US2696338A - Filling head - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1954 c. DAY ETA'L FILLING HEAD 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 INVENTORS:

1 d 1 -Day "2/ EyedezicZcEEa w Y M M ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1954 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 c. D ET AL *1 Sheet 2 g NTORS! c. 1.. DAY ETAL 2,696,338

FILLING HEAD 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS:

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Dec. 7, 1954 Filed Oct. 5, 1951 BY Fzp'derjcklillvjaui'k ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1954 c. 1.. DAY ETAL 2,696,338

FILLING HEAD Filed Oct. 5, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 wywnum v 07 L5 if A M104 i \SZ 15 L310. L6 /& ig.

L4; k g .84 M 112 .92 -1o4 v 1 Hm 1 S1 k 1 M 64/ S3 INVENTORS. LJ y! 7-7 l as C aflL. D iy ,4 BY Epeder 118 L6 v MM ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 7, 1954 c. DAY ETAL 2,696,333

' FILLING HEAD Filed Oct. 3, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS= Dec. 7, 1954 c. L. DAY ET AL FILLING HEAD 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 5, 195] W316. COUNTER PREs8l/RE 871465 dei' ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 7, 1954 c. 1.. DAY ET AL FILLING HEAD 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 ILL/N6 STAGE depending gas tube.

United States Patent FILLING HEAD Carl L. Day and Frederick E. Fauth,

signors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, more, Md., a corporation of New York Baltimore, Md., as- Inc., Balti- The present invention relates to filling heads and, more particularly, to filling heads used with carbonated beverages.

A particular problem in the filling of any carbonated liquid is that of obtaining an optimum flow of liquid without producing foam in the container. Obviously, the more satisfactorily this problem is met, the greater will be the output per minute of filled containers because the liquid flow stage consumes time required in a carbonated beverage filling cycle.

The problem of obtaining maximum fiow of a carbonated beverage into a container is considerably complicated by the fact that a means must be provided to permit simultaneous escape from the container of gas and air. In more detail, counterpressure gas must be flowed into the bottle or other container before the flow of liquid commences and then the gas or air must be flowed from the container back to the reservoir to permit fiow of liquid into the container. Hence, some gas flow means such as a tube must be provided in the area of the filling nozzle which otherwise could be used for a greater volume of liquid flow. A highly desirable way of accommodating both a liquid passage and a gas passage within the filling nozzle is to have the liquid passage surround the gas passage. Even then, if the gas passage could be designed solely to obtain maximum liquid flow, the problem of fast liquid flow readily could be met, but another aspect of the problem is that the gas tube must project a relatively substantial distance into the bottle. Thus, if a central gas tube is used, it must project downwardly into the container even though the liquid tube terminates closely adjacent the mouth of the bottle. However, the bottles to be filled must move vertically with respect to the filling head and are apt to strike a Therefore, a centrally located gas tube must be of sufficient be bent or broken by a rising container. largement of the gas tube to strengthen liquid flow area.

Still another problem involved in the designing of the nozzle or tubular structure which projects into the container is the matter of providing adequate passage in the nozzle for outward flow of the headspace gas an air which must be snifted from carbonated beverages of the soft drink type after liquid flow has stopped. Obviously, any passage space provided for snifting still further reduces the liquid flow space as well as the counterpressure flow space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filling head wherein the portions of the flow passages which open into the container are of such design as to obtain adequate liquid flow without use of I a too fragile downwardly projecting gas tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head wherein the shift passages will occupy a minmum of space.

In order that a filling head will be applicable to fill runs of containers to different heights, it is desirable that the gas tube which controls the height of filling readily can be removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas tube mounting of such design that it readily can be removed by manually exerted pull. g

a The fact that filling heads may be used with various sizes of containers also makes it desirable to have the container engaging portions readily separable so that different size. adapters, .gas, tubes and container centering Naturally, enit reduces the thickness that it will not readily devices quickly can be the major portion of the 2,696,338 Patented Dec. 7, 19 54 "ice fitted thereon. Ready separability also is desirable for cleaning purposes. ,Numerous present day beverage filling machines are provided with as many as fifty filling heads, and, therefore, the matter of changeover can require a substantial period of time if the various fittings cannot readily be changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head of such design that the container centering elements and other container engaging portions of the filling head easily can be removed and replaced by other devices of the same type.

It heretofore has been usual to provide filling heads with a container centering bell which is slidable with respect to the head. We have found that if the machine is provided with satisfactory arrangements to center containers relative to the filling heads, the use of a sliding centering means is not required. By eliminating slidable movement of the hell, it also can be made more readily removable in accordance with the last-stated object.

It is desirable to provide a filling head wherein the liquid flow tube is of such design that the flow of liquid into the container will stop when the headspace pressure in the container builds up by reason of filling of the container with liquid. By our design, the rise of liquid will be stopped at such moment and entirely independently of the operation of any other valve means on the filling'head.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a filling head of such design that, when the headspace pressure reaches a predetermined point, interchange of liquid in the liquid passage with gas in the container headspace cannot occur and, hence, further flow of liquid from the liquid tube will cease.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure to attain the immediately preceding object, is of optimum simplicity and yet is of such design that all container engaging portions of the filling head readily can be replaced.

It heretofore has been proposed to provide filling heads including a float valve in the counterpressure passage adapted to close if liquid moves up into that passage. One difficulty with such an arrangement is that when the filling head subsequently is operated to snift off the headspace pressure, any pressure confined in the counterpressure passage suddently will act downwardly upon the liquid in the container, thereby producing some foaming.

We have found that possibility of such blowback of pressure from the counterpressure tube into the container will be eliminated if the filling head is of such design as to enable pressure in the counterpressure tube to be equalized with that in the headspace before shifting to atmosphere occurs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head of such design that pressure in the counterpressure passage can be equalized with that in the shifting passage and headspace.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows most of the seat face of the filling head body element in front elevation, the remainder of the filling head being shown in axial section.

Figure 2 is a fragmental view in axial section but at an angle to the section of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the filling head, the section being at right angles to the section of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top elevation of the body element of the filling head.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the body element looking toward Figure 4 from the right.

Figure 6 is a central vertical section of the body element of Figure 4. I

Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail central section through the upper adapter or disc member of the filling head.

FigurelOis another section of the disc member, the

8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of 3. view9 being taken at right. angles to the section, of, Figure Figure 11 is an elevation of the lower adapter member with the lower portion broken away.

Figure 12 is adetail axial section of the lower adapter.

Figure 13 is an axial' section through the centering sleeve.

Figure 14 shows the filling head. disc valve in section on the line 14-I4 of. Figure 3 with the disc valve in its closed or snifting stage position. The lower or tube portion of the filling head is shown in axial section.

Figure 1.5 is a view similar to Figure 14 but with the disc valve in counterpressure stage position, and

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 14 but With the disc valve: in filling stage position.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 6, the body portion of the filling head is designated by the numeral 20. The head also includes a rotary disc valve 22 rotatable on the seat face 24 of the body element, which seat face actually is formed by the usual resilient gaskets generally designated by the numeral 26. The body element includes a depending threaded boss 28 to which a tubular structure generally designated. 30 is secured by means of a threaded collar 32. The tubular structure or element 30 comprises the container engaging portion of the filling head.

As is hereinafter explained in detail, and. as is best shown in Figure 3, portion 20 is provided with a centrally located poppet snift valve mechanism 34. This element of the filling head is similar to the corresponding elements disclosed in Robert J. Stewart and Frank S. Bell Patent No. 2,591,739, April 8, 1952, for Filling, Maghines, application Serial No. 29,235, filed May 26, 194

Referring to Figure l, the body portion 20 of the present filling head also differs from that of said Stewart and Bell application in that it includes a float valve 36 in its counterpressure passage, this arrangement being, of the type disclosed in Carl L. Day and James E. Freeze application Serial No. 140,572, filed January 26, 1950, for Filling Head.

In accordance with the practice described in said two applications, a plurality of filling heads of the present invention are adapted to be secured to the periphery of the filling reservoir skirt 38 of a rotary type filling machine, the rear face 37 (the right-hand face in Figure 3) of the body element 20 being secured to the reservoir skirt 38 by means of an interposed suitably apertured plate 40. The liquid port or passage portion L1 of Figure 1 then will open to a liquid flow tube 42 shown at the right of Figure 3 and which leads to the lower portion of the filling reservoir. Also, the rear face 37 of body element 20 has a recess C1 formed therein which opens to a gas flow tube 44 communicating with the source of counterpressure gas, usually the upper portion of the filling reservoir.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the body element 28 of the filling head includes a central bore in which the snift valve tubular body fitting 48 is threaded. The outer portion 49 of snift valve fitting 48 serves as a journal for the rotary disc valve 22, valve 22 being held in position for rotary movement by packing and securing means generally designated 50 as de scribed in said Stewart and Bell application or in Rudolph H. Breeback application Serial No. 213,950, filed March 5, 1951 for Filling Head.

Referring to Figure 14, the disc valve 22 is provided with a liquid flow passage L2 which, in a plane parallel to the disc axis, is of U-shaped form so that the passage includes two ports 52 and 54 opening to the seat face of the disc valve. A gas flow passage C3, also of U-shaped form, is also provided in. disc valve 22. Passage C3 includes ports 56 and 58 at its opposite ends and opening to its seat face, as well as a port 60 intermediate its length and opening to its seat face.

Before describing the filling head in detail, it seems desirable to point out that the filling head is of the type used to first counterpressure a bottle or other container,

flows through the usual pipe 44 to the recess C1 in the rear of the body element '28, then through a port C2 to the seat face of the body and into the passage C3 in disc valve 22. This gas will flow through the port of passage C3 into port C4 of body element 20, downwardly through the passage C5 past the then lowered float valve 36 into a passage C6, then radially through the passage C7 of a disc member 62 secured to the lower face of boss 28 and downwardly through a gas flow tube C8: which. projects into the container.

When the rotary disc valve 22 is at the filling stage position diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 16, liquid will flow from the lower portion of the filling reservoir by the usual tube 42 of Figure 3 and thence into a port L1 of the body element 20 to the passage L2 of disc valve 22, thence into the angled passage L3 of body element 2%) and which passage extends downwardly through the boss 28. From passage portion L3, the liquid will move into an arcuate passage L4 in disc member 62 and then (Figure 1) will move downwardly through the annular passage, L5 of a collar member 64 to. the passage portion L6 defined by the depending annular flange 66 of collar 64. The lower end of passage portion L6 terminates closely adjacent a deflector plate or ring 68 secured to the gas tube C8 and this plate will deflect the liquid flow radially against the wall of the mouth of the bottle. Other purposes of the plate are hereinafter described.

During the time that liquid is flowing into the bottle, the air and gas in the bottle will move upwardly through the passages C8 to C3. With the disc valve 22 in the position illustrated in Figure 16, the flow from the disc valve passage portion C3 will move by port 56 to a port V which opens to the recess C1 and thereby is in communication with the tube 44 leading to the upper portion of the filling reservoir.

During the shifting stage, disc valve 22 will be in the, neutral stage position illustrated in Figure 14. Referring first to Figure 1, shifting flow will occur through the passage S1 formed in centering sleeve 70, thence into recess. S2 of the collar 64 to the port S3 of collar 64 best illustrated in Figure 3. Still referring to Figure 3, the snifted gas then will move upwardly through the port S4 of disc member 62 into the port S5 of body element 28, which port opens to a chamber S6 positioned inwardly of the snift valve 34. When the snift valve opens, the pressure to be shifted may move through the annular space S7 around the stem of the snift valve and thence then fiow liquid into the bottle while the counterpressure returns to the reservoir, and then snift excess pressure from the bottle headspace. The passages through which counterpressure flows into the container are designated C1 to. C8 and are located as follows: With the disc valve 22 in the counterpressure-stage position illustrated in Figure 15, gas from the upper portion of the reservoir by ports S8 in the snift valve body to a passage S9 leading to atmosphere.

The flow procedure described above is relatively customary practice though certain of the flow elements which we provide and hereinafter describe are novel. However, the present invention includes the novel concept whereby a passage X (Figure 14) extends from the snift passage portion S5 to the seat face 24 of the body element 20. By this arrangement, the pressure in the lower portion of the counterpressure passage will be placed in equilibrium with that in the shift passage C1 to C9 either slightly before or simultaneously with the shifting of surplus headspace pressure to atmosphere.

The filling head is described in more detail in the succeeding paragraphs and its detailed operation is hereinafter described under appropriate headings.

As is best shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, a liquid passage L3 of angled form extends from the lower portion of the body element seat face 24 to a point centrally of boss 28. As stated above, when passage L3 is connected to the upper liquid passage Ll by passage L2 in disc valve 22, liquid will flow from the machine filling reservoir to the container engaging portion of the filling head.

As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, a bore C5 extends horizontally a short distance inwardly from the body element seat face 24, this bore opening at its inner end to a downwardly inclined passage 72 best shown in Figure 1. The lower end of passage 72 opens to a vertically extending bore C5 having its lower end terminating in boss 28 alongside the lower end of passage L3. A stainless steel sleeve 74 is press-fitted in bore C5. A short collar 75 fixed in a plate 76 positioned against the lower face of boss 28 opens to the lower end'of sleeve 74. In accordance with said Day and Freeze application, collar 75 includes an upwardlyprojecting flange 78 of less outside diameter than the inner diameter of sleeve 78 has circumferentially spaced apertures fluid may flow between the collar flange 78 and sleeve 74 through the apertures 80. The float valve 36 is adapted to move within sleeve 74 above collar 75. The upper end of float valve 36 is rounded to seat upon the converging tapered seat formed in the upper end of sleeve 74.

The container engaging portion 30 of the filling head generally may be described as comprising an upper adapter or disc member 62, a lower adapter or collar member 64 and a sleeve member 70. Disc member 62 is held upwardly against a gasket provided on the lower face of the plate 76 by means of the two machine screws 81 (Figure 2) which extend through plate 76 and disc member 62 and are threaded into the collar or lower adapter 64. The inturned flange on threaded collar 32 holds the just-described assembly against boss 28. Gaskets are positioned upon the lower face of the disc member 62 and between boss 28 and plate 76. Sleeve member 70 is held in engagement with collar member 64 by the provision of a bodily resilient O-ring exerting frictional action against the upper portion of sleeve member 70 as hereinafter described.

Referring to Figures 3, 7, 9 and 10, the disc member or upper adapter 62 is provided with a central depending sleeve 90, the upper end of the sleeve bore 92 opening to a radial bore C7 which is closed at its outer 74, and flange 80 formed therein so that end by a plug 92 (Figure 1). Just inwardly of plug 92,

an aperture 94 opens upwardly from radial bore C7 to the lower end of collar 75 in plate 76 and body element 20. The gas flow tube 94 including passage C8 is removably positioned in the bore 92 of disc member 62. Tube 94 is open at its lower end 96 and is provided with a lateral port 98 sli htly above its lower end to deter mine the height of filling. Some distance above port 98 tube carries the deflector plate or ring 68 including a preferably flat upper surface 100. Ring 68 is held in place by a press fit on tube 94.

Tube 94 has a slip fit with respect to the upper portion of the sleeve bore 92 and is removably retained in sleeve bore 92 by the following arrangement: A pair of metal rings 102 freely insertable in a counter-bore 104 of sleeve bore 92 are secured on tube 94 by a press fit. The rings 102 are spaced apart so that a bodily resilient O-ring 106 may be positioned between them. The O-ring 106 is of such section that it snugly will engage tube 94 and also snugly engage the counter-bore 104 to thereby retain tube 94 in the disc member 62 and filling head. However, if it is desired to remove tube 94; for example, to fit the filling head with otherwise designed to fill a container to a different height, tube 94 readily can be withdrawn from sleeve 90 by hand and another tube of like type inserted. Because O-ring 106 snugly fits the counter-bore 104, it will prevent leakage between the gas passageand the liquid passage of the filling head. In fact, any pressure acting along the outer surface of tube 94 will further enlarge O-ring 106 radially in a direction normal to the axis of tube 94.

Referring again to disc member 62 and particularly Figure 7, the member 62 has an arcuate opening L4 therein concentric with the sleeve 90, the arcuate form of opening L4 leaving metal for the provision of the radial bore C7. Also, as shown in Figures 3, 7, and 10, disc member 62 has an aperture S4 therethrough. aperture S4 being positioned outwardly of arcuate opening L4 to form part of the snift passageway of the filling head.

The lower adapter or collar member 64 is provided with the central bore 108 of sufficient diameter to provide a space L5 between the outer surface of sleeve 90 and bore L5 to accommodate the volume of liquid which will move through the more upwardly disposed portions L1 to L4 of the liquid passage. The upper end of bore L5 may be outwardly tapered to smoothly merge with the necessarily larger arcuate port L4 in disc member 62. The relatively thin-walled flange or sleeve 66 depends from collar 64 to form the lower portion L6 of the liquid passage. Bore 108 and the bore of sleeve 66 are joined by a tapered portion to minimize obstruction to liquid flow, the total area of passage L6 corresponding to that of passage L5.

The lower end of sleeve 66 is beveled on its inner edge to form substantially a knife edge 110 on the lower end of sleeve 66. or plate 68 is positioned closely adjacent the lower end of sleeve 66, and the upper surface 100 of ring 68' is a tube of different length or As has been stated above, the ring flat. The spacing between the upper surface 100 of ring 68 and the lower knife edge 110 of sleeve 66 is of the order of .040 inch. This spacing will accommodate the volume of flow through the liquid passages L1 to L6 as 5 well as that of the liquid tube 42, bearing in mind that in all of the upper passages, there is a skin effect resistance to the flow of the liquid. The liquid issuing between surface 100 and knife edge 110 will be directed laterally in a thin steam against the wall of the mouth of the bottle to flow downwardly along the bottle wall to minimize foaming.

As is hereinafter'explained, the clearance between surface 100 and knife edge 110 prevents exchange of any liquid in the liquid passage L6 with any gas under pressure in the bottle headspace when the bottle has been filled to the vent hole 98 in gas tube 94. Thus, when the pressure in the bottle headspace builds up by closing of the gas tube vent port 98, the downward flow of liquid from the liquid passages L1 to L6 will be stopped without subsequent dripping.

Referring to Figure 3, the lower adapter or collar member 64 also is provided with a passage S3 adapted to communicate with the snift passage S4 of upper adapter 62. Passage S3 is inclined downwardly and inwardly and opens to an annular recess S2 which surrounds the depending sleeve 66.

The sleeve or centering member 70 includes an inwardly projecting shoulder 112 which, at its inner end, is provided with a thin-walled depending flange 114. The diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder 112 and flange 114 is slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the sleeve 66 of collar 64. Thus, the space S1 for sniffing flow is provided to extend from the mouth of the bottle to the recess S2 of member 64. The depending flange 114 also provides an anular downwardly facing pocket in which the usual bottle mouth sealing ring 116 may be positioned. Below sealing ring 116, sleeve 70 is of suflicient inner diameter to readily accommodate the mouth of a bottle or other container rising with the usual vertically reciprocable container supporting platform of the filling table. The extreme lower portion of sleeve 70 is flared outwardly to center a rising bottle. It is found that if suitable means is provided on the filling machine to insure that the bottles will be properly centered with the gas tube 94, the use of a centering sleeve such as 70 stationary with respect to the filling head is entirely adequate and that no slidable centering bell need be provided.

As has been stated above, the centering sleeve 70 is removably secured to the lower adapter or collar 64 by the following arrangement: A circumferential groove 86 is formed in the lower portion of the collar member 64 and a bodily resilient O-ring 84 is positioned in this groove. The O-ring 84 is of sufficient diameter that it will have a gripping action upon the inner surface of centering sleeve 70 to thereby securely retain that sleeve in position. However, the securing effect readily can be overcome by gripping the centering sleeve by hand and moving it downwardly. size readily can be applied to the filling head.

The upper portion of shoulder 112 of centering sleeve 70 will engage the lower surface of collar 64. Any leakage of headspace pressure from the groove S2 and between the sleeve member 70 and collar member 64 will act upon the O-ring 84 to cause it to expand along a line normal to the axis of the sleeve 66, thereby providing a seal at this point against leakage to atmosphere of headspace pressure.

As appears in Figures 2 and 11, member 64 may include a narrow cut-away portion 118 extending downwardly from groove 86 to enable the O-ring 84 to be removed from the groove for cleaning or replacement.

The detailed operation of the filling head is described below under headings designating the various stages of the cycle.

Neutral stage p0siti0n-Figure 14 body element 20, but the other port 52 will be opposite Thus centering sleeves of various.

I? a metal insert in the seat face. Therefore, no flow of liquid can .occur through the filling head.

In the Figure 14 position, the counterpressure passage C3 .of disc valve 22 will have one port 58 open to the passageway X leading to the shift valve passage S5. The snift valve v34 is closed at this time but, in any event, this connection is of no significance. The port 56 at the other end of passage C3 is aligned with the body element port C4 leading downwardly to the float valve 36 and the gas tube 94. Because the gas tube is open to atmosphere, this connection is of no significance. The intermediate port 60 of disc valve passage C3 will be opposite a blank portion of body element seat face 24. The body element ports V and C2, like the liquid port L3 are closed by blank portions of the disc valve seat face.

At this time, the valve trip arms 130 and 132 illus' trated in dotted lines in Figure 14 and which project radially from disc valve 22 as described in said applications will occupy the position illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 14.

Counterpressure stage position-Figure With the filling table and reservoir rotating as described in said applications, the filling platform will lift the mouth of the bottle into sealed engagement with the sealing ring 116 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. During this lifting of the bottle, the mouth of the bottle may be centered with respect to the gas tube 94 by any usual centering arrangement on the filling platform, or by other means. In any event, when the mouth of the bottle is not properly centered, when it comes adjacent the lower edge of the centering sleeve 70, that sleeve will center the bottle so that its mouth will clear the gas tube 94 and the annular ring 68 on the gas tube. The machine preferably will be provided with means to insure that the bottle will move directly upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 and without contacting either the centering bell 70 or the ring 68.

By the usual operation of the machine, a moment after the bottle reaches the sealed position against gasket 116 illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the downwardly projecting trip arm 130 will contact a counterpressure trip fixed in the path of rotation of the filling head with the filling reservoir. This fixed trip will cause the disc valve 22 to turn in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Figure 14 to that illustrated in Figure 15 so that flow of counterpressure gas to the bottle can occur.

It will be observed from Figure 15 that the liquid passage L2 now will have both of its ports 52 and 54 opposite blank portions of the seat face 24 of body element 20. The disc valve counterpressure passage C3 now will have its upper end port 56 opposite the relatively small body element port C2. The port 60 provided intermediate the length of disc valve passage C3 is now aligned with the central portion of relatively large body element port C4. With the passage C3 in the position just described, counterpressure gas may flow from the filling reservoir through the tube 44 and into the recess C1 on the rear face of body element and from that recess through the body element port C2, thence by disc valve passage C3 and its port to the body element passages C4 and C5, and as is also indicated in Figure 1, past the lowered float valve 36 through the apertures to the passages C6 and C7 and to the passage C8 of gas flow tube 94. The gas will flow from tube 94 into the bottle through both tube ports 96 and 98 thereby establish the same pressure in the bottle as exists above the body of liquid in the filling reservoir. Any liquid which may be present in the counterpressure passages below float valve 36 will be moved into the bottle by the counterpressure gas. However, because of arrangements hereinafter discussed, the possibility of such liquid being in the passages is minimized.

The counterpressure stage is of extremely brief duration because the ample cross-section of the counterpressure passages will permit a rapid flow of counterpressure gas.

Filling stage p0siti0n-Figr:re J 6 position of Figure 15, the lower trip arm will bridge the body v V opens to the gas tube 4-4 level will rise in the gas tube element passages L1 and L3 so that carbonated water, a mixture of carbonated water and syrup or any other carbonated beverage, including beer, may flow down into the bottle from the filling reservoir through the lower liquid passages L4, L5, and L6. As has been stated above, all of these passages, including the arcuate passage L4, are of suificient area toaccommodatc the volume of flow received through the pipe 4-2 connected to the lower portion of the reservoir. in accordance with usual practice, a ball valve may be positioned at the inlet of the passage L1 to close if the liquid flow should surge as might occur due to breaking of the bottle.

The liquid moving into the sleeve 66 will be deflected substantially horizontally and radially in an unbroken stream by the ring 63, the liquid thereby flowing quietly down the wall of the bottle. Although the space between the upper fiat surface of ring 68 and the knife edge 119 of sleeve 66 is relatively narrow, preferably of the order of .040 inch normally, this space will accommodate the volume moving through the remainder of the liquid passage because the velocity in the upper portion of the passages is restricted to some extent by the skin friction effect. For example, with the area of passage L3 .110 square inch, the area of Le .167 square inch, the area of L5 .119 square inch, the area of L6 .1512 square inch, and an area of .099 square inch be tween the upstanding flange 69 of ring 68 and the opposed non-taperecl surface of sleeve 66, the area of the annular space between knife edge tilt) and the upper surface 1% of ring 68 may be .066 square inch, provided by the .040 inch spacing mentioned above.

T he spacing of .040 inch mentioned above is primarily determined by the viscosity and surface tension of the liquid being handled and is applicable, for example, to a carbonated mixture of one part of 30 Baum syrup and live parts water. If the liquid being filled has a greater viscosity and surface tension than the mixture just mentioned, this spacing may be increased.

The movement of the disc valve 22 to the position illustrated in Figure 16 also will cause the disc valve counterpressure passage C3 to bridge the uppermost port V of body element 2t? and the body element port C4. The port 60 of passage C3 will be opposite a blank area. of body element seat face 24. Because port shown in Figure 3, the counterpressure gas previously flowed into the bottle together with such air or other gas as originally was in the bottle can flow to the filling reservoir as the bottle fills with liquid. This flow of gas will be into the ports 9.6 and 9S and passage C8 of tube 9 1 thence by passages C7 and C6, through the apertures it) of collar 7:? and upwardly past the lowered float valve 36 to the passages C5, C4, C3 and V to the reservoir.

When the rise of liquid in the container closes the port 96 at the lower end of the gas tube, the counter pressure gas and air will continue to flow into tube 94 through port 98. However, when the level of the liquid in the bottle rises immediately above the level of the port 93, there will be no escape path for the gas and air, and pressure thereby will build up in the headspace of the container. If liquid continues to flow from passage L6, the pressure in the bottle headspace will pre vent such liquid from rising in the bottle. instead, as is described in said Day and Freeze application, the liquid if the liquid rises in the gas tube 94- to lift the float 36 against the tapered seat of sleeve 74, the flow of gas to the filling reservoir will be completely cut off, resulting in a further rise of pressure in the bottle headspace which will completely stop fiow of liquid from the liquid passage L6. That is, with the space between the ring 68 and knife edge 119 of proper size, the pressure now present in the headspace of the bottle will prevent exchange of air and gas through the narrow opening between rin 68 and knife edge 11%. Hence, liquid flow will stop.

It will be understood that previous types of filling heads have been of such flow capacity with respect to the speed of operation of the machine that a moment after the liquid covered the port such as 98, a valve such as disc valve 22 has been operated to closed or neutral position to thereby stop further liquid flow. However, even with filling heads manufactured under the closest tolerances, supposedly identical. filling heads will have different flow rates. With the filling head of our present invention,..liquid can flow into each bottle to rise and upper port 56 opposite the close float 36, and further liquid flow will stop by reason of the build-up of headspace pressure mentioned above.

Snift stage portion-Figure 14 With themachine set so that every bottle will receive liquid at least to the vent port 98 of tube 94 and that the counterpressure passage will be filled with liquid sufficient to close float 36, the next operation of the disc valve 22 will be to move it to the neutral or snifting stage position illustrated in Figure 14. This movement occurs by reason of having the upwardly projecting filling trip '132 move clockwise from the position illustrated in Figure 16 and back to the position illustrated in Figure 14. As shown in' Figure 14, the liquid passage L2 of disc valve 22 is now out ofcommunication with the liquid passage L3 so that flow of liquid is completely shut off.

body element port C4 and its lower port 58 is opposite the mouth of the small passage X. The intermediate port 60 of counterpressure passage C3 is opposite a blank area of the seat face 24 of body element 20.

The just-described position of the disc valve passage C3 will bring the upper end of the float valve seat sleeve 74 and the passages C5 and C4 into communication with the body element snift passages S5. As is best shown in Figure 3, snift passage S5 opens through the passages S4 to S1 to the headspace of the bottle. Thus, the pressure above the float valve 36 will be equalized through these snift passages and passage X with the pressure in the headspace and in the gas passages below float valve 36 and the liquid in the passages C6, C7, and C8 will flow downwardly into the bottle, thereby determining the final filling height. However, with the tubes 94 of all filling heads provided with apertures 98 at the same height, and with the passages C6 to C8 and sleeves 74 of all the heads of identical size, all bottles or other containers will have a uniform filling height.

As is described in said Stewart and Bell application, the outer tip 134 (Figure 3) of snift valve 34 now will strike a trip which will cause the snift valve to open against the pressure exerted by spring 136. The resultant movement of the snift valve gasket 138 from the inner end of the snift valve body 49 will permit part of the pressure existing in the chamber S6 as well as in the lower portions of the snift passage and in the counterpressure passages C5, C4, and C3 to move through the passages S7, S8, and S9 to atmosphere. The opening of the snift valve will be only momentary but before spring 136 returns the snift valve to closed position, the headspace pressure in the bottle and the passages open thereto will be. sufficiently relieved so that the bottle can be lowered from sealed relation with the gasket 116 a few moments thereafter and without foaming. The continued rotation of the filling table will cause the bottle to be removed from the filling platform below the filling head and an- A particular advantage of providing the passage X to permit equalization of the pressure in the counterpressure passage and the snift passage will be apparent from the following: When liquid rises in tube 94, it forces gas under pressure ahead of it up into the passages C5 and C4 of the body element. When the disc valve 22 is moved to the position of Figure 14, and the snift passages then opened to atmosphere, the pressure in the bottle headspace is greatly reduced. With gas locked in the passages C4 and C5, this reduction of the headspace pressure would permit the pressure in passages C4 and C5 to act upon the liquid in the passages C6, C7, and C8 to drive liquid and gas in those passages downwardly into the bottle. This incoming surge of pressure would act through the port 98 of tube 94 and cause at least the upper portion of the liquid in the bottle to foam.

The provision of the passage X to enable placing the passages C4 to C8 in communication with the snift passage S5 will relieve any pressure locked in passages and C8 and permit the pressure in passages C4 to C8 to be equalized with the pressure in passages S1 to S5 and with the container headspace. As indicated above, this equalization occurs immediately before snift valve 34 is opened to vent the snift passages to atmosphere.

It will be perceived that the structure and operations described above attains all of the objects stated in the opening portion of the specification.

The terminology used in the specification is for the The counterpressure passage C3 now has its purpose of description of the invention being We claim:

1. In a filling head for carbonated liquids, an element adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid, and a superposed body of gas, said element being provided with a snift passage adapted to open to t atmosphere and a container engaged with the filling head, and a liquid passage and a gas passage each adapted to open to the reservoir and to such container, valve means to close each of the passages, means to operate said valve means to vopen the snift passage and close the gas passage, and means operable to then place the snift passage in communication with the gas passage at a point in the latter passage between the container and said valve means.

2. A filling head for carbonated liquids, comprising an element adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, said element being provided with a snift passage adapted to open to the atmosphere and a container engaged with the filling head, and a liquid passage and gas passage each adapted to open to the reservoir and to such container, and valve mechanism intermediate the length of said passages and operable in stages to control flow therethrough and also to place the gas passage in communication with the snift passage.

A filling head of defined in the claims.

3. the character described in claim 2 wherein the gas passage includes a downwardly facing seat and a float valve adapted to close upon the seat, and wherein said valve mechanism places the snift passage in communication with the gas passage at a point adjacent said seat.

4. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein the gas passage includes a downwardly facing seat and a float valve adapted to close upon the seat, and wherein said valve mechanism places the snift passage in communication with the gas passage at a point above said seat.

5. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said valve mechanism includes a rotary disc valve.

6. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said valve mechanism includes a rotary disc valve movable seriatim to open the gas passage, open both the liquid and the gas passage, and then place the snift and gas passages in communication.

7. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said valve mechanism includes a rotary disc valve movable seriatim to open the gas passage, open both the liquid and the gas passage, and then place the snift and gas passages in communication while closing the gas passage from the reservoir.

8. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein the valve mechanism includes a separate valve in the snift passage. 9. In a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body portion adaptedto be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a tubular element provided with a liquid flow passage and a counterpressure gas flow passage, like passages in the body portion with which said passages communicate, and a container centering sleeveincluding a container mouth engaging sealing ring secured to said tubular element by a slip fit provided by a resilient ring positioned to engage both said tubular element and said centering sleeve.

10. In a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a tubular element provided with a liquid flow passage and a counterpressure gas flow passage, like passages in the body portion with which said passages communicate, and a container centering sleeve including a container mouth engaging sealing ring secured to said tubular element by a slip fit provided by an O-ring positioned to engage both said tubular element and said centering sleeve.

11. A filling head for carbonated liquids, comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a tubular element provided with a liquid flow passage and a counterpressure gas flow passage, like passages in the body portion with which said passages communicate, and a container centering sleeve including and not of limitation, the scope a-container mouth engaging sealingring secured to said tubular element by a slip fit, said body portion and tubular element include communicating snift passages, and said container centering sleeve includes an inwardly projecting annular flange which cooperates with the exterior of the tubular element to form the lower end of the snift passage of the tubular element.

12. A filling head of the character described in claim 11 wherein the tubular element counterpressurev gas flow passage is formed by a tube projecting below the centering sleeve.

13. A filling head of the character described in claim 11 wherein the tubular element counterpressure gas flow passage is formed by a tube projecting below the centering sleeve, and the tubular element liquid flow passage is formed by a tube surrounding said gas passage tube and terminating at a point between the lower ends of the snift passage and the counterpressure gas flow tube.

14-. A filling head of the character described in claim 11 wherein the tubular element counterpressure gas flow passage is formed by a tube projecting below the centering sleeve, the tubular element liquid flow passage is formed by a tube surrounding said gas passage tube and terminat ing at a point between the lower ends of the snift passage and the counterpressure gas rounds the gas passage tube site and closely spaced from flow tube.

15. A filling head of the character described in claim 11 wherein the tubular element counterpressure gas flow passage is formed by a tube projecting below the centering sleeve, the tubular element liquid flow passage is formed by a tube surrounding said gas passage tube and terminating at a point between the lower ends of the snift passage and the counterpressure gas flow tube, and a ring surrounds the gas passage tube at such point as to be opposite and closely spaced from the lower end of the liquid flow tube.

at such point as to be oppo the lower end of the liquid fiow tube, and a ring sur- 16. in a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body 1 portion adapted -to be secured of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a central relatively long gas flow tube, a relatively short liquid flow tube surrounding the gas tube, a ring surrounding the gas be opposite and spaced from the liquid flow tube by such distance as to prevent exchange of liquid and gas in a container containing fluid at a predetermined pressure.

17. in a filling head for cabonated liquids, a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a central relatively long gas flow tube, a relatively short liquid flow tube surrounding the gas tube, a

ring surrounding the gas flow tube at such point as to be opposite and spaced from the liquid flow tube by a distance of the order of .040 of an inch.

18. in a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body or" gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body'portion and including a central relatively long gas flow tube, and a relatively short liquid flow tube surrounding the gas flow tube, the gas flow tube having a slip fit within the liquid flow tube.

19. in a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a central relatively long gas flow tube, and a relatively short liquid flow tube surrounding the gas flow tube, the gas flow tube having a slip fit provided by a resilient ring outwardly thereof and within the liquid flow tube.

20. In a filling head for carbonated liquids, a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a central relatively long gas flow tube, and a relatively short liquid flow tube surrounding the gas flow tube, the gas flow tube having a slip fit provided by an O-ring within the liquid flow tube.

to a reservoir for a body fiow tube at such point as to lower end of the collar 21. A filling head for carbonated liquids, comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including a depending sleeve, a collar surrounding said sleeve, a tube retained in said sleeve by a slip fit, said tube being longer than said sleeve and forming a gas flow passage, and the collar defining the outer periph: cry of a liquid flow passage which surrounds said sleeve and tube.

22. A filling head of the character described in claim 21 wherein the slip fit is afforded by an O-ring positioned between the tube and said sleeve.

23. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said valve mechanism includes a rotary disc valve movable seriatim to open the gas passage, open both the liquid and the gas passage, and then place the snift and gas passages in communication, said rotary disc valve including a passage provided with a port at each end to form part of the snift and gas connecting passage, and an intermediate port arranged to cooperate with one of the end ports to form part of the passage for flow of gas.

24. A filling head for carbonated liquids, comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a reservoir for a body of the liquid and a superposed body of gas, said body portion including counterpressure and vent passages, a liquid passage and a snift passage and valve means to control flow therethrough, a container engaging portion depending from said body portion and including, in downward vertical order a disc member, a collar member and a sleeve member, said disc member including a tube for gas flow and which depends centrally from the disc memher, a liquid aperture concentric with said tube and a snift aperture, said collar member surrounding said tube of said disc member and being spaced from the tube to provide a liquid passage open to the liquid aperture of the disc member, an annular flange depending from the bore of the collar member to define the lower portion of the filling head liquid passage, the collar member further being provided with a bore outwardly of the flange and extending between the vertical faces of the collar member to have its upper end open to the snift aperture of the disc member, said sleeve member being fitted upon the exterior of the collar member and including an inner annular flange adapted to bear upon the lower end of the collar member, the inner periphery of the sleeve flange being spaced from the collar flange to define ther e ween a space open to the snift bore of said collar member and which space forms the lowerend of the, filling head snift passage, said sleeve member'including a container mouth engaging ring positioned against the lower portion of said sleeve flange.

25. A filling head of the character described in claim 24 wherein said tube portion of said disc mfimber is removable and is held in the disc member by an O-ring interposed between the tube and disc member.

26. A filling head of the character described in claim 24 wherein the tube of said disc member has a flange thereon in close proximity to the lower end of the collar 3 member depending flange.

27-. A filling head or th, characte describe in clai 24 wherein the tube; of said disc member has, a flange thereon spaced approximately 124, of an inch from the mber depend flan e 28- A filli g ad of the character .r be i cl im 24 he in a d s e v mem e s re v fr m s d llar membe a sa d two mem ers -re eld n em t y n n sed. Q ne,

References Gited in the file of. this patent UNI ED S ATES PATENT

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