31 which extends the outlet 30 and is also guided via the distributor 27. Upstream of this a control valve 32 is inserted into the extension line 31 or into the return gas chamber 26, e.g. B. is assigned a pressure regulator on which the pressure to be regulated in the return gas chamber 26 is adjustable. The pressure sensor 33 is a further pressure sensor 34, z. B. assigned a pressure regulator which controls an intermediate control valve 35 interposed in the liquid line 28. The pressure to be set on the pressure sensor 33 is dependent on the filling pressure received by the further pressure sensor 35 in the liquid line 28 or in the liquid container 11 and the control valve 32 is released by a signal from the pressure sensor 33, for example a continuous signal, for releasing back gas then opened when the pressure difference between the pressure received by the pressure sensor 33 and the pressure received by the further pressure sensor 34 exceeds a value when the pressure to be regulated is exceeded. In the simplest case, the pressure sensor 33 can also control the control valve 32 itself. The pressure in the ring distribution chamber 25 is also regulated as a function of the filling pressure, and for this purpose a controllable valve 36 is interposed in the tensioning gas line 29, to which a sensor 37, e.g. B. a pressure regulator is assigned.

Das Schema der Fig. 2 zeigt in Füllstellung eines der am ringförmigen Flüssigkeitsbehälter 11 angesetzten Füllelemente 12, die in ihrem wesentlichen Aufbau bekannt sind und jeweils in einer Ventilkammer 38 des Füllelementgehäuses 40 einen von einem Ventilsitz 41 mittels einer Öffnerfeder 42 abgehobenen Ventilkörper 43 aufweisen. Die Ventilkammer 38 ist über einen Flüssigkeitskanal 44 mit der Flüssigkeitskammer 45 des Flüssigkeitsbehälters 11 verbunden und auf dem Füllelementgehäuse 40 ist eine elektrische oder elektropneumatische Betätigungseinrichtung 46 angeordnet, die mittels einer Steuerleitung a an eine zentrale Steuereinrichtung 47 der Füllmaschine 10 angeschlossen ist. Wirksam geschaltet drückt die Betätigungseinrichtung 46 den Ventilkörper 43 entgegen der Öffnerfeder 42 auf den Ventilsitz 41 und stellt dadurch die Schließlage des aus dem Ventilsitz 41 und dem Ventilkörper 43 bestehenden Flüssigkeitsventils 48 her.2 shows in the filling position one of the filling elements 12 attached to the annular liquid container 11, the basic structure of which is known and each in a valve chamber 38 of the filling element housing 40 have a valve body 43 lifted off a valve seat 41 by means of an opening spring 42. The valve chamber 38 is connected to the liquid chamber 45 of the liquid container 11 via a liquid channel 44 and an electrical or electropneumatic actuating device 46 is arranged on the filler element housing 40 and is connected to a central control device 47 of the filling machine 10 by means of a control line a. When activated, the actuating device 46 presses the valve body 43 against the opening spring 42 onto the valve seat 41 and thereby establishes the closed position of the liquid valve 48 consisting of the valve seat 41 and the valve body 43.

In das Füllelementgehäuse 40 ist von unten her das in bekannter Weise mit einem elektrischen Schaltorgan 49 versehene Füllrohr 13 eingesteckt. Das Schaltorgan 49 ist über eine nicht dargestellte Signalleitung an die Steuereinrichtung 47 angeschlossen. Seitlich an das Füllelementgehäuse 40 ist eine Spanngasventil-Anordnung 50 in der Art eines Flachschieberventiles angesetzt, in deren Gehäuse 51 eine flache Ventilscheibe 52 mittels eines Trägers 53 drehbar gelagert ist. Der Träger 53 besitzt an seinem freien, aus dem Gehäuse 51 herausragenden Ende einen Betätigungshebel 54, der mit an einem Steuerring 55 der Füllmaschine 10 abstandsweise und in unterschiedlichen Ebenen angebrachten Steuerelementen 56, beispielsweise Steuerkurven oder Steuernocken, bei Maschinenumlauf zusammenwirkt, um die Ventilscheibe 52 in die jeweils erforderliche Betriebsstellung zu schwenken. Eine Feder 57 drückt die Ventilscheibe 52 gasdicht gegen eine Sockelplatte 58, in deren der Ventilscheibe 52 zugewandten Fläche der von der Ring-Verteilerkammer 25 kommende, durch den unteren Schenkel des Flüssigkeitsbehälters 11 und durch das Füllelementgehäuse 40 geführte Spanngas-Zufuhrkanal 59 mündet. Ferner münden an der der Ventilscheibe 52 zugewandten Fläche der Sockelplatte 58 ein Ausgleichskanal 60, der in eine zwischen dem Flüssigkeitsventil 48 und dem Füllrohr 13 gebildeten Ausgleichskammer 61 führt, sowie ein mit dem Spanngas-Zufuhrkanal 59 über eine nicht dargestellte Nut der Ventilscheibe 52 verbindbarer Spanngas-Einleitkanal 62, der am unteren Ende des Füllelementgehäuses 40 ausmündet bzw. in eine am unteren Ende ausmündende ringförmige Spanngaskammer einmündet.The filling tube 13, which is provided with an electrical switching element 49 in a known manner, is inserted into the filling element housing 40 from below. The switching element 49 is connected to the control device 47 via a signal line, not shown. A clamping gas valve arrangement 50 in the manner of a flat slide valve is attached to the side of the filler element housing 40, in the housing 51 of which a flat valve disk 52 is rotatably mounted by means of a carrier 53. The carrier 53 has at its free end protruding from the housing 51 an actuating lever 54, which cooperates with control elements 56, for example control cams or control cams, which are mounted on a control ring 55 of the filling machine 10 at intervals and in different planes, around the valve disk 52 in to swivel the required operating position. A spring 57 presses the valve disk 52 in a gastight manner against a base plate 58, in the surface thereof facing the valve disk 52 the tensioning gas supply channel 59 coming from the ring distribution chamber 25, through the lower leg of the liquid container 11 and through the filler element housing 40, opens. Furthermore, on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52, an equalizing channel 60 leads into an equalizing chamber 61 formed between the liquid valve 48 and the filler pipe 13, as well as a clamping gas which can be connected to the tensioning gas supply channel 59 via a groove of the valve disk 52, not shown -Inlet channel 62, which opens at the lower end of the filling element housing 40 or opens into an annular clamping gas chamber opening at the lower end.

Vom unteren Ende des Füllelementgehäuses 40 aus führt eine mit einer Drosseleinrichtung 63 versehene Verbindung 64 durch das Füllelementgehäuse 40 zur Rückgaskammer 26. Diese Verbindung 64 besteht einerseits aus einem zuführenden Leitungsstrang 68, der von einem am unteren Ende des Füllelementgehäuses 40 gelegenen Eingang 79 nach einer aufwärts führenden Strecke sich gabelförmig in einen Leitungsstrang 69 und einen weiteren Leitungsstrang 70 aufteilt und andererseits aus einem an die Rückgaskammer 26 angeschlossenen abführenden Leitungsstrang 71, in dem der Leitungsstrang 69 und der weitere Leitungsstrang 70 nach ausreichender Längenerstreckung vereinigt sind. In den Leitungsstrang 69 ist eine Düse 65 für eine Langsamfüllphase, in den weiteren Leitungsstrang 70 eine weitere Düse 67 für eine mit der Düse 65 vorgesehenen gemeinsamen Schnellfüllphase eingesetzt, wobei die Düse 65 und die weitere Düse 67 die Drosseleinrichtung 63 der Verbindung 64 bilden. In Strömungsrichtung vor der Düse 65 ist der Leitungsstrang 69 absperrbar ausgebildet und hierzu die Ventilscheibe 52 mit einer Steuernut 72 versehen, womit die an der der Ventilscheibe 52 zugewandten Fläche der Sockelplatte 58 ausmündenden Enden des Stranges 69 zum Abführen des beim Füllvorgang verdrängten Rückgases verbindbar sind. Weitergehend ist der weiteren Düse 67 in Strömungsrichtung nachgeordnet ein in den weiteren Leitungsstrang 70 zwischengeschaltetes elektrisch oder elektropneumatisch betätigbares Ablaßventil 66, das über eine Steuerleitung b mit der Steuereinrichtung 47 verbunden ist und in Schließstellung mit seinem Ventilkörper 76 den weiteren Strang 70 unterbricht.From the lower end of the filling element housing 40, a connection 64 provided with a throttle device 63 leads through the filling element housing 40 to the return gas chamber 26. This connection 64 consists, on the one hand, of a supply line 68 which leads from an input 79 located at the lower end of the filling element housing 40 to an upward one leading route is divided into a fork in a wiring harness 69 and a further wiring harness 70 and on the other hand from an exhausting wiring harness 71 connected to the return gas chamber 26, in which the wiring harness 69 and the further wiring harness 70 are combined after a sufficient length extension. A nozzle 65 for a slow filling phase is inserted in the line strand 69, and a further nozzle 67 for a common rapid filling phase provided with the nozzle 65 is inserted in the further line strand 70, the nozzle 65 and the further nozzle 67 forming the throttle device 63 of the connection 64. In Direction of flow in front of the nozzle 65 is the line string 69 which can be shut off and for this purpose the valve disk 52 is provided with a control groove 72, by means of which the ends of the string 69 opening out on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52 can be connected in order to discharge the back gas displaced during the filling process. Furthermore, downstream of the further nozzle 67 in the flow direction is an electrically or electropneumatically operable drain valve 66 which is connected in the further line branch 70 and which is connected to the control unit 47 via a control line b and interrupts the further branch 70 with its valve body 76 in the closed position.

Wie Fig. 3 zeigt, kann der Leitungsstrang 69 auch absperrbar, mittels eines in den Leitungsstrang 69 eingesetzten Rückschlagventils 77 ausgebildet sein, das ungehinderte Rückgasabfuhr zuläßt, jedoch den Rückstrom von Rückgas bei Flaschenbruch oder während der Gefäßentlastung selbsttätig verhindert. Durch den Einsatz eines solchen Rückschlagventils 77, z. B. Kugelrückschlagventils entfallen die sonst zum Öffnen oder Absperren des Leitungsstranges 69 für die Ventilscheibe 52 erforderlichen Schaltschritte, aber auch die in der Ventilscheibe 52 ausgebildete Steuernut 72.As shown in FIG. 3, the wiring harness 69 can also be shut off, by means of a check valve 77 inserted in the wiring harness 69, which allows unhindered return gas discharge, but automatically prevents the backflow of return gas in the event of a bottle break or during vessel relief. By using such a check valve 77, for. B. ball check valve eliminates the switching steps otherwise required to open or shut off the wiring harness 69 for the valve disk 52, but also the control groove 72 formed in the valve disk 52.

In der Spanngas-Ventilanordnung 50, die auch die Verbindung 64 einschließlich Drosseleinrichtung 63 mitumfaßt, ist auch eine Gefäßentlastung 73 ausgebildet. Diese weist einen mit einem Drosselorgan 74 versehenen Entlastungskanal 75 auf, der von der der Ventilscheibe 52 zugewandten Fläche der Sokkelplatte 58 abführt und in der Sockelplatte 58 zur Ausmündung an deren Außenumfangsfläche nach unten geführt ist. Ein in der Ventilscheibe 52 ausgebildeter nicht dargestellter Kanal verbindet in der Entlastungsstellung der Ventilscheibe 52 den Ausgleichskanal 60, den Spanngas-Einleitkanal 62 und den Entlastungskanal 75.A vessel relief 73 is also formed in the tensioning gas valve arrangement 50, which also includes the connection 64 including throttle device 63. This has a relief channel 75 provided with a throttle element 74, which extends from the surface of the base plate facing the valve disk 52 58 dissipates and is guided downward in the base plate 58 for muzzle on the outer peripheral surface. A channel, not shown, formed in the valve disk 52 connects the compensating channel 60, the span gas inlet channel 62 and the relief channel 75 in the relief position of the valve disk 52.

Nachdem die vorbeschriebene Füllvorrichtung in der Art einer rotierenden Füllmaschine 10 für das Füllen eines kohlensäurehaltigen Getränkes, beispielsweise Bier mit einem CO₂-Gehalt von 5,5 gr/l und einer Temperatur von 5°C, in betriebsbereiten Zustand versetzt worden ist, wobei für die Abfüllung des Bieres am weiteren Druckfühler 34 ein Fülldruck, z. B. 2 bar, am Fühler 37 ein geringfügig unterhalb des Fülldruckes liegender Vorspanndruck und am Druckfühler 33 ein in Abhängigkeit von den Fülleigenschaften des Bieres ermittelter einzuregelnder Druck in Höhe von 1,25 bar eingestellt worden ist, der dem Sättigungsdruck des Bieres entspricht und demnach dem zwischen dem in der Flüssigkeitsleitung 28 bzw. dem Flüssigkeitsbehälter 11 vorhandenen Fülldruck und dem kritischen Druck der Drosseleinrichtung 63 liegenden Druckbereich zuzuordnen ist, sowie die Drosseleinrichtung 63 beispielsweise für die Düse 65 einen Durchmesser von 0,7 mm, für die Düse 67 einen Durchmesser von 0,8 mm aufweist, wird mit dem eigentlichen Füllen bei Maschinenumlauf begonnen. Dabei ist, wie Fig. 2 zeigt, jedes zu füllende Gefäß 18, im Beispielsfalle eine Flasche, unter Zwischenschaltung eines Abdichtelements 78 der Zentriertulpe 14 in Dichtlage mit dem unteren Ende des Füllelementgehäuses 40 des Füllelements 12 verbracht und es erfolgt anschließend an das übliche Vorspannen mit Luft oder einem inerten Gas, dem in besonderen Fällen auch ein Vorspülen vorgeschaltet sein kann, die Freigabe des Flüssigkeitsventiles 48 aufgrund eines von der Steuereinrichtung 47 über die Steuerleitung a an die Betätigungseinrichtung 46 ausgegebenen Steuersignales, so daß durch Einwirkung der Öffnerfeder 42 das Flüssigkeitsventil 48 in die in Fig. 2 gezeigte Öffnungslage verstellt wird. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt nimmt für eine Langsamfüllphase die Ventilscheibe 52 nach erfolgtem Anlauf des Betätigungshebels 54 an ein Steuerelement 56 eine Stellung ein, in welcher über die Steuernut 72 der Leitungsstrang 69 durchgängig frei ist, so daß während des nunmehr einsetzenden Flüssigkeitseinlaufes das von der aus dem unteren Ende des Füllrohres 13 austretenden Flüssigkeit verdrängte Rückgas in Form eines Gasgemisches aus Vorspanngas und vom zu füllenden Gefäß mitgebrachter Luft über die Gefäßmündung und das Abdichtelement 78 in den zuführenden Leitungsstrang 68 der Verbindung 64 eintritt und so dann über den Leitungsstrang 69 und die darin angeordnete Düse 65 sowie den abführenden Leitungsstrang 71 der Verbindung 64 in die unter dem einzuregelnden Druck stehende Rückgaskammer 26 abgeführt wird. Es stellt sich dabei abhängig vom Querschnitt der Düse 65 und dem in der Rückgaskammer 26 eingeregelten Druck im zu füllenden Gefäß ein Druckgefälle zum Fülldruck ein, bei dem die Flüssigkeit mit geringer Fließgeschwindigkeit langsam aus dem unteren Ende des Füllrohres 13 austritt. Erreicht bei weitergehendem Umlauf des Füllelements 12 die im Gefäß aufsteigende Flüssigkeit das untere Ende des Füllrohres 13, dann wird das Ablaßventil 66 aufgrund eines von der Steuereinrichtung 47 über die Steuerleitung b ausgegebenen Steuersignals geöffnet, wodurch nunmehr das Rückgas zusätzlich über die weitere Düse 67 abgeführt wird. Dabei stellt sich in Abhängigkeit von dem nunmehr wirksamen Gesamtquerschnitt der Düsen 65, 67 und dem in der Rückgaskammer 26 eingeregelten Druck im zu füllenden Gefäß ein Druckgefälle zum Fülldruck ein, bei dem der weitere Flüssigkeitseinlauf mit der für die abzufüllende Flüssigkeit optimalen Fließgeschwindigkeit fortgesetzt wird. Diese Schnellfüllphase endet bei erfolgtem Aufstieg der Flüssigkeit in den enger werdenden Teil des Gefäßes 18 durch Verstellen des Ablaßventiles 66 in Schließstellung aufgrund eines von der Steuereinrichtung 47 über die Steuerleitung b an das Ablaßventil 66 abgegebenen Steuersignales.After the above-described filling device in the manner of a rotating filling machine 10 for filling a carbonated beverage, for example beer with a CO₂ content of 5.5 gr / l and a temperature of 5 ° C, has been put into an operational state, for which Filling the beer at the further pressure sensor 34 a filling pressure, for. B. 2 bar, on the sensor 37 a slightly below the filling pressure and the pressure sensor 33 a determined depending on the filling properties of the beer pressure to be regulated in the amount of 1.25 bar has been set, which corresponds to the saturation pressure of the beer and accordingly is to be assigned between the filling pressure in the liquid line 28 or the liquid container 11 and the critical pressure of the throttle device 63, and the throttle device 63 has a diameter of 0.7 mm for the nozzle 65 and a diameter of 0 for the nozzle 67 , 8 mm, the actual filling is started when the machine is rotating. 2, each vessel 18 to be filled, in the example a bottle, is placed in the sealing position with the lower end of the filling element housing 40 of the filling element 12 with the interposition of a sealing element 78 and the subsequent prestressing is then carried out with Air or an inert gas, the In special cases, a pre-rinsing can also be carried out, the release of the liquid valve 48 on the basis of a control signal output by the control device 47 via the control line a to the actuating device 46, so that the action of the opening spring 42 causes the liquid valve 48 into the opening position shown in FIG. 2 is adjusted. At this time, for a slow filling phase, the valve disk 52, after the actuating lever 54 has started up, assumes a position in which the cable harness 69 is continuously free via the control groove 72, so that during the liquid inlet that is now starting, that of the lower one At the end of the filling pipe 13, liquid escaping return gas in the form of a gas mixture of biasing gas and air brought in from the vessel to be filled enters the supply line 68 of the connection 64 via the mouth of the vessel and the sealing element 78 and then then via the line 69 and the nozzle 65 arranged therein and the discharging line 71 of the connection 64 is discharged into the return gas chamber 26 under the pressure to be regulated. Depending on the cross section of the nozzle 65 and the pressure regulated in the return gas chamber 26, a pressure drop to the filling pressure is established in which the liquid slowly emerges from the lower end of the filling tube 13 at a low flow rate. If the liquid rising in the vessel reaches the lower end of the filling pipe 13 when the filling element 12 continues to circulate, then the drain valve 66 is opened on the basis of a control signal output by the control device 47 via the control line b, as a result of which the return gas is additionally added via the further one Nozzle 67 is discharged. Depending on the now effective total cross-section of the nozzles 65, 67 and the pressure in the return gas chamber 26 regulated in the vessel to be filled, a pressure drop to the filling pressure is set, at which the further liquid inlet is continued at the flow rate that is optimal for the liquid to be filled. This rapid filling phase ends when the liquid rises into the narrowing part of the vessel 18 by adjusting the drain valve 66 in the closed position on the basis of a control signal delivered by the control device 47 via the control line b to the drain valve 66.

Bei weitergehendem Umlauf des Füllelements 12 und nur noch wirksamer Düse 65 wird der Flüssigkeitseinlauf bei verminderter Fließgeschwindigkeit fortgesetzt bis in vorbestimmter Anstiegshöhe das Schaltorgan 49 anspricht, worauf die Steuereinrichtung 47 ein Steuersignal ausgibt, das über die Steuerleitung a die Betätigungseinrichtung 46 wirksam schaltet und zum Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventiles 48 den Ventilkörper 43 entgegen der Öffnerfeder 42 auf den Ventilsitz 41 drückt, und somit der Flüssigkeitseinlauf beendet ist. Kurz darauf läuft bei einer gute Fülleigenschaften aufweisenden zu füllenden Flüssigkeit der Betätigungshebel 54 gegen ein Steuerelement 56. Bei dem dadurch erfolgenden Schwenken der Ventilscheibe 52 wird zunächst durch Entfernen der Steuernut 72 aus der Wirkverbindung mit dem Leitungsstrang 69 derselbe unterbrochen. Kurz darauf nimmt die Ventilscheibe 52 zur Vornahme der Entlastung des Gefäßes auf Atmosphärendruck eine Betriebsstellung ein, bei der der nicht dargestellte Kanal den Spanngas-Einleitkanal 62 und den Ausgleichskanal 60 mit dem Entlastungskanal 75 verbindet, so daß über diesen und das darin angeordnete Drosselorgan 74 sich der noch im gefüllten Gefäß 18 vorhandene Druck auf Atmosphärendruck entlastet. Dabei findet auch das gegenseitige Angleichen der im Füllrohrinneren und im Gefäß vorhandenen Flüssigkeitsstandhöhen statt. Bei weitergehendem Umlauf des Füllelements 20 wird das entlastete Gefäß 18 durch Absenken mittels des Hubzylinders 16 vom Füllelement 20 abgenommen und im Bereich des Gefäßausschubes der Maschine aus dieser entfernt. Davon abweichend kann es bei einer schlechte Fülleigenschaften aufweisenden abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit zu deren Beruhigung zweckmäßig sein, den in der Rückgaskammer 26 eingeregelten Druck über den vom Flüssigkeitseinlauf her noch wirksamen Leitungsstrang 69 der Verbindung 64 während einer an die Beendigung des Flüssigkeitseinlaufes vorzusehenden Zeit im gefüllten Gefäß wirksam werden zu lassen. Erst nach Ablauf dieser Zeit wird dann, wie vorangehend beschrieben, durch Schwenken der Ventilscheibe 52 zunächst der Leitungsstrang 69 unterbrochen und in der darauf von der Ventilscheibe 52 eingenommenen Betriebsstellung die Gefäßentlastung und der Standhöhenausgleich vorgenommen.As the filler element 12 continues to circulate and the nozzle 65 is only effective, the liquid flow continues at a reduced flow rate until the switching element 49 responds at a predetermined increase in height, whereupon the control device 47 outputs a control signal which, via the control line a, switches the actuating device 46 effectively and for closing the Liquid valve 48 presses the valve body 43 against the opening spring 42 on the valve seat 41, and thus the liquid inlet is ended. Shortly thereafter, when the liquid to be filled has good filling properties, the actuating lever 54 runs against a control element 56. When the valve disk 52 is pivoted thereby, the same is interrupted by removing the control groove 72 from the operative connection with the wiring harness 69. Shortly thereafter, the valve disk 52 assumes an operating position for relieving the pressure on the vessel to atmospheric pressure, in which the Not shown channel connects the span gas inlet channel 62 and the equalization channel 60 with the relief channel 75, so that the pressure still present in the filled vessel 18 is relieved to atmospheric pressure via this and the throttling element 74 arranged therein. The liquid levels in the inside of the filling tube and in the vessel are also mutually adjusted. As the filling element 20 continues to rotate, the relieved vessel 18 is removed from the filling element 20 by lowering by means of the lifting cylinder 16 and removed from the machine in the region of the vessel extension. Deviating from this, in the case of a liquid to be filled which has poor filling properties, it can be expedient to calm it down, the pressure regulated in the return gas chamber 26 via the still effective line of conduit 69 of the connection 64 from the liquid inlet during a time to be provided in the filled vessel for the end of the liquid inlet allow. Only after this time has elapsed, as described above, by pivoting the valve disk 52 is the line string 69 first interrupted and, in the operating position assumed by the valve disk 52, the vessel relief and leveling are carried out.

Ist bei dem vorangehend beschriebenen Betrieb ein anderes Füllverhalten der abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit festzustellen, weil beispielsweise die Temperatur und/oder der CO₂-Gehalt der abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit andere Werte aufweist oder die Flaschensorte gewechselt worden ist, dann ist durch eine am Druckfühler 33 vorzunehmende Änderung der bisherigen Druckeinstellung der einzuregelnde Druck dem geänderten Füllverhalten anzupassen, um auch eine diesem Füllverhalten angepaßte optimale Fließgeschwindigkeit zu erzielen. Entsprechend ist zu verfahren, wenn der Füllmaschine 10 aufgrund eines vorgenommenen Sortenwechsels eine abzufüllende Flüssigkeit zugeführt wird, die gegenüber der vorangehend abgefüllten Flüssigkeit ein anderes Füllverhalten aufweist. Bei der jeweils vorzunehmenden Einstellung des einzuregelnden Druckes ist jedoch darauf zu achten, daß der Sättigungsdruck der abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit zur Vermeidung schädlicher Lockerung von CO₂ nicht wesentlich unterschritten wird. Jedenfalls sollte im Regelfall der einzuregelnde Druck dem Sättigungsdruck entsprechen oder dar- über liegen. Da jedes Füllelement 12 der Füllmaschine 10 über seine mit Drosseleinrichtung 63 versehene absperrbare Verbindung 64 an die für alle Füllelemente 12 gemeinsame Rückgaskammer 26 angeschlossen ist, wirkt sich jede am Druckfühler 33 vorgenommene Druckänderung gleichzeitig auf alle Drosseleinrichtungen 63 der Füllelemente 12 aus. Die Erfindung ermöglicht es somit alleine durch Änderung des einzuregelnden Druckes die Fließgeschwindigkeit stufenlos den Anforderungen bzw. dem Abfüllverhalten der abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit anzupassen. Dies ist insbesondere von Vorteil für Füllmaschinen, mit denen unterschiedliche Getränke- und Flaschensorten verarbeitet werden sollen.If in the operation described above a different filling behavior of the liquid to be filled is to be determined, for example because the temperature and / or the CO₂ content of the liquid to be filled has different values or the type of bottle has been changed, then a change in the previous pressure setting to be carried out on the pressure sensor 33 to adjust the pressure to be adjusted to the changed filling behavior in order to also adapt this filling behavior to achieve adjusted optimal flow rate. A corresponding procedure is to be followed if the filling machine 10 is supplied with a liquid to be filled due to a change of type which has a different filling behavior than the previously filled liquid. When setting the pressure to be regulated, it is important to ensure that the saturation pressure of the liquid to be filled is not significantly undercut to avoid harmful loosening of CO₂. In any case, the pressure to be regulated should generally correspond to or be above the saturation pressure. Since each filling element 12 of the filling machine 10 is connected via its lockable connection 64, which is provided with a throttle device 63, to the return gas chamber 26 common to all filling elements 12, each pressure change made on the pressure sensor 33 simultaneously affects all throttle devices 63 of the filling elements 12. The invention thus makes it possible to continuously adapt the flow rate to the requirements or the filling behavior of the liquid to be filled simply by changing the pressure to be regulated. This is particularly advantageous for filling machines with which different types of drinks and bottles are to be processed.

In weiterer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist vorgesehen zumindest eine Teilmenge des über die Verbindung 64 in die Rückgaskammer 26 abgeführten Rückgases für die Gefäßvorspannung und/oder für eine der Gefäßvorspannung vorausgehende Vorspülung zu verwenden. Dies ist von wirtschaftlicher Bedeutung, wenn der Flüssigkeitseinlauf beschleunigt und weitestgehend unter Luftabschluß erfolgen soll bei niedrigem CO₂-Verbrauch. Dies setzt jedoch voraus, daß zum Vorspannen sowie bei dem gegebenenfalls dem Vorspannen vorausgehenden Vorspülen Inertgas, z. B. CO₂ benutzt wird. In solchem Fall empfiehlt sich für die Weiterverwertung des Rückgases jedem Füllelement 12 eine von der Verbindung 64 abführende Leitung vorzusehen, die stromabwärts der Düse 65 an den Leitungsstrang 69 anzuschließen und an der der Ventilscheibe 52 zugewandten Fläche der Sockelplatte 58 ausmünden zu lassen ist. Außerdem ist die Ventilscheibe 52 mit einem Verbindungskanal zu versehen, damit in einer der eigentlichen Vorspannstellung vorausgehenden Betriebsstellung für Vorspülen und Teilvorspannen der Ausgleichskanal 60 mit der abführenden Leitung verbindbar ist. In dieser vorzusehenden Betriebsstellung für die Ventilscheibe 52 erfolgt bei noch nicht in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 12 verbrachten Gefäß das Vorspülen, bei in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 12 verbrachten Gefäß ein Teilvorspannen auf den einzuregelnden Druck, worauf erst bei weitergehendem Umlauf des Füllelements 12 das eigentliche Vorspannen in der dafür vorgesehenen Betriebsstellung der Ventilscheibe 52 erfolgt. Bei eingenommener Betriebsstellung zum Vorspülen und Teilvorspannen gelangt das unter dem einzuregelnden Druck stehende Rückgas aus der Rückgaskammer 26 über die nicht dargestellte zufüh-Leitung und den ebenfalls nicht dargestellten Verbindungskanal in den Ausgleichskanal 60 und von dort aus über die Ausgleichskammer 61 und das Innere des Füllrohres 13 in das Gefäß 18. In diesem strömt es nach oben und verdrängt dabei die vom Gefäß mitgebrachte Luft über die noch nicht abgedichtete Gefäßmündung nach außen, solange, bis das Gefäß bei weitergehendem Umlauf des Füllelements 12 und dem dabei erfolgenden Aufwärtshub des Hubzylinders 16 von diesem in die aus Fig. 2 ersichtliche Dichtlage verbracht worden ist. Mit eingenommener Dichtlage setzt das Teilvorspannen des Gefäßes auf den einzuregelnden Druck ein. Besteht dabei die Gefahr, daß zum Vorspülen und Teilvorspannen soviel Rückgas aus der Rückgaskammer 26 entnommen wird, daß mittels dem der Rückgaskammer 26 zuzuführenden Rückgas der einzuregelnde Druck nicht aufrechterhalten werden kann, dann ist zu dessen Aufrechterhaltung Spanngas in entsprechenden Mengen der Rückgaskammer 26 zuzuführen, beispielsweise über eine vorzusehende die Rückgaskammer 26 bzw. die verlängernde Leitung 31 mit der Ring-Verteilerkammer 25 bzw. der Spanngasleitung 29 verbindende nicht dargestellte Stichleitung, die vom Druckfühler 33 gesteuert werden und auch zum Beaufschlagen der Rückgaskammer 26 mit dem einzuregelnden Druck beim Herstellen der Betriebsbereitschaft der Füllmaschine 10 Verwendung finden kann.In a further embodiment of the invention, at least a partial amount of the return gas discharged via the connection 64 into the return gas chamber 26 is used for the vessel preload and / or for a pre-purge preceding the vessel preload. This is of economic importance if the liquid inflow is to be accelerated and largely carried out with the exclusion of air at low CO₂ consumption. However, this presupposes that inert gas, for. B. CO₂ is used. In such a case, it is advisable to provide each filler element 12 with a line leading away from the connection 64 for further recycling of the return gas, which line is to be connected downstream of the nozzle 65 to the line run 69 and to be let open on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52. In addition, the valve disc 52 is to be provided with a connecting channel, so that in an operating position preceding the actual prestressing position for pre-rinsing and partial prestressing, the compensation channel 60 can be connected to the outgoing line. In this operating position to be provided for the valve disk 52, the pre-rinsing takes place when the vessel is not yet in the sealing position with the filling element 12, and when the vessel is in the sealing position with the filling element 12, partial pre-tensioning to the pressure to be regulated, whereupon the actual pre-tensioning only when the filling element 12 continues to circulate in the intended operating position of the valve disk 52. When the operating position for prewashing and partial pretensioning has been assumed, the return gas under the pressure to be regulated passes from the return gas chamber 26 via the feed line (not shown) and the connection channel (also not shown) into the equalization channel 60 and from there via the equalization chamber 61 and the inside of the filling pipe 13 into the vessel 18. In this, it flows upward and displaces the air brought from the vessel via the as yet unsealed vessel mouth until the vessel continues to flow from the filling element 12 and the upward stroke of the lifting cylinder 16 from the latter the apparent from Fig. 2 sealing layer has been spent. With The sealed position assumes partial prestressing of the vessel to the pressure to be regulated. If there is a risk that so much return gas is taken from the return gas chamber 26 for purging and partial pretensioning that the pressure to be regulated cannot be maintained by means of the return gas to be supplied to the return gas chamber 26, then tension gas must be supplied to the return gas chamber 26 in appropriate amounts, for example Via a branch line (not shown) connecting the return gas chamber 26 or the extending line 31 to the ring distribution chamber 25 or the span gas line 29, which are controlled by the pressure sensor 33 and also for supplying the return gas chamber 26 with the pressure to be regulated when the operational readiness is established Filling machine 10 can be used.

Die vorangegangenen Ausführungen treffen nicht nur auf die zuvor beschriebene Füllmaschine zu, die Füllelemente 12 mit jeweils einem gesteuerten Flüssigkeitsventil 48 aufweist, das aufgrund eines vom Schaltorgan 49 bei Anstieg der Flüssigkeit im Gefäß 18 auf eine vorbestimmte Füllhöhe aufgenommenen Signals in Schließstellung gesteuert wird. Es kann auch, ohne daß der die Erfindung tragende Erfindungsgedanke verlassen wird, das jeweilige Flüssigkeitsventil 48 aufgrund eines Signales geschlossen werden, das nach erfolgtem Einlauf einer dem Gefäß 18 tatsächlich zugeflossenen Flüssigkeitsmenge von der Steuereinrichtung 47 ausgegeben wird aber auch in üblicher Weise mechanisch in Schließlage gesteuert werden, nach dem mittels eines füllhöhenbestimmenden Einganges der weitere Anstieg der Flüssigkeit im Gefäß unterbrochen wurde.The preceding explanations apply not only to the filling machine described above, which has filling elements 12, each with a controlled liquid valve 48, which is controlled in the closed position on the basis of a signal picked up by the switching element 49 when the liquid in the vessel 18 rises to a predetermined filling level. It is also possible, without abandoning the inventive concept that bears the invention, to close the respective liquid valve 48 on the basis of a signal which, after a liquid quantity that has actually flowed into the vessel 18 has been run in, is output by the control device 47 but is also mechanically controlled in the closed position in the usual way after the further increase in the liquid in the vessel has been interrupted by means of an inlet determining the level.

Im letzteren Falle ist, wie Fig. 4 zeigt, anstelle des Schaltorgans 49 in üblicher Weise der Eingang 79 der Verbindung 64 in das zu füllende Gefäß 18 zur Füllhöhenbestimmung verlegt und ihm oberhalb im zuführenden Leitungsstrang 68 in bekannter Weise ein Kugelrückschlagventil 80 zur Unterbrechung des Flüssigkeitszulaufes in das Gefäß 18 zugeordnet worden. Bei dieser Variante kann es auch zweckmäßig sein, das Ablaßventil 66 mechanisch zu steuern und dessen Funktion der Ventilscheibe 52 zu übertragen.In the latter case, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of the switching element 49, the input 79 of the connection 64 is moved in the usual way into the vessel 18 to be filled for determining the fill level, and a ball check valve 80 for interrupting the liquid supply in the known manner above it in the supply line 68 been assigned to the vessel 18. In this variant, it may also be expedient to mechanically control the drain valve 66 and to transfer its function to the valve disk 52.

Claims (15)

1. Method for the filling of liquids containing carbon dioxide, in particular beverages, under counterpressure into vessels or the like, in which during the inflow, which follows the pressurising of the vessel, of the liquid standing under a filling pressure into a respective vessel, which is disposed in sealing position with a filling element, gas or gas mixture displaced from the same at least temporarily by the inflowing liquid is conducted away with pressure gradient into a chamber by way of a connection provided with a throttle equipment, and in which the connection is interrupted for undertaking the relief of the vessel to atmospheric pressure following the termination of the inflow of the liquid, characterised thereby, that a pressure, which is settable in a pressure range lying between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the throttle equipment, is regulated towards in the chamber.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the pressure, which is to be regulated towards in the chamber, corresponds substantially to the saturation pressure of the liquid to be filled into the vessel.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised thereby, that the pressure, which is to be regulated towards in the chamber, is regulated towards in dependence on the pressure which is taken up in the liquid duct advancing the liquid to be filled into the vessel.
4. Method according to claim 3, characterised thereby, that the pressure, which is to be regulated towards, is regulated towards continuously.
5. Method according to the claims 1 to 4, characterised thereby, that the pressure, which is to be regulated towards in the chamber, is allowed by way of the connection existing between the vessel and the chamber to act on the dispensed liquid for its quietening during a limited time following the termination of the inflow of the liquid and while the vessel is still pressed on, and the existing connection is interrupted after run-down of this time for relief of the vessel to atmosphere.
6. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that at least a partial quantity of the gas or gas mixture displaced by way of the connection into the chamber is used for the pressurising of the vessel or for a preliminary flushing of the vessel preceding the pressurising of the vessel.
7. Device for the performance of the method according to claim 1 with a liquid container (11) for the liquid to be dispensed, a chamber (25) for pressurising gas and a return gas chamber (26), which is provided with an outlet (30) to atmosphere, for displaced gas or gas mixture, with at least one filling element (12), which is provided with a long filling tube (13), a controlled liquid valve (48) and a controllable pressurising gas valve arrangement (50) and which is connected to the liquid container (11) and the pressurising chamber (25) as well as by way of a blockable connection (64), which conducts displaced gas or gas mixture away out of the vessel (18) to be filled and is provided with a throttle equipment (63) and an entry (79) at the vessel side of the pressurising gas valve arrangement (50) to the return gas chamber (26), characterised thereby, that a regulating valve (32), which is opened when the pressure to be regulated towards in the return gas chamber (26) is exceeded, is connected to that outlet (30) of the return gas chamber (26), to which the blockable connection (64) _ which is provided with the throttle equipment (63)of the at least one filling element (12) is connected, or to a duct (31) prolonging that outlet (30).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised thereby, that a pressure sensor (33), which is inserted into the return gas chamber (26), or one inserted into the duct (31) prolonging the outlet (30), picking up the pressure to be regulated towards is associated with the regulating valve (32) and controls the regulating valve (32) into open position when the pressure in the pressure gas chamber (26) exceeds the pressure to be regulated towards.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised thereby, that the pressure sensor (33), which picks up the pressure to be regulated towards, is associated with a further pressure sensor (34), which is inserted in a duct (28) feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the filling container (11), in such a manner that the regulating valve is set into an open position when the pressure difference between the pressure picked up by the pressure sensor (33) and that picked up by the further pressure sensor (34) exceeds a predetermined value corresponding with the one that has been regulated towards.
10. Device according to claim 7, characterised thereby, that its at least one filling element (12) displays a blockable connection (64), which possesses an outlet valve (66), which for a rapid filling phase is controllable into an open position, in a duct branch (70) provided with a throttle (67) acting as throttle organ, characterised thereby, that the blockable connection (64) provided with the throttle equipment (63), apart from the duct branch (70) provided with the nozzle (67) and the outlet (66), still displays a further duct branch (69), which is provided with a further nozzle (65) and a shut-off valve (52, 72), for a slow filling phase.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised thereby, that the shut-off valve is constructed as non-return valve (77).
12. Device according to claim 10, characterised thereby, that the shut-off valve is constructed in the manner of a flat slide valve and provided with a valve disc (52), which is arranged for several operating positions and which on rotation of the machine is pivotable by means of control elements (56) into the operating positions, for example for "pressurising", "multiphase filling" and "relieving".
13. Device according to claim 10, characterised thereby, that in the case of the at least one filling element (12) being equipped with a mechanical control for the controllable liquid valve (48), the entry (79) on the vessel side of the blockable connection (64) is constructed for filling height determination and in known manner associated with the filling tube (13) of the filling element (12) for introduction into the vessel (18) to be filled.
14. Device according to claim 10, characterised thereby, that in the case of the at least one filling element (12) being equipped with an electrically controllable liquid valve (48) and a signal transmitter which on reaching a response filling height delivers a signal for the control of the liquid valve into closed position, the signal transmitter is an in itself known electrical switching organ (49) mounted on the outside of the filling tube (13).
15. Device according to claim 10, characterised thereby, that a blockable duct, which conducts away return gas and is constructed to be switchable to the compensating channel (60) of the filling element (12) for preliminary flushing and/or pressurising with gas or gas mixture standing under the pressure to be regulated towards, is connected downstream of the throttle equipment (63) to the blockable connection (64) provided with the throttle equipment (63).
EP88108016A 1987-05-22 1988-05-19 Method and device for the counter-pressure filling of containers or the like, with carbonated liquids, especially beverages Expired - Lifetime EP0291971B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88108016T ATE62210T1 (en) 1987-05-22 1988-05-19 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING CARBONATED LIQUIDS, ESPECIALLY DRINKS, UNDER BACK PRESSURE IN VESSELS OR THE LIKE.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3717256 1987-05-22
DE19873717256 DE3717256A1 (en) 1987-05-22 1987-05-22 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING CARBONIC LIQUIDS, IN PARTICULAR DRINKS, UNDER BACK PRESSURE IN VESSEL OD. DGL.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0291971A2 EP0291971A2 (en) 1988-11-23
EP0291971A3 EP0291971A3 (en) 1989-06-14
EP0291971B1 true EP0291971B1 (en) 1991-04-03

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US (2) US4949764A (en)
EP (1) EP0291971B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6437397A (en)
KR (1) KR880013814A (en)
AT (1) ATE62210T1 (en)
BR (1) BR8802490A (en)
DE (2) DE3717256A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2022527B3 (en)

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Publication number Publication date
DE3717256A1 (en) 1988-12-01
EP0291971A2 (en) 1988-11-23
ATE62210T1 (en) 1991-04-15
US4976295A (en) 1990-12-11
BR8802490A (en) 1988-12-20
US4949764A (en) 1990-08-21
KR880013814A (en) 1988-12-22
EP0291971A3 (en) 1989-06-14
ES2022527B3 (en) 1991-12-01
DE3862237D1 (en) 1991-05-08
JPS6437397A (en) 1989-02-08

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