US3633635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filling element for counterpressure filling machines
Assignee: Seitz-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a filling element for the filling of vessels with liquid, while employing a gas under pressure during the filling operation. The filling element has a body and has gas and liquid passages extending therethrough from a chamber containing the liquid and gas to a filling head. The filling head is arranged for sealingly engaging the opening in the vessel to be filled. Two concentric conduits on the body extend into the filling opening of the vessel and form therebetween an annular space which is part of the liquid passage while forming an annular space with the filling head which is a part of the gas passage. Valves control the gas and liquid passages and a filler element extending axially through the filler element and on the axis of the inner one of said conduits is arranged to detect the liquid level in the vessel and to control the valves in conformity therewith. An exhaust passage extends from the space on the inner side of the conduit to the gas passage and then to the outside of the filling element and is under the control of an exhaust valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Kaiser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:25
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
In a filling element for a counterpressure filling machine: a body, chamber means associated with said body and containing gas under pressure and liquid, a filling head on the lower end of said body adapted for sealing engagement with the filling opening of a vessel to be filled, separate gas and liquid channels in said body leading from said chamber means through said head for the supply of gas and liquid respectively to said vessel, liquid and gas valves in the body controlling said passages, and control means sensitive to the liquid level in said vessel for controlling the operation of said liquid and gas valves, said control means comprising a rodlike element extending axially through said body and having a lower end adapted to be introduced into said vessel when the vessel sealingly engages said filling head, a first conduit portion surrounding said rodlike element and forming therewith a first annular space which is closed at the top and open at the bottom, a second conduit portion surrounding said first conduit portion in spaced relation thereto and forming a second annular space therewith, said first and second conduit portions having ends adapted to be inserted into said opening in said vessel, an exhaust passage leading from said first annular space above the level of the said opening in said vessel to a region of low pressure, an exhaust valve controlling said exhaust passage, said liquid passage including said second annular space, said second conduit portion defining a third annular space with said filling head and said gas passage including said third annular space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a filling element for a counterpressure filling machine: a body, chamber means associated with said body and containing gas under pressure and liquid, a filling head on the lower end of said body adapted for sealing engagement with the filling opening of a vessel to be filled, separate gas and liquid channels in said body leading from said chamber means through said head for the supply of gas and liquid respectively to said vessel, liquid and gas valves in the body controlling said passages, and control means sensitive to the liquid level in said vessel for controlling the operation of said liquid and gas valves, said control means comprising a rodlike element extending axially through said body and having a lower end adapted to be introduced into said vessel when the vessel sealingly engages said filling head, a first conduit portion surrounding said rodlike element and forming therewith a first annular space which is closed at the top and open at the bottom, a second conduit portion surrounding said first conduit portion in spaced relation thereto and forming a second annular space therewith, said first and second conduit portions having ends adapted to be inserted into said opening in said vessel, an exhaust passage leading from said first annular space above the level of the said opening in said vessel to a region of low pressure, an exhaust valve controlling said exhaust passage, said liquid passage including said second annular space, said second conduit portion defining a third annular space with said filling head and said gas passage including said third annular space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filling element according to claim 1, in which both of said first and second conduit portions terminate in substantially the same plane at the lower ends thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
A filling element according to claim 1, which includes a distributor member to which the upper ends of said first and second conduit portions are connected, said distributor member having separate liquid and gas channel means therein leading to said second and third annular spaces respectively, said filling head comprising an axially movable vessel centering member at the lower end and an axially movable intermediate member disposed between said centering member and the said body of said filling element, and sealing means sealing between said body and intermediate member and between said intermediate member and said centering member when a vessel is pressed upwardly against said centering member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A filling element according to claim 1, in which said exhaust passage extends from the upper end of said first annular space substantially horizontally through said distributor member to the outside of said body and also communicates with said gas passage on the downstream side of the valve controlling the said passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filling element according to claim 4, in which said exhaust passage comprises a first portion leading from said first annular space to said third annular space and a second portion coaxial with said first portion and leading from said third annular space to said exhaust valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filling element according to claim 5, in which said exhaust valve is normally closed, electromagnetic means operable for opening said exhaust valve briefly during the supply of liquid of vessel being filled, and a restricted passage leading up from the upstream side of said exhaust valve to exhaust.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
A filling element according to claim 3, which includes a pipe connected to and extending upwardly from said distributor member and at the lower end communicating with said gas channel means in the distributor member, said pipe extending upwardly to a level substantially above the liquid level in said chamber means, said liquid valve comprising a first valve seat in said body immediately above said distributor member and a tubular first valve member in the body engageable with saiD first seat from above, said liquid passage leading from said chamber means to the region directly above said first seat, said gas valve comprising a second seat on the upper end of said first valve member and a second valve member engageable with said second seat from above, said gas passage leading from said chamber means to the region directly above said second seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filling element according to claim 7, in which there is radial clearance between said pipe and the inside of said first valve member for the flow of gas axially in said pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filling element according to claim 8, in which said radial clearance is reduced in the region of the upper end of said first valve member to form a restriction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A filling element according to claim 7, in which said first and second conduit portions and said pipe and said distributor member are formed as a unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A filling element according to claim 7, which includes means biasing said first valve member in the upward direction toward open position, abutment means limiting the stroke of said first valve member in opening direction, and actuating means for moving said second valve member between upper and lower positions for opening and closing said gas valve, said second valve member when moved downwardly to its lower closed position by said actuating means also moving said first valve member downwardly to closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A filling element according to claim 11 in which said second valve member in the upper position thereof will engage said second seat when said first valve member is moved upwardly to its open position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filling element according to claim 11, in which said abutment means comprises an abutment in said body engaged by said first valve member in open position thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A filling element according to claim 11, which includes a piston connected to said second valve member, a cylinder in which said piston is reciprocable, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of said cylinder for moving said second valve member in opening and closing directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filling element according to claim 14, which includes electromagnetically operable valve means controlling the supply of fluid to said cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A filling member according to claim 7, which includes a ringlike member having said first valve seat formed therein, said ringlike member telescopically engaging the lower end of said body, said head comprising a tubular member in which said distributor member is mounted, said tubular member being secured to the lower end of said body and clamping said ringlike member in place in said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A filling element according to claim 1, in which said rodlike element includes electrically operable sensing means on the lower end sensitive to the liquid level in the vessel being filled, and control means operated by said sensing means for controlling said liquid and gas valves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filling element according to claim 17, in which said electrically operable sensing means includes a switch and a float operable for actuating said switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A filling element according to claim 1, in which said rodlike element extends axially completely through said body, and adjusting means connected to the upper end of said rodlike element for axial adjustment thereof in said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
A filling element according to claim 1, in which said rodlike element is tubular, and a pressure operable switch on the upper end of said rodlike element closing the upper end thereof and confining a column of gas in said rodlike element which will cause actuation of said switch when liquid closes the lower end of said rodlike element and rises therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filling element according to claim 20, which includes means for adjusting said rodlike element axially in said body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A filling element according to claim 20, in which said pressure operable switch comprises a housing and a diaphragm dividing the housing into a first chamber communicating with the inside of said rodLike element and a second chamber communicating with said gas channel downstream of the gas valve, said switch being actuated upon a condition of pressure in said first chamber exceeding the pressure in said second chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A filling element according to claim 19, in which said adjusting means comprises a nut threaded on said second valve member and connected to said rodlike element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filling element according to claim 23, which includes a pinion connected to said nut, and drive means engaging said pinion and adapted to engage other like pinions of other filling elements whereby the said rodlike elements in a plurality of filling elements can be adjusted simultaneously and equally.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A filling element according to claim 24, in which said pinion is in the form of an inverted cup and encloses said nut, and means slidably keying the inside of said cup to the outside of said nut.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A filling element according to claim 24, which includes an actuating motor connected to said drive means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filling element according to claim 3, which includes a proximity switch operated by movement of said intermediate member upwardly into sealing engagement with said body and operable for controlling the actuation of said gas valve.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A filling element according to claim 3, which includes a proximity switch operated to movement of said first valve member upwardly to open position and operable to cause movement of said rodlike element into proper position to sense the liquid level in the vessel being filled.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A filling element according to claim 28, in which said proximity switch is also operable to cause opening of said exhaust valve.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
A filling element according to claim 1, which includes an electrical control system, circuit cord means forming a part of said system, said gas and exhaust valves being electrically operated and under the control of said control system, and proximity switches forming a part of said system and sensitive to the pressing of a vessel against said filling head and to the opening of said liquid valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |