US3779292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carbonated beverage filler
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1972-03-17
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Granted: 1973-12-18
•
Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A filling apparatus for carbonated beverages including a filling valve connected to a beverage source under pressure and including a measuring cylinder movable into and out of a container to be filled. The measuring cylinder has a foot valve on its lower end and is telescopically associated with an inlet valve. The measuring cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of beverage at superatmospheric pressure by moving the cylinder down into an empty container when the foot valve is closed and the inlet valve is open. The inlet valve is then closed and the cylinder is again moved down a slight amount to increase the volume thus reducing the pressure of a measured volume of beverage to atmospheric pressure. The foot valve is then opened and the measuring cylinder is moved upwardly at one rate and the container is moved upwardly at a slower rate relative to the closed inlet valve to transfer the measured quantity of beverage into the container at atmospheric pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 S Mencacci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:40
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/20; B67C3/206; B67C3/22; B67C3/24; B67C3/26; B67C3/2614; B67C3/2617; B67C7/00; B67C7/0006; B67C7/004; B67C7/0046; B65; B65D; B65D2571/00; B65D2571/00006; B65D2571/00012; B65D2571/00018; B67C2003/2657; B67C2007/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising, supplying means for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid under superatmospheric pressure, means defining a variable volume measuring chamber for receiving and confining a predetermined quantity of liquid at said superatmospheric pressure from said supply means, means for slightly increasing the volume of said chamber defining means for reducing the pressure of said liquid to about atmospheric pressure, and foot valve means for releasing the liquid from the measuring chamber into a container at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising, supplying means for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid under superatmospheric pressure, means defining a variable volume measuring chamber for receiving and confining a predetermined quantity of liquid at said superatmospheric pressure from said supply means, means for slightly increasing the volume of said chamber defining means for reducing the pressure of said liquid to about atmospheric pressure, and foot valve means for releasing the liquid from the measuring chamber into a container at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising means for lowering the measuring chamber into the container during confinement of the measured quantity of liquid, and means for raising the measuring chamber from the container during the release of the liquid into the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising container supporting means for raising the container at a slower rate than the rate of upward movement of the measuring chamber during the release of liquid into the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said variable volume measuring chamber defining means includes, means defining an inlet valve, a tubular cylinder telescopically associated with said inlet valve means, a foot valve on the lower end of said tubular cylinder, valve control means for opening and closing said valves, cylinder control means for telescopically moving said cylinder relative to said inlet valve between a first position wherein said foot valve contacts said inlet valve, a second position wherein said foot valve is spaced a predetermined distance from said inlet valve for confining a predetermined quantity of liquid at superatmospheric pressure therebetween, and a third position slightly extended from said second position for reducing the pressure of the liquid to about atmospheric pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the additional extension of said cylinder from said second position to said third position is about 0.001 - 0.003 of an inch.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid in a container comprising a driven turret, a stationary container supporting track surrounding a portion of said turret and having portions which vary in elevation, means on said turret for receiving open top containers and driving them around the turret, a supply tank on said turret for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid, a filling valve carried by said turret and disposed in axial alignment with the container, conduit means connecting said supply tank to said filling valve, a tubular measuring cylinder included in said filling valve, a foot valve on the lower end of said measuring cylinder, an inlet valve disposed above said foot valve, valve control means for opening and closing said inlet valve and said foot valve, cylinder control means for telescopically moving said cylinder relative to said inlet valve between a first position wherein said foot valve contacts said inlet valve and a second position wherein said foot valve is spaced a predetermined distance from said inlet valve for confining a predetermined quantity of liquid at superatmospheric pressure therebetween, and a third position slightly extended from said second position for reducing the pressure of the liquid to about atmospheric pressure, said cylinder control means being adapted to move the cylinder and foot valve down into the container when moving from said first to said second and third positions, said foot valve being opened to release the liquid at atmospheric pressure into the container while said cylinder control means raises said tubular measuring cylinder out of the container.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid in a container comprising a driven turret, a stationary container supporting track surrounding a portion of said turret and having portions which vary in elevation, means on said turret for receiving open top containers and driving them around the turret, a supply tank on said turret for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid, a filling valve carried by said turret and disposed in axial alignment with the container, conduit means connecting said supply tank to said filling valve, a tubular measuring cylinder included in said filling valve, a foot valve on the lower end of said measuring cylinder, an inlet valve disposed above said foot valve, valve control means for opening and closing said inlet valve and said foot valve, cylinder control means for telescopically moving said cylinder relative to said inlet valve between a first position wherein said foot valve contacts said inlet valve and a second position wherein said foot valve is spaced a predetermined distance from said inlet valve for confining a predetermined quantity of liquid at superatmospheric pressure therebetween, and a third position slightly extended from said second position for reducing the pressure of the liquid to about atmospheric pressure, said cylinder control means being adapted to move the cylinder and foot valve down into the container when moving from said first to said second and third positions, said foot valve being opened to release the liquid at atmospheric pressure into the container while said cylinder control means raises said tubular measuring cylinder out of the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said container drive means slides the container around the track and wherein the track lifts the container at a slower rate than the rate of upward movement of the measuring cylinder when the liquid is being released into the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the rate of upward movement of the measuring cylinder is less than six linear feet per second.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a movement of between about 0.001 to 0.003 of an inch is required when said measuring cylinder moves from said second to said third position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conduit means is a flexible hose.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising the steps of providing a supply of carbonated liquid maintained at superatmospheric pressure, confining a measured quantity of the liquid at said superatmospheric pressure within a measuring chamber, slightly increasing the volume of the measuring chamber for reducing the pressure of the measured quantity of liquid to approximately atmospheric pressure, and releasing the measured quantity of liquid from the measuring chamber into a container at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising the steps of providing a supply of carbonated liquid maintained at superatmospheric pressure, confining a measured quantity of the liquid at said superatmospheric pressure within a measuring chamber, slightly increasing the volume of the measuring chamber for reducing the pressure of the measured quantity of liquid to approximately atmospheric pressure, and releasing the measured quantity of liquid from the measuring chamber into a container at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 11 and including the steps of lowering the measuring chamber into the container while confining the measured quantity pf liquid, and raising the measuring chamber from the container during release of the liquid into the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 12 and additionally including the step of raising the container at a slower rate than the rate of rise of the measuring chamber during the release of liquid into the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 12 including the step of releasing the liquid from the measuring chamber at a point below the level of liquid in the container during a major portion of the upward travel of the measuring chamber from the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the upper surface of the container is open to the atmosphere for allowing air within the container to flow directly into the atmosphere.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 12 and additionally including the steps of moving the measuring chamber along a predetermined path, slidably supporting a container, moving the container into position below and concentric with the measuring chamber when moving through a portion of the path, moving the container through said portion of said path while retaining concentric alignment with the chamber, and vertically moving the container by sliding the container along said path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said path is a circular path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said superatmospheric pressure is within the range of about 15-40 psi gauge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
203 words
A high speed apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising a driven turret, supply means for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid, means defining a variable volume measuring chamber carried by said turret and communicating with said supply means for receiving and confining a predetermined quantity of the carbonated liquid therein, means for slightly increasing the volume of said chamber after the liquid has been confined therein, means defining a container track for receiving the container and maintaining the upper open end of the container in position to telescopically receive a portion of said measuring chamber while said chamber is being filled with liquid, means for advancing the container around said track while maintaining axial alignment with said measuring chamber means, a foot valve in said chamber defining means, means for opening said foot valve after said chamber has been slightly increased in volume, and means for raising said measuring chamber means out of said container at a predetermined rate for releasing the liquid from said measuring chamber into said container, said track means including an upwardly inclined portion for raising the container at a rate slower than said predetermined rate while the liquid is being released into the container.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
203 words
A high speed apparatus for filling a carbonated liquid into a container comprising a driven turret, supply means for maintaining a supply of carbonated liquid, means defining a variable volume measuring chamber carried by said turret and communicating with said supply means for receiving and confining a predetermined quantity of the carbonated liquid therein, means for slightly increasing the volume of said chamber after the liquid has been confined therein, means defining a container track for receiving the container and maintaining the upper open end of the container in position to telescopically receive a portion of said measuring chamber while said chamber is being filled with liquid, means for advancing the container around said track while maintaining axial alignment with said measuring chamber means, a foot valve in said chamber defining means, means for opening said foot valve after said chamber has been slightly increased in volume, and means for raising said measuring chamber means out of said container at a predetermined rate for releasing the liquid from said measuring chamber into said container, said track means including an upwardly inclined portion for raising the container at a rate slower than said predetermined rate while the liquid is being released into the container.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the liquid is maintained at a temperature of about 32*F-35*F.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said container track is banked for counteracting the effect of centrifugal force acting on the liquid in the container.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein twelve variable volume measuring chambers are evenly spaced around the periphery of the turret, and wherein the turret is driven at a speed which will fill between 1,000-1,500 containers per minute.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2225087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |