Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A device for filling a specified quantity of a flowing medium into packages from a supply of the medium; characterized by a tubular housing, inlet and outlet fittings on the ends of said housing providing inlet and outlet valve seats, a flexible tubular sheath within said housing and clamped in sealed relation at its opposite ends to said housing by said fittings, inlet and outlet valves cooperating with said valve seats and arranged to admit the medium into said sheath and to permit discharge of the medium from said sheath and to prevent flow of the medium in the reverse direction, a supporting body within said sheath located between said valves and defining with said sheath at least one chamber of precise volume, the interior of said housing exposed to said sheath and the exterior of said supporting body being substantially equal in surface area, a rod extending through said body and mounting said inlet and outlet valves, said sheath together with said body and said valve seats defining a passageway through said device essentially without crevices and thereby capable of complete cleansing by flowing a cleansing fluid therethrough, an opening through said housing to the exterior of said sheath, means for selectively supplying gas under pressure through said opening to force said sheath against said supporting body whereby to expel the medium from said chamber through said outlet valve, and flexible hoses connected to supply medium to said inlet and to supply compressed gas to said opening and thereby allowing limited movement of the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
256 words
A device for filling a specified quantity of a flowing medium into packages from a supply of the medium; characterized by a tubular housing, inlet and outlet fittings on the ends of said housing providing inlet and outlet valve seats, a flexible tubular sheath within said housing and clamped in sealed relation at its opposite ends to said housing by said fittings, inlet and outlet valves cooperating with said valve seats and arranged to admit the medium into said sheath and to permit discharge of the medium from said sheath and to prevent flow of the medium in the reverse direction, a supporting body within said sheath located between said valves and defining with said sheath at least one chamber of precise volume, the interior of said housing exposed to said sheath and the exterior of said supporting body being substantially equal in surface area, a rod extending through said body and mounting said inlet and outlet valves, said sheath together with said body and said valve seats defining a passageway through said device essentially without crevices and thereby capable of complete cleansing by flowing a cleansing fluid therethrough, an opening through said housing to the exterior of said sheath, means for selectively supplying gas under pressure through said opening to force said sheath against said supporting body whereby to expel the medium from said chamber through said outlet valve, and flexible hoses connected to supply medium to said inlet and to supply compressed gas to said opening and thereby allowing limited movement of the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the exterior surface area of said supporting body is shaped to define a plurality of lengthwise extending channels which cooperate with the interior of said sheath to define said chamber.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
A device as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said inlet valve is constructed to open and admit medium to said chamber in repose to pressure of medium pumped to said inlet, said outlet valve is constructed to resist opening in response to the pressure of the pumped medium and to open upon exertion of a higher pressure due to supply of compressed gas against the exterior of said sheath.