JPH05112319A - Device for filling inert gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To fill a container with inert gas in an invariably stable amount while reducing the effect thereon produced by the gasification of a liquefied inert gas and at a high speed while increasing the amount of the liquefied inert gas extracted. CONSTITUTION:An inert gas filling device adapted to extract a liquefied inert gas X in a cylinder 1 through an injector 4 is provided with a first liquid tank 2 and a second liquid tank 3. The first liquid tank 2 contains a predetermined amount of the liquefied inert gas X supplied through a vacuum insulating pipe 5a from the cylinder 1. The second liquid tank 3 contains in a condition of being open to the atmospheric air a predetermined amount of the liquefied inert gas X supplied through a vacuum insulating pipe 5b from the first liquid tank 2. Below the second liquid tank 3, there is provided an injector 4 which supplies the liquefied inert gas X from the second liquid tank 3 through a vacuum insulating pipe 5c to under the surface of the stored liquefied inert gas X.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inert gas filling device for filling an inert gas into a container such as a beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a soft container such as an aluminum can is filled with contents such as a non-carbonated beverage, in order to prevent deterioration of the contents and increase the internal pressure of the container to improve the strength of the container, Filling with an inert gas is performed.

Such an inert gas filling operation is performed by an inert gas filling device installed in a work line for filling or sealing the contents in the container. Conventionally, the inert gas filling device is provided with an injector equipped with a nozzle for dropping the liquefied inert gas into a container, and a liquefied inert gas is stored in the injector via a vacuum heat insulating pipe through the vacuum heat insulating pipe. It consists of a supply cylinder. The inert gas supplied from the cylinder to the injector is temporarily stored in a storage portion provided in the injector and is dropped from the nozzle by the action of the water head pressure due to the height of the liquid surface.
It is desirable that the amount of the liquefied inert gas that is filled in the container be constant at all times. Therefore, the height of the liquid surface of the liquefied inert gas stored in the reservoir provided in the injector is high. Must be kept constant and a stable head pressure must be generated.

However, for example, in the process of supplying the liquefied inert gas from the cylinder to the injector,
A part of the liquefied inert gas may be vaporized. Therefore, even if the height of the liquid surface is kept constant, the internal pressure in the reservoir of the injector rises and the dripping speed changes, and There is an inconvenience that the amount of droplets of is changed.

Further, as the work line for filling or sealing the contents in the container has been speeded up, it is required that the work of filling the work line with the inert gas be carried out quickly. For that purpose, it is desirable to increase the amount of the liquefied inert gas that drops out. Therefore, in the inert gas filling device, as a means for increasing the drop amount of the liquefied inert gas filled in the container, it is possible to increase the drop amount of the liquefied inert gas by increasing the inner diameter of the nozzle. Conceivable. Further, it is conceivable to increase the capacity of the reservoir of the injector to increase the water head pressure by the high liquid surface and increase the dripping rate of the liquefied inert gas.

However, according to the former method, since the amount of droplets ejected from the nozzle is large, the rate of decrease of the liquefied inert gas in the reservoir of the injector is fast and the height of the liquid surface is likely to change.
Therefore, there is a disadvantage that a stable head pressure cannot be obtained and the amount of the inert gas dripping is not constant. Also,
According to the latter, because the shape of the injector becomes huge,
A wide installation place is required, and workability may be deteriorated particularly when installed close to the work line. Further, when the cylinder is replaced, the work line must be stopped, which causes a problem that work efficiency is reduced.

[0007]

In order to solve such inconvenience, the present invention can reduce the influence of vaporization of the liquefied inert gas and constantly fill the container with a stable amount of the inert gas. Another object of the present invention is to provide an inert gas filling device capable of promptly filling the inert gas with a large liquefied inert gas drop amount.

[0008]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a cylinder for storing a liquefied inert gas,
A liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder via a vacuum heat insulating pipe is stored in an open state to the atmosphere, and an injector for dripping the stored liquefied inert gas is provided, and the liquefied inert gas dripping from the injector is provided. A first liquid tank for storing a predetermined amount of a liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder via a vacuum heat insulating pipe in an inert gas filling device for filling a container after filling the contents; A second liquid tank for storing a predetermined amount of liquefied inert gas supplied from the tank via a vacuum heat insulating pipe in an open state to the atmosphere, and a vacuum heat insulation provided from the second liquid tank below the second liquid tank. The injector is supplied via a pipe below the liquid surface of the liquefied inert gas in which the liquefied inert gas is stored, and the first liquid tank is configured to control the flow rate of the liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder. A first supply valve for limiting the first supply valve; A liquid level sensor that senses the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas stored in the tank, and a signal from the liquid level sensor that opens and closes the first supply valve to make the liquid level of the first liquid tank constant. 1 liquid level controller, and a decompression valve for reducing the internal pressure of the liquefied inert gas stored in the first liquid tank to a predetermined pressure, and the second liquid tank is liquefied supplied from the first liquid tank. A second supply valve that limits the flow rate of the inert gas, a liquid level sensor that senses the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas supplied to the second liquid tank, and the second signal based on the signal from the liquid level sensor.
Second opening and closing the supply valve to keep the liquid level in the second tank constant
A liquid level controller, wherein the injector controls a flow rate of the liquefied inert gas supplied from the second liquid tank,
A supply valve, a liquid level sensor that senses the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas stored in the injector, and a signal from the liquid level sensor opens and closes the third supply valve to keep the liquid level in the injector constant. And a third liquid surface controller.

[0009]

[Function] The liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder is
First, it passes through a vacuum heat insulation tube by the supply pressure of the cylinder,
It is supplied into the first liquid tank by opening the first supply valve. In the first liquid tank, the level of the liquid level of the stored liquefied inert gas is monitored by a liquid level sensor, and the first liquid level controller controls the first supply valve based on a signal from the liquid level sensor. Open and close. That is, the first supply valve is closed when an appropriate amount of liquefied inert gas is accumulated in the first liquid tank,
When decreasing, the first supply valve is opened. Thereby, the liquefied inert gas in the first liquid tank is always stored in a constant amount. Further, the inert gas vaporized in the supply process is discharged from the pressure reducing valve of the first liquid tank in a predetermined amount. As a result, the inert gas is separated into a liquid and a gas, and the internal pressure of the first liquid tank is prevented from rising due to the vaporized inert gas and the supply pressure of the cylinder, and the internal pressure of the first liquid tank is further prevented. To a predetermined pressure.

Subsequently, the liquefied inert gas in the first liquid tank is supplied into the second liquid tank by opening the second supply valve. In the second liquid tank, the level of the liquid level of the stored liquefied inert gas is monitored by the liquid level sensor, and the second liquid level controller controls the second supply valve based on the signal of the liquid level sensor. Open and close. That is, the second supply valve is closed when a suitable amount of liquefied inert gas is accumulated in the second liquid tank,
When it decreases, the second supply valve is opened. Thereby, the liquefied inert gas in the second liquid tank is always stored in a constant amount. Further, since the liquefied inert gas is stored by opening the second liquid tank to the atmosphere, the inert gas vaporized in the supply process is released. As a result, the internal pressure of the second liquid tank, which is affected by the vaporized inert gas and the internal pressure of the reservoir of the first liquid tank, is reduced to atmospheric pressure.

The liquefied inert gas in the second liquid tank is supplied and stored in the injector by opening the third supply valve. In the injector, the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas stored in the injector is monitored by a liquid level sensor, and the third liquid level controller controls the third supply based on a signal from the liquid level sensor. Open and close the valve. That is, the third supply valve is closed when a suitable amount of the liquefied inert gas is accumulated in the injector, and when the amount is reduced, the third supply valve is opened. As a result, the liquefied inert gas in the injector is always stored in the injector in a fixed amount. Further, since the injector is provided below the second liquid tank, the liquefied inert gas flowing down the vacuum heat insulating pipe is supplied to the injector at a high speed. Moreover, since the internal pressure during supply is gradually reduced to atmospheric pressure by the first liquid tank and the second liquid tank, the liquefied inert gas is injected from the second liquid tank at a stable speed. Is supplied to. In the injector, the vaporized inert gas is released to the atmospheric pressure, so that a stable head pressure is generated and the liquefied inert gas can be dropped in a constant amount. Furthermore, even if the amount of liquefied inert gas dropped from the injector is relatively large, the injector is provided below the second liquid tank, so that the liquefied inert gas has a high flow rate, The liquefied inert gas is quickly supplied to the injector.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a liquefied inert gas such as liquid nitrogen is filled in the container after filling the contents.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the constitution of the present embodiment, in which 1 is a liquid nitrogen cylinder, 2 is a first liquid tank for temporarily storing the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1, and 3 is a liquid tank. The second liquid tank 4 that stores again the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the first liquid tank 2 is an injector that drops the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the second liquid tank 3 into the container. The cylinder 1 and the first liquid tank 2 are connected by a vacuum heat insulating pipe 5a through a first supply valve 6, and similarly, the first liquid tank 2 and the second liquid tank 3 are vacuum heat insulating pipes 5b. The second liquid tank 3 and the injector 4 are connected to each other via the second supply valve 7 and the third supply valve 8 by the vacuum heat insulating pipe 5c. Further, the injector 4 is provided below the second liquid tank. Also, the vacuum heat insulating tubes 5a, 5b, 5c
Is a multi-layer heat insulation structure with a vacuum part,
Since the amount of heat penetration is extremely small, a liquid nitrogen X that hardly vaporizes in the tube is used.

The first liquid tank 2 is provided with a pressure reducing valve 9 on its upper part and a liquid level sensor 10 inside thereof. The pressure reducing valve 9 reduces the internal pressure of the first liquid tank when the pressure for flowing out the liquid nitrogen X of the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 reaches the inside of the first liquid tank. At the same time, when the vaporized nitrogen gas is mixed with the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 into the first liquid tank 2, the decompression valve 9 releases the nitrogen gas to generate the nitrogen gas. Prevents the internal pressure from rising. In this way, in the first liquid tank,
Liquid nitrogen X is stored with the internal pressure kept constant.

The liquid level sensor 10 of the first liquid tank 2 is
The height of the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen X in the first liquid tank 2 is sensed, and it is connected to the first liquid level controller 11. The first
The liquid level controller 11 controls the first supply valve 6 to be closed when the liquid nitrogen X is stored in the first liquid tank 2 in an appropriate amount according to the signal from the liquid level sensor 10 of the first liquid tank 2. Liquid nitrogen X
When the amount decreases, the first supply valve 6 is controlled to be open until a proper amount is accumulated. Thereby, the liquid nitrogen X in the first liquid tank 2 is always stored in the first liquid tank 2 in a constant amount.

Liquid nitrogen X flows down from the first liquid tank 2 to the second liquid tank 3 located below the first liquid tank 2 via the vacuum heat insulating pipe 5b connected to the bottom of the first liquid tank 2. To do.

The second liquid tank 3 is provided with an atmosphere release valve 12 on its upper part and a liquid level sensor 13 inside thereof. When the internal pressure of the first liquid tank 2 reaches the second liquid tank 3, the atmosphere opening valve 12 releases the internal pressure of the second liquid tank 3 to reduce it to atmospheric pressure. At the same time, the atmosphere release valve 12
When the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the first liquid tank 2 to the second liquid tank 3 contains nitrogen gas, the nitrogen gas is released to prevent the internal pressure from increasing due to the nitrogen gas. In this way, the liquid nitrogen X is stored in the second liquid tank 3 with the internal pressure thereof kept at a stable atmospheric pressure.

Further, the liquid level sensor 13 of the second liquid tank 3 is
The height of the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen X in the second liquid tank 3 is sensed, and it is connected to the second liquid level controller 14. The second
The liquid level controller 14 operates similarly to the first liquid level controller 11, and the signal of the liquid level sensor 13 of the second liquid tank 3 is input to the liquid level controller 14 so that the liquid nitrogen X becomes the second liquid. The second supply valve 7 is closed when an appropriate amount is stored in the tank 3, and when the amount is reduced, the second supply valve 7 is opened until an appropriate amount is stored. This allows
The liquid nitrogen X in the second liquid tank 3 is always in a constant amount in the second liquid tank 3.
It is stored in the liquid tank 3. The second liquid tank 3 is connected via the vacuum heat insulating pipe 5c connected to the bottom of the second liquid tank 3.
The liquid nitrogen X flows downward from the injector toward the injector 4 located below the injector. At this time, the second liquid tank 3 is
Since the inside thereof is atmospheric pressure and the amount of the stored liquid nitrogen X is kept constant, a constant head pressure can be generated in the liquid nitrogen X in the second liquid tank 3. The flow rate can also be constant.

The lower end of the vacuum heat insulating tube 5c is connected to the injector 4 in a state of being supplied below the liquid surface of the liquid nitrogen X stored in the injector 4. As a result, vaporization of the liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4 can be prevented.

The injector 4 is provided with an atmosphere open pipe 15 at its upper portion and a liquid level sensor 16 inside thereof. The atmosphere opening pipe 15 serves to set the internal pressure of the injector 4 to the atmospheric pressure, like the second liquid tank 3. At the same time, when the nitrogen gas is mixed with the liquid nitrogen X supplied from the second liquid tank 3 to the injector 4, the atmosphere opening pipe 15 releases the nitrogen gas to increase the internal pressure of the injector 4. Atmospheric pressure is used.

The entire upper portion of the injector 4 may be opened to bring the inside of the injector 4 to atmospheric pressure. For example, in the vicinity of the injector 4, a container (not shown) is filled with contents. At this time, since the contents are floating in the atmosphere in a fine mist state, the atmosphere open pipe 15 is provided to prevent the contents in the fine mist state from entering.

In this way, in the injector 4,
The liquid nitrogen X is stored with the internal pressure being a stable atmospheric pressure.

The liquid level sensor 16 of the injector 4
Is for detecting the level of the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4, and is connected to the third liquid level controller 17. The third liquid level controller 17 opens and closes the third supply valve 8 by receiving a signal from the liquid level sensor 16 of the injector 4 depending on the level of the liquid level inside the injector 4. Regarding the opening and closing, the first liquid level controller 11
Similarly to the second liquid level controller 14, the third supply valve 8 is opened when the liquid level in the injector 4 is lowered, and the third supply valve is opened when the liquid level is at a predetermined height. 8 is closed. As a result, the liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4 is always stored in the injector 4 in a constant amount. Then, the nozzle portion 18 provided in the injector 4
Then, the required amount of liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4 is dropped. At this time, since the inside of the injector 4 is at atmospheric pressure and the amount of the stored liquid nitrogen X is kept constant, a constant head pressure is generated in the liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4. It is possible to make the dropping amount constant. Further, the third liquid level controller 17 is a sensor elevating means for elevating the liquid level sensor 13 of the second liquid tank 3.
By controlling 19, it is possible to adjust the storage amount of the liquid nitrogen X in the second liquid tank 3. This is because, for example, when the inner diameter of the nozzle portion 18 of the injector 4 is made relatively large and the dropping amount of the liquid nitrogen X is increased, the decreasing rate of the liquid nitrogen X in the injector 4 also becomes faster. To follow the decreasing speed,
It is conceivable to increase the flow rate of the liquid nitrogen X flowing down the vacuum heat insulating tube 5c. Therefore, the liquid level of the liquid nitrogen X in the second liquid tank 3 is set relatively high to increase the water head pressure.
The flow rate of the liquid nitrogen X flowing down from the liquid tank 3 may be increased. For this purpose, the sensor elevating means 19 elevates and lowers the liquid level sensor 13 of the second liquid tank 3 to increase the flow rate of the liquid nitrogen X flowing down the vacuum heat insulating tube 5c, and the injector 4
It is possible to rapidly supply liquid nitrogen X to the.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the internal pressure of the first liquid tank 2 and the second liquid tank 3 when they are supplied to them is gradually reduced to atmospheric pressure, and the liquid nitrogen X
Can be supplied to the injector 4 from the second liquid tank 3 at a stable rate. Then, in the injector 4, since the vaporized nitrogen gas is released to the atmospheric pressure, a stable head pressure is generated and the liquid nitrogen X can be dropped in a constant amount. Further, even if the amount of the liquid nitrogen X dropped from the injector 4 is set to be relatively large, the injector 4 is provided below the second liquid tank 3, so that the flow rate of the liquid nitrogen X is reduced. The liquid nitrogen X can be quickly supplied to the injector 4.

In addition to the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1, a liquid nitrogen cylinder 1'may be provided. At this time, it is preferable that the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 ′ is connected to the vacuum heat insulating pipe 5 d joined to the vacuum heat insulating pipe 5 a via a replenishment valve 20, and the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 is provided with a replenishment valve 21. As a result, normally, the liquid nitrogen X is supplied from the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1, and when the liquid nitrogen X in the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 is reduced, the supply valve 20 is opened and the supply valve 21 is closed at the same time. The supply can be switched from the nitrogen cylinder 1 '. Then, the liquid nitrogen cylinder 1 is stopped without stopping the dropping of the liquid nitrogen X from the injector 4.
Can be replaced.

When restarting after stopping the dropping of the liquid nitrogen X by the apparatus of the present embodiment, it is desirable to dry the inside of the injector 4 and remove the freezing of the nozzle portion 18 etc. prior to the start. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the nitrogen gas from the nitrogen cylinder 22 is passed through the heater 23 and heated through the valve 24 to blow the nitrogen gas onto the injector 4 and the nozzle portion 18. As a result, it is possible to easily prevent the inside of the injector 4 and the nozzle portion 18 and the like from freezing. At the time of starting the present embodiment, the injector 4 is brought into an optimal state for dropping the liquid nitrogen X, and the dropping from the nozzle portion 18 is performed. The amount can be kept constant.

[0028]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in the first liquid tank, the pressure from the cylinder added to the liquefied inert gas to be supplied is reduced, and the second liquid tank is further provided. Bring to atmospheric pressure in a liquid tank. Thereby, the pressure from the cylinder is sufficiently reduced to prevent the influence on the inside of the injector, and in the inside of the injection, it is possible to generate a stable hydraulic head pressure of the liquefied inert gas due to the atmospheric pressure.
A stable amount of liquid inert gas can be dripped from the injector.

Further, since the injector is provided below the second liquid tank and the second liquid tank is set to the atmospheric pressure, the falling speed of the liquid nitrogen can be increased to supply the liquid nitrogen to the injector. Can be done quickly.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence of vaporization of the liquefied inert gas and to constantly fill the container with a stable amount of the inert gas. It is possible to provide an inert gas filling device capable of rapidly filling an inert gas with a large amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

X ... Liquid nitrogen (liquefied inert gas), 1 ... Liquid nitrogen cylinder (cylinder), 2 ... 1st liquid tank, 3 ... 2nd liquid tank, 4 ... Injector, 5a, 5b, 5c ... Vacuum heat insulation pipe, 6 ... 1st supply valve, 7 ... 2nd supply valve, 8 ... 3rd supply valve, 9
... pressure reducing valve, 10, 13, 16 ... liquid level sensor, 11 ... first liquid level controller, 14 ... second liquid level controller, 17 ... third liquid level controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder for storing a liquefied inert gas, and an injector for storing the liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder through a vacuum heat insulating pipe in an atmosphere open state and dripping the stored liquefied inert gas. And a liquefied inert gas dripping from the injector, in an inert gas filling device for filling the container after filling the contents, of the liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder via a vacuum heat insulating pipe. A first liquid tank for storing a predetermined amount, a second liquid tank for storing a predetermined amount of a liquefied inert gas supplied from the first liquid tank through a vacuum heat insulating pipe in an atmosphere open state, and the second liquid The first liquid tank, which is provided at a lower position of the tank and which is supplied from the second liquid tank via a vacuum heat insulating pipe to below the liquid surface of the liquefied inert gas in which the liquefied inert gas is stored. Is the liquefied inert gas supplied from the cylinder. A first supply valve that limits the flow rate of gas, a liquid level sensor that senses the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas stored in the first liquid tank, and the first supply valve based on a signal from the liquid level sensor A first liquid level controller for opening and closing the liquid tank to keep the liquid level in the first liquid tank constant, and a pressure reducing valve for reducing the internal pressure of the liquefied inert gas stored in the first liquid tank to a predetermined pressure, The second liquid tank includes a second supply valve for limiting the flow rate of the liquefied inert gas supplied from the first liquid tank, and the second liquid supply valve.
A liquid level sensor that senses the level of the liquid level of the liquefied inert gas supplied to the liquid tank, and the signal of the liquid level sensor opens and closes the second supply valve to make the liquid level of the second liquid tank constant. A second liquid level controller, wherein the injector includes a third supply valve for limiting a flow rate of the liquefied inert gas supplied from the second liquid tank, and a liquid for the liquefied inert gas stored in the injector. A liquid level sensor for sensing the level of the surface and a third liquid level controller for opening and closing the third supply valve according to a signal from the liquid level sensor to make the liquid level in the injector constant. And an inert gas filling device.