US3160183A

US3160183A - Receptacle filling device

Info

Publication number: US3160183A
Application number: US217413A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry H Franz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-16
Filing date: 1962-08-16
Publication date: 1964-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1964 H. H. FRANZ 3,160,183

RECEPTACLE FILLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1962 so. so

FIG.4

INVENTOR. HENRY H. FRANZ ,5; MW W A roRNExs:

United States Patent 3,160,183 REQEPTA CLE FEELING DEVICE Henry H. Franz, 3261 Falls Cliff Road, Baltimore, Md, Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 217,415 3 Claims. ((11. 141-291) The present invention relates broadly to devices for filling containers and more specifically to an improved valve structure used in filling containers such as milk bottles.

In devices for filling receptacles of the type to which the present invention is directed, the valve structure has usually included, as a part thereof, a resilient sleeve or body member having a passage theretln'ough which is adapted to engage a plug member for controlling the flow of the material that is being delivered to the container. The resilient sleeve member is compressed upon engagement by a lip or upper edge of the container which not only actuates the valve but in conjunction with said lip acts as a seal, thus preventing the admission of any harmful or undesirable elements into the container during the filling operation.

It has been found, however, that in prior art devices for filling milk bottles utilizing the resilient sleeve and plug member that they do not function in a proper and eilicient manner when used in connection with present day milk bottles having a narrow neck and inlet opening. In using a resilient sleeve valve member of the prior art type in the filling of milk bottles having the narrow neck portion and reduced opening said milk bottles tend to engage the lower or bottom surface of the resilient sleeve valve member to compress same and open the valve while at the same time contracting and distorting the filling throat or flow passage of said valve structure. Such an operation tends to lengthen the filling period or time in which milk is being delivered to a bottle.

It has been found that with milk bottles of the conventional present day usage that the narrow neck portion of the bottle tends, in many instances, to engage the lower surface of the valve sleeve member in'somewhat of an offset position so that when the resilient sleeve is compressed and moved away from the valve plug member, said bottle is not properly positioned with respect to the valve member for receiving the milk which can result in excessive foaming of the milk during filling while lengthening the filling operation time. The resilient valve sleeve member of the prior art devices has customarily been formed with a smooth annular surface on the lower or bottom face that is engaged by the top of the milk bottle for the purpose of collapsing the valve sleeve member to permit the delivery of milk to the bottle. However, the smooth surface on the bottom face of the valve member did not insure the correct and proper positioning of the upper edge of the milk bottle so that when said sleeve valve member is collapsed or compressed it would tend to be distorted thus reducing the area of the flow passage through which the milk is to be delivered to the bottle. The resilient valve sleeve member of the present invention is designed to overcome the aforementioned defects found to exist in the prior art devices.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device for filling receptacles having a resilient valve sleeve member provided with an annular groove on the outer surface thereof for engagement with the neck of a bottle to be filled.

Another object is to provide a resilient valve sleeve member having an annular groove on the outer lower or bottom surface thereof engageable with the neck of a bottle so as to unseat said valve member in a manner to maintain a uniform flow passage through said valve member.

3,,l60,l83 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 Another object is to provide a resilient sleeve valve member having an annular groove on the outer lower surface thereof engageable with the upper edge of a bottle to insure the proper positioning of the bottle with the filling valve member.

Still further objects are to provide a valve arrangement of simplified and economical construction, efiicient in use and one with relatively few parts for disassembly and cleaning.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing in the manner in which all of the various objects are realized will appear in the following description, which when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

PlG. 1 is an elevational view with portions thereof in section showing a milk bottle and a receptacle filling device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a receptacle filling device showing a resilient sleeve valve member having the present invention embodied thereon;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a receptacle filling device engaged by a milk bottle for compressing the resilient sleeve valve member; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the resilient sleeve valve member shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a tank or vessel 1% which is adapted to contain a suitable iaterial or commodity such as milk for delivery to a bottle 12. I The bottom of the tank 10 is provided with an aperture 14 for delivering the contents of said tank to a spout or filler tube 16. The spout or filler tube 16 has an annular ledge 17 formed integrally with the upper portion thereof from which radiates outwardly a cone shaped member 1% that terminates in an annular flange 20 that is adapted to overlie the opening 14 in the tank 10. The flange Sill may be secured to the outer surface of the tank iii in any suitable manner, such as by welding, to prevent or preclude the ingress or egress of any material from or to the tank and spout assembly. The spout 16 from its point of juncture at ledge 17 with the cone shaped member 13 is provided with an interior passageway 22 of uniform diameter throughout for the purpose of permitting a constant and steady flow of milk therethrough.

The spout or filler tube 16 has formed integrally therewith adjacent its lowermost end an annular boss or protuberance 24 which is provided with a downwardly inclined upper surface 2:: that terminates in a flat annular bottom surface 23 that is disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the outer surface 29 of the lower end portion of the spout 16. Thus, the outer peripheral surface 29 of the lowermost end portion of the spout l6 and the flat annular surface 23 of the boss 2 are disposed in planes normal to one another and define a seat for an end 3d of a hollow flexible rubber sleeve valve member 32. The valve member 32 is preferably formed with upper and lower open-ended portions 369 and 34, respectively, that are of relatively thick walled configuration and which are connected to one another by a relatively thin-Walled central or bulbiform portion 36. The inner diameter of the opening in the upper end Bill of the valve sleeve member 32 is slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the seat defined by the

surfaces

28 and 29 so that the end 30 is distended slightly upon being forced onto said seat where it will be frictionally retained by the resilient characteristics inherent in said valve sleeve member 32. The central portion 36 of the valve sleeve member 32 is by its bulged configuration adapted to define an internal annular recess or concavity 33 the bottom or lower surface of which is disposed at a slight downward inclination or :aper which terminates in the lower end portion 34. The )ottom or lower face of the end portion 34- of the valve ;leeve member 32 is provided with an annular groove or 1ecess40 which is offset slightly from thecentertowards :he outer. edge ofv the end portion 34 so as. todefine an .nner .annularbead or rim 42. The groove or recess 4%) s formed with an inclined or. tapered surface 43 which s provided on the outer annular-surfaceof said groove insure the proper positioning and engagement of the valve sleeve member with the lip of a milk bottle.

The spout or filler tube 16 has extending therethrough 1 vent or foam tube 4-4 which also projects through the aperture 14 and terminates adjacent the top portion of the :ank 1 0. The vent tube 4.4 has formed on its lower end an enlarged protuberance or plug member 46 and in adiition has a hollow passageway 48 that extends throughout the length of saidttube. 'The plug member d6 is formed with a downwardly inclined conical or tapered lpper surface 50 which is adapted to engage the annular sead or rim 42 formed on the lower end portion 34 of the flexible rubber sleeve valve member 32. Thus, the plug member acts as a valve seat for receiving the anaular bead 42 whereby the filler tube or spout 16 is effec- :ively sealed against the passage of any fluid or material therethrough.

The vent or foam tube 44 is positioned and retained within the spout or filler tube 16 and also within the tank 0 by means of a spider member that is interposed be tween the inner surface of the filler tube 16 and the outer surface of the vent or foam tube 44. The spider member includes an elongated tubular portion '52 which is mounted on the outer surface of the foam tube 44 with a frictional fit so as to restrain the vent tube against any longitudinal movement within the spout 16. The tubular portion 52 of the spider member has formed integrally therewith a plurality of spaced vertically extending radial ribs 54 Whichtend to act as spacers between the inner surface of the spout 16 and said tubular member to thereby insure the proper positioning of the vent tube 44 within thespout 16. The uppermost ends of the ribs 54 are-provided with outwardly projecting flanges or lips 56 which are of a greater length than the ribs 54 and adapted to engage the annular ledge -17. The spider member andvent tube are supported within the spout 16 by the ribs 54 and lips as and the plug member 46 is also properly positioned with respect to the lower end of the spout 16 so that the annular bead 42 will properly engage the surface for effectively sealing the spout against leakage of any milk;

In the operation of the present device the bottle 12 is placed upon a table 58 which is adapted to be elevated, through suitable mechanism not shown, so as to bring the upper edge or lip 60 of the bottle into engagement with the lower end portion 34 of the resilient sleeve valve member 32. The valve member 32 is in the position of FIG. 2 wherein the annular head 42 engages the conical surface 50 of the plug member 46 for effectively sealing the spout 16 against the delivery of any milk from the tank 10. Upon the engagement of the bottle lip 69 with the end 34 of the valve member the plug member 46 will pass through the mouth of the bottle while the lip 66* moves into the annular recess 46 'ot the valve member. Thus if the mouth of the bottle is a bit large due to tolerance allowance, the lip 6% will engage the inclined surfaced?) and still permit the end 34 of the valve member to be flexed by said engagement. The continued elevation of the bottle 12 by the table 58 will through the engagement of the recess 49 by the lip 6t; cause the lower end portion 34 of'the valve member 32 to be flexed or compressed towards the upper end portion 39, FIG. 3, so as to permit a steady flow of milk into the bottle from the spout 16. As the end portionfid of the valve memher is flexed or moved towards the end 3% the milkwill.

continue to flow through the filler tube 16 between the radial ribs 54 and into the bottle 12, and at the same time the lip 66 being in engagement with the annular groove 40, a full circumferential seal is obtained between said bottle and valve member whereby no leakage can occur at this point. The engagement of the lip 60 of the bottle 12 with the annular recesstdtlin the valve member insures that the lower end 34 or" the valve-member will be flexed or moved in substantially a straight line path of movement thereby maintaining a constant diameter in the opening in the end portion 34 for the passage of the milk therethro-ugh. The annular head or recess .6 upon being engaged by the lip- 6d of the bottle prevents the lower end portion 54 of the valve member from becoming distorted and thus prevents the opening in the end portion 3d from contracting and thus insures a-rapid and constant flow of milk to the bottle.

The use of milk bottles having a narrowniouth and neck portion tends to provide a flow passage between the outer surrace of the plug memberde and the inner. surface of the bottle that is--materially reduced in crosssectional area. Thus, any and all milk flowing through the tiller tube 16 and valve member 32 will tend to impinge upon the upper; conical surface 5th of the plug member 46 and be directed outwardly toward the sides of the bottle so that in its downward flow path the milk will tend to follow the sides of the bottle and thus materially reduce the amount of foaming action which is highly desirable as it tends to expedite and speed the time required to fill such a bottle. Upon the filling of the bottle 12 the table 58 will be. lowered which action will result in the lower end-portion 34 of the valve sleeve member -32 moving towards the plug member 46 so as to bring the annular head or rim 42 into sealingengagement with the upper conical surface 50 of said'plug member contemporaneously with the lip 50 moving outof theannular recess 40.

In disassembling the filling device for the purpose of cleaning same, the lower end 34 of the resilient valve sleeve member 32 may be manually drawn over the plug 'member 46 and the upper end portion 39 may then be manually drawn downwardly and oif of the lower end of the filler tube 16 and in turn moved over the plug completely set forth, it is to be understood that the. specific terminology is not intended to be, restrictive .or-confining and that various rearrangements ofpartsv and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is: V

l. A valve for filling a container having an, opening therein defined by an annular lip comprising a spout having'a plug carried thereby and a flexible resilient hollow open ended body member having one end portion encom- -passing and engagingsaid spout with the other end 'portion normally'in scaling engagement with said plug, said 7 body member having an internal annular recessed portion intermediate said-end portions with said other end portion being freely flexible with respect to said plug, said other end portion having an annular groove formed in the lower face thereof concentric with the opening in the end of said body member and'having a diameter equal to that of theopening in the container as defined by said annular 'lip, said end portion flexing towards said spout upon engagement of said groove by the annular lip of the container during a filling operation, said groove and opening in the end of said body member being retained in concentric relation with said plug during the filling operation.

2. A filling valve for filling a container having an opening therein defined by an annular lip comprising a spout having a plug member carried thereby and a flexible resilient hollow open ended member havin one end portion encompassing and engaging said spout with the other end portion normally in sealing engagement with said plug member, said body member having an internal annular recessed portion intermediate said end portions with said other end portion being freely flexible with respect to said plug member, said other end portion having an annular groove formed in the lower face thereof concentric with the opening in the end of said body member, said groove formed with an inclined surface on the outer annular portion thereof, said groove defining an inner annular bead on said outer end portion engageable with said plug member, said groove having a diameter cornmen surate with that of the opening in the container as defined by said annular lip, said other end portion flexing toward said spout upon the engagement of said inclined surface of the groove by the annular lip of the container during a filling operation, the lip of said container engaging said groove during the flexing of said other end portion towards said spout by said container while retaining said groove and opening in concentric relation with said plug.

3. Apparatus for filling a container having an opening 2 therein defined by an annular lip comprising a tank having an opening therein, a hollow tubular depending spout overlying said opening and being secured to said tank, a vent tube supported within said spout and projecting into said tank and below the bottom of said spout, said vent tube having an enlarged plug formed on the lower end thereof, a hollow open ended tubular valve sleeve memher, said valve member having one end thereof frictionally gripping the lower end of said spout, the other end of said valve member having an annular recess formed in the bottom surface thereof defining an inner annular bead normally engaging said plug for sealing said spout and tank, said recess having a diameter commensurate with that of the opening in the container as defined by said annular lip, said last mentioned end flexing towards said spout upon engagement of said recess by the annular lip of the container during a filling operation, the engagement of said recess by the lip of the container during the flexing of said end retains the cross sectional area of the opening in said end substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the opening when said bead is in engagement with said plug.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNEDi GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

Smallwood 141276 x

Claims

3. APPARATUS FOR FILLING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN DEFINED BY AN ANNULAR LIP COMPRISING A TANK HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A HOLLOW TUBULAR DEPENDING SPOUT OVERLYING SAID OPENING AND BEING SECURED TO SAID TANK, A VENT TUBE SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID SPOUT AND PROJECTING INTO SAID TANK AND BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID SPOUT, SAID VENT TUBE HAVING AN ENLARGED PLUG FORMED ON THE LOWER END THEREOF, A HOLLOW OPEN ENDED TUBULAR VALVE SLEEVE MEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOF FRICTIONALLY GRIPPING THE LOWER END OF SAID SPOUT, THE OTHER END OF SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS FORMED IN THE BOTTOM SURFACE THEREOF DEFINING AN INNER ANNULAR BEAD NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID PLUG FOR SEALING SAID SPOUT AND TANK, SAID RECESS HAVING A DIAMETER COMMENSURATE WITH THAT OF THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER AS DEFINED BY SAID ANNULAR LIP, SAID LAST MENTIONED END FLEXING TOWARDS SAID SPOUT UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID RECESS BY THE ANNULAR LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURING A FILLING OPERATION, THE ENGAGEMEMT OF SAID RECESS BY LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURING THE FLEXING OF SAID RECESS BY THE LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURING THE OPENING IN SAID END SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CROSS SECTIONAL AREA OF THE OPENING WHEN SAID BEAD IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLUG.