GB792262A - Improvements in filling heads for bottle-filling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

792,262. Bottling. FOX & CO., Ltd., D. Aug. 18, 1955 [Sept. 24, 1954], No. 27730/54. Class 125(2). In rotating table counterpressure bottling machines having filling tubes 26 the lower ends of which are closed by pear valves 27 closed by springs 30 and opened by fluid pressure acting on a piston 29, a single rotatable plug cock 14 actuated step by step by stationary trips supplies counterpressure and fluid pressure for actuating pistons 29 to each pair of filling tubes 26, a check valve 21 being provided for cutting off the counterpressure if a bottle should burst, but being prevented from closing during the application of counterpressure. As shown, extensions 102, 103 of a central body 10 are each provided with a depending filling tube 26 and the body 10 contains a vertical bore 11 containing a vertical plug cock 14 the shaft of which is extended upwardly and the end thereof is connected with a certain amount of lost motion to a star wheel 151 so that shock occurring when the trips actuate the star wheel is largely absorbed. Counterpressure is supplied through passages 19, 17 to the space 11 and bottling liquid through passages 20, 18 and a pair of passages 36 to chambers 24 communicating with the filling tubes 26. In operation, the parts are initially in a first stage in which the pear valves 27 are closed by springs 30 and the ports of cock 14 are also closed ; during this stage each bottle is raised to contact and raise a guide bell 32, a gasket 322 on which seats an annulus 253 fixed to the bottom of extensions 102, 103. The cock 14 is then rotated by the first trip to the second stage in which counterpressure can flow through passages 37 in the cock and passages 33, 34, 341 to the bottle ; during this stage the check valve 21 in the counterpressure supply is held from its seat by a projection 143 on the cock. The second trip then rotates the cock to the third stage in which the passages 37 still connect space 111 to passages 33 and also connect the space through passages 31 to space 221 above the piston 29 so that the counterpressure forces down the piston and opens valve 27 to allow liquid to flow into the bottle. During this stage, check valve 21 can move to its seat should a bottle burst and the passages are vented to atmosphere through the burst bottle so allowing spring 30 to close valve 27 ; also during this stage displaced gas flows from the bottle in reverse direction through passages 341, 34 and 33. The third trip then moves cock 14 to the fourth stage in which passages 38, 39, 40 therein connect passages 31, 33 to atmosphere so that spring 30 closes liquid valve 27 and the bottle head space is snifted. The cock is then turned to its initial position and the filled bottles are lowered. According to the Provisional Specification, the plug cock controls a single filling tube assembly only.