GB2058029A

GB2058029A - Machines for introducing fluids into containers

Info

Publication number: GB2058029A
Application number: GB8026770A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-08-20
Filing date: 1980-08-15
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: DE2933622A1

Abstract

A machine is provided for introducing a cleaning fluid or beer into a keg (14) having a fitting provided with a valve (15). The machine comprises a filling head (1) having a valve (4). The head (1) is positioned adjacent the keg valve (15) with a sealing ring (16) therebetween. A probe (3) is moved upwardly by piston and cylinder device (6a, 6) from the illustrated position to open the keg valve (15). Valve (4) in head (1) is moved downwardly from the illustrated position to allow cleaning fluid or beer to flow via a conduit (12), an annular passage (11) and the keg valve (15) into the keg (14). During filling, air flows out of the keg (14) via a path comprising a bore (20) of the probe (3), a tube (21) and a float valve (22). When the keg (14) is full, the fluid starts to flow through the above-mentioned path. This closes the float valve (22) and a device (24) is responsive to the resultant back pressure to cause the probe (3) and valve (4) to be returned to their illustrated positions. Liquid (shown shaded) is expelled in the direction of arrow (30) by compressed air supplied at (27) to clear the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Machine for introducing fluids into containers This invention relates to machines for introducing fluids into containers, for instance to clean the containers or to fill them with a fluid product.

A known type of machine for cleaning and filling containers comprises a filling head provided at the filling point, which head supplies the fluid to be introduced into the container to an inlet valve of a fitting provided on the container, and a monitoring means operative to shut off the supply of fluid in response to a pressure increase occurring when the filling process is completed.

According to the invention there is provided a machine for introducing a fluid into a container by means of a double valve provided on an end face, through which valve the fluid is supplied, in use, to the container, the machine comprising: a filling member in the form of a filling head; a valve which is integrated in the filling member, disposed in the vicinity of a discharge opening of the filling head and comprises a hollow cylindrical closure member displaceable along its longitudinal axis to selectively open or close an annular passage; and means responsive to an increase in pressure occurring upon completion of filling of the container to shut off the supply of fluid.

A preferred embodiment of the invention described hereinbelow comprises a machine wherein the fluid losses occurring during filling, which were previously regarded as unavoidable, can be substantially reduced by advantageous contructive measures without additional effort and as a result of which a more economical operation is evolved. In contrast to conventional filling heads having a filling valve for the release or shutting off of the fluid disposed outside the filling head, the loss, previously regarded as unavoidable, during the filling of beer or other fluid, in particular'lively' beer, i.e. beer which is fizzy or has a tendency to froth over, is substantially reduced by as much as one half at the end of each filling cycle, depending upon the circumstances. This means a large reduction in the loss of beer or other fluid, particularly for high daily filling capacities.

It is expedient for an end of the closure member facing the discharge opening of the filling head to be inclined from its exterior towards its interior in the direction towards the discharge opening, and for a recess to be provided in a housing of the filling member at a transition zone between a supply conduit for the fluid and the annular passage, on the side facing the discharge opening, which recess is operative to divert the fluid in the direction of the discharge opening when the valve is open.

By virtue of the arrangement of the closure member for the beer or other fluid in the annular passage, which member releases the annular passage upon opening, the fluid is practically not disturbed at all and the flow diversions previously regarded as unavoidable inside filling valves which are disposed outside the filling head are avoided.

Particularly in the case of filling beer, the tendency to froth is substantially minimised by filling valves disposed outside the filling head.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the sole figure of which is a diagrammatically simplified vertical longitudinal section through an arrangement embodying the invention.

The sole figure of the drawing is a diagrammatically simplified vertical longitudinal section through a filling body 1 with associated fittings which is embodied according to the invention. The filling member 1, which is in the form of a filling head, comprises a housing 2 having a push rod 3 disposed coaxially therein and a closure member 4 disposed coaxially thereof and displaceable in the longitudinal direction, which member 4 is urged in a closure direction by a spring 5. The spring 5 acts only as a safety device to ensure that the closure member 4 is always closed in the event of pneumatic breakdown.

At the beginning of a filling cycle the push rod 3 is moved in the direction of an arrow 7 by supplying air to one end of a pneumatic cylinder 6 containing a piston 6a connected to the push rod 3, whereby an end part 3a of the push rod 3 presses against and opens a valve 15 (not illustrated in detail) provided in a fitting provided on a container 14 in the form of a beer keg. The keg 14, only part of which is illustrated in the figure, rests with the keg valve 15 on a sealing ring 16 of the housing 2, provided at the discharge opening of the filling member 1.As soon as the closure member 4 is then urged downwardly into a pneumatic cylinder or chamber 10, coaxial with the closure member 4, by the supply of a pressure medium to one end of the chamber 10 in the direction of an arrow 9, whereby an end flange of the member 4 disposed in the chamber 10 to act as a piston is moved downwardly, a conical surface 4a at the upper end of the member 4 is moved so far downwardly that an annular passage 11 is opened and a filling fluid (e.g. beer) supplied by way of a supply conduit 12 in the direction of an arrow 13 flows upwardly through the annular passage 11 and through the keg valve 15 into the keg 14.

A substantially annular, conical recess 11' is provided in the housing 2 at a transition zone between the conduit 12 and the annular passage 11, on the side facing the discharge opening of the filling member 1. The recess 11' is operative to divert the fluid in the direction of the discharge opening when the closure member 4 is in the open position. The outer limiting surface of the recess 11' is substantially parallel to the conical surface 4a of the closure member 4.

During the filling process the gas located in the keg 14 flows through a central bore 20 of the push rod 3 in a downward direction, then through a tube 21, a float valve 22 and an opened valve 23 and vents to the atmosphere. When the keg 14 is full the fluid supplied through the conduit 12 flows downwardly through the central bore 20, reaches the float valve 22 and closes the latter. This causes the pressure to increase in the region upstream of the float valve 22 whereby a pressure pulse is exerted on a device 24.

This causes, by way of connecting elements not illustrated in the figure, the closure member 4 to be displaced back into the illustrated closure position, by the supply of a pressure medium to the chamber 10 in the direction of an arrow 25, whereupon the push rod 3 is lowered in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow 7 back down to the illustrated position by means of a supply of a pressure medium to the upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 6 containing the piston 6a as a result of which the keg valve 15 closes automatically. Then, the valve 23 is closed, a valve 26 is opened and the float valve 22 is opened by means of compressed air supplied in the direction of an arrow 27, and the fluid present in the tube 21 and all the spaces filled in with dots in the figure is expelled in the direction of an arrow 30 after a valve 29 has been opened.

The arrangement described above can, of course, be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, the chamber 10 could be a hydraulic rather than a pneumatic chamber.

It has been explained above how the illustrated arrangement is operative to fill a keg 14 with beer.

The arrangement can in the same manner be used to clean the keg if a cleaning fluid is substituted for the beer.

Claims

1. A machine for introducing a fluid into a container by means of a double valve provided on an end face, through which valve the fluid is supplied, in use, to the container, the machine comprising: a filling member in the form of a filling head; a valve which is integrated in the filling member, disposed in the vicinity of a discharge opening of the filling head and comprises a hollow cylindrical closure member displaceable along its longitudinal axis to selectively open or close an annular passage; and means responsive to an increase in pressure occurring upon completion of filling of the container to shut off the supply of fluid.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the valve includes a spring operative to urge the closure member into the closure position.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the spring is disposed within the closure member.

4. A machine according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic control means coupled to the closure member is provided in the filling head for opening or closing the valve.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein the control means comprises a pneumatic chamber coaxial with the closure member.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the valve is so constructed that the closure member is urged by a spring into the closure position and can be moved in opposition to the spring pressure by a pneumatic or hydraulic control means.

7. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member is so arranged that in the open position it is moved out of a portion of the annular passage through which, in use, the fluid flows.

8. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an end of the closure member facing the discharge opening of the filling head is inclined from its exterior towards its interior in the direction towards the discharge opening.

9. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a recess is provided in a housing of the filling member at a transition zone between a supply conduit for the fluid and the annular passage, on the side facing the discharge opening, which recess is operative to divert the fluid in the direction of the discharge opening when the valve is open.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein the recess is substantially conical in shape.

11. A machine according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the recess is annular.

12. A machine according to claim 10 or claim 11, as appendantto claim 8, wherein the outer limiting surface of the recess is substantially parallel to the inclined end of the closure member which is disposed coaxially of the valve when the valve is open.

13. A machine for introducing a fluid into a container, the machine being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.