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
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
  • B67C3/2608—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks comprising anti-dripping means
• • 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
  • B67C3/281—Profiled valve bodies for smoothing the flow at the outlet of the filling nozzle
• • 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
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
  • B67C2003/2671—Means for preventing foaming of the liquid
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/8593—Systems
  • Y10T137/87917—Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
  • Y10T137/87981—Common actuator

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a filling spout with adjustable flow rate by a single actuation device.
• Document FR-A-2,736,339 discloses a filling spout comprising a valve body in which a valve is mounted on the one hand, the opening and closing of which determine whether or not the product flows, and on the other share a flow control member for varying the flow inside the filling spout independently of the valve opening to obtain a regular flow of the product regardless of the degree of opening of the valve.
• a first object of the invention is to provide a filling spout with adjustable flow rate which can operate with a single actuation device.
• a filling spout with adjustable flow rate comprising a valve body in which a valve extending opposite a valve seat and a valve regulating member are mounted. flow disposed upstream of the valve and extending opposite a restriction of the valve body, the valve and the flow control member being connected to a single actuation device by means allowing limited axial displacement of the regulator and valve relative to each other.
• the means allowing limited axial displacement are adapted to allow actuation of the flow control member in a position of maximum or minimum flow while the valve is in a closed position From '' a position in which the valve is closed and the regulating member is in a maximum flow position, it is possible to carry out the steps of
• the force of the and of the product is weak due to the adjustment at the substantially minimum flow rate of the flow control member so that the impact on the bottom of the container is itself weak and the risk of foaming is minimized.
• the reduction in the flow rate ensured by the flow-rate control member minimizes the deformation of the jet and makes it possible to avoid splashing onto the outside of the container, and passing through a position. maximum flow between closing the valve and the following cycle provides satisfactory supply of the filling spout downstream of the flow control member.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section view of a filling spout according to the invention in a position at the start and at the end of the filling cycle,
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 in a position just after the start of a filling cycle
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 in a position in the middle of the filling cycle
• - Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 in a washing position of the filling spout
• FIG. 5 is a partial schematic longitudinal section view of a filling spout according to a second embodiment of the invention in a position of start and end of the filling cycle
• - Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to that of Figure 5 of the filling spout according to the second embodiment in successive positions immediately following the start of a filling cycle
• - Figure 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 of the filling spout according to the second embodiment in a position in the middle of the filling cycle
• Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5 of a filling spout according to a third embodiment in a position in the middle of the filling cycle
• Figure 10 is a bottom view of a stopper washer of the spout filling according to the third embodiment
• FIG. 11 is a view, in cross section along the line XI -XI of Figure 9, the valve spout valve body according to the second embodiment.
• the filling spout comprises a valve body 1 in which are mounted a valve 2 and a flow control device generally designated at 3 comprising a control member flow 4 in the form of a disc mounted to slide opposite a part of the valve body 1 having a restriction
• valve 2 The movements of the valve 2 inside the valve body 1 are ensured by an operating device comprising plates 6 of magnetic stainless steel, the lower end of which is fixed to the valve.
• rings 7 made of materials with high magnetic permeability mounted to slide on a sleeve made of non-magnetic material 8
• a magnetic field generator 9 is mounted for slide opposite the rings 7 and is fixed to the lower end of a control rod 10.
• the plates 6 extend vertically and radially inside the valve body 1 and thus ensure not only a mechanical connection of the rings 7 with the valve 2 but also a magnetic bridging between the rings 7, and have an anti-vortex function when the filling spout is mounted on a carousel
• the flow control member 4 is made of material with high magnetic permeability and is mounted to slide around the non-magnetic sleeve 8.
• the flow control member 4 is connected to a ring of material with high magnetic permeability 11 by columns 12 extending in a longitudinal direction of the valve body 1.
• a magnetic field generator 13 extends inside the non-magnetic sleeve 8 facing the ring 11 and the flow control member 4 and is connected to a control tube 14.
• control tube 14 is equipped with a control plate 15 mounted to slide on a guide rod 16 whose lower end is fixed to the valve body 1, itself adapted to be fixed to the chassis d 'a machine, and whose upper end is fixed to a support plate 17 also adapted to be fixed to the chassis of a machine.
• the plate 17 supports a stepping motor 18 to which is connected a screw 19 associated with an actuator 20 in the form of a plate extending perpendicular to the screw 19
• the actuator 20 is mounted on the screw 19 to transform the rotation of the screw 19 into a vertical displacement of the actuating member 20.
• the actuating member 20 is also mounted to slide on the guide rod 16 which thus not only ensures a guiding function but avoids further rotation of the actuator 20 during rotation of the screw 19
• the stepping motor 18, the screw 19 and the actuating member 20 constitute an actuating device generally designated at 27
• the actuator 20 is connected to the control plate 15 of the flow control member 4 by a connecting rod 21 rigidly fixed at its upper end to the actuator 20 and at its lower end to the control plate 15
• the actuating member 20 also carries a vertically extending guide rod 22, the upper end of which is fixed to the actuating member 20 and the lower end of which has an end stop 23 Par elsewhere the control rod 10 of the valve 2 is equipped at its upper end with a valve control element 24 in the form of a plate extending perpendicular to the guide rod 22 and mounted to slide thereon
• a spring 25 is mounted around the guide rod 22 and bears at its upper end on the actuating member 20 and at its lower end on the valve control element 24 The spring 25 thus realizes an elastically deformable connecting member between the actuating member 20 and the control element 24 of the valve control device comprising the control rod 10 and the control element 24 In the position shown in FIG.
• the control member actuation 20 is in the low position so that the control plate 15 of the flow control member 4 is itself in the low position
• the length of the control tube 14 is provided so that the flow control member 4 is then positioned below the restriction 5 of the valve body 1 so as to allow maximum flow through the restriction 5
• the relative length of the valve control rod 10 is such that for this position of the actuating member 20 the valve 2 is supported on its seat 28 while the control plate 24 is offset upward relative to the end stop 23
• the spring 25 is therefore compressed and the force which it exerts on the control plate 24 causes pressing the field generator 9 against a shoulder 29 of the non-magnetic tube 8.
• the valve 2 is thus firmly held in the closed position while the flow control member 4 is in a maximum flow position allowing supplying the lower part of the valve body 1 without risk of trapping an air bubble even for a product of high viscosity.
• the position of the flow control member 4 still corresponds to a substantially minimal flow.
• the dynamic pressure of the jet of product flowing from the filling spout is therefore low and this prevents foaming at the start of filling.
• the stepping motor 18 is again operated to continue the upward movement of the actuating member 20.
• the flow control member 4 and the valve 2 move simultaneously upward to a position of maximum flow of the flow control member 4 and maximum opening of the valve 2 as illustrated by the figure 3.
• the filling spout remains in this position during most of the filling cycle.
• the actuating motor 18 is maneuvered in one direction causing the actuating member 20 to move downward.
• the valve 2 and the flow regulating member simultaneously move downward due to the force exerted by the spring 25 which keeps the control plate 24 in abutment against the end-of-travel stop 23.
• the flow control member 4 and valve 2 are again in the position shown in Figure 2.
• the filling spout returns to the position shown in Figure 1.
• the filling spout is ready for a new cycle.
• the actuating member 20 is placed in the high position, a plug 30 comprising a central stud 31 is placed in a manner known per se at the lower part of the valve body 1 then the actuating member 20 is returned to the low position.
• the flow control member is in the maximum flow position and the valve 2 is held wide open by the stud 31, which allows a flow of the detergent.
• the filling spout according to the second embodiment of one invention comprises a valve body 101 in which are mounted a valve 102 provided with radial fins 113 on an upstream part thereof and a flow control member 103 disposed upstream of the valve 102.
• the flow control member 103 comprises an upstream portion 103.1 of cylindrical shape and a downstream portion 103.2 of frustoconical shape.
• the flow control member 103 is mounted to slide opposite a part of the valve body 101 comprising a restriction 104 of variable section and is rigidly connected to a core 111 having radial fins 112 and extending axially below of the regulating member 103.
• the core 111 is mounted to slide in a tube 129 made of non-magnetic material, itself mounted in leaktight manner to form a part of the valve body surrounded by an electromagnetic winding 105 secured to the valve body 101.
• L electromagnetic winding 105 is connected in a known manner to means (not shown) for controlling the power supply to form with the core 101 a device for actuating the regulating member 103.
• the valve body 101 and the valve 102 are made of a non-magnetic material such as stainless steel.
• the regulating member 103 can be made of a non-magnetic material but is preferably made of the same material as the core to simplify manufacturing.
• An annular free space 127 forming a non-magnetic part is provided in the valve body 101 immediately adjacent to an upper end of the electromagnetic winding 105.
• the valve 102 has an upstream end 106 from which extends axially a pin 107 having an upper end comprising a head 108.
• the head 108 is slidably received in an axial direction in a housing 109 which is formed in a downstream end of the core 101 and has at its lower part a shoulder 100 for abutment of the head 108.
• the head 108 has an axial dimension less than an axial dimension of the housing so that the housing 109 and the head 108 form a connection having an axial clearance allowing a limited displacement of the regulating member 103 relative to the valve 102. More precisely, the axial clearance is determined so that from from a position in which the valve is closed and the regulating member is in a position of maximum flow, an alternating movement of the core 111 allows the steps mentioned in the preamble of this description to be carried out.
• the axial clearance is provided so that when the valve is in abutment on its seat 128 the flow control member 103 is positioned below the restriction 104 of the valve body 101 so as to allow a maximum flow through the restriction 104.
• the valve 102 is thus firmly held in the closed position while the flow regulating member 103 is in a position of maximum flow allowing supplying the lower part of the valve body 101 without risk of trapping an air bubble even for a product of high viscosity.
• the regulating member 103 and of the valve 102 are suspended by the head 108 from the shoulder 110 of the housing 109 of the core 111.
• the continued upward movement of the core 111 causes a simultaneous displacement of the regulating member 103 and of the valve 102, which causes the progressive opening of the valve 102.
• the axial clearance is determined so that when the shoulder 110 of the housing 109 comes into contact with the head 108 the flow control member 103 is opposite the minimum section of the restriction 104 It will be noted that the coming into contact of the shoulder 110 with the head 108 causes a shock which makes it possible to take off the valve 102 from its seat, which is particularly advantageous after a prolonged stop and when the filling product is greasy.
• the magnetic winding 105 is always supplied with a current greater than or equal (depending on the desired position) to a minimum value sufficient to lift the core 111 without lifting the valve 102 so as to maintain permanent contact between the shoulder 110 and the head 108.
• the flow rate remains minimum for a time corresponding to the passage of the cylindrical part 103.1 opposite the minimum cross-sectional part of the restriction 104.
• the height of the cylindrical part 103.1 is determined so that this passage time allows introduction into the container an amount of sufficient product to absorb the shock of the jet on the upper surface of the product contained in the container. It will be noted that the minimum flow rate may be almost zero, the flow through the valve being very low and able to be ensured by the quantity of liquid contained in the filling spout before the valve is opened.
• the flow control member 103 and the valve 102 simultaneously move upward to a position of maximum flow of the flow control member 103 and opening maximum of the valve 102 which correspond to the position of maximum magnetic flux of the core 111 in the winding 105, as illustrated by FIG. 8.
• the filling spout remains in this position during most of the filling cycle.
• the supply of the electromagnetic winding 105 is cut off or reduced to a known minimum value indicated above, which causes a downward displacement of the core 111 under the effect of gravity and dynamic forces. and static exerted by the liquid on the core 111.
• the valve 102 and the flow control member 103 move simultaneously downwards. Just before closing the valve 102, the flow control member 103 and the valve 102 are again in the position shown in FIG. 6.
• the filling spout returns to the position shown in FIG. 5 in which the bottom of the housing 109 rests on the head 108 of the valve 102.
• the filling spout is ready for a new cycle. It will be noted that throughout the duration of flow the fins 112 of the core 111 and the fins 113 of the valve 102 not only provide centering of these members but also guide the flow avoiding the formation of turbulence in the flow, in particular when the filling spout is carried by a rotating carousel.
• the free space forming a non-magnetic part 127 immediately adjacent to the upper end of the magnetic winding 105 makes it possible to open the magnetic field, thereby increasing the possible stroke of the core 111.
• the filling spout comprises a valve body 101, a valve 102 and a flow control member 103 which comprises upstream 103.1 and downstream 103.2 parts of frustoconical shape (the frustoconical shape of the downstream part 103.2 being more pronounced than that of the upstream part 103.1) and is mounted to slide opposite a part of the valve body 101 comprising a restriction 104 of variable section.
• the regulating member 103 is rigidly connected to a slide 111 extending axially below the regulating member 103 in a housing 114 which is associated with the valve 102 and in which the slider 111 is slidably received.
• the housing 114 is formed by radial fins 115 extending axially upstream from an upper end 116 of the valve 102.
• the fins 115 have ends 117 opposite to the valve 102 which are joined by a ring 118 forming a retaining stop for the slide in the housing 114.
• the ring 118 has an internal diameter greater than an external diameter of the slide 111.
• a washer 119 is mounted to slide in the housing 14 between the ring 118 and the slide 111.
• the washer 119 has a central bore 120 of diameter less than the external diameter of the slide 111 and has an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the ring 118.
• the washer 119 has two opposite ears 121 which extend in radial projection and are each received sliding between two adjacent fins 115 to abut against the ring 118.
• Spacer fingers 122 extend axially in projection of a lower face 123 of the washer 124 to bear on an upper face 125 of the slide 111. The sum of the axial dimensions of the washer
• the device for actuating the filling spout comprises an electromagnetic winding 105 integral with the valve body 101 extending around the housing 114.
• the slide 111 thus forms the core of this electromagnetic actuation device.
• the actuating device 1 comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 125 of annular shape which are integral with the valve body 101.
• the permanent magnets 125 are disposed adjacent to the lower end of the electromagnetic coil 105 in a circular arrangement and have central axes 126 extending radially relative to the valve body 101.
• An annular free space 127 forming a non-magnetic part is provided in the valve body 101 immediately adjacent to an upper end of the electromagnetic winding 105.
• the operation of the filling spout according to the third embodiment is similar to that of the spout filling according to the second embodiment.
• the plurality of permanent magnets 125 makes it possible to increase the magnetic power generated during the supply of the electromagnetic winding 105.
• the configuration of the electromagnetic actuation device makes it possible, for a given movement of the slider 111, to reduce the supply current of the electromagnetic winding and for the same voltage to lift a greater mass.
• the fins 115 ensure centering of the valve 102 and of the slide 111 and guiding the flow.
• the washer 119 allows the upper surface 124 of the slide 111 and the ring 118 to be kept apart so as to leave a passage for the filling product while ensuring an optimal distribution of the flow thereof and a homogenization of the flow rates.
• the upward movement of the slide during operation of the filling spout causes the lifting of the washer 119 which accompanies the slider 111 and whose ears 121 will come into contact with the lower surface of the ring 118 to cause the valve 102 to be raised if the lifting movement of the slider 111 continues.
• the arrangement described makes it easier to dismantle the valve 102 / regulating member 103 assembly.
• the washer 119 can thus be removed from the housing 114 by tilting it and then sliding it by one of the ears 121 into the ring 118.
• the slide can then itself be extracted from the housing 114 by passing it through the ring 118.
• connection between the valve and the flow control member may have a different structure resulting for example from a kinematic inversion.
• the deformable connecting member has been illustrated by a spring disposed around a guide rod, it can be replaced by an elastomer block arranged between the control member 20 and the valve control member 24 and attached thereto.
• the filling spout according to the first embodiment has been illustrated with a single deformable connecting member, it is possible to provide several deformable connecting members elastically distributed around the axis of the actuating device in order to balance the forces on the actuator 20.
• regulating member of the second embodiment has been illustrated with a cylindrical part associated with a conical part, provision may be made for a regulating member comprising two frustoconical parts having different apex angles or formed from a single frustoconical part , or alternatively a regulating member in the form of a disc moving opposite a restriction having a correspondingly adapted profile.
• the non-magnetic part has been described in the form of a free space, it can be produced in the form of a plate of non-magnetic material.
• a ferromagnetic plate can be fixed to the upper end of the electromagnetic winding 105 to close the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic winding 105.
• the slider 111 can come directly into abutment against a shoulder of the housing 114.
• the permanent magnets have been shown in annular shape and arranged in a circle, other shapes of magnets and other configurations are possible and in particular annular permanent magnets arranged so that their central axes are parallel to the axis of the valve body 101. It is of course possible to have permanent magnets near the lower end of the electromagnetic winding 5 of the second embodiment.
• the magnetic actuation device according to the invention is applicable to any type of filling spout.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9552648

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (42)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1999
  • 1999-11-29 FR FR9914993A patent/FR2801579B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-11-20 ES ES00981439T patent/ES2208439T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-20 AT AT00981439T patent/ATE252054T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-20 DE DE60006002T patent/DE60006002T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-20 WO PCT/FR2000/003214 patent/WO2001040098A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-11-20 EP EP00981439A patent/EP1244598B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-20 JP JP2001541796A patent/JP3737756B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-27 US US09/721,943 patent/US6375050B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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