JP2006240745A - Filling valve having valve body substantially equipped with cylindrical moving component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a good well-suited filling valve for measuring and delivering a water solution containing particles. <P>SOLUTION: The filling valve 1 is for measuring and delivering the stream of a liquid medium containing particles and it is equipped with a valve housing 2 having a stream chamber equipped with an inlet port opening section 26 and an outlet port opening section 7; a valve body 4 which is accommodated in the stream chamber 3 for opening or closing the outlet opening section and which can be activated; and an activation means for moving the valve body between an opening position and a closing position; and the wall portion of the valve body is pushed in a sealing pattern against a seat provided in the valve housing in the closing position, the valve body is substantially equipped with the cylindrical moving component at its bottom end section, and the valve housing is substantially equipped with a cylindrical effluent pipe 10 adjacent to the stream chamber at its bottom end section, the moving component is fitted within the effluent pipe movably and precisely in a pattern such that the moving component fills up the effluent pipe over 3/4 at least of the length of the effluent pipe in the closing position, and the ratio of the length to the diameter of the effluent pipe is made to be larger than 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a filling valve for metered delivery of a stream of a liquid medium containing solid particles.

  Many types of filling valves are known from the prior art. In many cases, these valves comprise a valve housing having a flow chamber connected to a media supply. In this flow chamber, an actuatable valve body is accommodated for opening and closing the outlet opening provided at the bottom of the chamber. In this closed position, the outer wall portion of the valve body is pressed against the seat provided on the valve housing in a sealing manner.

  For this type of fill valve currently used by the applicant, a pipe section is provided at the bottom of the valve housing. The purpose of this is to prevent dripping from any medium remaining in the pipe section after the filling cycle as a result of capillary action.

  However, in this case, the disadvantage is that this capillary action is insufficient with respect to the aqueous solution containing the particles as required, and that dripping occurs despite the above design.

  Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a filling valve that can be filled with a low-viscosity product. For the purpose of preventing dripping, the bottom of the valve body in this case comprises a stepped end, the diameter of which is decreasing in the downward direction.

  However, in this case, it is a disadvantage that when the container is filled with an aqueous solution containing particles, these particles can become clogged so that the liquid can be blown out and / or ejected at an unexpected angle. .

  Furthermore, a filling machine for filling containers is known from US Pat. This known filling machine solution comprises a tank, which communicates with the metering chamber via an inlet opening. The metering chamber comprises a metering mechanism comprising a piston / cylinder assembly. The metering chamber has an outlet opening. The assembly is designed to open and close the inlet and outlet openings and for this purpose comprises two valve elements, which valve elements are in the open position The outlet openings are closed and connected to each other in such a manner that the inlet openings close when the outlet openings are in the open position. The purpose of this is to prevent leakage from the tank into the metering chamber when the metering chamber outlet opening is in the open position and the operation of the filling machine is interrupted. In one embodiment, the outlet opening comprises a particular length of outlet tube that is completely filled with the moving parts of the closure element when in the closed position.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,031 discloses a filling valve for fluid metering delivery, in which the outlet is adapted to the type of fluid. For example, for effervescent fluids, a wide discharge nozzle is provided with a flow reducing means and a series of screens that obstruct the jet. This embodiment is not suitable for filling containers with liquid products containing particles. For thicker, more viscous products, closure elements are used that block the product flow if the supply is interrupted.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,034 discloses a filling valve having a vertical flow chamber, which has a cylindrical outflow tube at its bottom, off-center. The valve body includes a cylindrical moving part that can slide in the outflow pipe. The valve housing does not have a seat for the valve body, which indicates that no pressure is applied to the medium to be metered in the closed position. This known filling valve is of the plunger filling type, in which the medium is first sucked and then pushed out.

  Patent document 5 also discloses a plunger filling type filling valve, in which the medium is sucked by the relative movement of the two sleeves relative to each other. These sleeves are positioned directly in the storage tank for this medium.

  From Patent Document 6, a filling valve that functions in accordance with the principle of a communication pipe is known.

US Pat. No. 6,057,049 describes a filling valve in which a valve body (without actuating means) is raised by the force of liquid flow when the spout is in the open position, and as a result, the outflow pipe is opened. Disclose. In the closed position, there is no liquid flow and due to the weight of the valve body itself, the valve body sinks into the outflow tube.
European Patent No. 10000898 US Pat. No. 3,349,973 European Patent Application No. 0850838 European Patent Application No. 0534913 German Patent Application Publication No. 19918430 U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,397 French Patent Application Publication No. 664686

  The object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and / or to provide a usable substitute. In particular, the object of the present invention is well suited for metered delivery of aqueous solutions containing particles, and the inlet of the filling valve is the supply of a solution (especially a pressurized solution) to this filling valve. To provide a reliable filling valve in which dripping is further reduced to a minimum, even when in constant open communication with the line. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the risk of blowing and / or blowing (at an unexpected angle) during the flow of a liquid medium containing a solid fluid and reduce the risk of dripping To achieve a sub-purpose that is seemingly incompatible.

  This object is achieved by a filling valve according to claim 1. In this case, the filling valve comprises a valve housing having a flow chamber with an inlet opening and an outlet opening. An actuatable valve body is housed in the fluid chamber for opening and closing the outlet opening. For this purpose, activation means are provided for moving the valve body between an open position and a closed position. In this closed position, the outer wall portion of the valve body is pressed against the seat provided on the valve housing in a sealing manner. The valve body has a substantially cylindrical moving part at its bottom end, while the valve housing has a substantially cylindrical outlet at its bottom end adjacent to the flow chamber. With a tube. The outflow tube assists the flow of the medium in the desired direction. This outflow pipe has a cylindrical shape, and this shape is preferable from the viewpoint of hygiene. The moving part is movably (eg slidably) fit within the outflow tube and, in the closed position, fills the outflow tube over at least three quarters of the length of the outflow tube. Designed. Thus, when the valve body moves to the closed position, the moving part, so to speak, empties the outflow tube at least three quarters of its length. According to the invention, the ratio of length to diameter is greater than 1. This, on the one hand, eliminates the eruption and, on the other hand, plays a minor role if capillary action is present, preventing dripping, and the moving part has a simple design. Can be a thing. Tests have shown that this filling valve is very well suited for metered delivery of a stream of liquid media containing particles, in particular fruit juice containing pulp particles and / or fruit chunks. In this case, these fruit masses can even have dimensions as large as 9 × 9 × 9 mm. Surprisingly, even in the closed position, the sealing of the outflow opening is achieved by the outer wall portion of the valve body pressed against the seat of the valve housing, but the length of the outflow tube is the amount of dripping when closed. It has been found that it is necessary to be larger than its diameter in order to minimize opportunities and to prevent eruption during dispensing. This is particularly true for liquid media streams containing particles that are metered under pressure.

  In a preferred embodiment, the outflow tube has a minimum length of 6 mm, more preferably a minimum length of 12 mm. A minimum length of 6 mm reduces the chance of ejection when using a flow of media containing particles, subject to the above ratio.

  In a further embodiment, the length-to-diameter ratio of this outflow tube is greater than 1, more specifically greater than 1.5, advantageously around 1.8 to 2.0.

  In an advantageous variant, the activation means are not only designed to move the valve body up and down between the open position and the closed position, but these means are also used in the closed position of the valve body. Designed to cause rotational movement. Thus, particles in the media stream can be released. Fibrous particles, such as those present in fruit juice, can be considered. These particles can clog between the valve body and the valve housing, and otherwise can cause dripping and the like. In addition to continuous rotation, this rotational motion can also include reciprocal rotation about the longitudinal axis of the valve body.

  Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. In particular, the filling valve is designed for metering pressurized media, where the filling valve is between the flow chamber and the media supply in both the closed and open positions of the filling valve. There is an open contact. In order to allow a pressurized supply of the medium, a pump or the like may be provided in the medium supply between the medium storage tank and the inlet of the flow chamber. Actuating this fill valve with a medium that is constantly pressurized in the flow chamber has the advantage that no inlet valve needs to be present at the inlet. Furthermore, the risk of contamination of this valve is reduced. This is because fewer parts are in contact with this media flow.

  According to a second aspect, the invention relates to the use of a filling valve according to the invention as defined in claim 13. The viscosity of the liquid medium stream is advantageously in the range from 1 mPas to 100 mPas. At a viscosity of 1 mPas, this media stream is a low viscosity product with the highest risk of ejection. At viscosities higher than 100 mPas, the product is so viscous that it remains stuck in the drain as a result of capillary action.

  According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a filling device for filling a container with a flow of a liquid medium containing particles, the device comprising a filling valve according to the invention, in which the flow chamber Communicates with a pressure supply via an inlet opening for pressurized supply of media to the flow chamber. According to this aspect of the invention, the filling device comprises a pressure source for the pressurized supply of a flow of media (e.g. fruit juice containing fibers) from the tank to the flow chamber. In a further preferred embodiment, the supply remains in open communication with the flow chamber in both the closed and open positions of the valve body. Therefore, the filling valve does not have a second valve body for periodically opening and closing the inlet opening. The filling device can now be used in metering by volume or weight, where the medium to be filled in the container in the flow chamber is under sustained pressure.

The present invention provides the following:
(Item 1)
A filling valve (1) for metered delivery of a stream of liquid medium containing particles, comprising:
A valve housing (2; 31) having a flow chamber (3) with an inlet opening (26) and an outlet opening (7);
An actuatable valve element (4; 30) contained in the flow chamber (3) for opening and closing the outlet opening;
Activating means (5) for moving the valve body between an open position and a closed position;
Comprising:
The wall portion of the valve body (4; 30) is pressed in a closed manner against a seat (13) provided in the valve housing (2; 31) in the closed position;
The valve body (4) is provided with a substantially cylindrical moving part (4c) at its bottom end and the valve housing (2; 31) is at its bottom end in the flow chamber. Comprising a substantially cylindrical outlet pipe (10; 32) adjacent to (3);
The moving part (4c) is arranged in a manner such that the moving part (4c) fills the outflow pipe (12; 32) over the length of the outflow pipe in the closed position over at least three quarters of the length. Movably and precisely fit into the outflow tube (10; 32) and the length to diameter ratio of the outflow tube (10; 32) is greater than 1,
Filling valve.
(Item 2)
Item 2. The filling valve according to item 1, wherein the minimum length of the outflow pipe (10; 32) is 6 mm.
(Item 3)
Item 3. The filling valve according to item 2, wherein the minimum length of the outflow pipe (10; 32) is 12 mm.
(Item 4)
4. A filling valve according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of length to diameter of the outflow pipe (10; 32) is greater than 1.5.
(Item 5)
Any one of items 1-4, wherein in said closed position, said valve body (4; 30) is pressed in a sealing manner against said seat (13; 34) provided on said valve housing (2; 31). The filling valve described in 1.
(Item 6)
Filling valve according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the activation means (5) is also designed to cause a rotational movement of the valve element (4; 30) in the closed position.
(Item 7)
Filling valve according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the valve seat (34) is provided at the bottom of the outflow pipe (32).
(Item 8)
Filling valve according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the valve seat (13) is provided at the top of the outflow pipe (10).
(Item 9)
9. The filling valve according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the outflow pipe (10; 32) is 5 mm longer than the moving part (4c).
(Item 10)
10. Filling valve according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the moving part (4c) substantially completely fills the outlet pipe (10; 32) in the closed position.
(Item 11)
Items 1 to 3, wherein the flow chamber (3) is in communication with a medium supply (25) for pressurized supply of the medium to the flow chamber (3) via the inlet opening (26). The filling valve according to any one of 10.
(Item 12)
Any of items 1-11, wherein the medium supply section (25) is in open communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed position and the open position of the valve body (4; 30). 2. The filling valve according to item 1.
(Item 13)
13. Filling valve according to any one of items 1 to 12, for metered delivery to a container of a liquid medium containing particles, in particular a juice stream containing pulp particles and / or a lump of fruit. )Use of.
(Item 14)
Item 13 wherein the flow chamber (3) is in communication with a medium supply (25) for pressurized supply of the medium to the flow chamber (3) via the inlet opening (26). Use of description.
(Item 15)
Use according to item 14, wherein the medium supply (25) is in open fluid communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed and open positions of the valve body (4; 30). .
(Item 16)
16. Use according to any one of items 13 to 15, wherein the medium has a viscosity in the range of 1 mPas to 100 mPas.
(Item 17)
A filling device for filling a container with a flow of a liquid medium containing particles, the device comprising a filling valve (1) according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein said flow chamber (3 ) Communicates via the inlet opening (26) with a medium supply (25) for pressurized supply of the medium to the flow chamber (3), the medium supply being connected to the medium A filling device in communication with the storage tank.
(Item 18)
18. The filling device according to item 17, wherein the medium supply (25) is in open communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed and open positions of the valve body (4; 30). .

  A filling valve (1) for metered delivery of a flow of liquid media containing particles comprises a valve housing (2) having a flow chamber (3) with an inlet opening (26) and an outlet opening (7), A valve body (4) for opening and closing the outlet opening and an activation means (5) for moving the valve body (4) between the open position and the closed position are provided. In this closed position, the valve body (4) is pressed against the seat (13) in the valve housing in a sealing manner.

  The valve body (4) comprises a substantially cylindrical moving part (4c) at its bottom end and the valve housing (2) has a substantially cylindrical outlet at its bottom end. Define the tube (10). Here, the moving part (4c) is in the closed position to fill the outflow pipe (10) over at least three quarters of the length of the outflow pipe. It fits precisely so that it can slide inside. The length to diameter ratio of this outflow tube is greater than one.

  The present invention at least partially eliminates the above disadvantages and / or provides a usable substitute. Specifically, according to the present invention, it is well suited for metered delivery of aqueous solutions containing particles, and the inlet of the filling valve is connected to a supply line of solution (particularly pressurized solution) to the filling valve. A reliable filling valve is provided in which dripping is further reduced to a minimum even when constantly in open communication. Furthermore, the present invention reduces the risk of blowing and / or blowing (at an unexpected angle) during the flow of a liquid medium containing a solid fluid and reduces the risk of dripping. Incompatible sub-purposes are achieved.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the filling valve is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 1. The filling valve 1 comprises a valve housing 2 consisting of several parts. The wall portion of the valve housing 2 defines a flow chamber 3. The flow chamber 3 contains an elongate valve body 4 which can be moved up and down relative to the valve housing 2 by an activation means 5 between an open position and a closed position. FIG. 1 shows a closed position, in which the outlet opening 7 provided at the bottom of the flow chamber 3 is sealed by a valve body 4. The flow chamber 3 further comprises an inlet opening (not shown in FIG. 1), which is a pressurized supply of liquid containing particles from a liquid tank (not shown) to the flow chamber 3. Adjacent to the pressure supply for (also not shown).

  The valve body 4 includes a rod-shaped initial part 4a, which is combined with a thick central part 4b, which is then combined with a cylindrical moving part 4c.

  The valve housing 2 defines a cylindrical outlet tube 10 at its bottom end, which is adjacent to the flow chamber 3 at its top end and an outlet opening 7 at its bottom end. Form.

  The moving part 4c is slidably fitted into the outflow pipe 10 so that the length of the moving part 4c substantially corresponds to the length of the outflow pipe 10. This ensures that the outflow tube 10 is completely filled when the moving part 4c is in the closed position.

  A substantially radially extending peripheral wall portion 12 is located between the central part 4b and the moving part 4c, which in the closed position of the valve body 4 axially seats 13 in a sealing manner. This seat is located in the valve housing 2 at the position of passage from the flow chamber 3 to the outlet pipe 10.

  Outflow tube 10 has a length greater than 12 mm. Further, in this case, the ratio of length to diameter of the outflow tube 10 is greater than one. This minimum length of the outflow tube 10 and the ratio between the minimum length and the diameter gives the fluid the desired outflow direction in the open position of the valve body 4, while preventing ejection and in the closed position. In step 3, dripping is eliminated.

  In use, when the valve body 4 is in the open position, i.e. when the moving part 4c is some distance above the outflow tube 10, the medium passes through the outlet opening 7 at the bottom through the valve housing. 2 is discharged. As soon as a desired volume of medium is thus discharged from the filling valve 1 via the outlet opening 7, the actuating means 5 moves the valve body 4 downward. In this case, the outflow pipe 10 is emptied by the moving part 4 c of the valve body 4. At the end of the downward travel of the valve body 4, the peripheral wall portion 12 at least partially presses the seat 13 radially in a sealing manner. On the other hand, this situation also occurs when the moving part 4c empties the outflow pipe 10 completely.

  The activation means 5 is not only designed to move the valve body 4 up and down, but it is also possible to rotate the valve body 4 relative to the valve housing 2. In the closed position, the valve body 4 is rotated between the valve body 4 and the valve housing 2 during the closing process by rotating the valve body 4 by appropriately driving the activation means 5 or by carrying out a rotational movement. Any particles present in the flow of the medium can still be released and thus no longer prevent a good sealing of the valve body 4 in the valve housing 2 and cause dripping and the like.

  FIG. 2 shows a variant, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The important difference here is that the moving part 21 is no longer the discharge pipe 22. FIG. 2 also shows the closed position, where only the smallest free space remains in the discharge tube 22 at the bottom of the moving part 21 as a result of the length difference. The end of the moving part 21 is in this case a conical design. This length difference is such that the moving part 21 is at least three quarters of the length of the outflow tube 22. Furthermore, the length of the outflow tube 22 is again at least 12 mm, specifically about 18 mm, while the diameter of the outlet opening 7 is again in this case the outflow The length to diameter ratio of tube 22 is selected to be greater than one. Specifically, in FIG. 2, this ratio is about 1.4. The minimum length of the space left free at the bottom of the discharge tube 22 is in this case between 0 and 5 mm, more specifically this length is about 3 mm.

  Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows a pressure supply 25, one end of which extends into the inlet opening 26 of the flow chamber 3 and is in open communication with the flow chamber 3 at all positions of the valve body 4. It remains. The other end communicates with a tank (not shown).

  Finally, with respect to the variant of FIG. 2, it is also important that the central part 4 b of the valve body 4 comprises guide fins 28. These fins serve to center the valve body 4 in the flow chamber 3.

  FIG. 3 shows a further variant at the position of the moving part at the bottom of the filling valve. In this case, a rod-shaped valve body 30 is provided, and the bottom end of the valve body forms a cylindrical moving part. In addition, a valve housing 31 is provided, which defines a cylindrical outlet pipe 32 at its bottom end. Outlet tube 32 is defined at the bottom by a wall portion 34 of valve housing 31, which projects radially inward and forms a seat, with respect to this seat in the closed position. Thirty bottom ends 35 are pressed in a sealed manner. Thus, a filling valve is also provided in which the moving parts of the valve body 30 are slidably and precisely fitted into the outflow tube 32 in order to fill the outflow tube to at least three quarters in the closed position.

  FIG. 4 shows a further variant, in which the valve body 30 is provided with a narrow end portion 36 at its bottom end, which extends beyond the bottom of the valve housing in the closed position. This advantageously ensures that no more empty space is left at the bottom end of the outflow tube, so that the outflow tube is completely evacuated during the closing movement.

  Many variations are possible in addition to the embodiments shown. Thus, the various components of the fill valve can be of different designs and / or can be constructed in different relative proportions.

  Thus, a filling valve is provided that can discharge a very stable, directed flow of media that can be precisely metered in the open position, while effectively preventing dripping in the closed position. . This filling valve is advantageously of simple design and inexpensive to manufacture. Finally, the filling valve is easy to clean due to its simple design.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a filling valve according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a diagram according to the second embodiment of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a partial view of the bottom end of the filling valve variant. FIG. 4 shows a partial view according to a further variant of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filling valve 2 Valve housing 3 Flow chamber 4 Valve body 5 Starting means 7 Outlet opening part 10 Outflow pipe 13 Seat 26 Inlet opening part

Claims (18)

A filling valve (1) for metered delivery of a stream of liquid medium containing particles, comprising:
A valve housing (2; 31) having a flow chamber (3) with an inlet opening (26) and an outlet opening (7);
An actuatable valve element (4; 30) contained in the flow chamber (3) for opening and closing the outlet opening;
Activating means (5) for moving the valve body between an open position and a closed position;
Comprising:
The wall portion of the valve body (4; 30) is pressed in a closed manner against a seat (13) provided in the valve housing (2; 31) in the closed position;
The valve body (4) is provided with a substantially cylindrical moving part (4c) at its bottom end and the valve housing (2; 31) is at its bottom end in the flow chamber. Comprising a substantially cylindrical outlet pipe (10; 32) adjacent to (3);
The moving part (4c) is in a manner such that the moving part (4c) fills the outflow pipe (12; 32) over the length of the outflow pipe in the closed position over at least three-quarters of the length. Movably and precisely fit into the outflow tube (10; 32), and the length to diameter ratio of the outflow tube (10; 32) is greater than 1,
Filling valve.   The filling valve according to claim 1, wherein the minimum length of the outflow pipe (10; 32) is 6 mm.   Filling valve according to claim 2, wherein the minimum length of the outflow pipe (10; 32) is 12 mm.   The filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of length to diameter of the outflow tube (10; 32) is greater than 1.5.   5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the valve body (4; 30) is pressed in a sealing manner against the seat (13; 34) provided on the valve housing (2; 31). The filling valve according to item.   The filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation means (5) is also designed to cause a rotational movement of the valve body (4; 30) in the closed position.   The filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve seat (34) is provided at the bottom of the outflow pipe (32).   The filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve seat (13) is provided at the top of the outflow pipe (10).   Filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outflow pipe (10; 32) is up to 5 mm longer than the moving part (4c).   The filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moving part (4c) substantially completely fills the outlet pipe (10; 32) in the closed position.   The flow chamber (3) is in communication with a medium supply (25) for pressurized supply of the medium to the flow chamber (3) via the inlet opening (26). The filling valve according to any one of 10 to 10.   The medium supply (25) is in open communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed position and the open position of the valve body (4; 30). The filling valve according to claim 1.   Filling valve according to any one of the preceding claims for metered delivery of a liquid medium containing particles, in particular a fruit juice stream containing pulp particles and / or a lump of fruit, to a container. Use of 1).   The flow chamber (3) is in communication with a medium supply (25) for pressurized supply of the medium to the flow chamber (3) via the inlet opening (26). Use as described in.   15. The medium supply (25) in open fluid communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed position and the open position of the valve body (4; 30). use.   16. Use according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the medium has a viscosity in the range of 1 mPas to 100 mPas.   A filling device for filling a container with a flow of a liquid medium containing particles, the device comprising a filling valve (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flow chamber ( 3) communicates with the medium supply (25) for pressurizing the medium to the flow chamber (3) via the inlet opening (26), the medium supply being A filling device in communication with the media storage tank.   18. Filling according to claim 17, wherein the medium supply (25) is in open communication with the flow chamber (3) in both the closed and open positions of the valve body (4; 30). device.

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