Portable automatic drum filling apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic container filling apparatus for filling a container comprising, a valve having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the inlet to a product supply, a filling nozzle and product level detecting assembly including a filling nozzle and a pair of fluidic product level sensing probes for detecting different product levels during the filling of the container with product, means connecting the valve outlet to the filling nozzle, a pneumatic actuator for driving the valve between full open, intermediate and closed positions, means for producing a start signal, and fluid logic circuit means responding to the start signal to cause the actuator to drive the valve to full open position and to the product level sensing probes to cause the actuator to drive the valve to intermediate and closed positions as the product level rises and successively covers the probes, said circuit including means preventing the actuator from driving the valve to full open position in response to the start signal if the valve is in intermediate position.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said filling nozzle includes means adjustably mounting the probes on the nozzle to control the product levels sensed thereby, and means for setting the position of the nozzle relative the container.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid logic circuit means includes alarm means activated when the actuator drives the valve to intermediate and closed positions.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid logic circuit means includes visual indicating means for indicating valve position.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid logic circuit means further includes visual indication means for indication valve position, and alarm means activated when the actuator drives the valve to intermediate and closed position.

Claim 7

A portable automatic filling aparatus for filling drums with a product, wherein the drums include a bung defining a bunghole, which apparatus comprises, a movable cabinet and a filling nozzle and product level sensing assembly, said filling nozzle and product level detecting assembly including a filling nozzle and a pair of fluidic product level sensing probes adapted for insertion in a drum bunghole, said cabinet supporting a valve having an inlet connected to a product supply and an outlet connected to the filling nozzle, a pneumatic actuator for driving the valve between full open, intermediate, and closed positions, means producing a start signal, and fluid logic circuit means controlling operation of the actuator in response to the start signal to drIve the valve to full open position and the level sensing probes to drive the valve to intermediate and closed positions, said circuit including means preventing the actuator from driving the valve to full open position in response to the start signal if the valve is in intermediate position.

Claim 8

A portable automatic filling aparatus for filling drums with a product, wherein the drums include a bung defining a bunghole, which apparatus comprises, a movable cabinet and a filling nozzle and product level sensing assembly, said filling nozzle and product level detecting assembly including a filling nozzle and a pair of fluidic product level sensing probes adapted for insertion in a drum bunghole, said cabinet supporting a valve having an inlet connected to a product supply and an outlet connected to the filling nozzle, a pneumatic actuator for driving the valve between full open, intermediate, and closed positions, means producing a start signal, and fluid logic circuit means controlling operation of the actuator in response to the start signal to drIve the valve to full open position and the level sensing probes to drive the valve to intermediate and closed positions, said circuit including means preventing the actuator from driving the valve to full open position in response to the start signal if the valve is in intermediate position.

Claim 9

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said filling nozzle and probe assembly includes means on the nozzle adapted to coact with the bung to set the position of the sensing probes for detecting product level.

Claim 10

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said filling nozzle and probe assembly further includes means adjustably mounting the probes on the filling nozzle to vary the sensing levels thereof.

Claim 11

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said fluid logic circuit means includes fluidic indicators for indicating the valve position.

Claim 12

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said fluid logic circuit means includes alarm means activated when the actuator drives the valve to intermediate and closed position.

Claim 13

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus for filling drums having a bunghole with a predetermined amount of liquid product, said apparatus comprising, a combination filling nozzle and product level probe assembly and a movable cabinet, said combination filling nozzle and product level prove assembly including a filling nozzle sized to be adapted to be insertable in a bunghole, a slow feed probe and a stop feed probe mounted on and extending along the filling nozzle adapted to be insertable with the nozzle into a bunghole and to sense different product levels, said probes being in the form of fluidic proximity sensors, means on the filling nozzle limiting the insertion of the filling nozzle and probes in the bunghole, said cabinet housing a product control valve, a pneumatic actuator for driving said valve between full open and full closed positions, said valve having an inlet adapted to be connected to a product supply and an outlet connected to one end of a flexible hose having the combination filling nozzle and product level probe assembly at the other end thereof, and fluid logic circuit means connected to and controlling operation of the actuator, said circuit means including a start switch for commencing a filling cycle by opening the valve full and conditioning the circuit means, means responsive to the slow feed probe for causing the actuator to drive the valve to an intermediate or partially open position to provide slow product feed, means responsive to the stop feed probe for causing the actuator to drive the valve to full closed position and end the filling cycle, and means preventing the actuator from driving the valve to full open position in response to the start signal if the valve is in intermediate position.

Claim 14

A portable automatic drum filling apparatus for filling drums having a bunghole with a predetermined amount of liquid product, said apparatus comprising, a combination filling nozzle and product level probe assembly and a movable cabinet, said combination filling nozzle and product level prove assembly including a filling nozzle sized to be adapted to be insertable in a bunghole, a slow feed probe and a stop feed probe mounted on and extending along the filling nozzle adapted to be insertable with the nozzle into a bunghole and to sense different product levels, said probes being in the form of fluidic proximity sensors, means on the filling nozzle limiting the insertion of the filling nozzle and probes in the bunghole, said cabinet housing a product control valve, a pneumatic actuator for driving said valve between full open and full closed positions, said valve having an inlet adapted to be connected to a product supply and an outlet connected to one end of a flexible hose having the combination filling nozzle and product level probe assembly at the other end thereof, and fluid logic circuit means connected to and controlling operation of the actuator, said circuit means including a start switch for commencing a filling cycle by opening the valve full and conditioning the circuit means, means responsive to the slow feed probe for causing the actuator to drive the valve to an intermediate or partially open position to provide slow product feed, means responsive to the stop feed probe for causing the actuator to drive the valve to full closed position and end the filling cycle, and means preventing the actuator from driving the valve to full open position in response to the start signal if the valve is in intermediate position.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 11, wherein the circuit means further includes an emergency stop switch for causing the actuator to drive the valve to full closed position from either full open or intermediate positions.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 12, wherein the circuit means further includes fluidic indicators for indicating valve position, and alarm means responding to the actuator driving the valve into intermediate and closed positions.