EP3008009A1

EP3008009A1 - Valve attachment, filling device, filling assembly, and method for filling a container with liquid and draining said container of liquid

Info

Publication number: EP3008009A1
Application number: EP14744763.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Benedikt Leibinger
Original assignee: Leibinger GmbH
Current assignee: Leibinger GmbH
Priority date: 2013-06-11
Filing date: 2014-06-11
Publication date: 2016-04-20
Also published as: DE102014008234A1; US20160145089A1; US9783402B2; WO2014198413A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve attachment (2) for filling at least one container (1, 1') with a liquid and draining the at least one container of said liquid, which valve attachment can be tightly attached to the container (1, 1') by means of a bottom side. The valve attachment (2) has a first and a second valve (5, 6), which each have an annular valve seat (7, 8) and each have an annular closing part (9, 10) corresponding thereto, wherein the closing parts (9, 10) are aligned with each other and are designed to surround a specified tubular element (3) in such a way that an annular gap (7', 8') is formed. The first valve seat (7) is stationary and the second valve seat (8) can be moved in a valve longitudinal direction. The closing parts (9, 10) are arranged on a common carrier (11) that can be moved along the valve longitudinal axis. The valve attachment (2) has at least three construction units that are separate from each other, wherein a first construction unit (21'), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing the container (1, 1') to be filled, comprises a first housing part (21) and the valve seat (7) for the valve (5), which valve seat is comprised by the first housing part. The second construction unit (22'), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing away from the container (1, 1') to be filled, comprises a second housing part (22) and the valve seat (8) for the valve (6). The third construction unit (23') comprises the closing parts (9, 10) and the carrier (11). The construction units (21', 22', 23') can be moved in relation to each other in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a filling device that uses the valve attachment (2) according to the invention, a filling assembly, and a filling method and a draining method in which the device according to the invention is used.

Description

VALVE TOOL FOR FILLING AND EMPTYING CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a valve attachment for filling and emptying at least one container with a liquid under an oxygen-poor atmosphere. Furthermore, a filling arrangement is disclosed, which comprises the valve cap and thus also allows filling and emptying under oxygen depletion; Furthermore, a filling arrangement, which comprises the filling device, the subject of the invention and finally the filling and emptying method itself, which uses the aforementioned devices.

Valves are known in various embodiments. They basically have a valve seat and a corresponding closure part. By adjusting the closure part, for example, the flow can be regulated.

For filling a container, in particular a bottle, with a liquid intended for consumption, in particular beverage, the liquid is usually supplied to the container by means of a probe. The problem with this is that the liquid is exposed to the ambient air, with the result of unwanted gas release, gas exchange and gas input. Incidentally, the same problem also occurs with non-food items such as medicines or other chemicals.

Filling devices are known which counteract the disadvantages described above and, for this purpose, comprise a valve attachment, that is to say an attachment which has a valve, which has a tube on the underside, over which a balloon-like body is placed in a sealed manner. The opening of this balloon-like body is tightly connected to the tube. The so-formed essay with its tube and the balloon-like body is inserted from above into the container to be filled. By supplying an expansion medium such as air through the tube, the balloon-like body is first inflated so that it fills the entire interior of the container. As a result, the container is evacuated. Subsequently, the balloon-like body is then emptied of the expansion medium again. At the same time the thus created interior in the balloon-like body, the liquid is supplied. Finally, then the article with the tube and the balloon-like body can be pulled out again.

CONFIRMATION COPY Furthermore, devices for emptying example of a bottle filled with sparkling wine after bottle fermentation are known. Here, the usual principle is that the sparkling wine is pressed out by adding C0 ₂ with pressure from the bottle. However, the use of C0 ₂ is undesirable because it dissolves in the contact with the sparkling wine in this.

For this reason, a device for emptying a container has been developed, which does not have the disadvantages described above. The structural design of this emptying device essentially corresponds to that of the above-described filling device. From the procedure, however, the emptying differs from the filling. For emptying, first of all, the valve attachment with the tube located therein and the balloon-like body are again introduced into the container filled with the liquid. By inflating the balloon-like body by supplying an expansion medium through the tube, the liquid in the container is forced out through a corresponding opening in the valve cap. If the expansion medium has subsequently been drained off again, the emptying device can be pulled out of the container again.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to improve the valve cap of the type specified, in particular such that it is suitable for filling a container, in particular a bottle with oxygen-sensitive or carbon dioxide sensitive fluids under oxygen or C0 ₂ -armer or under Inert gas atmosphere can be used.

The technical solution to this problem is solved by the valve cap with the features of claim 1.

It results in the further task, in particular to fill or replenish C0 ₂ -containing drinks without adverse C0 ₂ intake under oxygen-poor atmosphere in containers. This object is achieved by the filling device with the features of claim 6.

The further object of filling or emptying of vessels under oxygen or C0 ₂ -rarness or inert gas supply at a given filling level or volume removal is achieved by the filling arrangement with the features of claim 11. An improved filling method is provided by the method with the features of claim 12; an improved evacuation method by the method having the features of claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method are described by the respective subclaims.

A first embodiment of a valve attachment according to the invention for filling and emptying containers with a liquid provides that the valve attachment can be placed with a bottom tightly on the container. According to this understanding, the "container" is either directly the container to be filled, such as a bottle, or a fluid volume compensation device is provided between the bottle and the valve attachment as a buffer, which ultimately forms a container as well To the vessel) and a second (upper) valve, each having an annular valve seat and corresponding thereto an annular closure member., The first valve seat is fixed and the second valve seat slidably provided with respect to a valve longitudinal axis For this purpose, the closure parts of the two valves are arranged on a common carrier displaceable along the valve longitudinal axis and the valve seat is arranged z has at least three separate structural units:

a first structural unit which is arranged on an end of the valve attachment facing the container to be filled and has a first housing part and the valve seat for the valve,

- A second assembly, which is arranged at one of the container to be filled end facing away from the valve cap and a second housing part and the valve seat (8) for the valve and finally

a third assembly comprising the closure members and the carrier;

wherein the units are movable relative to each other in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis.

This advantageously achieves that controlled and controlled removal both of air in the vessel or liquid on separate fluid paths corresponding to the supply of a liquid or the filling of the container with inert gas or air can be achieved without the material to be removed or filled comes in contact with oxygen. At the same time, the valve attachment in a corresponding filling quickly and perform reproducible filling and removal cycles and can be used for almost all conceivable types of containers.

The basic idea of the first valve according to the invention for supplying or discharging the liquid in such a filling or emptying device is that this valve does not supply or discharge the corresponding medium at a predetermined specific lateral position, but that due to the annular design of the valve The medium distributed in both a supply and a discharge around the entire circumference of the tube or the balloon-like body. This avoids unilateral supply or removal of the medium. "Medium" is to be understood as meaning fluid here, "fluids" herein may be liquids which are filled into the containers; Expansion media in turn can be any fluids, whether liquids, gases such as air or inert gases, which are suitable to infect the respective balloon-like body; furthermore, in the containers before filling, the fluid may be "air", but also a liquid other than the desired one, that is to be emptied The valve according to the invention also has the advantage that it is structurally very easy to implement.The second valve is provided for filling the container for the escape of the air in the container and for emptying the container for supplying air; The proposed design of the valves is a structurally simple possibility, which, although separate for each other, forms the corresponding closing parts on a common carrier for common actuation , k can be opened and closed by a corresponding displacement movement, the valves accordingly.

In order to achieve this, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that the closure parts of the two valves and the carrier are arranged so as to be non-displaceable with respect to one another; they can also be integrally formed. This allows a coupled actuation of the first and the second valve with a common actuator; The closure parts and the carrier can, for example, interlock positively. In addition, a simple assembly of the valve attachment is advantageously possible in a multi-part design. In another embodiment, the valve cap on the second assembly may have a holding portion configured to concentrically hold a given tubular member in the passages of the annular closure members. The holding portion may have a lower portion fixed with respect to the second unit having a passage for a tubular member and an upper portion detachably connected to the lower portion having a bore for receiving the tubular member. Suitably, the passage opening is aligned with the passages of the annular closure parts and in the passage opening sits a clamping body, which is preferably supported by a spring against the upper portion to press the clamp body against the passage opening and to achieve the clamping. In the bore of the detachable portion of the holding portion, the tube is advantageously mounted with low backlash, while the tube may have a significant radial play in the passage opening of the fixed portion of the holding portion. The two valves can be cone valves. Furthermore, the first valve and / or the second valve can be surrounded concentrically by an annular space for storing the respective medium with respect to the tube. This means that the closure parts are conical, while the corresponding valve seats have a conical indentation, in which the corresponding conical closure parts immerse themselves in a sealing manner during the sealing process.

The fact that the two valves are each assigned a surrounding annular space, serves to store the corresponding medium (liquid or air or inert gas) around the valve. Thereby, a uniform supply or discharge of the medium around the entire circumference of the rod or the balloon-like body can be achieved.

The closure parts of the two valves are sealed with respect to the respective associated structural units, so that no fluid can escape into the housing. The seal can be achieved in each case with a sealing bellows, which follows a relative movement of the closure parts in relation to the structural units. By sealing can also be prevented that slide rails or the like, on which the carrier is moved, dirty or wear.

In one embodiment according to the invention of a filling device for filling a container with or for emptying a container from a liquid, it is provided that the filling device has a valve attachment as described above, and furthermore a tube and having a balloon-like body. Thus, the liquid does not have to be withdrawn directly from the container or filled into it by means of a valve, but can be handled in an improved manner via the following inventive design: For this purpose, the tube is arranged on the second structural unit of the holding section of the valve cap and extends concentrically through the passage opening of the fixed lower portion of the holding portion and further through the passages of the annular closure parts. It is adapted to protrude in a use arrangement close to a bottom of a given container. The balloon-like body is pulled with its closed end over the free end of the tube and extends through the valve cap into the holding portion in which it is fixed. In the following, we also refer to the device for filling or emptying a container as a filling device, but the following descriptions apply equally to the emptying device. With regard to the statement "to near the ground", it should be noted that such a distance is to be maintained that the tube is placed so far away from its bottom when inserted into the container that neither the bottom nor the balloon-like body is damaged Since bottles can produce small differences in the wall thickness of the floor in terms of production technology, and the insertion of the pipe always takes place to the same extent, the maximum insertion depth must be adjusted taking these differences into account.However, the pipe - which can also be referred to as a rod , or as a tubular element - to be introduced so far that the balloon-like body with uniform expansion or unfolding on all sides, even at the bottom, reaches the inner wall (inner surface) of the container, at the lower end of the tube a Abstandsanpassungsvorrich- device may be arranged Such is in the appropriate context in DE 10 2012 021 775 A1 off to which reference is made and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. The device there for filling or emptying a container with liquid has a rod arranged on a holder and a rod enclosing the liquid liquid-tight and gas-tight, balloon-like body. The rod (herein the tube) there is just with the balloon-like body inserted into an opening of the container and after complete insertion of the holder on or in the opening of the container defined (herein "defined" in the sense of "positioned" to understand) , After insertion, the balloon-like body is filled with an expansion medium and inflated so that it rests against the inner circumferential surface of the container. The distance between see the lower end of the rod and the upper bracket is automatically changed depending on the distance between the lower bottom and the upper opening of the container, which by telescoping the rod or with an extending, especially guided in the rod, longitudinally displaceable or pushed onto this sleeve is reached. It can also be performed a rod in the rod or pipe. In the present case, it will always be a tube for fluid guidance; both, the sleeve or the rod solution, especially sprung, is possible.

In another embodiment, the balloon-like body in the passage opening of the holding portion by means of a clamping body, which is preferably supported by a spring against the upper portion of the holding portion, fluid-tight manner. By this arrangement, the balloon-like body sits securely on the tube even when pressure acts on the balloon and allows it to expand or unfold. That the balloon-like body with the tube and the upper portion of the holding portion forms a detachable unit, is a very clever embodiment, since so the balloon, which participates about 5000 filling cycles, can easily be replaced in the event of damage and in little time by simply the upper portion of the holding portion is released. Then the defective balloon-like body is withdrawn from the tube and a new one is raised and the detachable unit is replaced. This can be realized particularly well when the upper portion has a bore in which the tube is received and the tube extends through the one hole upwards and is inextricably received in a mounting stud. This in turn can then be releasably coupled to a fluid source, such as a gas source.

For a particularly suitable attachment of the upper end of the balloon-like body, the passage opening may have on its inside a conical tapering in the direction of the second housing part and the clamping body be a clamping ball or a clamping cone, which cooperate so that they the outer end of the balloon-like body, the is pulled over the clamping body, while the tube extends through the clamping body or a bore provided therein, jammed in the clamping cone.

The balloon-like body which can be used with the devices according to the invention, but also with other devices, can be formed by a tube made of a thermoplastic elastomeric material, such as preferably a TPE extrudate which is closed at one end. Advantageously, these hoses can cost and compared. inert to many of the filling substances. The closure of the hose can be produced by an end piece, preferably a cylindrical end piece, particularly preferably a cylindrical PE end piece, which is welded to the hose material and inserted into the end of the hose. The hose can also be closed in other ways. The hose should have at least one, preferably a plurality of flow channels on its outer circumferential surface, which is achieved for example by one or more longitudinal webs or longitudinal grooves along its length. The cross sections of the webs or grooves can be polygonal or round; it is important that they space the outer surface of the balloon-like body in the expanded state of the inner wall of the container just so that at maximum volumetric loading and thus air displacement or fluid displacement in the container still flow channels remain. The more flow channels present, the safer the positioning with respect to the valves through the fluid flow. Therefore, at least one flow channel must correspond with the geometry of the annular gap in such a way that at least one fluid path or two fluid paths are created.

The balloon-like body may also be formed of a non-elastomeric material. Then it is present as at its lower end non-open body, which also for the above reason has one or more longitudinal ridges and / or longitudinal grooves. It has a tubular portion whose inner diameter and length corresponds to an outer diameter of a pipe intended for use in a filling device according to the invention, so that the tubular portion can be pulled free of play on the pipe, and a foldable portion having a shape which is formed thereto to abut in an unfolded state on an inner wall of the container.

A further device according to the invention is the filling arrangement for filling a container or for emptying a container from a liquid which has the above-described filling device and additionally a fluid volume compensator, to which the valve attachment and this on the container, which ultimately fill or empty is, is arranged.

The filling or emptying device according to the invention is used for a filling method for a container as follows:

a) fluid-tightly arranging a container with its filling opening on the underside of the valve attachment, then inserting the tube with the balloon-like body drawn over into the container, b) upward movement of the second assembly with valve seat of the second valve and the second housing part, thereby lifting the closure part of the second valve and opening the second valve,

c) allowing expansion medium to flow into the balloon-like body, thereby expanding the balloon-like body and displacing fluid from the container and allowing the fluid to flow out through the opened second valve,

d) the same way up moving the first assembly with valve seat of the first valve and the first housing part and the third assembly with the carrier and the closure parts, thereby lifting the closure part and opening the first valve and closing the second valve,

e) flow of filling fluid through the first valve through the annular gap of the first valve into the container,

f) displacing and leaking the inflation fluid from the balloon-like body as it flows in, continuing the inflow of inflation fluid until the balloon-like body is fully contracted,

g) lifting the valve attachment from the container and pulling out the tube and the balloon-like body pulled over it.

The fluid-tight "connection" of the container with the valve cap can be done directly or indirectly, depending on whether a volume compensator is used, which is then to be understood as a kind of container.

In a continuation of the method, a device with volume compensator is provided. It is then envisaged that in the step

a) the filling opening of the container is tightly connected to a lower side of the fluid volume compensator,

and in step f) a compensation volume of the fluid volume compensator is filled with the filling fluid. Continue

in step g), when the tube and the balloon-like body pulled over it flow, allowing the compensation volume from the fluid volume compensator to flow into the container, thereby equalizing a displacement volume of the tube and the balloon-like body.

Similarly, with the filling or emptying device according to the invention, an emptying process with a fluid-filled container can be carried out with the steps:

a) fluid-tight arrangement of a fluid-filled container with its filling opening at the Bottom of the valve cap, then inserting the tube with the balloon-like body drawn over into the container,

b) the second assembly and the third assembly with valve attachment with carrier and closure parts to move the same way upwards, thereby lifting the closure part of the first valve and opening the same,

b) allowing expansion medium into the balloon-like body, and expanding it, thereby displacing the fluid from the container,

thereby flowing out of the fluid through the annular gap (9 ') of the open first valve c) move the third unit down and thereby placing the closure part of the first valve on the valve seat of the first valve and closing the first valve, while lifting the closure part of the second Valve from the valve seat of the second valve and opening the second valve,

d) allowing expansion medium to escape from the balloon-like body (3), thereby contracting the balloon-like body and equalizing pressure.

Using a fluid volume compensator connected to the bottom of the

Valve attachment is fluid-tight manner, in step a), the filling opening of the container (1) is sealed to a bottom of the fluid volume compensator

and in step b), when the balloon-like body is expanded, filling of a compensating volume of the fluid volume compensator with the fluid to be evacuated, then the balloon-like body is allowed to expand into the compensating volume (which may expand depending on the choice of the balloon-like body) that the fluid to be emptied is completely displaced from the fluid volume compensator.

Other embodiments as well as some of the advantages associated with these and other embodiments will become apparent and better understood by the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Items or parts thereof that are substantially the same or similar may be provided with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention. It shows:

Fig. 1a is a sectional view of the valve cap in the closed state; Fig. 1b is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1a, the valve being open for air;

Fig. 1c is a representation corresponding to those in Figures 1a and 1, wherein the valve for the air is closed and the valve for the liquid is open.

2a to 2d, the procedure for filling a bottle;

3a to 3d, the procedure for emptying a bottle.

4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling device with volume compensator,

Fig. 5 system diagram in the state before filling the container, Fig. 6 system diagram in the state after filling the container.

The filling and emptying device according to the invention, as illustrated by the basic principle of these in FIGS. 1a to 1c, can be used both for filling and emptying a container. Emptying may be required, for example, when bottling is performed; Filling can mean any filling of a liquid in a container such as a bottle, but also basically other containers. In the figures shown, a bottle 1 is shown. The filling and emptying device according to the invention is placed tightly on the bottle 1 in FIGS. 2a to 2d (as is also shown in FIGS. 3a to 3d).

The filling or emptying device has a valve cap 2, and a tube 3 passed therethrough, over which a balloon-like body 4 is pulled. In this case, the tube 3 protrudes from the bottom of the valve cap 2. The valve cap 2 is designed so that it sits with its underside close to the bottle 1 (see Fig. 2 ad and Fig. 3 ad) when it is filled directly, or on a volume compensator V (see Fig. 4), When the bottle is filled "indirectly." The balloon-like body 4 is fluid-tightly connected to the tube 3 in an upper end portion of the tube 3. There, a ball 163 is connected to the tube 3 and pushed onto the tube 3, respectively balloon-like body 4 is pulled over the ball 163. The ball 163 sits in this case in a passage opening 161 ', wherein the balloon-like body 4 between the ball 163 and the upper edge of the passage opening 161 'is clamped.

The balloon-like body 4 may be a tube formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material, such as a TPE extrudate sealed at its lower end (ie, the end provided for positioning in the container to be filled or emptied) is. The closing can be done with a

Tubing weldable tail, such as a PE tail made. A cylindrical end piece is advantageous because it can be easily inserted into the hose end and welded. The tube has in its unexpanded form an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the tube 3. Its material properties in terms of wall thickness and elasticity chosen so that the expanded by inflation hose assumes a balloon shape, the inner volume of the container to be filled, respectively. the bottle to be filled and, if necessary, before. connected Druckkompensa- tor (see Fig. 4) fills. An extruded tube is particularly suitable when longitudinal webs or grooves are to be provided on the outside of the balloon-like body 4, since these can be produced virtually without additional costs. The grooves or webs are, as stated above, intended to provide flow channels and thus to allow a complete emptying of a container without formation of "liquid bubbles" or "gas bubbles" between the balloon-like body 4 and container wall.

But it is also possible that the balloon-like body 3 is a simple end closed, so not open balloon. The balloon-like body 4 may be a body formed of a non-elastomeric material and not open at its lower end. This has a tubular portion which invariably has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the corresponding predetermined tube 3 and thus encloses this flush, and it has a foldable portion which is like a foldable bag having a shape which has the inner shape of the Container corresponds. This section may consist of very strong, thin-walled material and is located inside the container during the filling or emptying process. As with the tube, there are longitudinal ridges on the outside of the non-open balloon-like body that extend from the lower end of the non-open body to the upper of the two valves or beyond. When expanding the balloon-like body 4 this clothes not only the container completely, but also the interior of the valve cap 2, ie the balloon-like body 4 sets from the inside to the through hole of the carrier 11 and the closing parts 9,10 and the valve seats 7,8 on. In this way, the valve cap 2 can be completely freed from the ambient air before filling, so that even here the filling fluid does not come into contact with ambient air.

The valve attachment 2, which in principle can also be used in other than the filling device according to the invention, shows in FIGS. 1 a to c or also in FIG. 5 a first valve 5 and a second valve 6, each with an annular valve seat 7, 8 as well corresponding to an annular closure parts 9,10. The first valve seat 7 is formed stationary with respect to a container to be filled and the second valve seat 8 with respect to a valve longitudinal axis displaceable. The two closure parts 9, 10 are aligned with one another and surround the tube (3), forming a respective annular gap 8 ', 9'. The closure parts 9, 10 of the two valves 5, 6 are arranged on a common support 11, which can be displaced along the valve longitudinal axis the entirety of the closure parts 9, 10 and of the carrier is referred to as third assembly 23 '. The term "first structural unit" 21 'designates the valve seat 7 of the lower valve 5 and the associated housing part 21. The second structural unit 22' is correspondingly designated by the valve seat 8 of the upper valve 6 and its associated housing part 22. The structural units 21 ', 22 ', 23' can be moved relative to each other along the valve longitudinal axis to open individual valves 5.6 or both valves 5.6.

The sequence of movements for opening the upper valve 6, which here is the air valve, is shown in Fig. 1b. For this purpose, the second structural unit 22 ', which comprises the component with the valve seat 8 of the upper valve 6 and the second (upper) housing part 22, is displaced along the valve longitudinal axis in a direction represented by the arrows, so that the valve seat 8 lifts off from the closure part 10 and an opening cross section is released, whereby the valve is opened. In this state, ambient air or any other gaseous or liquid medium through the annular gap 8 ', which is located between the valve seat 8 and the outer surface of the balloon-like body 4, flow in or out. The ambient air is the valve 6 via the bore 14 and the adjoining annular space 12 or derived. The bore 14 and the annular space 12 are sealed relative to the carrier 11 via a sealing bellows 24, so that no ambient air or other fluid can escape; This is particularly important if the filling or emptying process is carried out under high differential pressures. The movement of the second structural unit in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the valve is illustrated here by the distance b, which corresponds to the distance Stand of the first housing part 21 of the second housing part 22 in the closed state of Fig. 1a corresponds.

The sequence of movements to open the lower valve 5, since here is the liquid valve, is shown in Fig. 1c. Here, both the second assembly 22 ', which has the component with the valve seat 8 and the second (upper) housing part 22, and the third assembly 23', which has the closure parts 9,10 and the carrier 1 by the same amount in shifted the direction shown by the arrows along the valve longitudinal axis, whereby the closure member 9 of the lower valve 5 is lifted from its valve seat 7 and the valve is opened; the upper valve 6 (here air valve) remains closed. Thus, a flow through the valve 5 in / from the annular space 12 and the bore 15 is possible. Also at the bottom is a sealing of the valve seat 7 surrounding the annular space 12 against the carrier 11 by means of a sealing bellows 24, so that the sliding surfaces of the carrier 11 relative to the housing part 21 and against the component having the valve seat 7, not with filling fluid in Contact come and be polluted and form no germs.

The mode of operation when filling the container 1 with a liquid 13 is as follows (FIGS. 2a to 2d):

First, the article 2 is placed from above on the empty container 1 in the form of a bottle and the tube 3 introduced with the balloon-like body 4 pulled over it, so that the attachment 2 rests with its underside tightly on the upper bottle neck (Fig. 2a and 2b ). Now, the air valve (second, upper valve 6) of the valve cap 2, as described in Fig. 1 b, opened. Subsequently, the balloon-like body 4 is inflated with an expansion medium (in particular sterile compressed air) such that this balloon-like body 4 fills the entire interior of the container 1 (FIG. 2c). The supply of the expansion medium takes place via the tube 3. Instead of filling the balloon and the container can be evacuated to "pull" the balloon to the inner surface.

By the balloon-like body 4 fills the entire interior of the container 1, the air therein must escape. For this purpose, (as shown in Fig. 1 b), the upper, second valve 6 is opened. The displaced air is discharged during the inflation of the balloon-like body 4 via the annular space 12 and the bore 14. So that all air can escape from the container 1 during the gradual expansion of the balloon-like body 4 and form no "air sacs", the surface of this balloon-like body 4 is preferably profiled in the longitudinal direction or has webs or grooves.

Subsequently, the liquid 13 can be supplied to the container 1. For this purpose, the upper, second valve 6 is closed again and the lower, first valve 5 is opened, wherein the procedure for opening the lower valve 5 is described under Fig. 1c. Via a bore 15 and the annular space 12, the filling fluid 3 is supplied to the lower, first valve 5 and finally flows through the annular gap 9 'between the lateral surface of the balloon-like body 4 and the valve seat 7 in the container 1. The filled container 1 is shown in FIG 2d.

Subsequently, the filling device with its attachment 2, the tube 3 and the balloon-like body 4 are pulled out again. The mode of operation when emptying the container 1 filled with a liquid 13 is as follows (FIGS. 3a to 3d):

Again, the article 2 is first with its underside sealed up on the opening of the container 1 and introduced with its tube 3 and the balloon-like body 4 in the container 13 filled with a liquid.

First, then, the lower, first valve 5, which is the liquid valve, opened as described in Fig. 1c. Subsequently, the balloon-like body 4 is inflated with an expansion medium, which is supplied via the pipe 3. By the pressure on the liquid contained in the container 1 13, this liquid 13 is pressed through the lower, first valve 5 out. The liquid 13 initially flows through the annular space 12 and then flows through the bore 15. In Fig. 3c is shown when the balloon-like body 4, the container 1 full fills and thus all liquid 13 has been pressed out. So that all the liquid 13 can flow out of the container 1 here too, the surface of the balloon-like body 4 is preferably profiled, in particular longitudinally profiled.

Subsequently, the expansion medium is again discharged from the balloon-like body 4, so that this returns to its initial state (Fig. 3d). When contracting the balloon-like body 4, however, the upper, second valve 6, which is here air valve, must be opened so that ambient air or any other gas can flow into the bottle to establish a pressure equalization. The movement of the valve attachment 2 for opening the upper, second valve 6 is described under Fig. 1 b.

The valve attachment 2 can be placed either directly on a bottle or a similar container 1 to be filled (see FIG. 2 ad, FIG. 3 ad) or "indirectly" via a volume compensator 1 ', which is virtually a "container to be filled '' is. This is shown in FIG. 4. The volume compensator 1 'is also lined by the balloon-like body and filled in the process and emptied.

However, in Fig. 4, the balloon-like body 4 (see, for example, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) is not shown. This is drawn from the container to be filled side facing the tube 3 and extends into an upper, d. H. There, a clamping ball 163 is provided, via which the balloon-like body is sealed fluid-tight with respect to the tube 3. To guide the tube 3 in the axial direction, a holding section 2 is provided, which is arranged at the upper end of the second structural unit 22 ', more precisely on the component which has the valve seat 8 of the second valve 6.

The holding section 16 here consists of two individual parts, a fixed relative to the second unit 22 'lower portion 161 and a removable upper portion 162 which has a receiving bore 162', in which the tube is mounted radially play. The lower fixed portion 161, however, has a passage opening 161 ', through which the tube 3 is guided, wherein the tube 3 has a significant radial clearance therein. On the upper edge of this passage opening 161 'is the clamping body 163. It is envisaged to clamp the balloon-like body between the clamping body and the passage opening. So that the balloon-like body is not damaged by excessive clamping forces during clamping, a spring 164 is provided, which is supported at one end on the removable portion 162 of the holding portion 16 and the other end on the clamping body 163; This limits the clamping force. The construction shown, a simple interchangeability of the balloon-like body can be achieved. To replace the releasable portion 162 is first separated from the fixed portion 161 of the holding portion, whereby the spring 164 relaxes and a fixed between the spring 164 and passage balloon-like body is released from its clamping. The balloon-like body can be pulled out of the valve cap in a contracted state together with the upper portion 162 of the holding portion 16, the tube 3 and the clamping body 163. Then a new balloon-like body can be mounted be stripped by this over the tube 3 and the clamp body 163. The installation is done in reverse order - replacing a broken balloon is thus easily possible.

Advantageously, the balloon-like body is so long that it extends over the entire length of the tube 3, through the fluid volume compensator 1 ', the valve cap 2 to beyond this addition. When expanding the balloon-like body, therefore, not only the container to be filled / emptied is lined, but also the interior of the valve cap 2 and the volume compensator 1 ', whereby a sterile filling is made possible. The volume compensator 1 'takes up the filling amount, which is required by the filling tube 3 together with balloon-like body 4 from the actually to be filled or emptied container; usually a bottle 1, is displaced when both are introduced together in this; Accordingly, this volume of liquid absorbed in the volume compensator 1 'travels after removal of the tube 3 together with the balloon-like body 4.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a system in which the filling or emptying device according to the invention is used. The state shown is the state just before the start of the filling process. The balloon-like body 4 is expanded and clothes both the bottle 1, the volume compensator 1 'and the valve cap 2. So that liquid can flow into the bottle 1, the second assembly 22 ', consisting of the second housing part 22 and the component with the valve seat 8, and the third assembly 23', consisting of the carrier 11 and the closure parts 9, 10 are moved upward to open the lower valve 5 (see Fig. 1c); this is indicated by the arrows. It is thereby provided that the quantity of liquid to be filled is first pre-metered by means of a pre-metering device 30, which has a piston 3β ', and pressed in via it. In order that no backflow takes place during the insertion stroke of the piston 30 ', a check valve 30 "is provided and the conduit for the expansion medium 40, which is connected in a gastight manner to the upper detachable part 162 of the holding section 16, is formed Expansion medium discharged from the balloon-like body 4 in proportion to the filling amount, as soon as the filling operation is started.

In order to allow in this expanded final state the outflow and inflow of fluid (air or liquid) along the length of the now balloon-like body ("balloon") into or out of the container, the hose has on its outside at least one, better still two or even better some more longitudinal webs whose cross-sectional profile can be almost arbitrary; it is important that the longitudinal webs, when the expanded tube takes the balloon shape, support against the container inner wall and form a flow gap from the bottom of the container upwards. Incidentally, when manufacturing the hose as an extrudate, it is particularly suitable to produce the webs simply and consistently. These webs have a length which extends from a lower end of the tube, which comes to lie in the lower container to be filled at the bottom, to at least the portion of the tube which terminates at the upper edge of the second valve. Accordingly, the length of the tube must be at least so long that its unexpanded section extends from the clamp in the holding section through the valve attachment and further through possibly the fluid volume compensator and finally into a second, actually to be filled that the expanded section reaches the bottom of this container. It should be expressly referred to the patent application DE 10 2012 021 775 A1 and the contents of which incorporated herein, which discloses a distance adjusting device for such filling devices, which are filled with the balloon-rod principle.

FIG. 6 shows the state after filling (or before the start of emptying). The second unit 22 'and the third unit 23' are in their rest position, ie, the first valve 5 and the second valve 6 (see Fig. 1a to Fig. 1c) are closed. The bottle 1 is full and the balloon-like body 4 is contracted. However, the balloon-like body 4 and the tube 3 displace a volume in the bottle 1, so that upon withdrawal from the bottle 1, the level will decrease. In order to compensate for this "loss", a compensation volume is maintained in the volume compensator 1 'which is matched to the dimensions of the tube 3 and the balloon-type body 4 used and will flow in when the tube 3 is withdrawn.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 container

r Volume compensator

2 essay

3 pipe

4 balloon-like body

5 first valve

6 second valve

7 valve seat (first valve 5)

7 'annular gap of the first valve

8 valve seat (second valve 6)

8 'annular gap of the second valve

9 closure part (first valve 5)

0 closure part (second valve 6)

1 carrier

2 ring caves

3 liquid

4 bore (second valve 6)

5 bore (first valve 5)

6 holding section

61 fixed lower portion of the holding portion 61 'passage opening

62 releasably connected upper portion of the holding portion 62 'receiving bore

63 clamp body

64 spring

1 first housing part

1 'first unit

2 second housing part

2 'second unit

3 'third unit

Claims

Valve attachment (2) for filling and emptying at least one container (1, 1 ') with a liquid which can be placed with a bottom close to the container (1, 1'), wherein the valve attachment (2) a first and a second valve (5,6), each having an annular valve seat (7, 8) and corresponding thereto an annular closure part (9,10), wherein the first valve seat (7) fixed and the second valve seat (8) with respect to a Valve longitudinal axis is displaceable and the annular closure parts (9,10) are aligned with each other and adapted to a predetermined tubular element (3) to form an annular gap (7 ', 8') to surround, characterized in that

the closure parts (9, 10) of the two valves (5, 6) are arranged on a common carrier (11) which can be displaced along the valve longitudinal axis, and

the valve cap (2) has at least three separate structural units (21 ', 22', 23 '), wherein

- A first assembly (21 '), which is arranged on a container to be filled (1, 1') facing the end of the valve cap (2), a first housing part (21) and the valve seat (7) for the valve (5) having;

a second structural unit (22 ') arranged at one end of the valve cap (2) facing away from the container (1, 1') to be filled, a second housing part (22) and the valve seat (8) for the valve (6 ) having;

- A third assembly (23 ') comprising the closure parts (9,10) and the carrier (11); wherein the assemblies (21 ', 22', 23 ') are movable relative to each other in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis.

Valve attachment (2) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the closure parts (9, 10) of the two valves (5, 6) and the carrier (11)

- Are arranged with respect to each other non-displaceable, and / or

- Are formed in one piece.

Valve attachment (2) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

on the second assembly (22 ') a holding portion (16) is arranged, which is adapted to the predetermined tubular element (3) concentrically in the Durchläs- sen (9 ', 10') of the annular closure parts (9, 10) to keep

preferably, a holding portion (16) having a lower portion (161) fixed relative to the second assembly (22 ') with a tubular member (3) passage opening (161') and a lower portion (161) releasably connected upper portion (162) having a bore (162 ') for receiving a tubular member (3),

wherein the passage opening (161 ') is in alignment with the passages (9', 10 ') of the annular closure parts (9, 10) and wherein in the passage opening (161') a clamping body (163) is seated, which preferably has a spring (164) is supported against the upper portion (62).

Valve attachment (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized in that

- The two valves (5,6) cone valves are, and / or

- The first valve (5) and / or the second valve (6) by an annular space (12) for storing the respective medium with respect to the tube (3) are concentrically surrounded.

Valve attachment (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that

the closure parts (9, 10) of the two valves (5, 6) are sealed with respect to the respective associated structural units (21 ', 22'), wherein preferably a sealing bellows (24) is provided which permits a relative movement of the closure parts (9, 10) ) with respect to the units (2 ', 22') follows.

Device for filling a container (1) or for emptying a container (1) from a liquid,

characterized in that

the device

a valve cap (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5,

a pipe (3),

a balloon-like body (4),

wherein the tube (3) is disposed on the second assembly (162) of the holding portion (16) of the valve cap (2) and concentrically positioned through the passage opening (161 ') of the fixed lower portion (161) of the holding portion (16) and farther extends through the passages (9 ', 10') of the annular closure parts (9, 10) and is adapted, in a use arrangement, to close to a bottom of a predetermined container (1) to protrude, and

and wherein the balloon-like body (4) is pulled with its closed end over the free end of the tube (3) and extends through the valve cap (2) into the holding portion (16) and fixed therein.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6,

characterized in that

the balloon-like body (4) in the passage opening (161 ') of the holding portion (16) by means of a clamping body (163), which is preferably supported via a spring (164) against the upper portion (162) of the holding portion (16) fluid-tight is and / or wherein preferably the clamping pressure is higher than the fluid pressure.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7,

characterized in that

the balloon-like body (4) with the tube (3) and the upper portion (162) of the holding portion (16) forms a detachable unit, wherein preferably the upper portion (162) has a bore (162 ') in which the tube (16) 3), and most preferably, the tube (3) extends upwardly through the one bore (162 ') and is undetachably received in a mounting sleeve (165) for releasable coupling to a source of fluid, preferably an inert gas source is trained.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,

characterized in that

the passage opening (161 ') has on its inner side a cone tapering in the direction of the second housing part (22) and in that the clamping body (163) is a clamping ball (163) or a clamping cone which is formed, the upper end of the balloon-like Body (4) to jam.

10. Device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8,

characterized in that

the balloon-like body

- Is formed by a thermoplastic elastomeric material, preferably a TPE extrudate, formed, one end closed tube, wherein the closure of the tube preferably by a welded with the tubing in the end of the tube inserted end piece, preferably a cylindrical end piece, particularly preferably a cylindrical PE end piece is formed, and wherein the Hose has at least one longitudinal web and / or at least one longitudinal groove, preferably two or more longitudinal webs or grooves along its length or

a body formed of a non-elastomeric material and not open at its lower end, which has at least one longitudinal web and / or at least one longitudinal groove, preferably two or more longitudinal webs or grooves along its length, and / or

a hose-shaped section whose inside diameter and length corresponds to an outside diameter of a pipe (3) predetermined for use in a filling device according to at least one of claims 6 to 9, so that the hose-shaped section can be pulled without play onto the pipe (3), and

- Has a foldable portion having a shape which is adapted to abut in an unfolded state on an inner wall of the container.

11. Filling arrangement for filling a container (1) with or for emptying a container (1) from a liquid,

characterized in that

the filling arrangement comprises at least one filling device according to at least one of claims 6 to 10 and a fluid volume compensator (1 '), wherein

the valve cap (2) is arranged in a fluid-tight manner on the fluid volume compensator (1 ') and the fluid volume compensator (1') is arranged in a fluid-tight manner on the container (1).

12. filling method for a container (1, 1 ') using a filling or emptying device according to at least one of claims 6 to 10,

comprising the steps:

a) fluid-tightly arranging a container (1, 1 ') with its filling opening on the underside of the valve attachment (2), then inserting the tube (3) with the balloon-like body (4) pulled over into the container (1, 1'),

b) upward movement of the second assembly (22 ') with valve seat (8) of the second valve (6) and the second housing part (22), thereby lifting the closure part (10) of the second valve (6) and opening the second valve (6)

c) allowing expansion medium to flow into the balloon-like body (3), thereby expanding the balloon-like body (3) and displacing fluid from the reservoir (1, 1 ') and allowing the fluid to flow through the opened second valve (6), d by the same way moving the first assembly (21 ') with valve seat (7) of the first valve (5) and the first housing part (21) and the third assembly

(23 ') with the carrier (11) and the closure parts (9,10), thereby lifting the Ver Closing parts (9) and opening the first valve (5) and closing the second valve (6), e) flow of filling fluid through the first valve (5) through the annular gap (9 ') of the first valve (5) in the container (1, 1 '),

f) when the filling fluid flows in and out, allowing the expansion medium to escape from the balloon-like body (4), continuing the inflow of filling fluid until the balloon-like body (4) is completely contracted,

g) lifting the valve cap (2) from the container (1, 1 ') and pulling out the tube (3) and the balloon-like body (4) pulled over it. 13. filling method according to claim 12,

wherein with the underside of the valve cap (2) tightly a fluid volume compensator (1 ') is connected and in step

a) the filling opening of the container (1) is sealed to a bottom of the fluid volume compensator (1 ') is connected

and in step f) a compensation volume of the fluid volume compensator (1 ') is filled with the filling fluid,

and in step g), when the tube (3) and the balloon-like body (4) pulled over it are allowed to flow, the compensation volume from the fluid volume compensator (1 ') into the container (1), thereby compensating a displacement volume of the tube (3). and the balloon-like body (4).

14. emptying method for a container (1, 1 ') using a filling or emptying device according to at least one of claims 6 to 0,

a) fluid-tightly arranging a container filled with filling fluid (1, 1 ') with its filling opening on the underside of the valve attachment (2), then inserting the tube (3) with the balloon-like body (4) drawn over into the container (1 ,1'),

b) the second assembly (22 ') and the third assembly (23') with valve cap (2) with support (11) and closure members (9, 10) moving up the same path, thereby lifting the closure member (9) b) allowing expansion medium to flow into the balloon-like body (4) and expanding it, thereby displacing the filling fluid from the container (1, 1 '), thereby allowing the filling fluid to flow out through the annular gap (9 ') of the opened first valve (5),

c) move the third assembly (23 ') down and thereby placing the closure part (9) of the first valve (5) on the valve seat (7) of the first valve (5) and

Closing the first valve (5), while lifting the closure part (10) of the second Valve (6) from the valve seat (8) of the second valve (6) and opening the second valve (6),

d) allowing expansion medium to escape from the balloon-like body (3), thereby contracting the balloon-like body (3) and equalizing pressure.

15. emptying method according to claim 14,

a) the filling opening of the container (1) is tightly connected to a bottom of the Fluidvolumenkom- compensator (1 ')

and in step b), when expanding the balloon-like body (4), filling a volume of compensation of the fluid volume compensator (1 ') with the fluid to be evacuated, allowing the balloon-like body (3) to expand into the compensation volume so that the fill fluid to be evacuated is completely out of the Fluid volume compensator (1 ') is displaced.