Automatic filling valve

Claim 1

An automatic-filling valve unit connectable to a supply of liquid and operable to effect discharge of said liquid into containers, said unit comprising in combination, a filling nozzle, means operable to dispose said nozzle within a container and position the discharge end at a predetermined level, within the upper portion of the container; a discharge control valve including a valve member movable at the discharge end of said nozzle, spring means connected to said valve member and operable to move it to closed position, fluid-operated means responsive to fluid under pressure and directly connected to said valve member and operable to move it to open position in opposition to said spring means; and a pressure control valve connected between said fluid-operated means and a source of fluid under pressure, said control valve comprising a first and second poppet valve and a diaphragm connected commonly thereto for simultaneous actuation thereof, a spring operable against one side of said diaphragm for movement thereof and said poppet valves connected thereto in one direction, passages in said pressure control valve connecting said poppet valves with said source of fluid under pressure, said first and second poppet valves respectively controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said fluid operated means and the opposite side of said diaphragm for movement thereof in opposition to said spring; vacuum passage means connectable to a source of vacuum and terminating at one end adjacent said discharge end of said nozzle, and conduit means interconnecting said vacuum passage to said one side of said diaphragm of said pressure control valve and operable upon the rising level of liquid in said container reaching said one end of said vacuum passage means to cause vacuum in said passage to move said diaphragm of said pressure control valve in a direction to close said first poppet valve to discontinue flow of fluid pressure to said fluid-operated means and open said second poppet valve to direct fluid under pressure against said diaphragm in opposition to the pressure of said spring to insure the closing of said first poppet valve, said pressure control valve also having a conduit between said first poppet valve and said fluid-operated means of said flow control valve and a port open to atmosphere communicating with said conduit, whereby when said First poppet valve is closed as aforesaid said port can release pressure upon said discharge control valve member and thereby permit said spring means of said discharge control valve to move said discharge control valve member to closed position.