GB421187A - Improvements in and relating to apparatus for the sterilisation and sterile filling of vessels in one working process - Google Patents

Abstract

421,187. Filling barrels &c. SEITZWERKE GES., Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland, Germany. June 16, 1933, No. 17231. Convention date, July 14, 1932. [Class 21] The sterilizing and sterile filling of beer casks and other vessels is effected in one continuous working process by first sterilizing by a disinfectant, scavenging by a sterile gas, and then filling, all these processes being controlled automatically, to permit entry of beer, &c., and the filling member during its downward movement into the cask &c. automatically operating or setting control means or a signal which prevent opening of the filling member before completion of scavenging, or indicates the proper time for the opening of the filling head. The filling tube 115, Fig. 1, and the pressing head 121 are raised and lowered by a piston 101 actuated by compressed air entering by a pipe 102 through a valve 105 and channel 103, the piston rod 107 carrying a crosshead 108 and cheeks 112 which carry a cap 113 into which the upper end of the filling member 115 is threaded. The disinfecting agent and the scavenging agent are introduced through a tube 119 by way of valve-controlled channels 132, 135 respectively and leave through tubes 140, 111 and 139, 110, and valve 141 respectively. A throttle device in the tube 110 or at some other position may be employed to produce back-pressure needed during filling. Tubes 140, 111 serve during filling with beer &c. to lead vent air to the beer container to maintain the pressure constant. Actuation of the valves. Beer &c. enters by a passage 116 through a valve 118 or a tube 119 passing through a diaphragm 120 of larger area than the head 118 so that valve 118 is normally closed, but can be opened by hand actuation of a lever 125, Fig. 4, which through a cam 123 presses down the tube 119. The lever 125 is held against movement during sterilizing and scavenging by the engagement of its tail 126 with the end of a lever 161, held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a segment 160 pivoted on a sleeve 145 fixed to the fixed tubes 110, 111. The segment is rotated by a roller 162 fixed on the crosshead 108, the downward movement of which first rotates the segment 160 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, whereby a cylinder 150 is moved downwards and a spring 153 contained therein is tensioned, oil in the cylinder moving through a byepass 163 to the lower part of the cylinder. Continued downward movement of the crosshead 108 releases the segment 160 which permits the cylinder to resume gradually its normal position against the resistance of the oil flowing through the byepass, the cross-sectional area of which can be regulated. The end of the upward movement of the cylinder is timed to coincide with the end of the scavenging, rotation of lever 161 permitting the hand actuation of lever 125 to admit beer &c. to the vessel. Signalling devices actuated by electric contact may be associated with the mechanism. In an alternative form, the cylinder 150 is fixed and its piston movable. In another form, spring or weight actuated mechanism is tripped by the filling-member and actuates the means for avoiding premature opening of the filling member. In a further form, the tripping is effected by a sand glass or other device in which a medium contained in one receptacle tilts the device when transferred to another receptacle. The device is initially in an oblique position with the medium in the upper receptacle, transference of the medium brings the device to a vertical position when a circuit is completed which brings the control into operation. The disinfecting agent is introduced by a passage 132 through a valve 133 actuated by a two-armed lever 134 a lever 146 and a roller 147, Fig. 5. During the downward stroke of the valve head lever 134 encounters lever 146 which is mounted on a sleeve 144 whereby the valve is opened. On continued movement of lever 134 its other end strikes roller 147 on sleeve 145 and closes valve 133. The scavenging fluid leaves through a valve 136 actuated by a two-armed lever 137 both two-armed levers moving with the crosshead 108 and the valves 133, 136 being held open while engaged by their respective two-armed levers, but closing at other times.