US2244891A - Bell top for filling valves - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1941.

C. S. MULLENIX BELL TOP FOR FILLING VALVES Filed March 20, 1939 (Zeal er ATTORNfJYS.

Patented June 10, 1941 NITED 7 PA ENT f 2,244,891

, signer to The-Liquid Carboniqflorporation, .1

V V QChicagoJll}, acorporation of Delaware, I

' m ie We estim te w "lo'c a m 10 .7 9!

The present invention relates to improvements in valves for bottle filling apparatus of the type adapted to deposit carbonated water, beer, or a similar'material, in the bottles. r

As a rule,'in'fmachines ff th is provided a rotary head in WhiChthe liquid to befiowed into the bottle'is containe and" this head carries a series ofwalves orfilling heads, each of whieh'is adapted tofeont'act a bo ttl'eand deposit sufiicient "contents therein to fillthe bot He or container tothe desired'poi-nt.

. 'As 8/ru1,'f0i the ur ose of operating the fill mg valve, thebottles arefthro'ugh a suitable earn mechanism, during their"*rotative movement; raised and lowered 'to' receive a filling tube'of the valve andoperate suitafble' mechan m to permit the liquid to flow therein.) 1 i I V One of the objects of the present invention is to provide 'a'bell top or-bottle'engaging member for a filling valve which maybe readily removed from its associatedpartsffor the purpose of cleaning, not only the 'bell top itself but certain 01 the parts of theflllin'g -valve and which" also will reduce the jar'ori impact soff'requehtly accompanying the" rapid v overnent of'a 'd'evice'oi thischa'racten' For the purposefof disclosing the invention, 1 have illustrated an embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig.1 is a longitudinal sectional viewer a filling valve" embodying iniinVent'ibhi and l Fig; 2 is a transverse'sectional' view on the line' 2-2ofFig.1." Referring 'to the'structur'e illustrated in the accompanying drawing," the valve" and aeor'm panying mechanism comprises a base I which is connected toa nd forms apart of the bottom of the, as a rule, annular" tank 'of" the filling machine. Extendingdownwardly from this base I is' atfilling tub'Z adapted, as the bottle is raised bythe' cammech'a'nisni, to be projected into the bottle to' a point nearthe bottom This tube communicates withtheint'erior of theliquid supply tank andha s-its lower end normally closed through the medium ofa "pear-shaped valve 3 which is secured to the lower end of an operating stem or rod 4. The upper end of this stem or 'rod'is connected; through a suitabledis'connectible joint5 with adiaphiagm 6 arranged in a chamber T. fiThischamber} above the 'diaphragm, communicateswitlithe tubes 8 between the baseportionil and ahead? It which,in turn, has clamped aboye the topasupplemental' head l2 between which and the head l-l is clarnpe'd-the diaphragm. 4

'5 character, there The base portion I isprovided'withfa' neck 13 provided with an extensmn' H connected with'the hec'tk by a u'n'ion I5. Xt'e'hSiOri carries a valve member 15" provided with 'an' -inleflport or passage ['6 adapted to beooh'ne'ctefd' with a source or pressureifarid the valvefnie'niber15-" is provided with an: annular's'eatf f6 withf whicliis' adapted" to cooperate mam-1111a; valve I'Fbiased in closed positionlbya coiled spririg lay" This valve lTis' provided with a downwardly extendifig sleeve 19' surrounding" the bottle fillingtube 2 and projecting below the bottom "of *the' {valve member 15', and; belowhe ru'bber seat ZO-ar- 'ran'g'e'd in the valve 'iheinber; f1 2 f p Mounted to reciprocate o'n the fillirigtlibje' 2- is a bell'tophead 2! which includes a centering bell 22"" adapted toireceive "the neck v of the -ascehdin'g' bottle. a A' rubber seat member zs within the bell is arranged to engage the topof the neck of the bbttlandf seal the bottle agaih'stsurmunding an mosphere. This centering bell is th'readed iipon atop section 24 between 'whicha'nd a shoulder on thefcentering bell 22, the 'seal-ingfrubber2'3 is clamped. The upper end of this bodyportion 24 is"provided with an openihg 25 "surrounding thestem! and this opening of 'sufiicient 'diame ter to permit it to-"pass a' fe'rrul'elfi' threaded and preferably soldered'u'pon' the lowerend of the tube 2". i A retaining member for preventing the belltop from normally dropping off the end ofthe'filling tube 2-is arranged within th top section- 24" and comprises; a split ring '21 having an ihtur'ned flange 28 at its bo'ttoin. The top edge of this ring is provided with inwardly-extending spiders 29 terminating in a split hub 30 which is ex tended" upwardly to" provide a sleeve projection 3|, This hub '30, while surrounding the filling tube 2 has a bore sufiicientl'y' small in-"diameter to prevent it *trom passiri' over the ferru1e261 Interposed between a" should'enfl "on the body portion and thespider arms 29, and. surround ing the sleeve'h'ub3'l" is a coiled spring'33"which biases the assembly 'stru'cturejust described against the sealing rubber'fl, a nietalwasher 32' being adapted to cover the upper face of this sealing'rubber'. 7 i I In operatiomas thebottle to be filled-raised, it'first engagesthesealing rubber-23' of the" bell mouth 22', thereby moving theentirebell top upwardly on thefilling tube '2 until the upper portion of this bell top ng'ages' thei sleeve H! which, in" turn, opens the" valve 1'! and, at the same time, causes a sealing engagement between theupper lip 34 and; the sealing rubber 201 The opening of this valve admits pressure through the ports 35 to the chamber 8 and thence through suitable passages 36 above the diaphragm 6, therefore causing an opening of the pear-shaped valve 3 and permitting the flow of the filling liquid into the bottle. After the liquid level has reached the predetermined point in the bottle, the bottle commences to descend and, as the result of its descending movement, shuts off the flow of liquid thereint'o. With the descent of the bottle, of course the bell top descends and is eventually stopped by engagement of the hub 3G with the ferrule 26.

The reciprocating movement of the bottle in this type of filling machine is comparatively rapid, particularly on its downward movement, and heretofore difficulty has been experienced as a result of said downward movement in the bell top head striking its bottom limiting stop with such a,

jar as to not only tend to damage the parts but also tend to cause foaming of the contents of the tube. The liquid discharged into the bottle through the filling tube is as a rule a carbonated beverage of some character, beer, carbonated water for carbonated beverages, or the like. A sudden jar of the liquid contained in the tube after the pearshaped valve 3 has been closed, will tend to liberate the CO2 in this column of liquid and therefore, as soon as the next bottle is in a filling position, this agitated column of liquid witha certain amount of CO2 liberated therein will flow into the bottle, causing a foaming of the contents therein, particularly where the liquid is admitted on top of a syrup. This is particularly truewith respect to beer. Due to the fact that, in the present structure, the jar or shock of the stopping movement of the bell top is taken up by the spring 33 no such jar or impact is imparted to the column of liquid in the filling tube 2 and therefore the liquid contained therein remains in its quiescent state.

If, for any reason, it becomes necessary to remove the bell top head 2| and its associated parts, from the filling tube 2', the centering'bell 22 may be unscrewed from the top section 24 carrying with it the sealing rubber 23 and associated washer 32', the top section 24 may then be raised on the tube 2 exposing the split ring 21. By'removing the coiled spring 33 from the sleeve portion 3|, the split ring may be separated and removed from the filling tube 2, after which the spring 33 and top portion 24 may be slid down over the end of the tube and over the ferrule 26. The opening '25 in thetop portion 24 and the spring 33 are sufliciently large to pass over this ferrule 26;

Due to the fact that the bell head 2| may be so readily removed and due to the fact that the valve member is'threaded on the extension It, the valve member, with its associated valve parts, may also be readily removed for cleaning, repair, etc., without removing the filling tube 2 which can remain closedand thus the necessity of draining the filler tank for the purpose of repair of these parts is avoided. Y

I" claim as my invention:

1. In a filling valve for containerfilling machines, the combination with afilling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal'the neck of the container to be filled surrounding and reciprocating upon said filling tube, a ferrule secured at the lower end of said tube, a removable ferrule engaging member arranged in said bell top adapted to engage said ferrule and a spring interposed between said ferrule engaging member and said bell top to absorb the shock or said engagement.

2. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a, filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled and having an opening therethrough to accommodate the passage of said filling tube, an annular stop member secured to the bottom end of said tube, the opening through said bell top being greater in diameter than said annular stop member, a removable reciprocating member arranged within said bell top' member having an opening of smaller diameter than said annular stop member and adapted to engage said annular stop member to limit the downward movement of said bell top member, and a spring interposed between said annular stop engaging member and the bell top member.

3. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container comprising a housing surrounding and reciprocating upon said tube, and a bell mouth secured to said housing, an annular stop member secured to the lower end of said tube, an axially movable separable stopengaging member arranged within said housing having an opening for the passage of said tube smaller in diameter than said annular stop, and a coiled spring interposed between the top of said housing and said stop engaging member.

4. In a filling valve for container filling ma chines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled, comprising a bell mouth and a housing having axially aligned openings therein to permit the passage therethrough of the delivery tube, an annular stop member mounted on the lower end of said tube, said axially aligned openings being of greater diameter than said annular stop member, a separable reciprocating stop engaging member arranged within said housing having an opening therein smaller in diameter than said annular stop but sufficiently large to accommodate said tube andcomprising an annular piston fitting within and vertically movable in said housing and having extending therefrom a restricted neck and a coiled spring surrounding said neck and interposed between said piston and the top of said housing.

5. In a filling valve for container'filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the contain-er to be filled, of a bell top surrounding said tube and adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled, comprising a bell mouth and a, housing separably connected together and having axially aligned openings therein to permit the passage therethrough of the delivery tube, an annular stop secured on the lower end of the tube, said axially aligned openings being of greater diameter than the annular stop member, a split ring arranged within said housing having an opening therein smaller in diameter than the annular stop but sufiiciently large to accommodate the tube, and'a coiled spring interposed between said ring and housing.

6. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top surrounding said tube and adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled, comprising a bell mouth and a housing separably connected to said bell mouth having axially aligned openings to permit the passage therethrough of the delivery tube, a stop member mounted at the lower end of said tube, said axially aligned openings being of greater diameter than the stop member, a split stop-engaging member surrounding said tube having a sleeve, and a coiled spring surrounding said sleeve and interposed between the stop engaging member and the housing.

7. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled and having an enlarged ferrule at the lower end thereof, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the container to be filled and having an opening in the top thereof to permit the passage therethrough of said ferrule and removable ferrule-engaging means surrounding'said tube, of greater diameter than said opening for normally preventing said bell top from dropp off the end of said tube when a container is removed from beneath the same and comprising separable segments.

8. 'In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combmation with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled and having an enlarged ferrule at the lower end thereof, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the container to be filled and having an opening in the top thereof to permit the passage therethrough of said tube, a removable ferrule-engaging means surrounding said tube and of greater diameter than said opening and resilient means interposed between said ferrule-engaging means and said bell top.

9. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled comprising a bell mouth and a housing having axially. aligned openings therein to perm-it the passage therethrough'of the delivery tube, an annular stop member mounted on the lower end of said tube, said axially aligned openings being of greater diameter than said annular stop member, and a separable reciprocating stop-engaging member arranged within said housing having an opening therein smaller in diameter than said annular stop but sufiiciently large to engage said tube and having a portion adapted to be engaged by said housing to normally prevent the removal of said bell mouth from said tube.

-10. In a filling valve for container filling machines, the combination with a filling tube adapted to be projected into the container to be filled, of a bell top surrounding said tube and adapted to engage and seal the neck of the container to be filled comprising a bell mouth and a housing separably connected together and having axially aligned openings therein to permit the passage therethrough of the delivery tube, an annular stop secured to the lower end of the tube, said axially aligned openings being of greater diameter than the annular stop member and a split ring arranged within said housing having an opening therein smaller in diameter than the annular stop but suflieiently large to accommodate the tube and having a portion adapted to be engaged by said housing to normally prevent the removal of the same from said tube.

CHESTER SY'LVESTER MULLENIX.

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