Filling element for counterpressure filling machines

Claim 1

A filling element, for single- and multi-chamber counterpressure filling machines, for introducing liquid into a container, said filling element comprising: a filling element body having a container-sealing region at a first end thereof; a filling tube held in said filling element body for introducing liquid into a container pressed into engagement at said container-sealing region, said filling tube extending through said container-sealing region into said filling element body, and being surrounded by an annular pressurized gas chamber provided in said filling element body and having an annular gap-like outlet arranged in the region of said container-sealing region, and a cross section which is substantially greater toward the interior thereof than is that of said annular gap-like outlet, said annular pressurized gas chamber being delimited laterally by essentially cylindrical surfaces; a pressurized gas system, including a pressurized gas valve arrangement controlled by devices installed on said filling machine, and conduits, for introducing and discharging pressurized gas, which open into said pressurized gas chamber, said conduits including at least one pressurized gas outlet conduit opening into the lower end region of said pressurized gas chamber, and at least one pressurized gas inlet conduit which opens into said pressurized gas chamber no lower than the plane of the opening of said at least one pressurized gas outlet conduit, said at least one pressurized gas inlet conduit opening essentially tangentially relative to said cylindrical delimiting surfaces; a liquid flow valve arranged in said filling element body and operatively associated with said filling tube, said liquid flow valve being controlled at least for closing; and a control element associated with said filling tube and responding at a predetermined filling level of said liquid in the container for terminating inflow of said liquid thereto.