Filler assembly for pulverulent materials

Claim 1

A FILLER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT MEMBER HAVING A TOP WALL ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A MATERIAL SUPPLY AND A BOTTOM WALL, AN INTAKE OPENING IN SAID TOP WALL AND A DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID BOTTOM WALL, INTAKE AND DISCHARGE VALVE MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID INTAKE AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS, A SEALING RING CARRIED BY SAID BOTTOM WALL FOR FORMING A SEAL WITH A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING AIR VENT MEANS FOR VENTING A CONTAINER DURING THE FILLING THEREOF, A VACUUM LINE AND A PRESSURE AIR LINE CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER FOR REDUCING AND INCREASING THE PRESSURE THEREIN, WHEREBY SAID MEMBER MAY BE FIRST EVACUATED, MATERIAL ADMITTED THEREINTO THROUGH SAID INLET OPENING, THE INTERIOR OF SAID MEMBER PRESSURIZED TO A SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND MATERIAL FORCED FROM SAID MEMBER INTO A CONTAINER THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, EACH OF SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE SEAT, A VALVE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT, A VALVE ROD CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER FOR POSITIONING SAID VALVE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID VALVE SEAT, AND A BOOT ENCASING SAID VALVE ROD FOR PROTECTING SAID VALVE ROD AGAINST ABRASION BY MATERIAL PASSING THROUGH SAID MEMBER, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH BOOT FOR EQUALIZING THE PRESSURES INTERIORLY AND EXTERIORLY OF SAID BOOT UNDER THE VARIOUS SUBATMOSPHERIC AND SUPERATMOSPHERIC OPERATING PRESSURES WITHIN SAID MEMBER.