US1998531A - Apparatus for filling metal containers - Google Patents

Description

J. F. WERDER April 23, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING METAL CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Z 2. 1172-5 5i i :i 1 g; 1 :l 3 3 6 11 6 v" [N VEN TOR A TTORNE VS vided an enlarged screw-threaded seat for engagement by the threaded end portion M of the connecting member IE on the one end of the filling tube IS. The tubes I6 may be more or less fiexible and are all connected at their other ends to the distributor I! which in turn communicates with the pipe is from the source of supply. The pressure gauge [9 may be inserted in such supply pipe line.

After the gas-charged lubricant is supplied through the connections above described, to the plurality of containers mounted upon the rack or racks, it will be necessary to release a portion of the gas pressure from the containers so as to permit further admission of the liquid to the same, which would otherwise be prevented by the gas pressure within the containers. This step of partially relieving the compression of gas within the containers is known as snifiing and for, this purpose, there is provided the valve 20 which, when set in one position, affords communication directly through the pipe line 58 from the source of supply to the distributor H and thence to the containers. The valve 20 may also be set in another position by means of the handle 2| so as to close temporarily the supply of gas-charged liquid from the pipe line l8 and to permit such release from the containers out through the tube is, .the distributor i1, and the discharge pipe 22.

j Upon completion of such snifiing, the valve 20 is returned to filling position to permit further charging of the containers from the source of supply. In this way, there may be stored within the containers a proper degree of free gas under desired pressure so as to insure proper discharge of the liquid from the container and with sufiicient gas pressure for completely emptying the same. It is to be understood that allowance is to be made for the fact that during the discharge under such internal pressure, there will be liberation of the gas which will then serve as free gas under increased pressure to assist in the complete discharge of the contents of the container. When the containers have been filled to the proper degree, the valves 1 will be closed so as to .which permits such discharge through the nozzle 6.

In the present form of apparatus in which tubes H: are all connected to the same distributor l1, and are controlled by the same valve l9 during the-shilling process, these tubes are all of the same length regardless of the position of the containers upon the rack, this provision being for the purpose of insuring the same degree of snifiing for all containers and the charging of all of them to the same degree. In this way, there is insured a uniform filling of the containers and under the same degree of internal pressure.

After the cans have been filled in the manner above described and removed from the filling apparatus, they can be weighed upon conveniently located scales in order to verify the quantity of the'contents thereof before preparation for shipment.

Whereas it is ordinarily practically impossible to fill a metal container with a liquid under pressure with any degree of certainty or uniformity as to quantity, because of the opaque nature of the metal body, this is readily accomplished by the present method and apparatus.

Thus, I have devised a convenient and efiicient form of apparatus for simultaneously charging a plurality of containers with a gas-charged liquid under proper degree of pressure for completely emptying the contents of the containers at the time of use. These containers are provided with dependable filling connections during the filling operation and may readily be applied to and removed from the filling apparatus.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for filling a. plurality of metal containers with gas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, means for attaching readily removable connecting means of substantially the same length between said supply means and the individual containers, means for indicating the pressure supplied to the containers, and a single means for relieving the interior of the containers from being gas-locked against further filling, whereby the containers may all be filled uniformly to the point desired.

2. Apparatus for filling a plurality, of metal containers with gas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, a stationary rack to which the containers are applied for supporting the same in inverted'position; readily detachable individual connecting means on the rack for establishing communication between said supply means and the containers while supported in inverted position, means for indicating the pressure supplied to the containers, and a single means for controlling the admission of the gas-charged fluid to the containers and for relieving the interior of the containers from being gas-locked against further filling, whereby the containers may all be filled to the point desired.

3. Apparatus for filling a metal container with gas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, a stationary support having a port therethrough for receiving the nozzle of a container at one end thereof and having communication at its other end with said supply means, and unitary means for simultaneously supporting the container and releasably clamping the nozzle of the container at two circumferentially spaced points thereof for holding the same in filling engagement with said port.

4. The combination of an apparatus for supplying gas-charged liquid, a container and means for connecting said container to said apparatus, said connecting means comprising a metal member on said supply means and a metal valve body member provided upon the container, said members having line contact with each other and at least one of them being of semi-soft metal,

means for connecting said container to said apparatus, a valve body on the top end of the container and a tube extending therefrom to the inside bottom region of the container, said valve body being adapted to engage said support so as to support the container in inverted position and to cooperate with said connecting means, and a valve-controlled means for relieving the pressure in the container out through said tube during the filling operation so as to permit filling of the liquid into the container to the point desired.

6. Apparatus for filling a metal container with gas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, a stationary support for the container in inverted position, and said support being provided with a readily detachable and laterally engaging connecting means between said supply means and a valve body on the one end of the container, said connecting means having two-point engagement with said valve body, said valve body having a side port adapted for direct metal-to-metal communication with said supply means and a valve in said valve body for controlling the flow through said port, and the point of engagement of the valve body with the supply means being equi-distant from the points of engagement between the connecting means and valve body, whereby the container can be maintained in inverted position during the filling operation and said valve may be closed upon completion of the filling operation.

JOHN F. WERDER.

Images