FR2791050A1 - FILLING SPOUT WITH VALVE SUITABLE IN PARTICULAR FOR WATER, INTEGRATED INTO A CAROUSEL DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a liquid filling spout, designed in particular to be mounted on high-rate hydro washers, characterised in that it comprises: an air return tube with a central passage (44) and a head integral with said tube, a tube for the liquid flow, externally coaxial, the air return tube and the flow tube being relatively mobile to each other so as to take up two positions, one closed position, the tube being then in sealed contact with the head and the other open wherein the liquid can flow between the tube and the head, as well as levelling means with a valve (17).

Description

FILLING SPOUT WITH VALVE SUITABLE FOR PARTICULARLY

  WATER, INTEGRATED IN A CAROUSEL DEVICE

  The present invention relates to a valve filling spout, in particular for filling water bottles, mounted in a device with

carousel at very high speed.

  In companies bottling liquids, especially spring water, the filling must be very precise, very quick

  and must avoid water loss so as not to waste natural resources.

  In addition, taking into account the purity of the bottled water, this water should be led into the bottle without any air return.

  surrounding in the feed tank.

  The great precision concerns the volume delivered which results in the bottle by a level at a given and constant height from one bottle to another. A well known method is to use gravity or a slight overpressure in the feed tank to allow gravity flow

  or under slight pressure of the liquid through a filling spout.

  Such a spout comprises sealing means with the neck of the bottle, a filling tube with a closing head, this tube being movable between two positions, one open, detached from the head in which the liquid flows and the other closed, in tight support on the head, in which

the flow is interrupted.

  For the flow to be possible, it is also necessary, in addition to the movement of the filling tube, that the air contained in the bottle can escape from the bottle, through a so-called air return duct. As soon as the liquid placed in the bottle reaches the level of the inlet of this conduit, there is

flow interruption.

  In practice, the problem is not as simple because other parameters such as filling time, the volumes of the bottles, the conformation of these bottles can be of paramount importance to achieve the desired rates, especially when they are at very high rates. Thus, in the case where the bottles parade at 40,000 units per hour, the filling time for a 1.5 liter bottle, even by multiplying the number of spouts on the carousels, must be the order of

  a few seconds, except for oversized installations.

  Also, the flow of the liquid in the bottle must be carried out under the best conditions and simultaneously, the stopping of the flow must be very precise. Note that for an upgrade it would be possible to proceed in a known manner. According to this method, after filling in excess above the level required in the bottle, we proceed to an aspiration of the overflow

  of water by means of a leveling cannula adjusted to a given height.

  In the case of spring water for example, such aspiration is possible but it is prohibited to reintroduce this sucked water into the supply tank under penalty of polluting the directly drawn spring water. If the process uses a cannula, this sucked water must be rejected and considered a waste, which is not desirable for financial reasons.

  but also because of the limits of natural resources.

  It is therefore necessary to stop the flow with a leveling simultaneous with this stop and not for a particular subsequent operation in the carousel. It is also advisable to provide a simple mechanism so as to avoid any loss of reliability of such a filling machine because any untimely shutdown

  such a chain is indeed highly detrimental to the user.

  To keep the water flowing as quickly as possible,

  also that the air exhaust is adapted.

  It is advisable that the evacuated air does not disturb the flow of water by deflecting the veins of water, or even by torch said spout, that is to say that

  water is drawn directly into the air stream.

  In the field of bottling, particularly for water, the bacterial pollution aspect must be taken into account very precisely. Thus, the beak must avoid presenting retention zones likely to allow the proliferation of bacteria and preferably the beak must be easy to

  clean, in particular by a simple passage of disinfection fluid.

  The spout according to the present invention aims to meet all of the

conditions indicated above.

  To this end, according to the invention, the liquid filling spout, with valve, in particular intended to be mounted on carrousel machines and at high speed, is characterized in that it comprises an air return tube with a central channel with a head integral with this tube, and an external coaxial liquid flow tube, the return air tube and the flow tube being movable relative to each other so as to take two positions, one closed, the tube being in tight contact with the head and the other open in which the liquid can flow between the tube and the head, as well as means

leveling valve.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the valve leveling means comprise: - an internal housing formed in the head, opening into the central channel, this housing comprising a lower seat and an upper seat, - at least one lateral channel of circulation of air and water, each channel opening outwards at a point located below the flow tube, and - a ball of density lower than that of the liquid, intended to rest on the lower seat when the housing is empty and to support

  on the upper seat when the housing is filled with water.

  According to another characteristic, each lateral air and water circulation channel makes an angle (a with the longitudinal axis of the air return tube and opens internally immediately above the ball when the latter

rests on the lower seat.

  The housing also has a lower hole, of diameter d, located in

  the lower seat, opening out under the ball.

  The arrangement describes a particular head which comprises two cones linked by their bases, the upper cone having a flow ramp leading to a peripheral seal carried by the head and arranged

  substantially to the right of the connection plane of the two cones.

  More particularly, the joint is of rectangular section.

  There are also provided means for guiding the flow tube by

compared to the return air tube.

  The spout according to the present invention is now described in detail according to a particular nonlimiting embodiment, this with regard to the appended drawings in which the different figures represent: FIG. 1, a view in longitudinal section of the spout according to the invention, FIG. 2 , a view of the spout of FIG. 1, after partial rotation around its longitudinal axis, - FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and - FIGS. 4A to 4D, a view of a synoptic of the different stages of

  operation of the spout according to the invention.

  Figure 1 shows a flow tube 10, a head 12 and a tube 14

  return air as well as means 16 for leveling with a valve 17.

  The flow tube 10 is connected to a funnel-shaped membrane 18, the subject of French patent N 2 466 433, which simultaneously guides the liquid coming from the supply tank 20 and the elastic return force. to press the end of the flow tube 10 on the

  head 12 as will be explained later.

  The tube is also integral with retaining means 22 enabling the neck of the bottle 24 to be supported, means which ensure, under the effect of displacement of the bottle, the movements of the tube 10 relative to the head 12,

  against the return effort of the membrane.

  The diameter of the tube is adapted to cooperate sealingly with the

  head when in the closed position.

  To this end, a peripheral seal 26, carried by this head, serves as a seat at the end of the tube 10. This seal is preferably of rectangular section. This head 12 is substantially inscribed in an envelope comprising two cones 28 and 30 linked by their base. The seal 26 is placed close

  immediate connection plane of these two cones linked by their bases.

  The lower cone has a housing 32 with a part of the valve 17, namely a lower seat 34 receiving a ball 36. This housing comprises at its lower part an end hole 38, of diameter d, as well as lateral circulation channels 40 of air and water, inclined at an angle a with respect to the longitudinal axis, connecting the outside with

inside the accommodation.

  These channels open at or immediately above the

  ball when it rests in its seat.

  These channels are, in the embodiment shown, divided into 2 series of 3 juxtaposed channels and the diameter of each channel is of the order of i to 3 mm for a central channel diameter of 5 to 10 mm, in the case of a

filling with water.

  The ball is made of a material having a density lower than that of water in the case of the same example used, and to fix an order of magnitude, the density of this material is 0.6 g / cm 3. This ball also has a very precise sphericity. Advantageously, the material used is a polymer of high hardness to avoid premature wear to

  lower and especially upper seat contact.

  The housing 32 extends into the upper cone 30 which has an upper seat 42, at the junction of this housing with an internal channel 44, formed in the air return tube 14. Preferably, this seat 42

  makes an angle of 45 with the vertical.

  The ball 36 can thus take two positions, one low in which it rests in its seat 34 and the other high, in which it comes to bear

  on the upper seat 42, closing the channel 44 of the air return tube 14.

  We also note that the upper cone 30 has a particular external profile, in the form of a ramp 46. The foot of the ramp opens onto the joint.

  26 for sealing the flow tube with the head 12.

  The air return tube 14 comprises, in its part located immediately above the head 12, means 48 for guiding the tube

  flow, inside this tube.

  These guide means 48 essentially comprise a ring 50, supported by wings 52, said ring having a barrel shape with a very large radius of curvature so as to ensure essential contact and

  preferential in the middle part of this ring.

  The wings 52 and the ring 50 are profiled so as to disturb the least

possible liquid flow.

  Figure 3 shows the constituent elements in section which give a

  good approximation of ratios, especially in thickness.

  The upper part of the air return tube 14 is provided with means 54 for

  attachment, suitable for the relevant spout of the filling machine.

  The operation of such a filling spout is now indicated so as to bring out all the precise and complementary roles of the

  different elements as well as the resulting synergy.

  For this description, reference is made to FIGS. 4A to 4D.

  In FIG. 4A, the spout is in the waiting position. The filling tube 10 is supported by its end on the seal 26, which prevents any

  flow of liquid from the buffer tank 20.

  Bottle B is waiting, in line with the spout.

  The ball 36 rests by simple gravity in its lower seat 34, formed in the lower cone 28, the ball in the air is not subjected to any

another constraint.

  The air return tube 14 is preferably connected to a manifold, not

  shown, which collects the air evacuated from the bottle, for the sake of containment.

  The next step shown in FIG. 4B sees a relative movement of the bottle with respect to the spout which causes the neck of the bottle to come into tight contact with the retaining means 22. Therefore the relative displacement causes the lifting of the filling tube 10 relative to the head, against the elastic return force of the membrane

  1 8, which liberates the flow of water by gravity.

  During the movement of the filling tube 10, the guide means comprising the ring 50 in the form of a barrel, provide guidance, even when the movement is not perfectly parallel to the vertical axis, for example under the effect a very slightly asymmetrical thrust

elastic return means.

  Note the admission of water into the bottle in the form of an umbrella, on the entire periphery, with a separation of the water vein on the

  joint 26, thanks to the ramp 46 of the upper part 30 of the head 12.

  For the water to penetrate, the air in the bottle must have the possibility of being evacuated through the channel 44 inside the tube 14 for return of air. The air passes through the side channels 40. The flow rate of these channels must be sufficient to allow the evacuation of air, but it is also necessary that, at the confluence of the air intake, above the ball, the central channel accepts this flow rate so as not to brake the speed, which would decrease the flow. Speed must also

  is adapted so as not to create a vortex immediately

  above the ball so as not to entrain it in the generated air call, the ball then blocking the central channel. In the embodiment, it is noted that the air flows tend to pass immediately above the

  ball in its seat, being at most tangential to the sphere, far

  above its horizontal diametral plane, thus ensuring a tackle instead.

  The hole 38, of diameter d is of reduced dimensions, of the order of 1 to 2 mm so as not to favor the passage of air in order to avoid any lifting

untimely ball 36.

  In the next phase illustrated in FIG. 4C, the water level has arrived at the level of the base of the filling tube 10. As a result, the water having penetrated into the housing 32, both through the end hole 38 and through the lateral channels 40, the ball, of density less than that of water, floats and closes tightly, the inner channel 44 of the air return tube. The marble

  comes to bear on the upper seat 42.

  The passage of air being prohibited, the admission of water by gravity flow is interrupted, the filling tube 10 can be closed. In FIG. 4D, the relative descent of the bottle relative to the spout releases the force exerted, which allows the elastic return force of the

membrane to exercise.

  In other embodiments with the interposition of a return spring, the

  operation is strictly the same.

  The supply tube 10 bears on the seal 26 and provides sealing.

  Once the neck is cleared, the water level drops to compensate for the volume

beak removed.

  We thus obtain a closure of the spout with a leveling of high precision and this with zero water loss as is qualified in the field of these bottling machines. The absence of water loss is obtained by the presence of the valve, in this case the ball which ensures a sealed closure of the internal air return channel, exactly when

  the filling level is reached.

  Note also that in the embodiment shown, cleaning the spout is facilitated by the absence of corners in which there could be accumulation of particles and other bacteria. The different channels and

  end holes are in fact swept by the different flows.

  Combined with the use of a membrane and the absence of a spring, the arrangement is thus attractive and represents the preferred embodiment. The rates obtained allow filling times of the order of a few seconds to be achieved for water bottles of

liter and a half.

Claims (8)

  1. Liquid filling spout, in particular designed to be mounted on carousel machines and at high speed, characterized in that it comprises: - a tube (14) for air return with a central channel (44) and with a head (12) integral with this tube, - an external coaxial liquid flow tube (10), the return air tube and the flow tube being movable relative to each other so as to take two positions, one closed, the tube being in tight contact with the head and the other open, in which the liquid can flow between the tube and the head, as well as   - means (16) for leveling a valve (17).   2. Filling spout according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve leveling means comprise: - an internal housing (32) formed in the head (12), opening into the central channel (44), this housing comprising a lower seat (34) and an upper seat (42), at least one lateral channel (40) for air and water circulation, each channel opening outwards at a point located below the tube flow, and - a ball (36) of density lower than that of the liquid, intended to rest on the lower seat when the housing is empty and to come   resting on the upper seat when the housing is filled with water.   3. filling spout according to claim 2, characterized in that each lateral channel (40) for air and water circulation forms an angle a with the axis   longitudinal of the air return tube (14).   4. filling spout according to claim 3, characterized in that each channel (40) opens internally immediately above the   ball (36) when it rests on the lower seat.   5. Filling spout according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the housing also has a lower hole (38), of diameter d, located   in the lower seat (34), opening out under the ball (36).   6. Filling spout according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that the head (12) comprises two cones (28, 30) linked by their bases, the upper cone (28) having a flow ramp (46) opening onto a peripheral seal (26) worn by   the head and disposed substantially in line with the connecting plane of the two cones.   7. filling spout according to claim 6, characterized in that the   joint (26) is of rectangular section.   8. Filling spout according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that it comprises means (48) for guiding the flow tube relative to the return air tube, these means comprising a ring (50) supported by wings (52), said ring having a form in   barrel with a very large radius of curvature.