US2605949A

US2605949A - Control head for devices for filling bottles under counterpressure

Info

Publication number: US2605949A
Application number: US644915A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stern Gustave
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-02-20
Filing date: 1946-02-01
Publication date: 1952-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-05
Also published as: DE823263C; GB621682A; FR912380A; BE460395A

Description

G. STERN CONTROL HEAD FOR DEVICES FOR FILLING BOTTLES UNDER COUNTERPRESSUREI Filed Feb. l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l flilralllllllwnk RN mm N wm m w n S U G 1 HIIIIIIIII ATTORNEYS G. STERN CONTROL HEAD FOR DEVICES FOR FILLING BOTTLES UNDER COUNTERPRESSURE Filed Feb. l, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTOR GUSVE STERN ATTORNEYS Aug. 5, 1952 G. STERN f CONTROL HEAO FOR DEVICES EOE FILLING BOTTLES UNDER OOUNTERPRESSOEE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. l, 1946 F l G 5 INVENTOR GUSTAVE STERN ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STAT 1- AT-ENT oie-FICE aeoasio Gustave Stern, Paris, France Applicationvllebruary 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,915' VIn'Ilrance February 20, 1945,

il` Claims. (Cl. 226-111) The, objectV of the present. invention is o, con-A trol head for devices for filling bottles or other like (containers, with gaseous or nongaseous liquids, under. counter-pressure, said head previously placing the bottlesA under compressed air.

The'p'urpose of theinvention is essentially to increase the. automatic operation of the device, therebyenablingthe rate of filling to loey conf siderably accelerated, thus increasing the emciency.

invention ensures the. satisfactory operation of the device when the pressure. of the supply of. compressedV air. is higher than the pressure in the n-lling tanlg which contains the liquid to be. drawn oli. Ovvingfto this fact, it permits the elimination of the complicated and costly appa-k ratus intended to. ensure, the regularity of the air pressure.

Finally, tile invention relates to the provision of means iorfenabling the level of the'liquid inside the bottles. t be, adjusted. accurately 2li-Cl. et Will.

In order-V to facilitate explanation, reference will 'bei made hereinafter to the general characteristics of the control Vhead to which the infvention relate/s.`

Said, head, which is mounted in kno-wn manner @n ille bottom @l ille. liquid. tank, @reprises e press-ure chamber which is closed b y a diaphragm, and which is nlled with compressed air aiter the lifting movement of the bottle has been einzel The? Qlapla @Orl-tml? the mtQfluQtQn by gravity Yof th liquid into rsaid bottle?, as soon as pressure-@stal l0. that prevail-lille ln the air space v0l. ille-liquid. tank llas. beellleaclled 11.1 the pressure Chtlllbet The contr@ devllle'lor the liquidvvalve 'which isI introduced Ito the neel:` of the b ottle, eiects, at the same time, the exhausting of the residual air, during the introduction of the liquid into the bottle.

The control of the compressed air is effected by the action of the bottle itself andv throughthe intermediary of a sleeve sliding on the lling tube.

The advantage is thus obtained, vrelatively to the other known arrangements, of totally eliminating a mechanical operation of stop-cocks and valves; the nlling being effected in an absolutely automatic manner. The correct sequence of operations-vizz placingunder pressure the filling and the exhausting of the air-are obtained merely by the lifting movement of thebottle or other container to be filled. YThe filling level is kept absolutely constant, whatever the shape and the cross-section of the neck o f the container may be.

- 2 kIn View o f the fact that the filling. is subordimated to the placing of; thewbottlesudr pres,-` sure, "and that`v 'such' placing "under pres' 's`u re V'is controlled by the bottles themselves, thus filling tiene einen@ fior "einen" or belen' bottles, and theqoperation is immediately stopped when a bottley brealggfitcommences onlyvvhn the` pressure in the bottle is equal to that which prevails in the liquid tank.'Y n this mannenthe liquid is effectively prevented from V"frothi'r'ig'or frorn losing its, gas 'content'during' the filling'operation. During the illing p'erftion, the liquid runs` along the vvall of bottle,A therebywp're venting the breakage of the bottles owing 'to dlllererles of; temperature. Between fhelrivalls all@ the. liquid: M A l u l t Y The arrangement ls .Sllcll that the liquid can never, rise-lilith@ lill? .lol xhallsflrlg'lhe 'rsiduel @lr emplearse lllobsllllcllonthereof-' The liquidfand residual air tubes, being all Slralglll and. .readily removable Qrllllofsesy and quick. lealllle.

Ftrthermoie; no member dips irl the. liquid within the. bottle.- Owing lo this feel? there ifs. n@ lowering o; the squid ievei whenthe bottle is ferilli/.ell from .the device-g Finally. the, @lsve is. particularly Well adapted to; Sterile nlliflgglqwillg, to. the' fact. that the, wmf pressed. all @all be replaced by Carbonio @Clit or by Sulllur dlolillltf` 'e feel which., fQ beer for exemlslels 0f great. aldi/anlasse- The. accompanying drawings 4'illustrate a. .Conf 15.101. het@ for 25311195. dlfie liSiIl glolls. llfldws, mjwmhz, .Y {.v. .A

Figure, 1 is a vertical longitudinal section; and shows the control head in the closed position. Figure? is a corresponding side vievtr.4 W Y.Figure 3 is .similar See-lion thro. .ell the head in. the. Qpsll. 9.2 filling posillon- .liellre l. 'is a, partial' velial longitudinal secllQrljOl the lllwerlirl 0l lille devivlf Figure 5 isaltransveresection through line.

Figure Vlijfis another transverse section through lmeVlL-,TVI @Figure tank, which is equipped in the known manner and vvhicl'is Yoliwagrgi tif cally represented by its base Rin'Fiuresl an is lined n lovv'erinember' dconie'ct-d toy a -ead member 2 @aid head membez'isrc Yrfied the hill clumps. k3. sind prima with a Valli/.t llellslle 4.2L which ,lfclls by Al"canili inside said housing is baufi'," which vcan be fie-flllmll d n ,fl lust "l5 plates .llnllquslns inf communica: .'on with the hollow column 3,- and column l sh rod 4.4 (s ee Fig. 1).`

places a housing 5, formed in the base member I, in communication with the pressure chamber 6 in the head member 2, through the ducts 1 and 8. The pressure chamber 6 is closed, relatively to the air space of the liquid tank, by means of a diaphragm II which controls a rod I2 secured to the said diaphragm by means of the ring I3 and nut I4. To the rod I2 is fixed a stirrup I5, on which is mounted the small residual air exhaust tube I6. Said tube carries at the lower end thereof centered by the guide 50 (see Fig. 6), a liquid valve I1 (see Fig. 4) which opens downwardly and which closes the filling tube I8 so long as the pressure in the air space of the liquid tank is greater than that in the pressure chamber 6. In such a case, the diaphragm I I is forced in an upward direction (see Figure 1).

A spider 23 (see Fig. 2), which is fixed to the head member 2, passes through the stirrup I5. Said spider carries adjusting

screws

24 and 25 which are locked by lock-nuts 26 and 21. In the head of the screw is mounted a rubber seat 28. The

screws

24 and 25 are so adjusted that in the closed position (Figure 1) the orifice of the residual air exhaust tube is closed, whereas between the lower face of the rod I2 and the upper face of the adjusting screw 24 there remains a clearance corresponding to the travel of the lower liquid valve I1.

In the filling position (Figure 3) on the other hand, the lower face of the rod I2 bears against the upper face of the adjusting screw 24; the residual air exhaust tube I6 is moved away from the rubber seat 28 and is consequently open. In order to obtain an air-tight closure of the tube I6, the clearance provided between said tube and its seat v28 should be slightly less than that existing between the rod I2 and the adjusting screw 24, so that the end of the tube I6 can penetrate into said rubber seat..

On the lling tube I8 a sleeve 29 is provided, which is extended upwardly by a cone 30. Between the tube I8 and the sleeve 29 a sleeve 3| is adjustable by screwing on the thread formed on the internal part 2 9' of the sleeve 29. The sleeve 3I forms slides carrying at its lower end an inverted funnel-shaped member. Said sleeve is tightened by means of a stuffing box 34. The sleeve 29 and the funnel-shaped member 3| are provided with rubber

annular joints

32 and 33.

In the base member I is mounted a. valve body 36 carrying the air inlet nozzle 31. The body 36 contains a ball 39 which is loaded by a spring 38. An actuating rod 40, which projects into the housing 5 of the base member, effects the opening of the ball valve 39.l

Air-tight condition between the housing 5 and the valve body 36 is obtained by clamping the rod 40 on a diaphragm 35, by means of a ring 4I and a spring 46. The compressedair issuing from the valve body 36 reaches the column 3, through an orifice 41 (see Figures 1 and 3).

The method of operation is as follows:

When the bottle F is lifted `and centered by the conical member 32 Vit pushes the group of elements 29, 3| `and 38 upwardly and the cone enters the housing 5.

Cone 30 engages the actuating rod 40 of Valve 39 and opens said valve. Upon opening valve 39 compressed air flows into the bottle F. The air in flowing from valve 39 to the bottle, passes through the orifice 41, the column 3, duct 45, and about the valve 48 which is still lifted by the push rod 44 because the chamber 6 being then at atmospheric pressure, the diaphragm is still bottle F as in the liquid reservoir, the diaphragm I I returns to its normal plane position as shown in Fig. 3 which lowers the push rod 44. Ball 48 then drops onto its seat and stops the flow of compressed air. The downward movement of the stirrup I5 and the residual air discharge tube I6 which are freely supported by the diaphragm I I, simultaneously opens the liquid control valve I1 at the lower end of tube I8, and the orifice at the upper end of the air discharge tube I6 since the latter leaves the fixed rubber seat 28 which serves as a closure member.

With the parts in this position the air in the f bottle can escape through the tube I6 as the liquid fiows into the bottle through tube I8 about Valve I1 and flows down over the inside surface of the wall of the bottle. This fiow of the liquid into the bottle along the wall thereof avoids frothing and also avoids breakage since the temperature of the bottle is uniformly changed until the temperature of the bottle and liquid are in equilibrium. Usually the empty bottles are at the ambient temperature and the liquid is colder.

The liquid flows into the bottle until the level therein reaches the orifice at the lower end of tube I6. The exhaust of the air from the bottle is then stopped, thereby stopping the continuation of the fiow of liquid into said bottle.

When the bottlepmoves downwards, the air and liquid supply pipes simultaneously close; all dripping is thus avoided.

The upper face of the diaphragm II is then in communication with the atmosphere through 8, 4 and 1, and its lower face is subjected to the pressure prevailing in the tank. Owing to this fact, the said diaphragm returns to the convex position as shown in Figure 1. in which position the ball 48 is again lifted. The cycle described is then repeated.

Accurate adjustment of the level of the liquid in the full bottles is a simple matter. For this purpose, the stuffing box 34 is loosened and the sleeve 29 is adjusted relatively to the member 3 I. The relative position of these two parts determines the amount of empty space which will remain in the neck of the bottles.

It will be understood that numerous modifications of detail in the device described and illustrated, are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

This device, although mainly designed for bottling gaseous liquids, can equally well be used for bottling non-gaseous liquids (milk or wine, for example). In thislatter application, the purpose of the counter-pressure is to prevent the filling of damaged bottles.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. In a control head for devices for filling bottles and other similar receptacles with gaseous and non-gaseous liquids under counterpressure in which the bottles are filled with com-4 pressediair ybollore :receiving the lliquida .liquid reservoir, an upper `head member ina-said-reservoir foming .a pressure` Chamber, 'a diaphag-m. .clesing .said :chamber and #having 'its .outer- -face *exe posed' to the pressure of fair in said reservoirfduct means connecting fsaid pressure chamber with a bottle to be filled, a iiirst. valve Acontrolling the supply of compressed air'to salid.chamber,mea-ns actuated by said diaphragm fiorl .controlling the opening and closing `of Asaid Valve to 'control uthe filling of the .bottle'lwith .compressedfa'irya liquid filling tube extending :from said reservoir :into the bottle, an v'air .evacuation .tube extending through the liquid .llingtube fior. evacuating'iair from the bottle, a second `valve controilihgfthe flow of liquid through tlieliquid fillingmuberand actuated by the air V'evaciratio'n tube,.s'aid 4air evacuation tube `being connected to. said :diaphragm for axial displacement thereby to control -said second valve 'to Aopen the .same `upon closing the first valve, and a third valve controlling the discharge of air from the bottle through the evacuation tube during filling of the bottle with liquid.

2. In a control head for devices for filling bottles and other similar receptacles with gaseous and non-gaseous liquids underv coimterpressure in which the bottles are filled with compressed air before receiving the liquid, a liquid reservoir, an upper head member in said reservoir forming a pressure chamber, a diaphragm closing said chamber and having its Aoutervface exposed to the pressure of al1` in said-reservoir, duct means connecting said pressure'bhamber with a bottle to be filled, a firstvalve controlling the supply 4. Ina control .head for-devices for filling bottles and otherfsimiflar receptacles with-.gaseous of compressed air t0 said chamber, means actuated by said diaphragm for controlling the opening and closing of said valve to control the filling of the bottle with compressed air, a liquid filling tube extending from said reservoir into the bottle, an air evacuation tube extending through the liquid filling tube for evacuating air from the bottle, a second Valve on the lower end of the liquid filling tube and actuated by the air evacuation tube, `said air evacuation tube being connected to said diaphragm for axial displacement thereby to control said second Valve to open the same upon closing the first valve, and a third valve controlling the discharge of air from the bottle through the evacuation tube during filling of the bottle with liquid formed of a iixed closure cooperating with the upper end of said evacuation tube.

3. In a control head for devices for iilling bottles and other similar receptacles with gaseous and non-gaseous liquids under counterpressure in which the bottles are 'filled with compressed air before receiving the liquid, a liquid reservoir, an upper head member in said reservoir forming a pressure chamber, a diaphragm closing said chamber and having its outer face exposed to the pressure of air in said reservoir, duct means connecting said pressure chamber with a bottle to be filled, a first valve controlling the supply of compressed air to said chamber, means actuated by said diaphragm for controlling the opening and closing of said valve to control the lling of the bottle with compressed air, a liquid filling tube extending from said reservoir into the bottle, an air evacuation tube extending through the liquid filling tube for evacuating air from the bottle, a second valve controlling the flow of liquid through the liquid lling tube and actuated by the air evacuation tube, said air evacuation tube being connected to said diaphragm for axial and anon-gaseous v liquids under; -counterpressure in which 'the-bottlesv-are filled withcompressed auf .before receiving Atheliqiiid.s liquid reservoir,- an upper headmemberin-said lreservoir forming a pressure, chamber,.ya diaphragm closing said chamber and'having its cuter faceexpcsed to the pressure Oiizairfinsaid reservoir, -duct means connecting said pressure .chambergwith a fbottlefto be filled, a first yValve controlling thesupply-oi compressed ;air-to.said chamber, means .actuated by said diaphragm .for vcontrollg --theyopem'ng and closing =of -said valve to tco rol the nlllingfof the come with complessesE uquiunuing tube extend-ing fromsaid reserigeirfmtoytlie bottle, an air kevacuationftube.T extending through -th'e liquid mung mbeA ,forger/aangemeten, dem the bottle, a second-valve controllingthelfiow fof liquid through the "liquidfillingtube` nd actu# ated by the air evacuationtube sa `l1r evacuation tube being connected to said diaphragm for axial displacement therebyto 1.controlsaid'second valve toppen =the zsame uponclosinglthe first valve, -athird Valve controlling the discharge of air from the bottle through the evacuation tube during filling of the bottle with liquid, a lower head mounted on the exterior of the reservoir, a

fourth Valve in the lower head controlling the supply of compressed air to said pressure chamber, means actuated upon elevation of a bottle to filling position to control the operation of said fourth Valve, and a second diaphragm separating the. fourth valve from the bottle to prevent the escape of air passing to the upper head.

5. In a control head for devices for filling bottles and other similar receptacles with gaseous and non-gaseous liquids under counterpressure in which the bottles are lled with compressed air before receiving the liquid,- a liquid reservoir, an upper head member in said reservoir forming a pressure chamber, a diaphragm closing said chamber and having its outer face exposed to the pressure of air in said reservoir, duct means connecting said pressure chamber with a bottle to be filled, a first Valve controlling theV supply of compressed air to said chamber, means actuated by said diaphragm for controlling the opening and closing of said valve to control the filling of the bottle with compressed air, a liquid filling tube extending from said reservoir into the bottle, an air evacuation tube extending through the liquid filling tube for evacuating air from the bottle, a second valve controlling the flow of liquid through the liquid filling tube and actuated by the air evacuation tube, said air evacuation tube being connected to said diaphragm for axial displacement thereby to control said secondr valve to open the same upon closing the first valve, a third valve controlling the discharge of airl from the bottle through the evacuation tube during filling of the bottle with liquid, a lower head mounted on the exterior of the reservoir beneath the upper head, a compartment in the lower head, a hollow column V,anomala connecting the compartment in the lower head through the first valve with upper head, a fourth valve inthe lower head controlling the supply of compressed air to said compartment, means actuated upon elevation of a bottle to filling position to control the operation of said fourth valve, a second diaphragm separating the fourth valve and compartment from the bottle, and a second hollow column connecting the chamber in the upper head with the lower head and thence with the bottle.

6. In a control head fordevices for filling bottles and other similar receptacles with gaseous and non-gaseous'liquids under counterpressure in which the bottles are filled with compressed air before receiving the liquid, a liquid reservoir, an upper head member in said reservoir forming a pressure chamber, adiaphragm closing said chamber and having its outer face exposed to the pressure of air in said reservoir, duct means connecting said pressure chamber with al bottle to be filled, a first valve controlling the supply of compressed air to said chamber, means actuated by said diaphrag'mfor controlling the opening and closing of said valve 'to vcontrol the filling of the bottle with compressed air, a liquid fillingv tube extending from said,reservoirl into the bottle, an air evacuation' tub'eeirte'nding through the liquid filling tube for"'evacuatingfair from the bottle, a second valve controlling the flow of liquid through thelli'q'uid filling tube and actuated by the'airevacuation tube, said airv evacuation tube being connected to said diaphragm for axial displacement thereby to control said second valve to open the same upon closing the Y first valve, a third valve Controlling thedischarge of air from the bottle through the evacuation tube during filling of the bottle with liquid, a lower head mounted on the exterior of the reser- Voir beneath the upper head, a compartment in the lower head, a hollow column connecting the compartment in the lower head through the first valve with the upper head, a fourth valve in the lower head controlling the supply of compressed air to said compartment, means actuated upon elevation of a bottle to filling position to control the operation of said fourth valve, a second diaphragm separating the fourth valve and compartment from the bottle, a second hollow column connecting the chamber in the upper head with the lower head and thence with the bottle, a sleeve slidably mounted on the liquid lling tube with play between the same to form an air passage, means on the lower end of the sleeve for connection with the mouth of a bottle, means on the upper end of the sleeve to form a connection with the lower head, and means carried by the upper portion of said sleeve to actuate the fourth valve.

` GUSTAVE STERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 13,197 Strasburger Jan. 17, 1911 948,463 Strasburger Feb. 8, 1910 1,779,739 Kantor Oct. 28, 1930 1,985,767 De Markus Dec. 25, 1934 2,118,436 Kantor May 24, 1938 2,186,526 Greiner Jan. 9, 1940 2,239,364 Kantor Apr. 22, 1941