EP0546446A1 - Filling head with perforated, bell-shaped gas barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A filling element (2) for drinks filling devices, having a liquid valve which closes once the reflux of gas from the container (5) has been interrupted, and having a bell-shaped gas barrier (14) which is arranged in the region of the gate (7) of the said valve and is provided with passages (15) which have fully closed edges and are designed in such a way that they only admit liquid, and not gas, is characterised in that the bell (14) is provided with passages (15) at least over the larger region of its surface which is subjected to the flow of liquid when the liquid valve (7) is in an open position. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a filling element of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.

Filling elements of this type form the state of the art customary today. Usually, a return gas tube projecting downward into the container is provided on the valve body, through which gas escapes from the container and, when its lower end is reached by the filling level, prevents further escape of back-flowing gas and thus stops the filling. The fill level can also be determined in another way, for example by means of sensors, and the escape of the gas can be interrupted with a return gas valve.

In the case of filling devices of the generic type, the liquid valve is still open for a certain period of time after the filling stop by interrupting the return gas flow, which e.g. can be very long when the beverage filler is stopped. During this period, before the liquid valve closes and further flow into the container is finally interrupted, it must be prevented that gas rises in another way, for example past the liquid valve, and thus liquid can continue to flow in, since the desired fill level in the container would then be exceeded.

For this purpose, a gas barrier is provided in the generic valve in the area of the liquid valve, which is designed in the special generic form as a perforated bell mounted on the valve body.

A generic filling element is known from DE-PS 1 162 711. With this construction, a lower, larger cylindrical region is unperforated in the case of a bell. Two rows of holes are provided in an upper conical part of the bell. The lower edge of the bell engages in a siphon of the usual type. The two rows of holes should slightly reduce the flow resistance of the construction in such a way that the flow resistance is compensated for when flowing through the siphon.

The advantage of this construction is the formation of the holes with a closed edge, so that the holes are completely surrounded by bell material. This creates a stable bell construction, in which in particular the lower edge is closed. This construction has significant stability and assembly advantages over the known construction according to DE-PS 27 27 723, which differs from the generic prior art in that the openings are designed as open slots towards the lower edge of the bell, which increases the stability of the bell reduced and leads to leaks in the event of assembly damage. This construction also uses the openings in the bell only in addition to a siphon which essentially receives the liquid flow.

The object of the present invention is to provide a filling element of the type mentioned at the outset which allows an undisturbed passage of liquid.

This object is achieved with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the two known constructions, the liquid hitting the bell is predominantly directed under acceleration into the lower edge region of the bell in order to flow through the siphon there. In addition, parts of the liquid can flow through the upper two rows of holes in the construction of DE-PS 1 162 711. In the case of DE-PS 27 27 723, the lower flow area is widened somewhat upwards through the slots. In the construction of the present invention, on the other hand, the bell is provided with passages essentially over its entire surface area opposing the liquid flow, so that the liquid flow striking the bell can flow through the latter over a wide area and while avoiding disruptive liquid acceleration in the passages. This enables a quieter filling or a greater liquid throughput with the same flow disturbance.

The features of claim 2 are advantageously provided. This results in a simple bell construction with an essentially cylindrical design, the cylindrical region ensuring a uniform flow everywhere due to its constant angle of attack relative to the liquid flow. The formation of the holes in the cylindrical part of the bell also has the essential advantage that the passages are arranged here in a vertical wall. In a vertical wall, however, there are particularly favorable conditions with regard to the gas barrier effect of passages, since gas bubbles which want to pass through a passage have a tendency to rise on the vertical wall, and the risk of a gas bubble passing through the passage is therefore low. The gas bubbles shear upwards rather than passing through the passage. In the upper, non-vertical parts of the bell, the conditions are more unfavorable, since there the gas bubbles press against the passage from below and tend to pass through it. For these reasons, passages in the cylindrical part of the bell, that is to say in a part in which the wall is essentially vertical, can be made larger with the same good gas barrier effect, without the risk of gas penetration. This can reduce the flow resistance can be further reduced.

The features of claim 3 are advantageously provided. With such a coarse density of the passages, there is a bell which can be flowed through very freely and has such a low flow resistance that at least the greater part of the liquid flow runs through the passages, that is to say through the bell itself. An additional flow passage under the lower edge of the bell can be dispensed with, which considerably simplifies the construction of the filling element, or only a small gas-blocking gap is provided as an additional liquid passage under the lower edge of the bell.

The features of claim 4 are advantageously provided. In this way, the area distribution of the passages over the entire area of the bell ensures that the bell is flowed through uniformly everywhere, which ensures particularly trouble-free, uniform flow.

The features of claim 5 are advantageously provided. This improves the uniformity of the flow as well as the producibility of the passages, which can be created, for example, with the same tool, advantageously with a round design according to claim 6 with the same drill.

The features of claim 7 are advantageously provided. In this construction, the bell is designed as a simple pressed part which is punched and pressed from a perforated plate. Perforated sheets are cheaply available and can be processed. The result is a bell that can be attached anywhere in the filling element and with which the manufacturing costs can be reduced even with a large number of holes.

If the bell in its spatially curved shape is pressed from a flat perforated plate, the lower parts of the bell, which are essentially cylindrical, are considerably compressed in the circumferential direction. Passages there in the perforated plate are thus compressed and deformed in the circumferential direction. However, in order to allow liquid to pass through optimally and at the same time act as a gas barrier, the passages should have a certain shape and size. Is pressed according to claim 8 from a blank, in which the passages in the radially outer areas are expanded in the circumferential direction, so these passages have the desired shape after pressing, without, as is otherwise necessary, the passages on the finished compact by drilling or the like must be introduced. In this way, passages of precise size can be produced inexpensively.

• Fig.1 ein Füllorgan mit gelochter Glocke im Schnitt,
• Fig.2 die Glocke im Schnitt gemäß Figur 1 und
• Fig.3 eine Draufsicht auf einen Lochblechrohling, aus dem die Glocke der Figur 2 durch Pressen hergestellt wird.

The invention is shown schematically, for example, in the drawings. Show it:

• 1 shows a filling element with a perforated bell in section,
• 2 shows the bell in section according to Figure 1 and
• 3 shows a plan view of a perforated sheet blank from which the bell of FIG. 2 is produced by pressing.

A filling element 2 is fastened under an opening of a beverage storage kettle 1 by means not shown. The outlet 3 of the filling element is sealed with a seal 4 on the edge of a bottle 5.

In the interior 6 of the filling element, a valve body 7 is arranged such that it can move in height. The valve body 7 is extended upwards and downwards with a return gas tube 8, the gas channel of which passes through the valve body 7.

The valve body 7 carries a sealing ring 9, which lies in the lowest position of the valve body 7 in sealing contact on the valve seat 10 of the filling element 2.

In the figure, valve body 7 and return gas tube 8 are shown in different operating positions on the left and right of the center line, respectively. The closed position is shown on the right-hand side, in which the valve body 7 lies sealingly on the valve seat 10. The opening position, in which the valve body is raised, is shown on the left-hand side. Means, not shown, are provided which, for example, engage the upper end of the return gas tube 8, not shown, in order to move the valve body 7 between the two operating positions shown. These means can consist, for example, of a spring that opens at constant pressure or of levers that can be actuated from the outside.

A stop ring 11 is fixedly mounted in the interior 6 of the filling element 2 and forms a fixed stop 12 on its lower ring surface. An upwardly facing annular surface is formed on the valve body 7, which serves as a valve stop 13. The opening movement of the valve body is limited in the opening position shown in the left half of the figure by the valve stop 13 abutting against the fixed stop 12.

Above the valve stop 13, a bell 14 is freely movable in height on the valve body 7. The bell 14 is designed in the basic shape of a ring with a large inner hole 27 which sits with play on the circumference of the valve body 7. The bell is provided with a plurality of passages 15 in the case shown. In the preferred embodiment, it is punched out of a perforated plate as a ring and pressed into the bell shape shown.

The passages 15 can also be used with tools in a prefabricated form Bell blank are introduced, for example by drilling or milling. For this purpose, the passages 15 of the same, in particular round, shape are advantageous. The passages 15 are of such a passage cross-section that they let liquid pass through, but certainly do not let rising gas bubbles pass through. Their dimensions are therefore chosen in the diameter range of a few tenths of a millimeter.

As the comparison of the two halves of the figure shows, the bell 14 is firmly clamped between the valve stop 13 and the fixed stop 12 in the open position shown on the left, for which purpose it has correspondingly shaped annular stop surfaces on its upper and lower sides, and is thus on a defined one Height held at the distance shown above the valve seat. This distance results in a gap which is selected in a size of a few tenths of a millimeter such that liquid can flow through it, but no gas bubbles can pass through it. Likewise, the passages 15 are set in the size range mentioned so that they also allow liquid to pass through but no gas bubbles.

In the closed position of the valve shown on the right, the bell 14 is free. It stands on the valve seat and does not have to participate in the entire downward movement of the valve body 7.

The valve seat is shown differently in the two halves of the figure to illustrate a variant. On the right side, the valve seat 10 forms a siphon of conventional construction, the bell protruding into the channel 16 of the siphon.

On the left side of the figure, the valve seat 10 'is flat, that is, without the formation of a siphon.

• In der rechts dargestellten Schließstellung des Füllorganes steht die Flüssigkeit aus dem Vorratskessel 1 im Innenraum 6 des Füllorganes oberhalb des geschlossenen Ventiles. Jetzt kann an der Unterseite des Füllorganes eine neue Flasche 5 oder gegebenenfalls bei etwas anderer Gestaltung des Füllorganes eine zu füllende Dose angesetzt werden.

The operation of the construction shown is explained as follows:

• In the closed position of the filling element shown on the right, the liquid from the storage vessel 1 is in the interior 6 of the filling element above the closed valve. Now a new bottle 5 or, if necessary, a can to be filled with a slightly different design of the filling element can be attached to the underside of the filling element.

The container is prestressed by the return gas pipe 8 or in another way, if it is carbonated beverages. Then the liquid valve is opened by lifting the valve body 7 into the open position shown on the left side of the figure. Now liquid (left side of the figure) flows through the passages 15 of the bell 14 or through the gap which is formed under the edge thereof. The liquid flows into the bottle 5 until the liquid level reaches the lower end of the return gas pipe 8 or is determined in some other way, for example by means of sensors. The filling process is now stopped by blocking the return gas path. Since no more gas can escape from the bottle 5, no more liquid can flow into the container.

However, gas from the unfilled head space of the container and from outlet 3 could flow past the still open liquid valve. Then more liquid would get down.

This prevents the bell 14 serving as a gas barrier. Although this allows liquid to flow through its openings 15 and below its edge, it is dimensioned with regard to the gap size and hole diameter so that no gas can rise. The liquid therefore remains stopped until the liquid valve is closed by moving the valve body 7 downward and the liquid supply is thus finally interrupted.

As FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 show, the bell 14 is provided with openings 15 over its entire surface exposed to the liquid flow when the valve body 7 is open. As Figure 1 (left) shows, there is no need for a siphon under the lower edge of the bell. The gas-tight gap shown under the edge of the bell only makes a small flow contribution. The essential liquid flow flows through the bell itself, that is to say through the openings 15, which make up the larger area.

The openings are also evenly distributed over the surface of the bell 14. The bell is therefore evenly flowed through in all surface areas.

In a departure from the illustration in FIG. 1, the bell 14 can also be fastened in a suitable manner to the fixed stop 12 or to the valve stop 13. It is then either fixed or arranged to move with the valve body 7. In the latter case, as can be seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the channel 16 must be deepened in order to allow the lower edge of the bell 14 to penetrate far enough downwards.

FIG. 2 shows the bell 14 in an embodiment in section according to FIG. 1. According to this embodiment, the bell is pressed from a flat perforated sheet blank 26, which is shown in a top view in FIG. One recognizes the large inner hole 27 with which the bell surrounds the valve body 7 with play. Furthermore, one can see two inner rows of holes with holes 15 and a radially outer row of holes with passages 25.

The passages 15 are round. After pressing from the dashed line in Figure 2 Darge the shape of the blank 26, which is shown in Figure 3 in plan view, the passages 15 essentially retain their shape. So they are already formed on the blank 26 in its final round shape.

The passages 25 of the radially outer row of holes, on the other hand, are widened in the circumferential direction on the blank, that is to say they are formed in an oval shape. If the blank is pressed into the bell shape from the elongated shape shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, the circumference of the outer edge is evidently reduced. All sheet metal areas in the radially outer area are compressed in the circumferential direction. The oval passages 25 are compressed in the direction of the two arrows in FIG. 3 and are given the final desired circular shape, in which they then correspond in shape and size to the passages 15.

In this way it is possible to provide uniform round passages on the bell shape, without these having to be subsequently attached to the finished pressed bell by drilling.

The passages can also have a shape other than circular, for example triangular, elongated, slot-shaped or the like. Even then, the radially outer passages are to be provided correspondingly enlarged in the circumferential direction on the blank so that after pressing into the bell shape they have the same hole shape as the radially inner passages of the bell, which are not deformed during the pressing.

Such a blank 26 for the manufacture of a bell can be produced as a single finished part or several such blanks can be formed on a continuous, perforated plate from which the blanks are first punched out in order to form the finished bells from them in a press.

Claims (7)

1. Filling device for beverage fillers with a liquid valve closing after the interruption of the return gas flow from the container and a gas barrier arranged in the area of the valve body thereof in the form of a bell, which is provided with passages which have completely closed edges and which are dimensioned such that they only Allow liquid but not gas, characterized in that the bell (14) is provided with passages (15) at least over the larger area of its surface exposed to the liquid flow in the open position of the liquid valve (7). 2. Filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bell (14) has a substantially cylindrical lower part which is completely provided with passages (15). 3. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of passages (15) is selected such that at least the greater part of the liquid flow through the passages during the filling process. 4. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passages (15) are distributed over the surface of the bell (14) that the entire surface is flowed through with essentially the same liquid flow per unit area. 5. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all passages (15) have the same shape. 6. Filling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the passages (15) are of round shape. 7. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bell (14) is designed as a stamped and pressed part made from a perforated plate (blank 26). 8. Filling device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bell (14) is made from a blank (26) in which the passages (25) are expanded in the radially outer regions in the circumferential direction.

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