US2020849A - Bottle filling machine - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l F. w. MULLER BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 25, ,1935

Nov. 12, 193.5.k

I l n INVENTOR. Heder/'ck M /Vu/er.v

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 12', 1935. F. w. MULLER l 2,020,849

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1935 'l 2 sheets-sheet 2 ww/Mfg? Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE N BOTTLE FILLENG MACHINE Application May Z5, 1933, Serial No. 672,847

15 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and ma` chines for filling bottles and particularly to methods and machines for this purpose of the type whereinr a plurality of bottles continuously fed to the machine are automatically and successively lled with a beverage such as beer, carbonatedsyrup, and the like.

My invention comprises certain features of improvement over the machine illustrated in 1o United States Letters Patent No. 956,285 and No. 956,286, issued to J. H. Champ, April 26, 1910, to which patents reference may be had for a fuller description of the auxiliary parts of the mechanism not herein described in detail.

l5` It is an object of my invention to provide for the filling of bottles with liquid to a predetermined height of liquid inthe bottle, rapidly and successively, so that a large number of such botties may be successively lled, each having the 2.0y same height of liquid in the bottle.

Another object of my invention is to provide Y for the efficient successive lling of a large number of bottles by mechanism accomplishing the filling in such a way that agitation of the 25 liquid applied to the bottles is avoided, thereby,

in the case of carbonated or like liquids, avoiding loss of gas in solution.

Another object is to provide a bottle illing machine of the type referred to in winch the liquid 3 0 may iiow into the bottles by gravity and in which the weight of the liquid flowing into the bottles is counter-balanced in an improved man# ner to overcome or counter-balance a part of the force of gravity on the flowing liquid to 35 cause the liquid to flow into the bottles relatively slowly and therefore with the minimum of agitation.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for filling bottles with liquids containing carbonating 4G* gas and in which all of the gas may be retained in the bottles or in the supply tank without losses attending the venting oi the same which has been found necessaryin prior mechanisms of this kind.

45 Another object is to provide a machine of the class referred to in which the air which is in the bottles before filling `them with the liquid is suitably discharged therefrom without bringing it into contact with the supply of liquid in the 50 supply tank, thereby keeping the liquid unconterminated with impurities which may have been in the bottle and thereby keeping the supply of liquid forthe bottles sanitary, clean and sterile.

u Another object is to provide in a bottling ma- 55. chine' of the class referred to, an improved means tank above the liquid therein and improved y means forl maintaining this difference of pressure substantially constant.

Another object is to provide in a machine of the class Vreferred to, means for maintainingsaid difference of pressure substantially* constant even under the tendency for it to vary due tov leakage of bottle air pressure occasioned by broken or chipped bottles.

Another object is to provide in a machine of the class referred to, comprising a supply tank 2a from which the beverage is suppliedto ll the bottles, means to maintain the level of liquid in the tank substantially constant by keeping it under substantially constant pressure and by renewing the supply of liquid therein constantly from a main supply or storage reservoir.

Another object is to provide in a bottle lling apparatus of the class referred to comprising'a supply tank from which the beverage is supplied to ll the bottles, improved lmeans for maintai-n- 302 ing the beverage in. the tank at a substantially constant level.

Another object is to provide in a bottle filling apparatus of the class referred to comprising a supply tank from whichA the liquid is supplied to V ill the, bottles, improved means for maintaining the liquid in the tank under a substantially constant pressure. Another object is toprovide in a bottle lling apparatus of the class referred to comprising a 401l supply tank from which the liquid is suppliedto fill the bottles, a reservoir from which liquid is supplied to the tank and improved means for in-Y termittently or,y continuously replenishing the supply in the tank from the reservoir. 451

Another object is to provide in a bottle filling, Y apparatus of the class referred to comprising a supply tank from which liquid is supplied to ll bottles,'a reservoir at a level below that of the tank and improved means for applying pres- Sure-to the liquid in the reservoir to effect elevation thereof to the supply tank.

Another object is to provide in a bottle lilling apparatus ofthe class referred to comprising a supply tank from which liquid is supplied to ll Y the tank and improved means for applying presf sure tothe liquid in the reservoir to elfect elevation thereof :to the supply tank and for controlling the applied pressure in correspondence with variations of pressure in the tank.

Other objects 'will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

K Fig. 1 Vis a view illustrating, partly diagrammatically, a bottle lling machine and a reservoir of beverage supply and conduit connections and controlling apparatus associated therewith embodying my invention and whereby theV method of my invention may be practiced;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view of a compensator valve mechanism which I may employ inV connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1 and which is` shown therein to a smaller scale;

Fig. 3 isa view of a valve mechanism which I may employ as a part of the, machine of Fig. .1 and illustrated therein to smaller scale.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown genp erallyrat I a bottle filling machine standing upon aloor 2, the machine comprising a beverage liquid bottle lling supply tank 3 in the. upper portion thereof.V The tank 3 is rotatable Ywith lro and supported upon a central tubular column 4 and rotating power is suppliedrby'a worm and gear mechanism. Y

A conduit 1 communicates with the interior of theftubular column 4, and interiorly thereof 'joins with' a conduit 8 discharging into the tank 3 and a'suitable rotary coupling' (not shown)v connects the conduit 'I with theV conduit 8 where-V bythe tank 3 and conduit 8 may rotate relatively to the conduit "I. Y Y V A disc. 9 rotates with the column 4 and supportsY aV plurality of annularly disposed bottle lift devices III-I0 andY bottle lling valve devices. II-I I, the latter being shown separately .and toa larger scale in Fig. 3. By the construction thus briefly described it will be apparent that the tank 3 and the entire'superstructure including Vthe discY 9, bottle lift devices II)V andY valvesrII may all be rotated as a unit with the tubular column The operations of themachine, generally, with respect to the mechanical movement transmitted Y to the bottles, the operation of theY valve devices II, andthe lling of the bottles from liquid Y in the tank 3, aresimilar to the operations de- ;-scribed in the. aforesaid YChamp patents and need not be described Vin complete detail here.

It may sufceto say that Ygenerally the bottles, twovof which are'indicated at I2 and I3, are

'g placed on theV bottle lift devices Ill-II), a relatively large number fof which is provided. The

Vfliftdevices are arranged to travelrin a circular Y path as described above about the Vaxis of the The bottles start in their' tubularV column il. movements from VVaA depressed position such Vas that illustrated for therbottle' I3 wherein filling has not yet'been started and are moved 'tofan wherein lling may be accomplished.`

The different bottles areV progressively moved elevated positionY illustrated for the bottle I 2 from1 the preliminary position I3 to the ultimateVV position I2 and arethen lled and thence moved',

Vto Ya discharge position on the other sideof the f machinewhereY they are again depressed from the fillingpcsition and are removed from Ycon- Y is itself sealed as at 24 2,020,849 lthebottles, a reservoir at a level below that of In the following description ofpartsbf the machine and their mode of operationV more perjtinent to the instant invention, reference Vwill be hadrchiefly tothe filling of arsingle bottle considering it as entering the apparatus as indicated atv I2 and continuing until the bottle has been filled and removed from its supporting lift IIS.V

The lift devices I3 are operated byrcompressedV Y air suppliedgfrom a source and in a mannertc be described, to a header lirotatable with the connected -by ay conduitV I5 to the lift device. Y

The valve device II, shown separately in Fig.

3, comprises a rotatablevalve element I6 ro-Y tatable to different successive positions by Va crank I'I'as thelatter "engages" stationary abut-V ments during the rotation of the machine super structure, and may admit air from the header I4,

20 Y other parts of the superstructure described andV the conduit I5 and branchconduit I8,V (Figs. 1V

and 3) through afvalve port I9 eitherV directly to the lift device I Sfor to the atmosphere through a duct 23 to operate the lift device. Y Y

A valve and'lift device like that herein briefly described and illustrated in simplified form isV shown and described more completely ,inV myrcro pending Patent No. 1,919,635, iiled November 24,4

1930, towhich reference maybe had forY a more*- completedescription. l

The valve device II, Fig.. 3,7has depending therefrom a filling tube 2i upon which is tele- `scopically slidably mounted'a sealing Vcap j22. As the bottle" is moved upwardly by the lift bottle I2 and the bottle picks up the cap 22 and vcarries it upwardly into the position shown in rdevice I0, the tube 2| enters the mouth'of Vthe fr Fig. 3 which is the Vfinal upward VVposition of the bottle before filling it. The bottle is sealed on a sealing washer 23 in the capi 22 andthe latter on a packing 25 on the device.

When the bottle is thus sealed ready for filling, the valve I5 is turned Vanother par-t of a revolu' f Ytion which simultaneously opens therport 23' in Vthe valve, effecting communication between the interionof the tank 3 and the filling tube 2i,

allowing liquid in the tank3 to flow through the tube intoY the bottle; and admitting air or other gas from a header 2l, through aconduit 28 and' through a second valve port Brte a chamber SI around'the tuberzl into the Y in'ahousing 32 cf the ,valven device andVV thence throughV a space bottle I2.

As will be more fully described, liquid in the supply tank 3 is under pressure Vof gas above the Y l level'of the liquid. In Va manner tobe `more fully described, the aii` cr gas pressure applied tothe interior ofthe bottle I 2 from the Vhead-er 21 is maintained slightly infexcess Vof the pres-U- s Y 1 sure in the tank above the liquid so that the:

Vremaining force causing liquid Yto ilowfrom tank into the bottle through the tube is somen Y* what less than the hydraulichead of the liquid in the tube 2l and tank. i

I The liquid isthus caused to'ilowrinto the bot`V tlefillingit withja slow movementwhich avoids aoco, e149 agitationzof' the liquid and the escape ofi gas4 such as carbone-ting' gas` therefrom. As the bottle t2' lls, the.: air therein under the appliedi pressure is` forced out of the bottle back up: through the conduit it into the header 21'.

.Litterthe bottle has been: filled the valve |16 is; again turned to shut off the ports: 26 and 29 andto open they port t9 tof operate thebottle lift device* I6' to lower bottle, and it maybe removed and capped.

The compressed air' header I is supplied with compressed air' through a conduit 33 carried throughv the tank 3 and communicatingI with a radial arm 34` on a rotary coupling device shown generally' at. 35, to b'e described.` The header 2.7- in the tank. 3 communicates by a conduit4 or pipe 36- with a: vertical pipe 3l in the tank 3, which passes outwardly through the tank and communicates with. a radially disposed arm` 38 on the device 35. A third arm 39 on the device communicates with the interior ofthe tank 3 by a ,short conduit i6 at the top or cover 41| of the tank.

The rotary coupling device 35 comprises ai cylindrical body 4l adapted to rotate with the tank within stationary couplings 42, 43', 44 telescoped and sealed thereon.. and each of the couplings communicating interiorly with external stationary conduitsv 45, 46, 4l respectively. An internal` duct in the body 4I communicates at one: endr with the coupling 42 and through the arm 34 with the conduit 33; and an internal duct communicates with the coupling 43' and the duct lit; and: an internal duct communicates with the. coupling` M through the arm 38` with the conduit 3T.

Thus open communication is at all times maintained between the conduits 45,46,and 47 ,and the n. conduit 33 supplying compressed ai'r to the head i-li', and the conduit 4U' communicating with the 3 and the conduit 31 suppl-ying air or gas under pressure to the headI 2? respectively; and during rotation of the tank and its superstructure asi described relative to the conduits 45, 5.16 and 4l.

The couplings 4-2, 43, and t4 may be sealed on the cylindrical bodyl il in any suitable manner as for example by pressing the' couplings together by a compression spring; 48 under a nut on the body. This construction may be va= riously modified and does not constitute an essential part of my present invention.

The foregoing description applies particularly to the bottle filling machine proper and there will now be described means for continuously supplying liquid to the tank` 3 to replace that which ows intothe bottles and. for maintaining the liquid in the tank 3 at substantially a con.- stant level and at a predetermined pressure. of gasv above the liquid surface in the tank; and for establishing the liquid level and. tank. pressure upon starting up the machine.

TheA tank 3 at a point well above the desired level of liquid and preferably in. the 'cover ll-lv thereof is provided with a pressure gauge 50; Laterally of the tank 3 a liquid level indicating gauge 5l' of the conventional glass..tube type is provided communicating withv the interior of the tank above and below the desired level. Within the tank a float valve is provided compris-- ing a float 52 in the liquid, adapted, upon rising with a rise of liquid level', to close a valve port at 63 in the upper end of apipe 54 which pipe extends downwardly through the bottom ofthe tank, and below the tankis provided with a vent valve 55` manually operable.

The con-duit 46 which communicates with the interior' of the tank through the conduit 46 as described, connects by a conduit 56 with a conduit 5l. which is connected to a source of gas pressure supply. The pressure supply may be a supply' of compressed air provided by a pump or other means; or it may be a supply of other gas under pressure; such for example as carbon dioxide. The conduit 56 may be manually controlled by a valve 59" and a supplemental gauge 59 mayv be. provided in the line of theconduit` 56 if desired.

The conduit 'l above described has in the line thereof a; manually operable valve 69. The conduit 't continues along the floor 2, downwardly therethrough: as` at 6i, to a basement or lower floor of the building in which the machine is installed` and connects to a conduit 62 which 20 communicates with the interior of a plurality CII such as three large capacity reservoirs or tanks,

commonly known in this art as government'tanks, iis-23. The communication with the tanks 63 is effected preferably at` a point relatively low 25 the reservoir but not at the bottom thereof whereby dregs may accumulate on the bottom ci the tankV withoutV being discharged out through the conduit 62.

Aty an upper portion of each reservoir 63, a 30 conduit 55 is connected", communicating with the interior of the tank through a manually operable valve 66; and: connected with the conduit 65 a conduit 6l passing. upwardly through the fio'crA 2 and joining. a. conduit 63, whichV is con- 3455' neet-ed to the conduit 5T.

in the line of the conduit 58 is connected a compensatorV valve device', indicated generally at 69.' Communicating: with the device 69 is also a counterepressure conduit 1.31 joining the conduit 40;

@in and thus communicating with the interior of the tank 3 at 40; The compensator valve device will be morel fully described later.

The' reservoirs or government tanks 63-63 are filled,A or substantially filled, with beer or liquid to be bottled,l and when the liquid. has all been discharged therefrom and' bottled in a manner to be described, these' tanks are disconnected from the system and cleaned out to'.` remove the dregs from theY bottom thereof and are then re-iilled 50 from a manufactured supply. A cycle of operations for thebottle lling machine isthus established determined by the' joint capacity of the tanks 63. At the end of this cycle, the bottling machine must either be shut down or the conduits 1. and 61 must be disconnected and connectedv to ff' another set of tanks 63 to` start a new cycle.

At the beginning ofeach. cycleV it is necessary or* desirable to establish initially or reestablish the liquid level and pressure in the tank 3, and this' operation willznow be described' in connection with thel apparatus above referred to.

The rotaticnor the tank is stopped and all of the valves I6 are turned to the Voff position manually. The valve t6' in the conduit line i is closed and the pressure supplied to the tank 63 is closed,` either by a` valve l i or a valve 'l2 in the conduit line 68. After the tanks 63 havev been cleaned out and re-filled or connectionsv have been `made to a 70 supplemental. set of tanks, the valve 5t in the conduit line5lis opened admitting the pressure of a supply of air or gas therethrough the con-duit '1.9 whereby the pressure is communicated to the conduit 46 and the conduit 4U to the interior of 75 the tank 3. The pressure in the tank is thus Y permitted to increase until it indicates a predetermined pressure suchV as six pounds on the gauge Y 50. The Valve 58 may thenv be closed. The valve 7| or '|2, or both, are then opened to admit the supply pressure to the tanks 63 above the liquid therein. The valve 68 is then slowly opened and beer is forced outof the tank 63 upwardly through ,the conduits V'l and 8 into the tank 3.

It is assumed that at'this time the level of the Y then the vent 5,5 is opened its full amount for subsequent release purposes. Venting at the vent 55 ceases when liquid has reached its correct level. The rising level of liquid in the tank 3 tends to increase the pressure above its surface as indicated onthe gauge 50. Until the predetermined level is reached, the Vgas above the liquid may escape through the vent 55 so that regardless of the pressure above the liquid, the liquid Vwill continue to rise to the predetermined level. But in all cases and at all times, the pressurein the tank f above the liquid ijs prevented from rising from the Y predetermined value such as six poundsregardle'ss of the value of the pressure externally applied to the reservoirs 63, by the compensator valve device which will now be described. Y

Upon establishing'the predetermined level in the tank and at the predetermined pressure, the machine maybe revolved and the bottling process resumed. As the liquid rises in the tank V3, theV airwhich was introduced thereinto is displaced by gas emanating from the beer, carbonated beverage or like liquid supplied to the tank. Thus Ythe space in the tank above the liquid is cut ofi Vfrom of pressure supply is compressed air. Y

The'compensator valve device 69, shown separately in Fig. 2, comprises an upperrhousing 'l5 contact with contaminating air, when the source Y and a lower housing '16`having confronting an- 50,

nular flanges 'Hand 18 between which is clamped a'v circular diaphragm-19 by bolts 80 projected Vthrough the ilanges and the diaphragm.

' VThe. diaphragm 'I9V is normally ilexed down- A Wardly by a compression spring 8| in a tubular portion 82 of the'housing'l, Vthe lower end of thespring 8| communicating thrust to the diaphragm througha tubular head 83 upon which its lower end abuts and which rests upon a plate 84 on the upper side of the diaphragm. The upper endV of the spring 8| abuts upon a head'85 axially adjustably movable in the tubular portionY Vlstantially constant.

82 by an adjusting screw V86 threadedV in a cover 8`|fon the upperendof the tubular portion82. The lower housing l@ has ducts 'and 89 Vleading thereinto Vthrough conduit connecting threaded nipple elements 68a and 68h whereby the ducts 88 and 89 may be connected Vin the line of the conduit 68 above described. Inwardlylthe Yduct 88 communicates with a ported valve seat 981 openingjinto a chamber 9| and theduct 89 communicates with the chamber 9|; Y

VA vertically movable 'valve elementr92 Vguided on Ya lowerportion thereof by a cylindrical ex.

' Y tension v93mo`vable in a'borez94 ofthe lower houslng engages'the valve'seat 9|]V in its upper Yposition to close the duct 88. 4An upper portion of the valve element v92 is connected to thediaphragm '19, preferably by clamping the' plate 84 on the upper side of the diaphragm* and a plate 95 .on f

the'lower side thereof'between a shoulder 96 at a Y V5 Vreduced portion 91 of the valve element and a nut 98 threaded on the reduced portion. The valve v elementis thus movable with the diaphragm. Y

A chamber 99 in the lower housing 16 below the diaphragm 19 is sealed from the chamber .97| byglo' a diaphragm |00 sealed at its centralV portion;v upon the valve element 92 and, at its periphery sealed upon the housingl 16, preferably being Y clamped between a shoulder IUI provided .on the housing 16 and an annular nut |02Y threaded into 15 a suitable threaded bore in the housing v'16.A

A conduit Yconnection 10a `provides communil Y cation with the chamber 99 through aduct |03 and is adapted to be connected to the conduit'l above described.` Pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm applied through the duct |03` from the conduit 1U may' compress the spring 8| and liftl the valve element 92 and close the duct 88. The reduction Y of said pressure Vwill permit the spring 8| to move 25' the diaphragm downwardly and open the duct 88 and eiect communication from the duct- `88 through the ported valve seat 90 into the chain--Y ber 9| 'and thenceout through the duct 89.

In operation, the spring `8| is adjusted so that 30 if the pressure in the tank 3 above theliquid, which pressure is transmitted from the tank, tl'iroughthey conduit` Y4D, conduit 10 andconnee-Y tionv 18d, Fig..2, to the lower side of the diaphragm, exceeds the predetermined pressure such 35 as six pounds, the diaphragm 19 will be lifted 'Y against the tension of the spring 8| and close the communication through'the conduit 68 and ducts Y 88 and 89 by closing the ported valve seat 9|J.` Y

This, as Ywvill'now be understood, cuts olf the supi-i0 ply of pressure from the conduit V5`| toY thel reset-3 voirs 63763 and stops further supply of liquid to the tank 3.' If the pressure in the tankj3 corresponding should fall, the spring 82 will eiect opening of the ported valvev seat V9|! and admit 475 pressure to the reservoirs 63 and admit more liquid to the tank 3 which, in turn,'tends to compress the gas above the liquid and raise the pressure thereofto correspondingly prevent the, ad `dition of more liquid when the predetermined desired levelhas been reached. Y .Y The drawing of liquid Vfrom the tank'3 to fill the bottles in theoperation of the machine tends to reduce the pressure above the liquid in the tank and this, by Ymeans of Y thefcompensator valve described, effects the application of pres-V I ',sure'toV the reservoirs 63-63 to elevate more liquid into the tankr3 .and restore the pressure therein.Y In practicethe Vregulation is accomf plished continuously so that the levelin the tank and the pressure thereaboveV are Vmaintained sub- If, due to any extraneous cause, pressure'in Vthe tank 3 abovejthe Vliquid should'inereaseiin spitejof thefact that outside pressure was `cut olf G5 from therreservoirs'63 by thecom'pensatorrvalve, the V liquid would tend 'to v`fall slightly,V and;

f through the action of the float v52. Would .open Y the valve port 53 and vent some of Ythe pressure through the vent valve 5.5toY restore thepredetermined pressure. If, similarly, dueto any ex,-

f traneous cause, the pressure in the tank above the liquid should decrease, the compensator valve would eiect application of pressure to thereservoirs 63-63 to restore the pressure in the tank 75:

3 but at a higher level than the desired level. This could be counter-acted by admitting gas under pressure into the conduits 56-10 by momentarily opening the valve 58 to restore the liquid to its former predetermined level and then again shutting off the valve 58 after which the apparatus Will operate as described to maintain the level and pressure in the tank 3.

The change of pressure in the tank 3 by the referred to extraneous causes dol not occur in the ordinary operation of the apparatus and when once the system is put into operation, it will operate .over long periods of time maintaining the pressure and level in the tank 3 substantially constant. They are only mentioned here to show that the apparatus and system are operable to correct abnormal vconditions which might arise.

The `elements of the system vand apparatus for applying bottle pressure ,to the interiors of the bottles as referred to forms no essential part of my present invention and will therefore be very briefly described. A conduit 1.05 is connected to the pressure supply of air or other gas 51 and the conduit |105 connects to the conduit 41, which as described communicates with the header 21 supplying pressure to the bottle interiors. In the jline of the conduit |05 is disposed a regulator valve device |06 having a valve element (not shown) controlling flow through the conduit |05. The valve device is controlled by a diaphragm forming part of Vthe regulator |400 which in turn issubjected to the pressure in the conduitline 10, communicating with the tank 3 above the liquid. Y l

A pressure vent valve device |01 is connected to the conduit 41 and is provided with a diaphragm controlled valve (not shown), Ythe diaphragm being subjected to pressure vin the conduit 10. The regulator |06 and vent valve device |01 are adjusted by means not show-n to maintain a suitable pressure in the header 21 greater than that in the tank 3 by a predetermined amount.

In operation off these devices, if the bottle pressure in the header 21 -exceeds a predetermined value, that is, lif it becomes greater than the tank pressure 4bymore than a predetermind difference, the pressure in the conduit =41Ywill oppose the pressure from -the conduit 10 inthe device |01 andthe conduit 41 may vent to the atmosphere through a vent passageway or port |08 Vin the device |101. lOn the other hand, if-thebottlepressure in the Aheader 21 should become less Yso that the predetermined difference :between it and the pressure -in the tank should diminish, the pressure in the conduit 10 actingon-the diaphragm of the regulator |06 will admit air or other gas from the pressure supply through the conduit |05 to restore the said difference of pressure.

The regulator device |06 and the vent device '|01 are more completely described in the above mentioned copending patent and reference may be =had thereto for a fuller-description thereof.

As will Vnow be understood from the `foregoing description, in the operation `of the machine `as a whole, the interior of Va bottlesuchas the bottle |2 :isfirst subjected to the .pressure of the air or otherlgas yinthe header `21 and then, as `theliquid flows from the tank 3 .into the bottle, the gaseous contents :of Athe bottle are forced .out and back into the header 21. Thus .there vis a tendency for .pressure to .accumulate in the conduit system '2B- 141 and la tendency ffor fthe bottle pressure V:to exceed .fthe ihead of the liquid .and `the pressure .thereabove Eby more than '.a predetermined :difference- This would tend toclose the 'regulator |06 may admit pressure from the outvalve in the regulator |06 and tend to stop the supply of pressure through the conduit |05 from the outside source. To prevent the accumulation of pressure occasioned by adding the bottle air to the system, it may vent to the atmosphere 5 from the .device |01. On the other hand, to maintain the bottle pressure to prevent its falling below the predetermined difference, the

side source. i

Both the regulator |06 and the `device |01 are controlled in their operation by pressure from the tank 3 in the conduit 10 to maintain the said predetermined difference or excess of pressure in the bottle over that of the head of liquid and 15 pressure in the tank-3.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the entire system supplying pressure to the bottle interiors is maintained distinct and isolated from the gas above the level of the beer or other bev- 20 erage in the .tank 3 so that the more or less foul and/or unsterile air from the `bottles cannot contaminate the beer or lbeverage in the ller tank by contact with it. It will valso be observed in the foregoing description that the beer flows from Vthe supply into the bottles at a relatively slow rate and therefore with the minimum of agitation and loss of gas from the-beverage. The low velocity of flow into the bottles is, as lwill now be clear from the foregoing description,l effected by maintaining a bottle pressure vgreater than the pressure in the tank 3 by a predetermined difference whereby a partof Athe head of the liquid which causes it to flow into `the bottle is counter-balanced by the bottle pressure .and ,therefore the liquid ilows into the bottle under a relatively small hydraulic head. The rate of ow is ,maintained constant, rst by maintaining a level of liquid and pressure in the tank 3 substantially constant by the compensator above described and by regulating the bottle pressure by the tank pressure.

Erom the foregoing Vdescription it will now be apparent that, in one aspect, the lling tank 3 is in effect a part ,of the reservoir tankBS. The 45 arrangement is ,in effect .that of a U `tube .containing liquid, one leg of the tube being sealed and representing the tank, the other end being connected to a source of pressurepand subjecting the liquid adjacent the closed end to the pressure of gas above its level .at .the .closed end. Upon :withdrawing liquid froma point adjacent the closed end, it is replaced :by liquid from a lower Aportion of the U tube. AThus .the liquid .in flowing vto the tank, in effect merely flows from 55 one part of the reservoir to another part, or from` one part of the tank to another part, without opportunity to break the continuity of liquid or agitate it to `dissipate gas therefrom; and the application of pressure tothe liquid in the reser- Voir lis in eifect application of pressure to the liquid ,in the tank.

This application is a continuation in part yof the subject matter of Patent No. 1,919,665, issued .July;25, 1933, filed November 24, .1930, for Improvements in bottle lling machines and methods, as to the subject matter Vclaimed herein, the present applicationbeing more particularly limited to the improvements disclosed inthe said patent which relate to the method, apparatus and .system for providing a bottling mecha.- nism filler :tank with a Aconstantly ,replenished .source of .beverage liquid maintainedin the said tank under the desired conditions of Agas pressure from oneforlmorebeverage reservoirs.

soY

My invention is not limited t the exact meth'- od Villustrated and'described herein nor toithe exact details of construction whereby the method may be p'racticed'inasmuch asV many mo'dicatinsY and changes may be made within the scope and spirit of Vmy invention without sacrificing its advantages; Y Furthermore; inasmuch 'as 'my invention may be practiced with lliquid receptacles other than bottles, my invention is'not limited to the lling of bottles but is inclusive of other Y types of receptacle.

I claim: Y Y Y n 1. In a receptacle Vfilling apparatus, a liquid supply tank adapted'to contain liquid under pressure of gas above the level of liquid therein, mechanism forwithdrawing liquid from'the tank to fill' a succession of receptacles, a liquid reservoir, a conduit connection between the tank and the reservoir, a gas pressure supply conduit connectedto the reservoir and to a source` of gas runder pressure to force liquid from the reservoir into the tank under pressure, and automatic valve mechanism comprising a valve iiow port in the line of iiow from the gas source and a movable valve element controlling ow through the port for regulating the application of the pressure from Vthe pressure supply conduit to the reservoir the automatic valve mechanism comprising Vmeans Yrendering the valve element movable responsive Y to changes of'pressure above the liquid in the c, tank, to maintain substantially constant the level from the gas source and a movable valve element controlling flow through the port and the valve mechanism comprising means Vrendering the valve element movable responsive to changes of pressure ,above the liquid in the tank to ei'fect the application of an increase of pressure to the reservoir uponra decrease of pressure,

in the tank and vice versa to maintain a substantially constant ylevel of liquid in the tank.

3. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid supply tank adapted to contain liquid under pressure of gas above the level thereof in the tank,

`mechanism for withdrawing liquid from the tank to fill a succession of receptacles, a liquid reservoir, Va conduit connection between the tank and the reservoir, a pressure supply conduit connected to the reservoir and to a source of gas under pressure for forcing liquid from the reservoir into the tank under pressure, and Yautomatic means for controlling-the application of pressure to the reservoir from the source of gas pressure Y responsive to changes of pressure above the liquid in the tank, the automatic means including Va valve device comprising a movable valve element in the line of the pressure supply conduit, a pressure responsive means comprising an expansible and contractible walled chamber having a movable wall portion associated with the valve ele.- Y

ment` for controlling movement thereof and a conduit connection from the tank to the pressure responsive means.

4, A receptacle filling4 apparatus -as described in claim 3 and in which the pressure responsive` means is automatically` operable upona decrease of Vtank pressure tof.control"Vmovementlof the valveV element to effect Van increaseofpressure from the pressure source tothe reservoir andvice 5 versa. f i

. 5. In areeptacleilling apparatus, a ,liquid supply tank adapted to contain a supply `of liquid under'pressure of gas above the level of the liquid, mechanism for withdrawing liquid 10 from the tank to ll a succession of receptacles, a liquid reservoir,aconduit connection vbetween the tank and the reservoir, a pressure 'supply conduit connected*tofthetreservoir and to a source of gas under pressure for forcing liquid 15 fromrthe reservoir'intotheftank, and automatic means for `regulating rthe` application of pressure from the source to the reservoir comprising a pressure responsive expansible and contractible walled, chamber having a conduit connection with 20l 1 i thetank, a movable'valve element connected to a movable wall of the'chamber to be moved thereby upon expanding and contracting of the chamber, Vthe valve element controlling ow through the pressure supply conduit and mov- 25 'Y able to reduce the rate of' flow upona rise'of Ypressure in the tank suflicient to expand the chamber and vice versato increase the rate of now upon a decrease of pressure in the tank, and

vice versa.

6. A receptacle iilling apparatus as described f in claim 5 and in which an adjustable means opposes movement of the movable chamber wall to Yvary the responsiveness of the automatic means to tank pressure. V s :SISV

, '7. In a Vreceptacle filling apparatus, a liquid container generally of U-form closed at the end of one U ,leg and provided with means for applyingV gas pressure to the other leg of the U to force liquid into the closed leg and to subject 4Q" it to gas pressure above'the level of liquid therein, means for withdrawing'liquid from the closed .U leg, means for controlling the application oi pressure to the other leg upon withdrawing liquid to maintain the, pressure above the liquid in the 15 closed leg at substantially a constant value said means comprising a valve` construction having a movablefelement movable responsive to changes of pressure above the liquid, level communicated 8.In a receptaclevlling apparatus, aV liquid containerV generally ofY U-form closedat the end of one UV leg and provided with means for Vapplying gas pressure to'V the other leg of the U to force liquid into the closed leg and tof subject c5 Y 9. In a receptaclelling apparatus, a liquid 6.5V

supply tank adapted to contain liquid under pressure of" gas aboveY the level of the liquid in l the tank, mechanism for withdrawing liquid fromV the tank to ll a succession of receptacles, a.A liquid reservoir, a conduit connection between the 70 VVtank and the reservoir, a pressure supply conduit connected to the reservoir and to aV source-of gas under pressure to force liquid from the reser- Voir into the tank, automatic valve mechanismV comprising a port and a movable valve element controlling flow of gas from the gas source therethrough for regulating the application of pressure from the supply source to the reservoir and the automatic valve mechanism comprising pressure responsive means for moving the valve element to control flow through the port responsive to changes of pressure on the liquid in the tank to maintain the liquid level in the tank substantially constant during withdrawal of liquid therefrom, and means to change the substantially constant level comprising means to adjust the responsiveness of the valve element to the tank pressure.

10. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid supply tank adapted to contain liquid under pressure of gas above the level of the liquid in the tank, mechanism for withdrawing liquid from the tank to fill a succession of receptacles, a liquid reservoir, a conduit connection between the tank and the reservoir, a pressure supply conduit connected to the reservoir and to a source of gas under pressure to force liquid from the reservoir into the tank, automatic valve means comprising a port in the line of iloW of gas from the source and a movable valve controlling flow through the port for regulating the application of pressure from the supply source to the reservoir and automatic means for moving the valve responsive to changes of pressure on the liquid in the tank to maintain the tank pressure and the level of liquid in the tank substantially constant during withdrawal of liquid therefrom, and means to change the substantially constant tank pressure and liquid level comprising means to adjust the responsiveness ofthe valve element to the tank pressure.

l1. In a receptacle lling apparatus, a liquid container generally of U-form closed at the end of one U leg and provided with means for applying pressure gas from a source of gas under pressure to the other leg of the U to force liquid into the closed leg and to subject it to gas pressure above the level of liquid therein, means for withdrawing liquid from the closed U leg, means for controlling the application of pressure to the other leg upon withdrawing liquid to maintain the pressure above the liquid in the closed leg substantially at constant value, said means comprising pressure gas flow controlling means operable responsive to changes of pressure above the liquid level communicated thereto.

12. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid container generally of U-form closed at the end of one U leg and provided With means for aptain the level of liquid in the closed leg substantially constant, said means comprising pressure gas ow controlling means operable responsive to changes of pressure above the liquidA level communicated thereto.

13. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid container generally of U-form closed at the end of one U leg and provided with means for applying gas pressure to the other leg of the U to force liquid into the closed leg and subject it to gas pressure above the level of liquid therein, means for withdrawing liquid from the closed U leg, means for controlling the application of pressure to the other leg upon withdrawing liquid to maintain the pressure above the liquid in the closed leg at substantially constant value and to maintain the liquid level in the closed leg at substantially a constant level, said means comprising a valve construction having a movable element movable responsive to changes of pressure above the liquid level communicated thereto.

14. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid container generally of U-form closed at the end of one U leg and provided with means for applying pressure gas from a source of gas under pressure to the other leg of the U to force liquid into the closed leg and to subject it to gas pressure above the level of liquid therein, `means for withdrawing liquid from the closed U leg, means for controlling the application of pressure to the other leg upon withdrawing liquid to maintain the pressure above the liquid in the closed leg at substantially a constant value and to maintain the level of liquid in the closed leg at substantially a constant level, said means comprising pressure gas flow controlling means operable responsive to changes of pressure above the liquid level communicated thereto.

l5. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid supply tank adapted to contain liquid under pressure of gas above the level of liquid therein, mechanism for withdrawing liquid from the tank to ll a succession of receptacles, a liquid reservoir, a conduit connection between the tank and the reservoir, a gas pressure supply conduit connected to the reservoir and to a source of gas under pressure to force liquid from the reservoir into the tank under pressure, and automatic valve means comprising a valve controlled ovv port in the line of flow from the gas source for FREDERICK W. MULLER.

Images