EP3345862A1 - Use of a filling device, filling assembly and method for filling cylindrical containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of a filling device for filling a container, a filler assembly from the filling device and a predetermined cylindrical container (2), the concentric container opening (21) has a diameter (d Do), the 70 to 99.5% of the container inner diameter (d DI), and a method for filling a cylindrical container (2) with a fluid using the filling device according to the invention ready. The filling device is equipped with a filling valve (1) which has a piston (10, 100) controllably guided in a filling tube (11, 112). It serves to fill a cylindrical container (2), the concentric container opening (21) has a diameter (d Do), which is 70 to 99.5% of the container inner diameter (d DI). For this purpose, the filling valve (1) has an outer diameter (d Fa) which is adapted to the diameter (d Do) of the container opening (21) so that a filling tip of the filling valve (1) passes through the container opening (21) into the container without friction. 2) is received when a relative movement between the filling valve (1) and the container (2) is carried out to each other. In this case, the introduced filling tip of the filling valve (1) in the container (2) occupies a volume (V F) which lies in a range from 49 to 99% of the container volume (V D).

Description

The invention relates to a use of a filling device, a filling arrangement and a method for filling cylindrical containers, in particular cans, with fluid.

Filling devices and methods for filling containers are known in various embodiments. In the case of oxygen-sensitive liquids, it must be prevented that the liquid comes into contact with the oxygen of the ambient air and undesirable gas binding, gas exchange or gas entry occurs, which may result in a change in the quality of the liquid due to oxidation reactions or increased microbial load. Therefore, containers to be filled with such a liquid are evacuated prior to the actual filling operation, for example, and / or the container interior is purged with an inert gas, etc., for which purpose suitably controllable feeding and discharging gas paths are formed in the respective filling devices.

In order to displace the atmospheric oxygen from the container for the filling process, usually before a flushing process with an inert gas, in the case of filling with carbonated beverages such as beer is usually carbon dioxide used as a purge gas. For this purpose, the filling devices may for example have movable tubes and valves, so that the flushing pipe can be introduced into the container before a purge gas supply is opened.

Another approach to avoiding contact with atmospheric oxygen is the use of filling devices having a balloon-like expandable body, which is inserted into the container, enveloping a tube, prior to filling. Through this tube, an expansion medium is introduced into the balloon-like body, so that it expands until it completely fills the interior of the container and thereby displaces the ambient air from the container. The liquid then introduced into the container causes the expansion medium to be forced back out of the balloon-like body via the tube. A corresponding method and a device are in the DE 10 2011 100 560 B3 described.

In order always to fill the same amount of filling in the container, in the prior art for filling the container with a desired filling volume, the filling amount determined by the filling level, which is set by the position of the opening of a return air pipe or a return air bore of the filling device or by means of sensor (level probe) and Actuator (valve) and appropriate control logic - usually set electronically or electropneumatically. Another way to fill the containers with the same amount of filling is by using the flow control logic (mostly magnetic or Coriolis). In this rule logic, the container volume is unimportant, since the amount of liquid is measured directly. Disadvantage of these measuring devices is their price / performance ratio and that each expensive control electronics (PLC) must be very precise and expensive actuators must be used.

A method and a device for measuring medium-free filling of a container with a constant filling level even with different container shapes are made DE 10 2014 014 317 A1 known. The method provides that a valve cap which has in a housing a gas valve and a liquid valve with valve seats, is placed tightly on a container, and that a displacement element which is longitudinally displaceable axially from the housing, in which it with the surrounding valve seats Ring gap is formed, is introduced into the container. By opening the liquid valve, filling fluid flows into the container until the annular gap is flooded before the liquid valve is closed. The displacement element is pulled out of the container, wherein the liquid volumes from the annular gap run into the container. These volumes are just as large as the volume of the section of the displacement element in the flooded section, so that the same containers are filled with equally high levels.

For filling foaming liquids such as beer or soft drinks, moreover, the container must be covered with increased pressure in order to prevent or minimize foaming during the filling process. In the case of so-called pressure filling, the container to be filled in each case bears in a sealed manner against the filling device, so that a pressurized gas (inert gas or carbon dioxide gas) is usually pre-stressed before the actual filling phase via a gas path formed in the filling device. This is displaced during the filling process by the liquid flowing into the container as a return gas from the container interior, which can also be done via a controlled, formed in the filling gas path.

DE 10 2013113 070 B3 refers to a filling device which allows a high-purity filling by optimized separation of a clean room from a region with lower purity requirements and is provided by the improved seal in particular for pressure filling cans. This is achieved by a Abdichttulpe, which includes, as usual, in a filling the container opening and the discharge opening of the filling device, but now has two sealing elements, one of which seals the transition between the Abdichltulpe and the housing of the filling device and the second, the the free, in the filling assembly, the container facing the end is arranged, the first sealing means radially outside a control means on the outer peripheral side surrounds and seals the transition between the Abdichttulpe and the separation point between the clean room area and the other area.

The required for filling containers such as doses reduction of ambient air oxygen in the container interior, the pressure required during the provision of the clamping pressure and the monitoring and compliance with the correct filling amount lead to a complex construction of the filling device and an error-prone filling.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of this invention to allow the filling of (substantially) cylindrical containers such as cans with a simpler apparatus and apparatus with reduced oxygen uptake even without rinsing step, without elaborate measurement and control technology is required.

This object is achieved by a use of a filling device having the features of claim 1,

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of simpler design, which allows a filling of cylindrical containers or at least substantially cylindrical containers such as cans with reduced oxygen uptake even without rinsing step and without complex measurement and control technology.

This object is achieved by the filling arrangement having the features of the independent claim 2.

The further object is to provide a reliable and simplified method of filling (im Essential) cylindrical containers such as cans, in which the consumption of rinsing and clamping gases is reduced, is achieved by a method having the features of the independent claim 9.

Further developments of the device and the method are set forth in the subclaims.

The basic idea of the invention is the use of a filling device with a filling valve, which has a guided in a filling tube guided piston for filling a cylindrical container whose concentric container opening has a diameter which is 70 to 99.5% of the container inner diameter, as for example with 80 to 90% of the most common standard sizes of beverage cans is the case. According to the invention, the filling valve now has an outer diameter which is adapted to the diameter of the container opening, so that a filling tip of the filling valve - under filling tip is here understood the entire portion of the filling valve, which can be accommodated in the container - coaxial without friction through the container opening in the container can be received when a relative movement between the filling valve and the container is carried out to each other. This may be the insertion of the filling valve into the container; but it can also be moved axially by means of a correspondingly movable container receptacle in the direction of the filling valve to receive the filling valve in the container, so that in both cases the inserted portion of the filling valve - even without expandable balloon elements - occupies a volume in the container, the depending on the filling valve diameter up to 99% of the container volume. As a result, either the ambient air present in the container (and thus oxygen) can be displaced from the container by up to 99%, so that purge gas can be dispensed with or the use can at least be minimized. Or the ambient air present in the container is compressed with sealed container opening during insertion of the filling valve, so that the pressure in the container increases and can be dispensed with span gas; In any case, the amount of clamping gas can be significantly reduced, since the pressure is generated by the mechanical displacement by means of the filling valve.

A filling arrangement according to the invention accordingly consists of a filling device and a cylindrical container whose concentric container opening has a diameter which is 70 to 99.5% of the container inner diameter. In such Containers are predominantly cans that are made very precisely in volume from a metal such as aluminum or tinplate. Under cylindrical containers in this case also the can-typical forms are to be understood, in which the upper end is tapered slightly conically towards the filling. In addition to cylindrical containers not only the typical circular cross-section but also deviating shapes, such as elliptical or polygonal cross-section shapes should be included. It is essential that the filling opening is concentric with the cross-sectional shape of the container and has a congruent shape whose dimensions make up about 70 to 99.5% of the cross-sectional dimensions of the container.

For filling such predetermined - because known in terms of shape and volume - container with a fluid filling device is used with a filling valve, which has a piston controllably guided in a filling tube as usual. According to the invention, the filling valve is formed so that the outer diameter of the filling valve is adapted to the diameter of the container opening, d. H. slightly smaller precipitates, so that the coaxial insertion of the filling valve can take place in the container through the container opening almost free of play, for example, with a maximum radial clearance of 1 mm, but the filling valve contact non-friction and can be executed and executed.

The filling valve will usually also have a circular cross-section corresponding to the usual circular cross-sectional shapes of the container such as cans. If the shape of the container to be filled and the container opening deviate from the circular shape, then the outer contour of the filling valve is adapted thereto, so that here too the insertion of the filling valve into the container at the container opening is almost free of play.

The filling device of a filling arrangement according to the invention is designed such that the filling valve and the container can be moved relative to one another, wherein the filling valve or a container receptacle can be moved accordingly. The arrangement ensures that the filling tip of the filling valve coaxial, ie centered, is introduced into the container through the container opening with the geometric conditions of the container diameter, the opening diameter and the Füllventildurchmessers is achieved by the introduced filling tip of the filling valve, a volume in the Container can be taken, which is in the range of 49 to 99% of the container volume and can provide for a corresponding displacement or compression. The introduction predetermined filling tip of the filling valve thus has a volume which occupies a volume in the container in the range of 49 to 99% of the container volume.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling arrangement can have a filling valve, which has a separating tube at the filling tip around the filling tube, which can be moved independently of the filling tube and the piston in a controlled manner. The outer diameter of the filling valve, which is adapted to the container diameter, is determined by the separating tube. With the separately movable separation tube, an inventive, particularly advantageous filling method can be carried out, which will be described below.

Alternatively, the filling tube may be formed as a combined separation-filling tube, whose outer diameter is adapted to the diameter of the container opening. However, the combined separation fill tube is thin-walled and has an increased inside diameter compared to a conventionally sized fill valve. Consequently, the controlled guided piston is designed as a correspondingly flared piston whose diameter is adapted to the inner diameter of the separating filling tube. Important in this embodiment, with which also a method according to the invention can be carried out, is that the piston in addition to a first open position, in which the piston is arranged proximal to a sealing seat of the separating filling tube, at least a second open position, in the piston is located distal to the sealing seat of the separating filling tube.

In particular, if the filling is to take place by means of pressure filling with the filling arrangement, the filling arrangement can have a sealing element, which at the container opening around the filling valve, d. h., Depending on the embodiment of the filling tube, the separation tube or the combined separation-filling tube, is arranged.

Optionally, the filling assembly may additionally comprise a volume compensator salt disposed between the sealing member and the container opening around the fill valve (fill tube, separator tube, or combined separator fill tube). In order to prevent an unwanted increase in pressure in the container during filling, the seal or the volume compensator salt may have a valve, preferably a non-return or overflow valve.

Furthermore, the filling valve can have radial flow channels on a front side of the filling tube, of the separating tube or of the combined separating filling tube facing a container bottom, depending on which filling valve is used, in order to allow fluid to emerge from an opened filling valve which contacts the container bottom. Such complete absorption of the filling valve to the ground contact is advantageous for a maximum displacement / compression. For contacting further, the end face of the filling valve may be formed according to the contour of the container bottom. However, care must be taken when contacting the container bottom on a precise control of the relative movement in order to prevent the container is deformed and thus damaged. Since the exact container geometry determines the filling volume, it is particularly important that no deformations occur on the container, which lead to a container volume change. Therefore, it may be preferred that the filling valve has at one pointing to a container bottom end of the filling tube, the separation tube or the combined separation-filling tube a circumferential or a plurality of spaced spacers, which are designed to be elastic / resilient, and so can contact the container bottom, without to risk the deformation of the same.

Particularly preferably, in this case a circumferential single-acting annular seal with valve function such as a sealing lip can be used, which not only acts as a resilient spacer, but also opens in one direction to allow fluid from the filling valve to flow into the container, but vice versa seals, and so backflow - or, if the tank pressure is higher than the fill pressure, also prevents gas from entering the tank under the fill valve opening.

According to one embodiment, in order to completely displace the air present in the container, it may be provided that the filling valve along the insertable filling tip on at least a portion or around a portion of the filling tube or the separating tube (or the combined filling-separating tube) an elastically expandable Body has.

In order to support the coaxial centered receiving the filling valve through the container opening, further, the filling valve at the filling tip may have a tapering towards the end centering.

1. a) Zunächst wird eine Relativbewegung zwischen dem geschlossenen Füllventil und dem Behälter zueinander durchgeführt, sodass das Füllventil durch die Behälteröffnung in den Behälter eingeführt wird (oder der Behälter mit seiner Öffnung über das Füllventil gestreift wird), bis die Füllspitze des Füllventils in dem Behälter aufgenommen ist. Vorzugsweise wird die Füllspitze möglichst tief aufgenommen, gegebenenfalls bis eine Stirnfläche des Füllventils den Boden des Behälters kontaktiert, um eine größtmögliche Verdrängung/ Verdichtung der im Behälter vorhandenen Luft (oder eines anderen Gases) zu erreichen Zur Kontaktierung kann die Stirnfläche des Füllventils wie oben beschrieben entsprechend geformt sein oder Abstandshalter etc. aufweisen.
   Durch den an die Behälteröffnung angepassten Durchmesser des Füllventils wird aufgrund des geringen Durchmesserunterschieds zwischen der Behälteröffnung und dem Behälter ein Großteil des Behältervolumens durch das Füllventil eingenommen und dadurch das im Behälter vorliegende Gas (Luft) verdrängt. Somit wird auch die im Behälter vorhandene Menge an Luftsauerstoff in dem verbleibenden Spaltvolumen zwischen Behälterwand und Füllventil schon allein mechanisch reduziert. Die Verwendung eines Spülgases wie Stickstoff oder Kohlenstoffdioxid kann daher reduziert werden, gegebenenfalls kann auch vollständig darauf verzichtet werden.
2. b) Zum einströmen Lassen des Fluids in den Behälter, bzw. in das ringförmige Spaltvolumen, wird das Füllventil durch Überführung des Kolbens in eine geöffnete Stellung geöffnet und eine Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung durchgeführt. Gegebenenfalls kann bei einem den Boden kontaktierenden Füllventil hierbei vorgesehen sein, dass in der Stirnfläche des Füllventils, genauer gesagt des Füllrohres, Kanäle eingebracht sind, die das Einströmen des Fluids nach Öffnen des Ventils auch schon dann gestatten, wenn die Stirnfläche des Füllventils noch den Boden des Behälters kontaktiert, bevor das geöffnete Füllventil aufwärts bewegt wird. Das eingeströmte Fluid hat nur im Spaltvolumen Kontakt mit dem in dem Behälter vorhandenen Gas. Da durch die geometrischen Bedingungen der Füllanordnung diese Kontaktfläche sehr klein ist, ist selbst bei Vorhandensein von Luftsauerstoff die Aufnahme in das Fluid äußerst gering. Zudem handelt es sich um einen unterschichtigen Befüllvorgang von unten nach oben, der sich durch minimale Verwirbelungen und Turbulenzen auszeichnet, wodurch eine weitere Verringerung der möglichen Sauerstoffaufnahme erreicht wird.
3. c) Dabei wird eine relative Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllventils innerhalb des Behälters (je nach Ausführung erfolgt dies durch Bewegung des Füllventils oder des Behälters) bis zur Behälteröffnung während des Befüllvorgangs nach einem vorbestimmten Steuerungsparameter abgestimmt, der das vorbestimmte Füllvolumen in dem Behälter berücksichtigt, sodass das Füllvolumen erreicht ist, wenn das Füllventil im Bereich der Behälteröffnung ankommt.
4. d) Das Füllventil wird geschlossen, wenn das vorbestimmte Füllvolumen in dem Behälter erreicht ist.
5. e) Das geschlossene Füllventil wird zurückgezogen, um das Verfahren an einem nächsten Behälter ausführen zu können.

A first embodiment of a method according to the invention for filling a cylindrical container whose concentric container opening has a diameter of about 70 to 99.5%, preferably 80 to 90% of the container inner diameter is, provides the following steps:

1. a) First, a relative movement between the closed filling valve and the container is performed to each other, so that the filling valve is inserted through the container opening into the container (or the container is streaked with its opening on the filling valve) until the filling tip of the filling valve received in the container is. Preferably, the filling tip is taken as deep as possible, optionally until an end face of the filling valve contacts the bottom of the container in order to achieve the greatest possible displacement / compression of the air present in the container (or another gas) for contacting the end face of the filling valve as described above accordingly be shaped or spacers, etc. have.
   By adapted to the container opening diameter of the filling valve, a large part of the container volume is occupied by the filling valve due to the small difference in diameter between the container opening and the container and thereby displaces the gas present in the container (air). Thus, even the amount of atmospheric oxygen present in the container in the remaining gap volume between the container wall and filling valve alone is mechanically reduced. The use of a purge gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide can therefore be reduced, if necessary, it can be completely dispensed with.
2. b) To allow the fluid to flow into the container or into the annular gap volume, the filling valve is opened by transferring the piston to an open position and carrying out an upward movement of the filling tube with the piston in the open position. Optionally, in a filling valve contacting the bottom, it may be provided that in the end face of the filling valve, more precisely the filling tube, channels are introduced, which allow the inflow of the fluid after opening the valve even if the end face of the filling valve still the ground the container contacted before the open filling valve is moved upwards. The inflowing fluid has contact only with the gas present in the container in the gap volume. Since this contact surface is very small due to the geometric conditions of the filling arrangement, even in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, the uptake into the fluid is extremely small. In addition, it is a bottom-to-bottom lower-layer filling process characterized by minimal turbulence and turbulence, which further reduces the potential for oxygen uptake.
3. c) A relative upward movement of the filling valve within the container (this is done by movement of the filling valve or container) to the container opening during the filling process according to a predetermined control parameter, which takes into account the predetermined filling volume in the container, so that the filling volume is reached when the filling valve arrives in the region of the container opening.
4. d) The filling valve is closed when the predetermined filling volume is reached in the container.
5. e) The closed filling valve is withdrawn in order to carry out the procedure on a next container.

In principle, filling methods can be distinguished by whether the gas is displaced from the container in step a) when the container opening is not sealed around the filling valve, or compressed in the container when the container opening is sealed around the filling valve.

As an alternative to the direct or via spacers or the preferably used ring seal indirect contacting of the soil by the Füllvontli when fully absorbed in the container can be provided that the filling valve is taken up to a predetermined distance to the bottom of the container, which ensures that the container bottom is not deformed by contact with the filling valve.

The described advantages of the method according to the invention, which are based on an adaptation of the Follventildurchmessers to the Befüllöffnungsdurchmesser a container with a small difference between the container diameter and opening diameter, are further improved by a further embodiment in which the filling valve to the filling tube additionally having a separator tube, which is independent of the filling tube and the piston can be controlled controlled. The outer diameter of the filling valve is in this case determined by the separating tube, which surrounds the filling tube, and is matched to the diameter of the container opening. This also allows the use of conventional filling valves by retrofitting a separately movable separating tube, by the diameter of the filling valve is adapted to the container opening by the separating tube. Optionally, this also a filling valve can be adjusted by using correspondingly different separation tubes to different container openings.

• b0) Zur Öffnung des Ventils wird der Kolben in die geöffnete Stellung überführt, so dass das Fluid in das radiale Spaltvolumen zwischen der Behälterwand und dem Trennrohr einströmen kann. Fluid strömt solange in das radiale Spaltvolumen ein, bis ein Druckausgleich zwischen einem voreingestellten Fülldruck und einem vorbestimmbaren Behälterdruck vorliegt, wodurch eine Füllhöhe in dem radialen Spaltvolumen bestimmt wird.
• b1) Es wird eine relative Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung innerhalb des Trennrohres durchgeführt, das dabei in seiner vollständig eingeführten Position belassen wird, in der es den axialen Spalt zum Boden aufweist. Mit der Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung wird das Trennrohr mit Fluid gefüllt.
• b2) In einer vorbestimmten Höhe, die zwischen Behälterboden und Behälteröffnung liegt, wird die Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs beendet und der Kolben in Schließstellung überführt.
• c) Auch hierbei wird die Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllventils, bzw. des Füllrohrs mit Kolben, innerhalb des Behälters bis zur Behälteröffnung nach einem vorbestimmten Steuerungsparameter abgestimmt, der das vorbestimmte Füllvolumen in dem Behälter berücksichtigt.
• d1) Wenn das radiale Spaltvolumen vollständig gefüllt ist und in Schritt b2) die vorbestimmte Höhe in einem Bereich der Behälteröffnung liegt und der Behälter vollständig gefüllt ist, erfolgt das Zurückziehen des Trennrohres, und daraufhin in Schritt e) das Zurückziehen des geschlossenen Füllventils mit Trennrohr, um einen nächsten Behälter zur Befüllung zuführen zu können.

In the embodiment of the method which can be carried out with this filling valve, it is provided that in the filling valve accommodated in the container with the entire filling tip in step a) an axial gap of, for example, 3 to 5 mm remains between the lower end of the separating tube and the container bottom in order to move Opening the filling valve to flow the fluid into the annular gap volume between the container wall and separation pipe. In the axial gap may be arranged in a preferred embodiment, the single-acting ring seal. Step b) is now divided into several substeps:

• b0) To open the valve, the piston is transferred to the open position, so that the fluid can flow into the radial gap volume between the container wall and the separator tube. Fluid flows into the radial gap volume until a pressure equalization exists between a preset filling pressure and a predeterminable container pressure, whereby a filling level in the radial gap volume is determined.
• b1) A relative upward movement of the filling tube with the piston in the open position is carried out within the separating tube, which is left in its fully inserted position, in which it has the axial gap to the bottom. With the upward movement of the filling tube with the piston in the open position, the separating tube is filled with fluid.
• b2) At a predetermined height, which lies between the container bottom and container opening, the upward movement of the filling tube is stopped and the piston is transferred to the closed position.
• c) Again, the upward movement of the filling valve, or the filling tube with piston, is tuned within the container to the container opening according to a predetermined control parameters, which takes into account the predetermined filling volume in the container.
• d1) If the radial gap volume is completely filled and in step b2) the predetermined height is in a region of the container opening and the container is completely filled, the separator tube is withdrawn, and then in step e) the withdrawal of the closed filler valve with separator tube, to be able to feed a next container for filling.

• a1) nach Schritt b2) und vor d1) Durchführen einer relativen Abwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in Schließstellung, wobei das in dem Trennrohr bis zur vorbestimmten Höhe vorliegende Fluidvolumen durch den axialen Spalt in das radiale Spaltvolumen gedrückt wird und dort die Füllhöhe ansteigt.
  Gegebenenfalls können die Schritte b0) bis a1) wiederholt werden, bis in Schritt a1) das Spaltvolumen vollständig bis zur maximalen Füllhöhe gefüllt ist.
• c1) Dann wird mit dem Füllrohr mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung eine relative Aufwärtsbewegung innerhalb des Trennrohres bis zu der vorbestimmten Höhe durchgeführt, die dann in einem Bereich der Behälteröffnung liegt, wobei erneut das Trennrohr mit Fluid gefüllt wird. Allerdings kann das Trennrohr auch konzertiert mit dem Füllventil relativ aufwärtsbewegt werden, sobald das radiale Spaltvolumen vollständig gefüllt ist. Die Öffnung des Trennrohrs sollte dabei aber immer unterhalb des Flüssigkeitsspiegels bleiben.
• d1) nach Schließen des Füllventils im Bereich der Behälteröffnung entsprechend Schritt b2) folgt das Zurückziehen des Trennrohrs, wobei das im Trennrohr vorliegende Fluid im Behälter verbleibt.

In the event that in step b0) the fill level achievable in the radial gap volume is smaller than a maximum fill level predetermined by the container in the radial gap volume (complete filling of the gap volume), the method additionally comprises the steps:

• a1) after step b2) and before d1) performing a relative downward movement of the filling tube with the piston in the closed position, wherein the volume of fluid present in the separator tube to the predetermined height is pressed through the axial gap in the radial gap volume and there increases the filling height.
  If appropriate, steps b0) to a1) can be repeated until the gap volume is completely filled up to the maximum fill level in step a1).
• c1) Then with the filling tube with the piston in the open position, a relative upward movement is carried out within the separating tube up to the predetermined height, which then lies in a region of the container opening, wherein the separating tube is again filled with fluid. However, the separation pipe can also be moved upwards in concert with the filling valve, as soon as the radial gap volume is completely filled. The opening of the separation tube should always remain below the liquid level.
• d1) after closing the filling valve in the region of the container opening corresponding to step b2), the withdrawal of the separating tube follows, wherein the fluid present in the separating tube remains in the container.

Preferably, in a method step before the actual filling process for the complete filling of the radial gap volume in a single step a1) a first height in a first step b) depending on the attainable in step b0) filling level, with the preset filling pressure and the predeterminable container pressure also is previously known to be defined in the radial gap volume and thus predetermined, so that the volume which is limited in the separation tube through the filling tube in the first predetermined height corresponds to a volume difference of the gap volume between the maximum filling level and the achievable filling level.

In addition to the minimized contact area and the associated reduced oxygen uptake and the mechanical displacement of the gas present in the container when introducing the filling valve, the sub-layer filling process is improved by the separation tube, so that quasi-laminar flow conditions can be achieved since the fluid level in the gap volume without turbulence rises extremely quietly, the oxygen uptake at the contact surface is further reduced.

According to an embodiment of the method, the predetermined control parameter in step c) may be a pre-set fill time resulting from a predetermined fill volume in the container and a set fill volume flow of the fill. The predetermined filling volume corresponds to a nominal volume in the case of cans, since cans, unlike bottles, are manufactured very precisely. Thus, the closing of the filling valve in step d) takes place after the predetermined filling time. In order to control the filling process, the filling time can thus be predetermined before the filling process and entered in a control step for setting up the filling device in the control device. Likewise, the predetermined height at which the upward movement of the filling valve or the filling pipe is terminated and the piston is transferred to the closed position is used to control the filling operation and input to the control device accordingly.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention, which uses the filling arrangements according to the invention, can thus be carried out virtually without measuring means - none of the measuring devices or measuring means required in the prior art are required. The setting and monitoring of the desired filling volume by means of a control instrument such as a magnetic-inductive flow meter or by means of a filling height determination can be dispensed with.

• a0) zu einem Zeitpunkt vor oder während Schritt a), also ebenfalls vor dem eigentlichen Befüllvorgang ein Abdichten der Behälteröffnung um das Füllventil zur Einrichtung der Füllvorrichtung für das vorgesehene Befüllverfahren erfolgt, etwa, indem ein ringförmiges Dichtelement, beispielsweise eine Abdichttulpe aufgesetzt wird, die den Übergang zwischen Füllventil und Behälter an der Behälteröffnung abdichtet. Dabei bestimmt der Zeitpunkt des Abdichtens vor oder während des Einführens des Füllventils den Druck, der nach vollständigem Einführen des Füllventils in dem abgedichteten Behälter vorliegt. Der gewünschte Druck kann basierend auf den geometrischen Größen des Füllventils und des Behälters eingestellt werden, wozu näherungsweise das Boyle-Mariotte-Gesetz, dass der Druck idealer Gase bei gleichbleibender Temperatur und gleichbleibender Stoffmenge umgekehrt proportional zum Volumen ist, verwendet werden kann: p*V = const. Aus den gegebenen geometrischen Größen wie dem Volumen des leeren Behälters und dem Differenzvolumen, das durch das Volumen des bis zu einer jeweiligen Höhe eingedrungenen Abschnitts des Füllventils bestimmt wird, kann für einen vorgegebenen Druck die entsprechende Höhe der Eindringtiefe des Füllventils bestimmt werden.

With a development of the method for pressure filling and foaming or carbonated fluids such as beer or soft drinks can be filled. It is provided that

• a0) at a time before or during step a), ie also before the actual filling a sealing of the container opening to the filling valve to the device of the filling device for the intended filling takes place, such as by an annular sealing element, such as a Abdichttulpe is placed, the Transition between filling valve and container at the container opening seals. In this case, the time of sealing before or during the insertion of the filling valve determines the pressure that is present after complete insertion of the filling valve in the sealed container. The desired pressure can be adjusted based on the geometrical sizes of the filling valve and the container, to which approximate Boyle-Mariotte's law that the pressure of ideal gases at constant temperature and quantity of material is inversely proportional to the volume can be used: p * V = const. From the Given geometric variables such as the volume of the empty container and the difference volume, which is determined by the volume of the up to a respective level penetrated portion of the filling valve, the corresponding height of the penetration depth of the filling valve can be determined for a given pressure.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that a volume compensator Aufsalz between the container opening and the sealing element is sealingly used to set up the filling device when sealing the container opening to the filling valve. The volume compensator annulus is configured such that a volume of an annular gap formed in the volume compensator cup between its wall and the fill valve corresponds to a displaced volume caused by a portion of the fill valve that is still within when the filler valve closes in step d) the container is present. The volume present in the container in this case corresponds to the difference between the predetermined filling volume and the displaced volume. Thus, after the retraction of the closed filling valve in step e) in the container, the predetermined filling volume, the inflowing of the container according to steps b) and c) in the annular gap of the volume compensator attachment fluid volume corresponding to the displaced volume, when retracting the closed filling valve in step e) run in the container.

A further embodiment provides that the sealing element, or, if used, the volume compensator Aufsalz having a check valve or overflow. This prevents the pressure in the container from exceeding a maximum pressure predetermined for the filling process. Due to a low overpressure in the pressure filling, which is kept constant, it comes in conjunction with the reduced contact area and the low-turbulence filling to a further reduced oxygen input. In particular, in the variant of the filling method, which uses the filling device with a separating tube around the filling tube, the pressure can also be pressed during the "pumping step" when the fluid volume present in the separating tube below the closed filling tube is pressed into the annular gap by the relative downward movement of the closed filling tube to be kept constant. Furthermore, during the displacement of the gas still present in the gap volume through the check valve or the overflow valve, this forcing or pumping ensures that the oxygen uptake remains minimal or further reduced In addition, a very fast quasi "laminar" lower-layer filling process is achieved by this pressing.

In an alternative embodiment of the method, a filling valve is used with a combined separating-filling tube, which has the same outer diameter, which is adapted to the diameter of the container opening, a larger inner diameter than the above filling tubes and thus is thin-walled. The associated controlled guided piston has a diameter which is adapted to the enlarged inner diameter of the separating filling tube, d. H. is also enlarged. In addition, the piston guide is formed in the separation fill tube such that the piston has at least a second open position in addition to the open position in which the piston is arranged to flow the fluid proximally to a sealing seat of the separation fill tube the piston is disposed distally of the sealing seat of the separating filling tube, so that a displacement volume can be provided within the separating filling tube, which supplements the volume of fluid which has flowed into the gap volume to the predetermined filling volume.

• b0) Nach dem vollständigen Einführen des Füllventils in Schritt a) wird der Kolben in die erste geöffnete Stellung des Füllventils zum einströmen Lassen des Fluids in das radiale Spaltvolumen zwischen der Behälterwand und dem Trenn-Füllrohr überführt, und
• b1.1) eine Aufwärtsbewegung des Trenn-Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung durchgeführt, wobei das Fluid weiter in das radiale Spaltvolumen einströmt, bis in dem radialen Spaltvolumen eine von dem voreingestellten Fülldruck und einem vorbestimmbaren Behälterdruck abhängige Füllhöhe erreicht ist, die vor dem Befüllvorgang vorbestimmt wird.
• b2) In einer zweiten vorbestimmten Höhe wird die Aufwärtsbewegung des Trenn-Füllrohrs beendet und der Kolben wird in Schließstellung überführt. Die zweite vorbestimmte Höhe wird auch hier vor dem eigentlichen Befüllvorgang in Abhängigkeit der in b1.1) erreichbaren Füllhöhe in dem radialen Spaltvolumens festgelegt, sodass ein Volumen, das unter dem Trenn-Füllrohr in der zweiten vorbestimmten Höhe begrenzt wird, einer Volumendifferenz des Spaltvolumens zwischen der maximale Füllhöhe und der in b1.1) erreichbaren Füllhöhe entspricht.
• a1): Erneut wird das Trenn-Füllrohr mit dem Kolben in Schließstellung vollständig eingeführt, wobei durch dieses Nachdrücken bzw. Pumpen das im Spaltvolumen vorliegende Gas komprimiert und durch das Überdruckventil verdrängt wird, so dass auch hier die Sauerstoffaufnahme minimal bleibt bzw. weiter reduziert wird.

Also in this method, in step c), the predetermined control parameter is a filling time that is matched with the movements of the filling valve. This embodiment comprises the following steps:

• b0) After the filling valve has been completely inserted in step a), the piston is transferred to the first open position of the filling valve for allowing the fluid to flow into the radial gap volume between the container wall and the separating filling tube, and
• b1.1) carried out an upward movement of the separating filling tube with the piston in the open position, wherein the fluid flows further into the radial gap volume until in the radial gap volume of the preset filling pressure and a predetermined container pressure dependent filling level is reached, the before Befüllvorgang is predetermined.
• b2) At a second predetermined level, the upward movement of the separating filling tube is stopped and the piston is transferred to the closed position. The second predetermined height is also set here before the actual filling depending on the achievable in b1.1) fill level in the radial gap volume, so that a volume that is limited below the separation filling tube in the second predetermined height, a volume difference of the gap volume between the maximum filling level and the filling level that can be achieved in b1.1).
• a1): Once again, the separating filling tube with the piston is fully inserted into the closed position, whereby the gas present in the gap volume is compressed by this pressing or pumping and displaced by the pressure relief valve, so that here too the oxygen uptake remains minimal or is further reduced ,

After re-performing step b0), in step c1), the separation fill tube is transferred to a position where an axial gap of 3 to 5 mm remains between the lower end of the separation fill tube and the container bottom. The separation fill tube remains in this position while the piston is transferred to the second open position of the fill valve, which is in the region of the container opening, while the separation fill tube is filled with the intended displacement volume of fluid. With the retraction of the separation fill tube (step d1)), the piston moves to the closed position and the fluid passes from the displacement volume of the separation fill tube into the container so that the container is completely filled and in step e) the closed fill valve is withdrawn to fill a next container.

• a1) Nachdem in Schritt a) das geschlossene Füllventil durch die Behälteröffnung in den Behälter vollständig eingeführt wurde, wird der elastisch expandierbare Körper expandieren gelassen. Dies kann aktiv durch Einleitung eines Gases in den elastisch expandierbaren Körper erfolgen; in Fällen, in denen der Behälter ausreichend außendruckfest und auch aus druckfesterem Material als der elastisch expandierbare Körper ist, kann nach dem vollständigen Einführen des Füllventils, wobei Luft verdrängt wurde, nach Abdichten des Behälters durch Zurückziehen des Füllventils, bzw. des Füllrohres mit dem Kolben in Schließstellung in dem Trennrohr, ein Unterdruck im Behälter geschaffen werden, der zur Expansion des elastisch expandierbaren Körpers führt. Die Expansion wird fortgesetzt, bis der elastisch expandierbare Körper
• a2) an den Innenflächen des Behälters und, falls eingesetzt, an der Innenfläche des Volumenkompensatoraufsatzes anliegt, wobei die gesamte Luft aus dem Behälter durch das Ventil gedrückt wird.
• b1) Es folgt das Überführen des Kolbens in die geöffnete Stellung des Füllventils zum einströmen Lassen des Fluids, wobei der elastisch expandierbare Körper a) komprimiert wird, bis er b) wieder an dem Füllventil anliegt und das radiale Spaltvolumen zwischen der Behälterwand und dem Füllventil und, falls eingesetzt, der Ringspalt zwischen dem Volumenkompensatoraufsatzes und dem Füllventil gefüllt ist.
• b2) Anschließend wird eine Aufwärtsbewegung des Füllrohrs mit dem Kolben in geöffneter Stellung bis zu einer vorbestimmten Höhe in einem Bereich der Behälteröffnung durchgeführt.

Although an oxygen uptake from the air can be significantly and in many cases sufficiently reduced by the above measures, it may be necessary for oxygen-sensitive fluids, a further reduction of the oxygen contact. In order to dispense with a rinsing step, it is provided in a further embodiment of the method that the filling valve has an elastically expandable body on at least one or a portion which is completely inserted into the container in step a) the filling tube, separating tube or filling separating tube may be arranged radially surrounding in the corresponding region. The method comprises the steps:

• a1) After the closed filling valve has been completely inserted through the container opening into the container in step a), the elastically expandable body is allowed to expand. This can be done actively by introducing a gas into the elastically expandable body; in cases where the container is sufficiently external pressure resistant and also made of more resistant material than the elastically expandable body, after the filling valve has been fully inserted, with air displaced, after sealing the container by retracting the filling valve or filling tube with the piston in the closed position in the separation tube, a negative pressure in the container can be created, which leads to the expansion of the elastically expandable body. The expansion continues until the elastically expandable body
• a2) abuts against the inner surfaces of the container and, when inserted, against the inner surface of the volume compensator attachment, all of the air being forced out of the container through the valve.
• b1) It follows the piston into the open position of the filling valve for flowing the fluid, wherein the elastically expandable body a) is compressed until it b) rests against the filling valve and the radial gap volume between the container wall and the filling valve and if used, the annular gap between the volume compensator attachment and the fill valve is filled.
• b2) Subsequently, an upward movement of the filling tube is performed with the piston in the open position up to a predetermined height in a region of the container opening.

• d1) wird das Füllventil geschlossen bzw. der Kolben in die Schließstellung überführt, wenn in Schritt b2) die vorbestimmte Höhe im Bereich der Behälteröffnung erreicht ist, sodass die Summe der Volumina innerhalb des Trennrohrs und des Spalts zwischen Behälter und Trennrohr und gegebenenfalls des Volumenkompensatoraufsatzes das vorbestimmte Füllvolumen ergeben, sodass durch das Zurückziehen (d2) des Trennrohres das Fluidvolumen aus dem Trennrohr in den Behälter übergeht, und, falls eingesetzt, das Volumen aus dem Volumenkompensatoraufsatz bei Öffnen der Dichtung in den Behälter nachläuft, so dass der Behälter vollständig gefüllt ist, wenn in Schritt e) das geschlossene Füllventil zurückgezogen wird.

In the case of a filling valve in which the elastically expandable body is arranged on or around the separation tube, during step b2) the separation tube is left in the fully inserted position during the upward movement of the filling tube with the piston in the open position, wherein the separating tube with fluid is filled. In the following step

• d1), the filling valve is closed or the piston is brought into the closed position when the predetermined height in the region of the container opening is reached in step b2), so that the sum of the volumes within the separating tube and the gap between the container and the separating tube and optionally the volume compensator attachment the give predetermined filling volumes, so that by retracting (d2) the separating tube, the volume of fluid from the separating tube passes into the container, and, if used, the volume from the volume compensator attachment travels into the container upon opening of the seal, so that the container is completely filled, if in step e) the closed filling valve is withdrawn.

Fig,1

Seitenschnittansichten einer erfindungsgemäßen Füllanordnung mit einem Füllventil aus Füllrohr und Kolben gemäß den Schritten a) bis e) einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 2

Seitenschnittansichten einer alternativen Füllanordnung mit einer Füllvorrichtung, die zusätzlich ein Trennrohr aufweist, gemäß den Schritten a), b1) und b2) einer alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 3

eine Seitenschnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Füllanordnung aus Fig. 2, bei der die Befüllöffnung an dem Füllventil während eines Schritts a0) einer alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens abgedichtet wird,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenschnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Füllanordnung aus Fig. 2, bei der ein Volumankompensatoreinsatz zwischen dichtelement und Befüllöffnung angeordnet ist, während eines Schritts b2) einer alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 5

Seitenschnittansichten der Füllanordnung aus Fig. 3 entsprechend den Schritten b2), a1) und b1) als eine Fortsetzung der Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens gemäß Fig. 2,

Flg. 6

Seitenschnittansichten einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Füllanordnung mit einem Füllventil aus dem dünnwandigen kombinierten Trenn-Füllrohr und einem breiteren Kolben mit größerem Hubweg und zwei geöffneten Stellungen gemäß den Schritten a) bis d1) einer alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 7

Seitenschnittansichten einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Füllanordnung entsprechend Fig 4, zusätzlich mit einem das Trennrohr umgebenden elastisch expandierbaren Körper gemäß den Schritten a) bis d1) einer weiteren alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 8

schematische Seitenschnittansichten einer Füllanordnung entsprechend Fig. 1 gemäß den Schritten 0) bis e) einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens mit Verlauf der Füllhöhe,

Fig. 9

schematische Seitenschnittansichten einer Füllanordnung entsprechend Fig. 2 und 5 gemäß den Schritten 0) bis e) einer alternativen Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens mit Verlauf der Füllhöhe,

Fig.10

eine Seitenschnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Füllanordnung mit einem Ventil in dem Dichtelement und einer einseitig wirkenden Ringdichtung an der Stirnseite des Füllventils, um beim Druckfüllen Rückfließen aus dem Ringspalt zu vermeiden,

Fig. 11

eine schematische Seitenschnittansicht einer Füllanordnung mit einem Zentrierabschnitt am Füllventil.

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. Showing:

Fig, 1

Side sectional views of a filling assembly according to the invention with a filling valve of filling tube and piston according to the steps a) to e) of an embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 2

Side sectional views of an alternative filling arrangement with a filling device, which additionally has a separating tube, according to the steps a), b1) and b2) of an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a side sectional view of another embodiment of the filling of Fig. 2 in which the filling opening on the filling valve is sealed during a step a0) of an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a side sectional view of another embodiment of the filling of Fig. 2 in which a volume compensator insert is arranged between the sealing element and the filling opening, during a step b2) of an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 5

Side sectional views of the filling arrangement Fig. 3 according to steps b2), a1) and b1) as a continuation of the embodiment of the method according to the invention Fig. 2 .

Flg. 6

Side sectional views of a further filling arrangement according to the invention with a filling valve of the thin-walled combined separation filling tube and a wider piston with a larger stroke and two open positions according to the steps a) to d1) of an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 7

Side sectional views of another filling arrangement according to the invention accordingly Fig. 4 additionally comprising an elastically expandable body surrounding the separation tube according to steps a) to d1) of a further alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 8

schematic side sectional views of a filling arrangement according to Fig. 1 in accordance with steps 0) to e) of an embodiment of the method according to the invention with a course of the filling level,

Fig. 9

schematic side sectional views of a filling arrangement according to Fig. 2 and 5 according to the steps 0) to e) of an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention with a course of the filling level,

Figure 10

a side sectional view of another embodiment of the filling assembly with a valve in the sealing element and a unidirectional ring seal on the front side of the filling valve to prevent backflow from the annular gap during pressure filling,

Fig. 11

a schematic side sectional view of a filling assembly with a centering on the filling valve.

The invention relates to the filling of cylindrical containers - such as cans - by means of a special filling arrangement. It is exploited that cans, in addition to bottles and boxes represent the most important packaging for drinks, especially for carbonated drinks such as beer or soft drinks, have a highly accurate cylindrical shape with a coaxial filling, which is only slightly smaller than the container diameter. The most common can volumes in Europe are 0.33 l and 0.5 l, but there are also cans with a volume of 0.15 l, 0.2 l and 0.25 l as well as 1 l and 5 l. According to the invention, however, containers can also be filled with other volumes as long as the container volume is known.

In the figures, sequences of the filling arrangement are shown in different process steps; Reference numerals are therefore not assigned in each figure of the filling arrangement. However, due to the equivalence of the representations, the assignment to the unmarked components and objects is readily given.

Fig, 1 shows a simplest embodiment of the method and a suitable filling arrangement, which consists of the filling valve 1 and the container 2. This is a can, whose substantially cylindrical shape is slightly tapered at the upper end to the coaxial filling opening 21. The taper serves primarily for receiving the cover, not shown here, which is placed after the filling process and connected by (multiple) flanging with the edge of the can. The inventive method uses this difference between the container (inner) diameter D and the diameter d _{Dl Do} of the container opening 21, which is 70 to 99.5%, typically between 80 to 90% of the container inner diameter d _Dl.

The movable filling valve 1, which consists in the simplest embodiment of filling tube 11 and controllably guided piston 10, has an outer diameter d _Fa , which is adapted to the diameter d _Do the container opening 21 so that the filling valve 1, although contact and frictionless but also as possible clearance as possible through the container opening 21 into the container 2 can be introduced. The procedure that is also simplified in schematic Fig. 8 is shown, provides that the container 2 (in step 0) is arranged with respect to the. Filling valve 1, that a coaxial centric insertion of the Füllventlis 1 through the container opening 21 is made possible in the container 2 - this can be done by axially moving the filling valve or the container, for example via a correspondingly movable container receptacle (not shown). Prior to introduction, the container volume V _{D is} filled with ambient air (but possibly also with another gas) at an outlet pressure p _o (eg ambient pressure).

In step a0) in Flg. 8 is indicated by the block arrow that the filling valve 1 is inserted into the container 2, whereby the pressure p in the container increases when the container opening 21 is sealed. But even without sealing, there may be a (temporary) pressure increase when the air can escape only slowly through the filling opening 21 to the filling valve 1.

Step a) shows in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8 the filling valve 1 introduced completely into the container 2. The filling tip of the filling valve 1 having the volume V _{F which} has penetrated into the container 2 leads either to an increase in pressure in the remaining gap volume ΔV when the filling opening 21 is sealed or to a displacement of a large part of the gas volume from the container, so that in the gap volume .DELTA.V (difference between the container volume V _D and introduced Füllventilvolumen V _F ) existing gas or air and thus oxygen quantity is significantly reduced

As further in Fig.1 can be seen, the container 2 has a shaped bottom 22. So that the filling valve 1 can be completely retracted without deforming the bottom 22, the filling tube 11 at the front end, which has the sealing seat 13 for the piston 10, according to the shape the bottom 22 formed.

In method step b), the valve 1 is brought into an open position by transferring the piston 10, so that fluid flows into the container 2, while at the same time the opened filling valve 1 is moved upwards. In Flg. 8 , step b) is shown in two illustrations, wherein once by the block arrow, the opening of the filling valve 1 is shown, which is only slightly raised from the container bottom or channels in the end face - So that fluid can penetrate into the gap volume .DELTA.V. In the second representation of step b), the block arrow indicates the upward movement of the open filling valve 1, wherein the speed of the upward movement with the inflow velocity of the fluid is tuned, so that the end face of the valve 1 with the valve opening is always below the fluid level in the gap volume .DELTA.V.

It is clear that the contact surface of the fluid in the gap volume .DELTA.V is only a circular ring with the ring width s (difference of the half container inner diameter d _Dl and the half Füllventilaußendurchmessers d _Fa ). As a result of this lower-layer filling, in which the fluid level in the gap volume ΔV lies above the end face of the filling valve 1, the fluid only comes into contact with the gas present in the container 2 at the annular contact surface. The circular ring of the ring width s represents an extremely small contact surface, whereby the absorption of gas (in particular atmospheric oxygen) in the fluid is very low. The lower-layer filling process is continued by upward movement of the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the open position, with hardly any turbulence and thus the gas input via the contact surface is further reduced. The reduced contact area leads to a significantly reduced oxygen uptake in the fluid with the reduced air volume and the lower-layer filling process.

Step c), shown in Flg. 1, shows the opened filling valve 1 in a height of the container opening 21, to softer the upward movement of the filling valve 1 is tuned within the container 2 with respect to the filling process or the filling amount or the filling speed. For this purpose, a predetermined control parameter is used, which takes into account the predetermined filling volume in the container 2. Since cans are very accurately manufactured with respect to their volume, the predetermined filling volume corresponds to the nominal volume. In the in Fig. 1 and 8th 2, the control parameter in step c) may be a preset filling time, which results from a predetermined filling volume in the container 2 and a set filling volume flow of the filling device. Advantageously, no complex sensor technology is thus required.

After the predetermined filling time, during which the upward movement of the open filling valve 1 with the unlerschichtigen inflow statlfindet, the closing of the filling valve 1 takes place in a step d), as indicated by the block arrow in the corresponding representation in FIG Fig. 8 is indicated, wherein the predetermined filling volume in the container. 2 is reached. Finally, in step e) the closed filling valve 1 is withdrawn, so that a next container 2 can be subjected to the filling process.

Figure 11 shows a filling valve 1 with a conically tapered centering portion 19 at the filling tip, through which the coaxially centered insertion of the filling valve 1 is supported by the container opening 21 in the container 2.

FIGS. 2 to 5 and Fig. 9 . 10 show method steps with a preferred filling arrangement, in which the filling valve 1 additionally has a separating tube 12 which is arranged directly and coaxially around the filling tube 11 and is controlled independently movable. Fig. 2 shows the filling assembly without sealing and Fig. 5 with seal. However, the method steps shown are applicable for both variants.

Significant procedural steps similar to those described in Fig. 1 and 9 may not be described again. The method which is carried out with the separating tube filling device 12 is also distinguished by the reduced contact surface, a reduced volume of air and the lower-layer filling process, which lead to a significantly reduced absorption of oxygen in the fluid.

Thus, also in step a), the filling valve 1 is completely inserted through the container opening 21 into the container 2. However, an axial gap A remains between the lower end of the separation tube 12 and the container bottom 22 in order to allow fluid to flow into the gap volume ΔV formed between the container wall 20 and the separation tube 12 if, as in FIG Fig. 9 in step b0) is represented by the block arrow in the piston, the piston 10 has been transferred to an open position of the filling valve 1.

The filling method using a filling valve 1 with a separating tube 12 can, as with Fig. 2 shown, without sealing the container opening 21 are performed so that gas or air can escape.

In particular, however, in the variant with the separating tube 12, a pressure filling operation can also be carried out, in which the container opening 21 is sealed around the filling valve 1, as in FIG Fig. 3, 4 . 5 and 10 is shown.

In step b0), the piston 10 is transferred to an open position of the filling valve 1 and the fluid is allowed to flow through the axial gap A into the radial gap volume ΔV between the container wall 20 and the separating tube 12. The fluid flows into the radial gap volume ΔV until there is pressure equalization between the filling pressure preset in the filling device and the container pressure p, whereby the filling level h in the radial gap volume ΔV is determined. The tank pressure p may be predetermined and depends on whether the tank opening is sealed or not, and whether there is a check or spill valve.

Thus, the fluid level in the gap volume .DELTA.V in the container 2 no longer increases when the filling valve 1 is open, when a pressure equalization between pressure in the container 2 and filling pressure is reached.

In order to fill the gap volume completely up to the filling level h _max , a pumping step is preferably carried out (if appropriate, however, several of the pumping steps described below can also be carried out).

During the subsequent upward movement of the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the open position within the separating tube 12, as indicated in step b1) by the block arrow above the piston, the separating tube 12 is left in its fully inserted position, so that the separating tube 12 filled with fluid.

Next is in Fig. 2 and Fig. 9 shown that in step b2) the upward movement of the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the open position at a predetermined height H is terminated and the piston 10 is transferred to the closed position. This height H is predetermined as a function of the filling height h in the radial gap volume ΔV achieved with the preset filling pressure and the predeterminable container pressure p in step b0). The height H can be calculated from the volume which flows through the separator tube 12 Filling tube 11 is limited in height H and the volume difference of the gap volume .DELTA.V between the maximum filling height h _max and the achievable filling height h should correspond.

The volume of fluid present after step b2) up to the predetermined height H in the separation tube 12, in step a1) (Figures 5 and 9) by fully inserting the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the closed position from the separation tube 12 through the axial gap A in the radial gap volume .DELTA.V pressed. The fluid level rises there accordingly - preferably up to the maximum level, the remaining existing gas is completely displaced from the container. If the complete filling of the gap volume ΔV can not be achieved with a pumping step, it may be necessary to repeat the sequence of steps b0) -b1) -b2) -a1) -b0) ... until, in a step a1), the gap volume ΔV is completely up to a portion of the container opening 21 is filled.

In the in Fig. 9 sketched step c1), the filling tube 11 is then moved with the piston in the open position within the separation tube 12 up in a region of the container opening 21, wherein the entire separation tube volume fills with fluid. The upward movement (s) of the filling valve 1 within the container 2 to the container opening 21 is also timed here, since all volumes (filling volume, fission volume, differential volume, volume in the separation tube, etc.) are predetermined or predeterminable. After c1), in step d1) the piston 10 is transferred into the closed position and the separation tube 12 is withdrawn, the column of fluid 12 previously remaining in the separation tube 12 remaining in the container 2, which is thus completely filled, so that the filling valve 1 in step e) is withdrawn.

In order to carry out a pressure filling process with the repressions made possible by the separating tube 12, the container 2 is sealed at the filling valve 1, as in FIG 3 or 4 is shown. Fig. 3 shows a process step a0) during the insertion of the filling valve 1 into the container 2 at a time at which the seal 14 is placed. By the time of placing the seal 14 or the depth of penetration of the filling valve 1 in the container 2 at this time, the pressure p is determined, which is present in the sealed container 2, when the filling valve 1 is fully inserted according to step a). Depending on the desired pressure p, the seal 14 can also be placed on the container 2 prior to insertion of the filling valve 1, wherein a maximum pressure, the container volume V _D and the volume V _{F of} the fully inserted portion of the filling valve 1 after the complete insertion the filling valve 1 is achieved by compression of the amount of gas present in the container volume Vo. For pressure filling to prevent foaming of carbonated fluids during filling, in the container 2, for example, a spandr pressure of 3 bar can be set when a filling pressure of 2 bar is provided.

Especially in such a case, it is particularly advantageous if, as in Figure 10 indicated on the front side of the separating tube 12 in the axial gap A is a circumferential, single-acting annular seal 18 such as a sealing lip, is used, which prevents fluid or gas from the gap volume .DELTA.V flows back into the separation tube 12. Outflow of fluid through the axial gap A is permitted, and may be accomplished, in particular, by one or more of the pumping steps described above.

Fig. 4 shows the additional arrangement of a volume compensator attachment 15, which is used sealingly when sealing the container opening 21 to the filling valve 1 between the container opening 21 and the sealing element 14. The volume compensator attachment 15 is preferably used in one embodiment of the method, which additionally has an elastically expandable body, and which will be described later in connection with FIG Fig. 7 will be described in detail.

In order not to exceed a predetermined maximum pressure in the container 2 for the respective filling process, in the sealing element 14 (see FIG Fig. 5 and 6 ) or in the volume compensator Aufsalz 15 (see Fig. 7 ), a pressure relief valve 16 may be arranged, which, as shown, in a gas discharge 16 'can open, but not necessarily.

With the overpressure valve 16, in the "repressing" in step a1), wherein the fluid volume that is present after step b2) to the predetermined height H in the separation tube 12, by completely inserting the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the closed position from the separation tube 12 by the axial gap A is pressed into the radial gap volume .DELTA.V, prevents the pressure p in the container 2 exceeds the predetermined maximum pressure. In addition, by keeping constant the pressure in the container 2 an increased gas input is avoided, as he would otherwise take place with increasing pressure.

Fig. 6 shows in eight illustrations an embodiment of the method employing an alternative fill valve 1 with a combined separation fill tube 112. The difference to the filling valve 1 off Fig. 1 consists in that the separation filling tube 112 with the same outer diameter d _Fa , which is adapted to the diameter d _{Do of} the container opening 21, has a larger inner diameter d _Fl and consequently significantly thinner than the filling tube 11 from Fig.1 is. Consequently, the associated controlled guided piston 100 has a correspondingly larger diameter d _{K l} which is adapted to the inner diameter d _{Fi of} the separating filling tube 112. Another difference to the filling valve 1 off Flg.1 is in a significantly increased stroke of the piston 100 in the separation-fill tube 112: In addition to the (first) open position, in which the piston 100 as in Fig.1 Proximal to a sealing seat 13 of the separating filling tube 112, the thick piston 100 in the separating filling tube 112 can be moved to a second open position, in which the piston 100 is arranged distal to the sealing seat 13 of the separating filling tube 112. In this second open position, the piston 100 limits a displacement volume V _V within the separation filling tube 112, which results in the predetermined filling volume of the container 2 with the gap volume ΔV.

Also in the in Fig. 6 shown process variant, the filling valve 1 is fully inserted into the container 2 in step a) until the end face of the filling valve 1 contacts the container bottom 22. The illustrated variant shows a pressure filling, wherein the container opening 21 is sealed around the filling valve 1. The adjustment of the pressure is done as described above. The process can also be carried out without sealing.

The pressure filling process that can be carried out with this filling arrangement with the separating filling tube 112 combines the method steps of the method described above, wherein in step b0) the filling valve 1 is opened by moving the piston 100 into the first opened position of the filling valve 1, so that fluid in the radial gap volume .DELTA.V between the container wall 20 and the separation-filling tube 112 can flow. Next, in step b1.1), an upward movement of the separating filling tube 112 with the piston 100 is carried out in the open position, wherein here too a lower-layer filling operation is achieved by the fluid level (not shown) in the gap volume ΔV during the filling process in the upward movement above the front side of the filling valve 1 is located. Also, the other advantages of the above examples are realized with this embodiment.

Thus, in step b2) at a predetermined height H, the upward movement of the separating filling tube 112 is stopped with the piston 100 in the first open position and the piston 100 is transferred to the closed position. Even without a separate separation tube 12, in step a1) by completely reinserting the separation filling tube 112 with the piston 100 in the closed position, a repressing or pumping step can be carried out, with which the level of the fluid level in the gap volume .DELTA.V is raised, the pressure in the container 2 remains constant due to the pressure relief valve 16. Then step b0) is repeated - whether steps b1.1), b2) and a1) are repeated depends on the geometric conditions and the predetermined height H - before in step c1) the separation-filling tube 112th is transferred to a position in which, as in the separation tube 12, an axial gap A between the lower end of the separation filling tube 112 and the container bottom 22 remains before the piston 100 is moved to its second open position, wherein the separation-filling tube 112 fills with fluid. The position of the piston 100 in the second open position is selected so that the displacement volume Vv within the separation fill tube 112 complements the gap volume ΔV to the predetermined fill volume so that in step d1) the separation fill tube 112 is retracted until the piston 100 in FIG Closed position comes, so that the fluid from the separation-filling tube 112 passes into the container 2, and this is completely filled. It follows the step e), not shown, in which the filling valve 1 is withdrawn. This method also uses the known geometric parameters and can be performed time-controlled with a coordinated sequence of movements.

A further exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention with a filling arrangement likewise according to the invention is shown in FIG Fig. 7 shown. Here, a filling valve 1 with a separating tube 12 is used, which is surrounded by an elastically expandable body 17, which extends along the entire in the container 2 (including volume compensator attachment 15 in this embodiment) imported portion of the separating tube 12. Of course, deviating arrangements are also conceivable here. Thus, for example, a plurality of elastically expandable bodies may be arranged circumferentially and / or axially distributed around and on the filling valve 1. Also, an arrangement of an elastically expandable body on one of the filling valve described without separation tube 1 is conceivable. And in a variant without volume compensator attachment 15, the elastically expandable body extends correspondingly only along the entire section of the separation tube 12 introduced into the container 2. The type, number and arrangement of the elastically expandable body or body depends on whether it has been removed in step a ) the closed filling valve 1 has been completely inserted into the container 2 sealed in this case, is allowed to expand in step a1), so that in step a2) on the inner surfaces of the container 2 and, as in the example shown, on the inner surface of the volume compensator attachment 15 for Plant comes and almost completely in the container 2 previously present ambient air (or another gas) by the present in the volume compensator 15 pressure relief valve 16 presses. The expansion of the elastically expandable body 17 may be effected by supplying an expansion fluid, which may be a gas, but it is also conceivable that after the full insertion of the filling valve 1, whereby gas has been displaced from the container Filling tube 11 is moved with the piston 10 in the closed position upwards, whereby in the container 2, a negative pressure is created, which leads to the expansion of the elastically expandable body 17. The latter is only possible for containers with sufficient external pressure resistance; Although usually beverage cans have a high internal pressure resistance, but the external pressure resistance unfilled cans is not very high - empty cans can be relatively easily compressed. Consequently, expansion by supplying an expansion fluid may be preferred.

In the next b-steps, first the transfer of the piston 100 to the open position of the filling valve 1 takes place so that fluid flows into the radial gap volume ΔV between the container wall 20 and the filling valve 1, whereby the elastically expandable body 17 is compressed in step b1a) until it rests against the separation pipe 12 again (step b1b). If the gap volume AV and the annular gap between the volume compensator attachment 15 and the filling valve 1 are filled, in the step b2) (not shown) an upward movement of the filling tube 11 with the piston 10 in the open position up to a predetermined height H in a region of the container opening 21st performed, wherein the separation tube 12 in the fully retracted position in which the axial gap A remains, so that the separation tube 12 fills with fluid. The filling valve 1 is closed in step d1), if in step b2) the predetermined height H in the region of the Behäitaröffnung 21 is reached. In step d2), the retraction of the separation tube 12 follows, which advantageously simultaneously opens the seal 14, which is connected to the separation tube 12. Then, the closed filling valve 1 is withdrawn from the completely filled container 2 in step e), not shown.

The Vofumenkompensatoraufsatz 15, which also in Fig. 4 is shown with the annular gap 15 ', which is formed between the inner wall of the volume compensator attachment 15 and the separation tube 12, a volume corresponding to a displaced volume, which is caused by the part of the filling valve 1, the closing of the filling valve. 1 in step d1) is present within the container 2, which in the present case is the separating tube 12. In this way, the fluid which has flowed in steps b) and c) upon filling of the container 2, first of the gap volume .DELTA.V into the annular gap 15 'of the volume compensator attachment 15 when opening the seal 14 by the return process of the separation tube 12 in Step d2) run after in the container 2, so that in the container 2 predestined the predetermined filling volume.

It will be apparent that, based on the spirit of the invention, a variety of different embodiments of the method are conceivable, some of which are exemplified herein and are not intended to limit the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Any modification which utilizes the principles of the invention is intended to be encompassed. According to the invention, the filling quantity is determined by the known geometries (volume) of the container (can) and the filling valve, which at the same time represents a displacement element. For the filling valve various designs are conceivable. An inventive filling valve (with or without separator tube, expansion body ...) is matched with its outer diameter to the diameter of the container to be filled, which has only a small difference to the container diameter. Thus, over the prior art expensive measuring devices such as MID sensors omitted. Also on the control of the filling by filling level, which is set by the position of the opening of a return air pipe or a return air hole or by means of sensor, actuator and appropriate control logic can be dispensed with.

With the geometric conditions of the filling arrangement - the size of the annular area between container wall and filling valve is dependent on vessel diameter and vessel opening diameter and can therefore be very small - the contact area reduction occurs which results in reduced gas absorption in the filled fluid. In the prior art the ambient air present in the container is flushed by carbon dioxide, which causes a very high carbon dioxide consumption, the amount of oxygen according to the invention is significantly reduced by the mechanical displacement of the air from the container due to the geometric conditions even in embodiments without expandable body. Due to the lower-layer filling process around the separating or filling tube, less or no turbulence of filled fluid and residual gas in the container is produced, as a result of which oxygen uptake is further minimized. In the variant with the pumping step or "repressing", with the transfer of the fluid into the gap volume, further residual gas (and thus oxygen) is removed from the container by the pressure relief valve, so that there is no oxygen uptake here as well. In addition, a very fast, almost laminar filling process can be achieved by this "reprints".

Further, the pressure required for pressure filling (back pressure, saturation pressure, filling pressure), which is generated in the prior art by compressed gas, usually carbon dioxide or nitrogen, mechanically provided by the sealing of the filling opening during insertion of the Füllventlis, so that clamping gas and corresponding Devices for feeding can be omitted. The desired pressure is simply adjustable by determining the required insertion depth given geometric conditions.

In addition, a Rückluftrohrlose pressure filling is possible, whereby the separate control, cleaning and maintenance of the return air pipes or Rütckluftleitungen deleted, which is still required in the prior art: There, the one-chamber principle is usually applied to the filling. The container to be filled and a reservoir on the filling device (ring bowl) form a chamber during the actual filling process. The liquid flowing into the container to be filled displaces the gas present there into the storage container. There are also multi-chamber solutions, but so far have not prevailed, since the individual chambers can only be properly separated if a Füllgutverlust is accepted. A true separation of the chambers is only complicated in terms of apparatus with a balloon element or impermeable membrane.

In sum, with the invention in the filling of containers such as cans can be dispensed both on mass means for monitoring the filling and rinsing or clamping gas, the filling device used is very simple and hardly prone to error. But even if the invention preferably makes do without rinsing and clamping gas, the implementation of such steps in the inventive method is not excluded.

In this invention, known sizes that do not change before, during and after the filling process are used. The decisive factor is that these quantities can not be changed or regulated. The ambient pressure, the can volume and the displacement volume of the filling valve remain and can not be regulated. These quantities are determined at any time (measured or calculated) and used at another time for pressure and (filling) volume determination during the filling process. These variables are also used so that during the filling process at a predetermined time, a target pressure and / or a target volume alone can be adjusted by relative movement of the individual parts (filling valve, gasket, separator pipe ...) along an axis with respect to the container.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filling valve

10

piston

11

filling pipe

12

separation tube

13

Sealing seat / contact surface

14

sealing element

15

Volumenkompensatoraufsatz

16

Valve

16 '

gas discharge

17

elastically expandable body

18

one-sided ring seal, sealing lip

19

centering

100

wide piston

112

combined separation filling tube

2

cylindrical container, can

20

container wall

21

container opening

22

container bottom

d _Fa

Outside diameter filling device

d _Fl

Inner diameter of filling tube

d _K

Piston diameter

d _Di

Container inside diameter

d _Do

Inner diameter of container opening

A

axial gap

H

predetermined height

h, h _max

Filling height in the gap volume, maximum s gap width in the spall volume

V _D

container volume

vv

displacement

V _F

introduced filling valve volume

AV

radial gap volume

p ₀

ambient pressure

p

tank pressure

Claims (20)

Use of a filling device with a filling valve (1) which has a piston (10, 100) controllably guided in a filling tube (11, 112) for filling a cylindrical container (2) whose concentric container opening (21) has a diameter (d _Do ) 70 to 99.5% of the container _{internal diameter} (d _Dl ),
characterized in that
the filling valve (1) has an outer diameter (d _Fa ) which is adapted to the diameter (d _Do ) of the container opening (21) so that a filling tip of the filling valve (1) passes through the container opening (21) into the container (2) without friction. is received when a relative movement between the filling valve (1) and the container (2) is carried out to each other, wherein the inserted filling tip of the filling valve (1) in the container (2) occupies a volume (V _F ), which in a range of 49 to 99% of the container volume (V _D ) is located. Filling arrangement comprising a filling device and a predetermined cylindrical container (2) whose concentric container opening (21) has a diameter (d _Do ) which is 70 to 99.5% of the container internal diameter (d _Dl ), the filling device being a filling valve (1). comprising a piston (10, 100) controllably guided in a filling tube (11, 112),
characterized in that
the filling valve (1) has an outer diameter (d _Fa ), which is formed adapted to the diameter (d _Do ) of the container opening (21), and
the filling device provides a relative movement between the filling valve (1) and the container (2), wherein a filling tip of the filling valve (1) can be inserted coaxially into the container (2) through the container opening (21),
wherein the filling tip of the filling valve (1) predetermined for insertion has a volume (V _F ) occupying a volume in the container (2) in the range of 49 to 99% of the container volume (Vp). Filling arrangement according to claim 2,
characterized in that
the filling valve (1) at the filling tip around the filling tube (11) has a separating tube (12) which can be moved independently of the filling tube (11) and the piston (10) in a controlled manner is. Filling arrangement according to claim 2,
characterized in that
the filling tube (11) is formed as a combined separating-filling tube (112) whose outer diameter (d _Fa ) is adapted to the diameter (d _Do ) of the container opening (21), the combined separating-filling tube (112) being thin-walled and an enlarged inner diameter (d _Fl ), and wherein the controlled guided piston (10) is formed as a flared piston (100) whose diameter (d _K ) adapted to the inner diameter (d _Fl ) of the separation-filling tube (112) and which, in addition to a first open position in which the piston (100) is disposed proximal to a sealing seat (13) of the separation fill tube (112), has at least one second open position in which the piston (100) is distal to the sealing seat (13) of the separating filling tube (112) is arranged. Filling arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4,
characterized in that
the filling arrangement has a sealing element (14) which is arranged on the container opening (21) around the filling valve (1). Filling arrangement according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the filling arrangement has a volume compensator attachment (15) which is arranged between the sealing element (14) and the container opening (21) around the filling valve (1),
wherein preferably the sealing element (14) or the volume compensator attachment (15) has a valve, preferably a non-return or overflow valve. Filling arrangement according to at least one of claims 2 to 6,
characterized in that
the filling valve (1) on a to a container bottom (22) facing the end of the filling tube (11), the separating tube (12) or the combined separating-filling tube (112) radial flow channels or spacers, preferably elastic or resilient spacers and / or one-sided having acting ring seal (18). Filling arrangement according to at least one of claims 2 to 7,
characterized in that
the filling valve (1) has an elastically expandable body (17) along the filling tip at at least a portion or around a portion of the filling tube (11) or the separating tube (12),
and or
the filling valve (1) at the filling tip has a centering section (19) tapering towards the end face. A method of filling a cylindrical container (2) with a fluid using a filling arrangement according to at least one of claims 2 to 8, comprising the steps a) performing a relative movement between the closed filling valve (1) and the container (2), wherein the filling tip of the filling valve (1) through the container opening (21) in the container (2) is received, wherein in the container (2) before Existing gas according to a volume (V _F ) of the recorded filling tip of the filling valve (1) is displaced from the container (2) or compressed in the container (2), b) opening the filling valve (1) and allowing the fluid to flow into the container (2), c) adjusting a relative upward movement of the filling valve (1) within the container (2) to the container opening (21) according to a predetermined control parameter taking into account the predetermined filling volume in the container (2), d) closing the filling valve (1) when the predetermined filling volume is reached in the container (2), and e) removing the closed filling valve (1) from the container (2). Method according to claim 9,
wherein in step a) the gas is displaced from the container (2) when the container opening (21) around the filling valve (1) is not sealed, and in the container (2) is compressed when the container opening (21) to the filling valve (1) is sealed. Method according to claim 9 or 10.
wherein in step a) the filling valve (1) is received up to a predetermined distance to a bottom (22) of the container (2) or completely into the container (2) is contacted until the end face of the filling valve (1) the floor (22) directly or indirectly via the spacer. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the filling valve (1) has a separating tube (12) around the filling tube (11),
wherein in step a) the filling valve (1), which has the separating tube (12), with the filling tip in the container (2) is received and between the lower end of the separating tube (12) and the container bottom (22) an axial gap ( A) remains, comprising the steps b0) transferring the piston (10) into an open position of the filling valve (1) for allowing the fluid to flow through the axial gap (A) into a radial gap volume (ΔV) between the container wall (20) and the separating tube (12) the fluid flows into the radial gap volume (ΔV) until a pressure equalization exists between a preset filling pressure and a predeterminable container pressure (p), whereby a filling level (h) in the radial gap volume (ΔV) is determined, b1) performing a relative upward movement of the filling tube (11) with the piston (10) in the open position within the separating tube (12), which remains in position relative to the container bottom (22), wherein the separating tube (12) is filled with fluid, b2) at a predetermined height (H) terminating the relative upward movement of the filling tube (11) and transferring the piston (10) in the closed position, d1) Retracting the separation tube (12), if in step b2) the predetermined height (H) in a region of the container opening (21) and the container (2) is completely filled. Method according to claim 12, wherein the fill level (h) achievable in the radial gap volume (ΔV) is smaller than a maximum fill level (h _max ) predetermined by the container (2) in the radial gap volume (ΔV),
comprising the steps a1) performing a relative downward movement of the filling tube (11) with the piston (10) in the closed position after step b2) and before d1), wherein in the separation tube (12) to the predetermined height (H) present volume of fluid through the axial gap ( A) is pressed into the radial gap volume (.DELTA.V),
and optionally repeating steps b0) to a1) until, in step a1), the gap volume (ΔV) is completely filled up to the maximum fill level (h _max ), c1) upwardly moving the filling tube (11) with the piston (10) in the open position within the separating tube (12) up to the predetermined height (H), which lies in a region of the container opening (21), wherein the separating tube (12) Fluid is filled, d1) after step b2) withdrawing the separating tube (12), wherein the fluid present in the separating tube (12) remains in the container (2). A method according to claim 13, wherein prior to carrying out the filling operation for filling the radial gap volume (ΔV) in a single step a1) setting a first predetermined height (H ₁ ) in a first step b) in dependence on the preset filling pressure and the predeterminable Tank pressure (p) in step b0) achievable filling level (h) in the radial gap volume (.DELTA.V) is such that a volume which limits in the separation tube (12) through the filling tube (11) in the first predetermined height (H) is, a volume difference of the gap volume (.DELTA.V) between the maximum fill level (h _max ) and the achievable fill level (h) corresponds. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
in which
the predetermined control parameter is a preset filling time resulting from a predetermined filling volume in the container (2) and a set filling volume flow of the filling device, closing of the filling valve (1) occurring in step d) after the predetermined filling time. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
comprising the step
a0) at a time before or during step a) sealing the container opening (21) around the filling valve (1) with a sealing element (14), wherein the time of sealing determines a pressure (p) which after complete insertion of the filling valve (1 ) is present in the sealed container (2). Method according to claim 16,
in which
the filling device has a volume compensator attachment (15), which is arranged before the filling process when sealing the container opening (21) around the filling valve (1) between the container opening (21) and the sealing element (14) a volume of an annular gap (15 ') formed between the volume compensator cap (15) and the filling valve (1) corresponds to a displaced volume caused by a part of the filling valve (1) which is closed when closing the filling valve (1) in step d) within the container (2), so that the fluid which has flowed into the annular gap (15 ') when the container (2) is filled in steps b) and c) is withdrawn upon retraction of the closed filling valve (1 ) travels in the container (2) in step e), so that the predetermined filling volume is present in the container (2),
and / or where
placing a non-return or overflow valve (16) in the sealing element (14) or in the volume compensator cap (15) prevents the pressure (p) in the vessel (2) from exceeding a maximum pressure predetermined for the filling operation. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling valve (1) comprises a combined separation filling tube (112) and a controlled guided piston (100) whose diameter (d _K ) at the enlarged inner diameter (d _Fl ) of the separating filling tube (112) is adapted and in addition to a first open position, in which the piston (100) proximal to a sealing seat (13) of the separating filling tube (112) is arranged at least a second open position in which the piston (100 ) distal to the sealing seat (13) of the separating filling tube (112),
comprising the steps b0) transferring the piston (100) to the first open position of the filling valve (1) for allowing the fluid to flow into a radial gap volume (ΔV) between the container wall (20) and the separating filling tube (112), and b1.1) performing an upward movement of the separating filling tube (112) with the piston (100) in the open position, wherein the fluid continues to flow into the radial gap volume (.DELTA.V) until in the radial gap volume (.DELTA.V) a pre-definable, of the preset filling pressure and a predeterminable container pressure (p) dependent filling level is reached, b2) at a second predetermined height (H ₂ ) terminating the upward movement of the separating filling tube (112) and transferring the piston (100) in the closed position, wherein the second predetermined height (H ₂ ) depending on the filling level achievable in b1.1) is set in the radial gap volume (ΔV) before the filling operation so that a volume bounded below the separation fill tube (112) at the second predetermined height (H ₂ ) is equal to a volume difference of the gap volume (ΔV) between the maximum fill level (ΔV). h _max ) and the fill level (h) achievable in b1.1), a1) completely inserting the separating filling tube (112) with the piston (100) in the closed position,
and after again performing step b0), c1) transferring the separation fill tube (112) to a position where an axial gap (A) remains between the lower end of the separation fill tube (112) and the container bottom (22), and transferring the piston (100) into second open position of the filling valve (1), wherein the separation filling tube (112) is filled with fluid, d1) when the second open position is reached in step c1), retracting the separation fill tube (112) until the piston (100) is in the closed position, the fluid passing from the separation fill tube (112) into the container (2) so that it is completely filled. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling valve (1) has an elastically expandable body (17) which is completely accommodated in the container (2) in step a),
comprising the steps a1) after complete introduction of the closed filling valve (1) through the container opening (21) into the container (2) in step a), allowing the elastically expandable body (17) to expand until it a2) bears against the inner surfaces of the container (2) and, when inserted, against the inner surface of the volume compensator attachment (15), b1) transferring the piston (100) into the open position of the filling valve (1) for allowing the fluid to flow, the elastically expandable body (17) being compressed in step b1a) until it reaches the filling valve (1) in step b1b) is present and the radial gap volume between the container wall (20) and the filling valve (1) and, if used, the annular gap between the volume compensator attachment (15) and the filling valve (1) is filled, b2) performing an upward movement of the filling tube (11) with the piston (10) in open position up to a predetermined height (H) in a region of the container opening (21). The method of claim 19, wherein said elastically expandable body (17) is disposed on or about said separation tube (12).
comprising the steps
during step b2) leaving the separation tube (12) in the fully inserted position during the upward movement of the fill tube (11) with the piston (10) in the open position, wherein the separation tube (12) is filled with fluid,
d1) closing the filling valve (1) when the predetermined height (H) in the region of the container opening (21) is reached in step b2) and the container (2) is completely filled,
d2) retracting the separation tube (12) and
e) Retracting the closed filling valve (1).

Images