Container filling device with flow control

Claim 1

A container-filling device comprising a measuring tank provided in its bottom with a central outlet opening, a resilient diaphragm mounted at its edge in the tank and dividing it into an upper air chamber and a lower liquid dispensing chamber, the side wall of said lower chamber curving downwardly and inwardly to said outlet opening, a separate flow control plate in said lower chamber covering said opening and seated at its edge on said side wall around the opening, said plate having a central stem extending down into said opening, the tank being provideD with means extending across said outlet opening for anchoring said stem to hold the plate in place, the plate having holes through it for rapid flow of liquid through it to said outlet opening, the plate being provided with a restricted flow passage extending inwardly from its periphery for connecting said lower chamber with said outlet opening, and the upper chamber having an inlet for air under pressure for stretching the diaphragm downwardly and into engagement with said plate to force liquid down through said holes and to then close them to reduce the rate of flow through said outlet opening, said restricted passage being in a position for continued flow of liquid therethrough after said holes have been closed by the diaphragm and until the lower chamber is substantially emptied by the diaphragm.