EP2303760B1 - Filling head for a container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling head with a container, in particular with a large-volume container for receiving prestressed liquid celts such as drinks, preferably a so-called keg keg or a keg container, wherein the filling head has a first channel, for. B. product channel and a second channel, z. B. gas channel, and with a displaceable inside the filling head plunger, which pretends separate flow paths of on the one hand a product medium and on the other hand a gas medium into the container interior and optionally to the container exterior.

Such large-volume containers, especially keg barrels are usually designed as reusable containers and are used especially for industrial filling and germ-free storage of beverages. Of course, liquids can generally be included in such containers. The term "keg" derives from English and stands for "small keg". Keg barrels or containers according to the invention are used predominantly in gastronomy and usually have a content in the size of 30 I or 50 I, for filling is the filling head, via which the content of liquid is supplied to the container and also a propellant gas as a gas medium. The propellant gas is generally carbon dioxide, but it is also possible to use nitrogen or basically other gases.

By the propellant gas or the gas medium, an overpressure is generated in the interior of the large-volume container or the keg, so that the liquid absorbed in this way in the container or the prestressed beverage can be removed via a dispensing system.

In a filling head with container of the embodiment described above according to the EP 1 741 665 or the DE 31 05 706 A1 a connection head is provided to fill the keg from the outside with the front-side valve fitting generally turned downwards. For this purpose, the said connection head or filling head a hollow cylindrical ram on. By means of the plunger, a valve seal of the valve fitting can be lifted off its sealing seat.

The fact that the plunger is seated on the front side of the seal, both a flow path in the Keginnere for the product medium respectively the liquid or the beverage are released as well as a flow path in a riser of the valve fitting. These two flow paths can be used not only for example for filling the large-volume container or keg, but also when it is to be cleaned with a cleaning liquid. In most cases, however, the keg is filled by a so-called annular channel on the outer peripheral side of said plunger and vented during the filling process on the described second flow path and a so-called siding. This basic procedure has in practice led to the fact that the entire system technology, the piping and also the filling head have been optimized and designed for this process.

In practice, however, increasingly arises the requirement in connection with the resulting problem that actually provided for the gas medium flow path through the interior of the plunger and the flow path of the product medium or a cleaning fluid must be reversed on the outer peripheral side of the plunger. Such has previously been attempted to catch the fact that the corresponding routes for the product or the cleaning fluid and the gas medium have been reversed in the system. An exchange of the filling heads was tried. However, all of the measures described are to be classified as disadvantageous due to the high associated costs. - This also applies to the filling head with container according to the also generic EP 1 741 665 B1 ,

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a filling head with a container, in particular a large-volume container, so that the paths from on the one hand to the product medium and on the other hand the gas medium can be exchanged easily and with little effort.

To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic filling head with a container in a first alternative, that the plunger is arranged so that the flow paths of one hand the product medium and on the other hand, the gas medium can be interchanged with each other and to the relevant ram as a change ram with integrated Strömungswegwechselelement is formed. It is possible that the plunger has a replacement element. Then, the replacement element is equipped with the integrated flow path changeover element. With the help of the flow path changeover element, the flow path for the gas medium in the filling head is guided further into the flow path for the product medium and vice versa.

As part of an alternative solution is provided in a generic filling head that the plunger is set so that the flow paths can be interchanged with each other and to the relevant plunger has the exchange element with the integrated flow path change element.

For a change of the flow paths, it is only necessary in the latter variant with the replacement element, the exchange element - and not the entire ram - to swap. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention to replace the entire plunger when the flow paths are to be reversed. Then, the plunger is formed as a total change. Of course, both approaches can not only be realized alternatively, but optionally also combined.

In the event that the ram is equipped with the replacement element with the integrated flow path change element, the plunger has regularly on a two-part structure. This is composed of a plunger base and a so that can be coupled plunger top. The replacement element is advantageously configured as a plunger upper part which can be coupled to the plunger lower part.

The plunger can be moved axially in total in the filling head and is mounted correspondingly axially displaceable in the filling head. This allows the filling head at a total open container or appropriately opened valve fitting - similar to in the DE 31 05 706 A1 described - abut a valve seal and lift them from their sealing seat. On this catfish, the two flow paths are released on the one hand along the so-called annular channel outer peripheral side of the plunger and on the other hand by the interior of the plunger and the siding. According to the invention, it is now possible not only to direct the product medium, for example beer, into the interior of the keg via said outer annular channel and at the same time supply the prestressing gas via the riser pipe arranged in the center of the filling head or to guide it out of the keg. But the paths of the product medium and the gas medium can be reversed by the product medium via the riser and the outer ring channel provides for the guidance of the gas medium. That can - as already described - can be achieved with the ram designed as a change ram according to the invention or by resorting to the exchange element.

It has proven useful if the plunger - as well as the filling head as a whole - is rotationally symmetrical and substantially cylindrical. The valve fitting generally has a rotationally symmetrical and substantially cylindrical structure. The plunger has the already described outer annular channel, which is realized on the outer peripheral side. In fact, this annular channel is designed in detail so that the plunger over a certain range has an outer cylinder jacket, which opens into openings, via which the outer annular channel usually communicates with the barrel interior. The openings are predominantly in a sealing collar, so that they are closed when the plunger assumes its rest position and the container or the keg is closed. In this position, the valve seat of the valve assembly is not lifted.

However, if the container or keg in its "open" position, the valve is lifted from the valve seat and the sealing collar from its seat, so that the openings are released and a total of the described two separate flow paths on the one hand the product medium and on the other the gas medium are open. It should be emphasized that product medium and gas medium in the context of the invention means virtually all flowable media, so in the example of the product medium not necessarily only drinks or cleaning liquid. The same applies to the gas medium, which is generally a propellant or gas span, but in principle can also be a liquid. Therefore, one could also speak of a first medium and a second medium. However, for reasons of better identification and based on the main purpose of use is mainly the product medium and the gas medium the speech.

The design of the flow path change element is done in detail as follows. Thereafter, the outer annular channel is equipped in the Strömungswegwechselelement with a shut-off, which divides the outer annular channel into a closed inlet channel and an outlet channel with the at least one opening. In addition, the Strömungswegwechselelement advantageously has a divided riser inside, which is composed of inlet pipe and outlet pipe. The design of the flow path change element is now made so that the closed inlet channel with the outlet line and the inlet line to the outlet channel and consequently the at least one opening are connected.

In this way, by minor modifications to an existing plunger, the desired change of the flow paths on the one hand the product medium and on the other hand the gas medium is achieved. As a result, the conversion can be realized relatively inexpensively. Of course, it is still possible to work with a conventional plunger, which does not interchange the flow paths of the product medium and the gas medium. Rather, the plunger according to the invention is an option, which is then used when the described requirement for the flow path change must be realized. Here are the main benefits.

• Fig. 1 den erfindungsgemäßen Behälter schematisch mit zugehörigem Füllkopf und Ventilarmatur,
• Fig. 2 den eingesetzten Stößel in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht,
• Fig. 3 ein Stößeloberteil in herkömmlicher Auslegung und

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

• Fig. 1 the container according to the invention schematically with associated filling head and valve fitting,
• Fig. 2 the inserted ram in a perspective overall view,
• Fig. 3 a ram top in a conventional design and

Fig. 4 the ram upper part as a replacement element with exchanged flow path on the one hand the product medium and on the other hand, the gas medium.

In the Fig. 1 is a container, in particular a large-volume container in the form of a keg barrel 1 shown. The keg barrel 1 is generally used to hold liquids, in the present case for receiving drinks, especially beer. For this purpose, the keg-barrel 1 in an in Fig. 1 shown overhead position and a local valve fitting 2 is connected to a filling head 3. In the filling head 3 there is an axially displaceable plunger 4, which in an overall view in Fig. 2 is shown.

With the help of the plunger 4, a valve 5 can be lifted within the filling head 3 of an associated valve seat 6, as in the right part of the Fig. 1 is shown. In this way, a product medium, in the present case, the liquid or the beverage or beer, flow through an outer annular channel 7 in the barrel interior, as indicated by corresponding arrows. Since the barrel interior extends above the filling head 3, the arrows for the flow path through the outer annular channel 7 are logically in the Fig. 1 directed upwards. This also applies to arrows that mark the flow path of the gas medium. In fact, the gas medium or biasing gas is supplied via a gas channel 8, which extends through the interior of the hollow cylindrical ram 4. The gas channel 8 is continued in a riser pipe or siding S, which or which projects into the interior of the keg barrel 1. One recognizes that in the right representation according to Fig. 1 both the outer ring channel or product channel 7 and the gas channel 8 are opened. Both channels 7, 8 form a first channel 7 and a second channel 8 for different media, which must be designed to be flowable in order to ensure the filling of the keg barrel 1.

If the plunger 4 is in its rest position or retracted position according to the left part of the Fig. 1 , the valve 5 is not lifted off the valve seat 6. As a result, both the outer ring channel or product channel 7 and the gas channel 8 are closed. Consequently, the keg barrel 1 is closed and it can be filled in this position, neither the product medium nor escape gas from the interior as well as the product medium.

According to the invention is now in an overview in Fig. 2 illustrated plunger 4 is arranged so that the flow paths can be interchanged on the one hand the product medium and on the other hand the gas medium. For this purpose, the invention proposes in the context of the embodiment, a replacement element 4a, which is designed as a plunger top and can be interchangeable coupled to a plunger base 4b. In this case, the replacement element or ram upper part 4a is corresponding to the Fig. 3 designed in a conventional sense, so has in the interior of the continuous gas channel, wherein the outer annular channel 7 is also designed to be continuous and provides for the guidance of the product medium.

As part of the variant Fig. 4 However, an inventively modified plunger top 4a and exchange element 4a is used. This is equipped with an integrated flow path change element 9. For this purpose, the outer annular channel 7 is provided with the flow path change element 9 with a shut-off unit 10. The shut-off unit 10 divides the outer annular channel 7 into a closed inlet channel 7a and an outlet channel 7b. The outlet channel 7b opens on the output side into a plurality of openings 11, which are arranged in the manner of a ring and on the circumference of the exchange element 4, in a sealing collar 12. The plunger 4 is in the in Fig. 1 shown retracted position or in its rest position, the openings 11 of said sealing collar 12 are closed. On the other hand takes the plunger 4 its corresponding to the open position of the keg barrel position according to the right representation in Fig. 1 on, the openings 11 in the sealing collar 12 are free from an associated valve seat 13.

The Strömungswegwechselelement 9 also has a subdivided riser 14, which is equipped with an inlet line 14a and a discharge line 14b. The inlet pipe 14a and the outlet pipe 14b communicate with each other as well as the inlet channel 7a and the outlet channel 7b with its openings 11. In this way, the exchange of the flow paths on the one hand the product medium and on the other hand the gas medium can be easily realized. Because the flow path change element 9 connects the closed inlet channel 7a with the outlet line 14b. In this way, the product medium guided, for example, via the outer annular channel 7 with the help of the Strömungswegwechselelementes 9 in the interior of the exchange element 4 according to the invention is not further circumferentially of the exchange element 4 out (as in the exchange element 4 according to the prior art according to Fig. 3 ), but passes through the discharge line or the outlet channel 14b in the way, which has been previously reserved for the gas channel 8. Conversely, the inlet line 14a is connected to the outlet channel 7b and consequently the openings 11. In this way, the gas medium which is generally supplied via the outlet channel 7b ultimately reaches the outside via the openings 11, thus occupying the flow path previously taken up by the product medium.

Of course, the replacement element after the Fig. 4 by an exchange element 4a according to the Fig. 3 replace, so that then the original flow paths (again) are made. In fact, the exchange element 4a after the Fig. 3 characterized in that the gas medium through the gas channel 8 is continuously guided in the interior of the hollow cylindrical ram 4, whereas the product medium over the entire length of the plunger 4 on the outer circumference side through the annular channel 7 into the interior of the keg barrel 1 (or out of this) flows. The connection of the exchange element or ram upper part 4a with the plunger base 4b can be done by a screw, plug connection, bayonet connection or similar measures.

In any case, the connection allows a change of the respective exchange element 4a either according to the embodiment Fig. 3 or the embodiment according to Fig. 4 to. Basically, the entire plunger 4 can be changed, and against such, in the flow path change element 9, for example, the corresponding Fig. 4 is integrated. In any case, in the context of the invention, a conventional filling head 3 by the replacement of the plunger 4 or ram upper part 4a for the filling or generally the treatment of the keg keg 1 be converted.

Treatment here means the emptying of the keg barrel 1 of residues, its cleaning, a pressure test, etc. In this way, can be used on conventional filling heads 3 and there are no new purchases required. By the described change of the flow paths for on the one hand the product medium and on the other hand the gas medium can be treated not only reusable containers or keg barrels 1 for the Mehrwegbetrieb with conventional systems, but also and in particular disposable kegs on conventional Keganlagen, and without major conversion.

Claims (10)

1. Filling head (3) with a container, in particular a large-volume container, for receiving pressurised drinks, preferably a keg (1), wherein the filling head (3) comprises a first channel (7), e.g. a product channel (7), and a second channel (8), e.g. a gas channel (8), and with a pusher (4) that can be moved inside the filling head (3) and that defines separate flow paths of, on the one hand, a product medium and, on the other, of a gas medium in the inside of the container and, optionally, to the outside of the container, characterised in that
   the pusher (4) is designed in such a manner that the flow paths are interchangeable, and is designed as a changeover pusher, with an integrated flow path change element (9).
2. Filling head (3) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pusher (4) comprises an exchange element (4a) with the integrated flow path change element (9).
3. Filling head (3) with a container, in particular a large-volume container, for receiving pressurised drinks, preferably a keg (1), wherein the filling head (3) comprises a first channel (7), e.g. a product channel (7), and a second channel (8), e.g. a gas channel (8), and with a pusher (4) that can be moved inside the filling head (3) and that defines separate flow paths of, on the one hand, a product medium and, on the other, of a gas medium in the inside of the container and, optionally, to the outside of the container, characterised in that
   the pusher (4) is designed in such a manner that the flow paths are interchangeable, and in addition
   comprises a exchange element (4a) with integrated flow path change element (9).
4. Filling head (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the exchange element (4a) is designed as a pusher upper part (4a) which can be coupled to a pusher lower part (4b).
5. Filling head (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pusher (4) is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the filling head (3).
6. Filling head (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pusher (4) is designed as rotation symmetrical and essentially cylindrical.
7. Filling head (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the pusher (4) comprises an outer ring channel (7) and an inner riser line (14).
8. Filling head (3) according to claim 7, characterised in that the outer ring channel (7) is equipped at the flow path change element (9) with a shutoff unit (10), which subdivides the outer ring channel (7) into a closed inlet channel (7a) and an outlet channel (7b) with at least one opening (11).
9. Filling head (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the flow path change element (9) comprises a subdivided rising line (14) with an inlet line (14a) and an outlet line (14b).
10. Filling head (3) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the flow path change element (9) connects the closed inlet channel (7a) with the outlet channel (14b) and the inlet line (14a) with the outlet channel (7b), and consequently with the at least one opening (11).

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