US1915066A - Filler valve for counter-pressure filling machines - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933. MEYER FILLER VALVE FOR COUNTER PRESSURE FILLING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIG.1

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G. J. MEYER 1,915,066

FILLER VALVE FOR COUNTER PRESSURE FILLING MACHINES June 20, 1933.

Filed Aug. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES W,

Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE J. MEYER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. J. MEYER MANU- PATENT OFFICE FAC'IURING COMPANY, OF CUD'AHY, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN FILLER FOR COUNTER-PRESSURE FILLING MACHINES Application flled August 22, 1930. Serial No. 476,993.

' carbon dioxide gas when carbonated liquid is being packaged. In some instances, Whencarbon dioxide gas is the counter-pressure medium, the bottles or other containers are first evacuated before applying the counterpressure, thus avoiding the presence of oxygen in the containers and also conservin gas. Filler valves for counter-pressure lling machines have heretofore been devised embodying either tapered or fiat-faced multiple-ported spigots. Such valves are relatively complicated in construction and are difficult to make tight and to keep tight.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved counter-pressure filler valve which is of simple and durable construction 'to facilitate manufacture and insure long service, and which is readily accessible to permit thorough cleaning of all internal parts and passages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler valve including a valve body having a plurality of separate valve elements disposed therein and actuated by a cam shaft which extends through the valve body and requires only a single stuffing box.

A further object of the invention is. to mount the valve body on a wall of a filler tank or bowl and in register with a large opening therein to thereby facilitate inspection and cleaning of the valve mechanism from the interior of the tank.

A further object is to provide a filler valve which is adaptable for use with machines of either the air counter-pressure type or the gas counter-pressure type, in which latter the containers are evacuated before filling.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a filler valve embodying the invention, the valve being mounted on a filling machine tank;

F ig. 2 is a transverse section of the Ifiller valve, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is'an elevation of the filler valve,

parts being broken away and parts being shown in section, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

In these drawings, the numeral 10 designates the rotary liquid tank or reservoir of a fillingmachine, the normal liquid level in the tank being indicated at 11. The tank is provided with the usual detachable cover (not shown) for access to the interior. The liquid in the tank is usually carbonated and the space above the liquid is filled with a compressed counter-pressure medium, such as air or carbon dioxide gas, to preserve the carbonation of the liquid.

The side walls of the liquid tank 10 are provided thereabout with a plurality of relatively large openings 12 (one being shown) which communicate-with both the liquid and counter-pressure spaces. A valve body 13 is the upper portion of the valve body and has journalled therein the intermediate portion of a horizontally extending cam-shaft 20.

The boss 19 is exteriorly threaded to receive a packing nut 21 which forms therewith a stuffing box for the cam-shaft. The inner end of the cam-shaft is journalled in a bearing member 22 having a surrounding disk-.

shaped flange 23, peripheral portions of which are held in arcuate recesses 24 formed in the valve body. A spider or star wheel 25 is carried on the outer end of the camshaft and cooperates with the stop pins 26 of a plurality of spaced stop members 27 (one being shown) adjustably secured to a The screw 14' stationary ring 28 which concentrically surrounds the liquid tank. The rotation of the liquid tank thus effects the intermittent rotation of the cam-shaft to successive positions. The cam-shaft is provided with a plurality of cams 29, 30, 31, 32, the first of which is exterior to the valve body, while the others are within the valve body. The functions of these cams are hereinafter described.

A rubber bottle-neck seat 33 of annular shape is secured within the recessed lower end of the valve body by a threaded bushing 34 and is provided with a sleeve 35 within its central opening. A tube 36 passes coaxially through the sleeve 35 and forms anv annular passage 37 therebetween. The upper end of the tube 36 is fixedly secured in the valve body and the lower portion of the tube depends from the body for disposition within the neck of a bottle 38 which is raised by any suitable means into sealing engagement wit-h the seat 33. A filling tube 39 is disposed coaxially within the tube 36 to form a narrow annular passage 40 therebetween. The upper end portion of the tube 39 is secured to the valve body above the upper end of the tube 36 and the lower end portion of the tube 39 projects below the tube 36 and is provided with an internal conical valve seat 41.

A valve 42 cooperates with the valve seat 41 and is secured to a valve stem 43 which passes upwardly through the tube 39 and is guided in a bore 44 formed in a flange 45 integral with the valve body. Above the flange the stem terminates in a loop 46, and a coiled spring 47 surrounds the stem adj acent the loop and urges the stem upwardly to normally close the valve 42. The loop 46 on the valve stem 43 is pivotally secured to the end portion of a rocker arm 48 disposed below the cam 30 to be actuated thereby, the rocker arm being pivotally mounted on a pin 49 secured to lug portions of a side wall of the valve body. The rocker arm 48 is thus supported for swinging movement in a vertical plane for effecting the cam operation of the filling valve 42.

The upper end of the filling tube 39 communicates with an elbow-shaped passage 50 in the valve body, the entrance to the upper horizontal portion of the passage being provided with a valve seat 51 against which a ball valve 52 releasably bears. The ball valve is normally kept against its seat by the pressure within the liquid tank and by the lower end of a lever 53 which has its intermediate portion pivotally mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 54 and has its upper portion engaging the cam 32.

The side portion of the valve body opposite the pivotal mounting 49 is provided with a pair of adjacent vertical bores 55 and 56 both of which open at their upper ends above the liquid level in the tank 10 and in communication with the counter-pressure s ace within the tank. The lower end of the ore 55 is closed by a threaded valve seat member 57 (Fig. 3) which is ported to communicafe with a passage 58 in the valve body leading to the annular passage 37 between the tube 36 and the rubber seat 33. A valve 59, having a shank of non-circular cross-section, fits within the bore 55 and has its lower conical end releasably resting against the valve seat member 57 to control the access of counter-pressure to the bottle. The upper end of the valve 59 projects above the bore 55 and is provided with an annular groove 60 receiving the forked end of a rocker arm 61. The rocker arm extends above the cam 31 to be actuated thereby and is pivotally mounted on. a pin 62 secured to lug portions of a side wall of the valve body. The rocker arm 61 is thus supported for swinging movement in a vertical plane for effecting the cam operation of the valve 59.

A horizontal bore 63 in the valve body registers with the ported valve seat member 57 and has threaded therein a valve fitting 64 which is provided with a conical valve seat 65 against which releasably bears the conical head of a valve 66. The outer end of the valve is secured to a nut 67 which slidably fits within an enlarged bore 68 formed in the fitting, a coiled spring 69 being disposed within the bore to surround the valve and abutting against the nut to urge the valve outwardly to its closed position. A passage 70 communicates with the bore 68 and is controlled by a needle valve 71. The passage 70 either opens to atmosphere directly or oins a duct 72 leading to an evacuating system (not shown) of any well known type. In the latter case the needle valve may be opened wide or need not be used. periodically operated by a rocker arm 73 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion on a shaft 74 carried on the valve body 13, the upper end of the rocker arm having an operative connection with the cam 29 on the cam-shaft 20.

The lower end of the bore 56 in the valve body is closed by a ported valve seat member 75 (Fig. 4) on which releasably rests a ball valve 76, a pin 77 being disposed above the ball transversely of the bore to insure retention of the valve. The ported valve seat member 75 is connected by a bore 78 with an annular space 79 surrounding the filling tube 39 and communicating with the narrow tubular air or gas passage 40 between the tubes 36 and 39. The outer end of the bore 78 is closed b a screw 80.

The ller valve is adapted for use with either air or carbon dioxide gas as the counter-pressure medium. In the operation of the valve using air counter-pressure, the bottle 38 is lifted in any usual manner into seal- The valve 66 is ing engagement with the rubber seat 33, the depending tubes 36 and 39 being disposed within the neck of the bottle. During the ro tation of the filler tank the star wheel con-.

number of valve operations to be effected.

The first movement of the cam shaft causes the elevation of the rocker arm 61 by the cam 31, therebv opening the .valve 59 and permitting counter-pressure air to flow into the bottle by way of the bore 55, ported valve seat member 57, passage 58 and annular passage 37. The contact of the star wheel with the second stop pin rotates the cam shaft to close the air inlet valve 59, which latter remains closed during the rest of the cycle. The second stop pin is located experimentally so that if a bottle is broken no excessive loss of counter-pressure air will result. The third contact effects the opening of the liquid valve 42 by the cam 30, and retracts the lever 53 from the ball check valve 52 by the cam 32; whereupon, if counter-pressure is established in the bottle, the ball check valve 52 will roll by gravity from its seat slightly after the opening of the valve 42, permitting the flow of liquid into the bottle y way of the passage 50 and filling tube 39. If the counterpressure is not established in the bottle the ball check valve 52 will not open. The liquid level in the tank is a relatively short distance above the bottle in order to reduce the hydrostatic pressure, thereby securing a low filling speed to minimize agitation of the carbonated liquid. The air in the bottle displaced by the entering liquid flows upwardly through the passage-40, annular space 79, bore 7 8, ported valve'seat member 75, past the lifted check valve 76, and upwardly in the bore 56 to the counter-pressure space in the tank. As soon as the liquid level in the bottle reaches the bottom of the tube 36, the flow of liquid stops, since the passage 40 is too restricted to permit the flow of liquid therein. Shortly after the filling level is reached the fourth contact rotates the cam shaft another fifth of a revolution to close the valves 42 and 52. The liquid in the bottle then quiets down and. the fifth contact opens the valve 66 to relieve the top pressure on the bottle by way of the passages 37 and 58, ported valve seat relation of the actuating means for the cam shaft may be controlled by any suitable well known means. Expedients for accomplish lng this purpose are shown in U. S. Patent No. 956,286, issued April 26, 1910.

When carbon dioxide gas is used as the counter-pressure medium it is desirable to evacuate the bottles before admitting counter-pressure to them. The evacuation may be effected by connecting the passage 70 of the relief valve 66 with a duct 72 leading to any well known evacuating and venting system, the needle valve 71 being opened wide or being omitted. When the filler valve of the invention is operated in conjunction with an v evacuating system, the first step in'the cycle of operation is the momentary opening of the valve 66 to permit evacuation of the bottle This valve remains closed during the filling operation, and is again opened at the conclusion of the filling operation to relieve the top pressure in the filled bottle. The valve 66, when shut, serves to close communication between the evacuating apparatus and the counter-pressure filling apparatus, thereby avoiding great differences of pressure in the evacuating apparatus. The presence of counter-pressure in the bore 63 serves to aid the tight seating of the valve 66.

The air or gas is conducted between the bottle and the counter-pressure space in the tank by separate inlet and outlet passages. The outlet passage from the bottle back to the counter-pressure space usually acquires foam, but since no reversal of air or gas flow takes place in this passage there is no tend- :pcy to start foaming in the succeeding bot- The use of separate valves for the several functions is of advantage in that the individual valves are of simpler construction and caneasily be made tight. All pressure valves are internally operated so that separate stuffing boxes for the valves are rendered unnecessary. All important valve seats are accessible from the outside for grinding and nspection, and no side thrust is present during the movement of the mechanically operated valves. By removing the cover of the filler tank the internal valves are readily accessible for cleaning and inspection. The absence of crooked or tortuous gas and liquid passages facilitates manufacture and cleanmg.

The valve bodies secured to the filler tank form part thereof, and while the valve bodies are preferably made separate from the filler tank for facility in manufacture, in some instances the valve bodies may be formed integral with the tank.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of a valve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in comcluding a portion 'within the tube and ex-.

tending thereabove, means for controlling the access of counter-pressure to the container, and a rotary shaft mounted in said valve body and having an operative connection with upper ortions of said valve.

2. In a ller valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination, with a filler tank having a side wall provided with an openmg communicating withv the liquid and counterpressure spaces thereof, of a valve body secured to said tank in register with said opening, a rotary shaft mounted in said valve body above the liquid level in the tank, and a plurality of valve elements carried by said valve body for the filling of a container from said tank, said valve elements having operating connections with said shaft.

3. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of a valve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in communication with the liquid space and the counter-pressure v space thereof, a rotary shaft journalled in said valve body and carrying cam means, valves carried on said valve body for controlling the access of counter-pressure and liquid to a container to be filled, and rocker arms mounted on said valve body and operatively connected to said cam means and valves.

4. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of a valve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in communication with the liquid space and the counter-pressure space thereof, a filler tube depending from said valve body for entrance into a container to be filled and forming a liquid conduit therein, a valveat the lower end of the tube, a check valve for said con- 5 duit having its'opening controlled, by the presence of counter-pressure in the container, and means for opening and closing sald first named valve and for closing said check,

valve,

5. In a filler, the combination of a filler tank having a liquid space and a counterpressure gas space and having a side wall including apertured portions registering with said spaces, a filler valve body secured communicating with said spaces, a rotatable shaft mounted in said valve body, and a plurality of valve elements carried by said valve body and having operating connections with said shaft.

6. In a filler, the combination of a filler tank receiving liquid and counter-pressure gas, gas and liquid conduits communicating with said tank and having a releasable connection with a container'to be filled, valve to the apertured portions ofsaid side wall and:

means controlling said conduits, a rotary shaft journalled in said tankv and having its inner portions exposed to the internal pressure in said tank, means for packing said shaft, and operating connections between said valve means and the inner portions of said shaft and exposed to the internal pressure in said tank.

7. In a counter-pressure filler, the combination of a filler tank, a liquid conduit for admitting liquid from said tank to a container to be filled, there being a valve seat for said conduit having an inclined ball-support ing surface, a valve ball engageable with said valve seat and rollable by gravity on said inclined surface to an open position, said valve ball being releasably retained on said seat by internal pressure in said tank and being gravitationally opened on the establishment of counter-pressure in the container and conduit, and actuating means within said tank for moving said valve ball to said valve seat. 8. In a filler valve for counter-pressure fillers, the combination of a valve body adapted to be secured to a filler tank in communication with the liquid space and counterpressure space thereof, a filler tube depending from said valve body for entrance into a container to be filled, valve means controlling the discharge from said filler tube, there being a pair of upright bores in said valve body opening at their upper ends above the liquid level in the tank, valve seat members in the lower ends of said bores, a reciprocatory valve stem disposed in one of said bores and releasably seated on the corresponding valve seat member, there being a passage from said valve seat member to the lower end of said valve body to register with the container being filled, means for lifting said valve stem to admit counter-pressure medium to the container, a tube surrounding said filler tube and forming therebetween a passage communicating with the valve seat member in the other bore for the return 'of counter-pressure medium to the counter-pressure space of the filler tank, and a check valve movably mounted on said last-named valve seat member for preventing the outward fiow of counter-pressure medium therethrough from the tank.

9. In a filler, the combination of a receptacle having a liquid space and a counter-pressure space, conduit means in communication with said spaces for application to a container to be filled, a rotary shaft joul'nalled in said receptacle and having an inner portion exposed to internal pressure in said receptacle, means for packing said shaft, and a plurality of valve elements for said conduit means having operating connections with said inner portion of said shaft. In testimony whereof, Iaflix my signature.

GEORGE J. MEYER.

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