US2138355A - Apparatus for filling containers under gas - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1938.

w. M. RYAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 1955 e Shee'Es-Sheet 1 v INVENTORS WILL MM ML ES IP41.

BY j6H/V P115040. %,Q 9 ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938.

W. M, RYAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 193 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS VV/Z L M MLEJ B A/v boa/o 57016405 a/BH/V WfiOLD. %4 MTTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. w. M. RYAN ET AL 27,138,355

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Mu/WMESf AM BY Q/(BH/V WEOLD.

Z? ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. w. M. RYAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS WLL/AM ML'ES RYAN BY LibHN W 501.0.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. w. M. RYAN ET AL 2,138,355

' APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS MLL/AMMLEJFYAM BY c/oH/v W040.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. w. M, RYAN ET AL 2,138,355

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS Filed Sept. 5, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 6 r .4 (Q M 7% 1 f0! 70.1 W w QINVENTORS MAL/AM ML 2.: RYAN.

(/EHN 5040.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29, 1938 2 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS UNDER GAS William Miles Ryan and John W. Bold, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Ryan Coffee Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,270

15 Claims. (01. 226-68) Our present invention relates to an apparatus gas under the pressure at which the material is for sealing containers, such as bottles and cans, to be sealed in the container. Communication is under a selected gas, and more particularly under then opened to a filling chamber also filled with a selected gas at a selected or predetermined presgas at the sealing pressure, whereupon the com- 5 sure. munication between the two chambers is again 5 Our present invention is an improvement on the closed, the selected gas withdrawn from the enapparatus disclosed in our co-pending applicatrance chamber and replaced with air, where tions Ser. No. 655,733, filed February 8, 1933; upon it may be opened to receive a succeeding Ser. No. 740,372, filed August 18, 1934, and Ser. group of containers.

No. 194, filed January 3, 1935. The apparatus for accomplishing this may be of 10 In canning or bottling products, such as beer the type shown in our co-pending application Ser. and similar beverages, it is necessary to charge No. 740,372.

the container with a selected gas, such as carbon In the filling chamber the containers are filled dioxide, under superatmospheric pressure. It is with a measured quantity of the product, such also very desirable to prevent the presence of even as beer or other beverages. 15 a small amount of air in the container, as even a The material to be supplied to the containers very small amount or trace of oxygen of the air is drawn as needed from a liquid storage tank to a aiiects the taste or quality oi the product. Resupply reservoir in which there is always mainmoval of atmospheric air from contact with tained a sum-cient quantity to supply the contain charged material in a container presents insuers. Generally the liquid storage and the supply 20 V perable difficulties because if the air be withdrawn reservoir are kept under a selected gas pressure or evacuated the gaseous contents of the product at which the material is to be supplied to the which it is desirable to retain will also be withcontainers, but may be under a difierent gaseous drawn. pressure, either higher or lower than that at These difficulties are overcome in our present which the material is to be sealed in the con- 5 invention which provides an apparatus whereby tainers. a container may be filled with the liquid or ma- From the liquid supply tank the liquid is suptcrial Without loss of gas from the latter, and plied at intervals to a vessel and fills the latter without including air in the container or chargwith a measured quantity, thereafter interrupting the gas or material with air. ing thesupply. Immediately thereafter the liq- 30 Various features of the invention are illustrated uid is fed from the measuring glass through a in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is feeding tube to the bottom of the container to be a vertical front view of the apparatus embodyfilled. An equalization of gas between the filling ing a preferred form of the invention for filling chamber and the upper part of the measuring 5 the containers with the material in an atmosglass enables the fluid to flow from the measuring 9 phere of selected gas preparatory to sealing the glass into the container by gravity. When the containers; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic or skeleton liquid has run from the measuring glass to the View of certain mechanisms for measuring the liquid container, the measuring apparatus reproduct into the containers in a selected gas atturns to its original position to be again refilled 40 mosphere; Fig. 3is a section on the line 33 of with a measured quantity for a succeeding con- 40 Fig. l of the filling apparatus; Fig. 4 is a detail tainer, while the filled containers pass to a capview of an element of the filling and measuring ping or sealing machine. mechanism; Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional In the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inviews through the measuring and filling apparaelusive the measuring glass is dispensed with and tus in different positions of operation, and Fig. 7 the filling liquid is siphoned into containers to a 45 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line predetermined level directly from the supply resl-l of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a ervoir maintained at the filling level. modification oi the measuring and filling appa- It will be understood that there is an individual ratus; Figs. 9, l0, and 11. are vertical sections and filling mechanism for each container of the group 5 Fig. 12 a horizontal section of details of the filladmitted to the filling chamber. The filling and ing apparatus. measuring mechanisms are timed and synchro- In our present invention empty containers are nized with the capping machine and with the supplied in groups to an entrance chamber in apparatus for opening and closing the entrance which all of the air is withdrawn to a very high and filling chambers in a manner as described in vacuum and which is then filled with a SQLQGEQQ @O-pending application Ser. No. 740,372.. After 55 sealing, the sealed containers may be removed from the sealing apparatus as described in said application.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings (Figs. 1 to '7), a series of containers I9 is carried, preferably in single file, by a belt IE to a position in front of an inlet gate I2 of an entrance chamber I4. When the containers have been positioned in front of the gate I2 the latter is lowered to open position by means of a fluid pressure cylinder and piston I3 and the contain-- ers pushed over the threshold into thechamber I4 by means of rocking pushers I5 operated by means of a fluid pressure cylinder I6 through the linkage I1 as described in application Ser. No. 740,372. Thereafter the gate I2 is closed thereby enclosing the containers in the chamber I4. Air is then withdrawn from the chamber I4 through the pipe I 8 creating a high vacuum in the chamber I4 and then the selected gas, such as carbon dioxide, is admittedthroughthe pipe I8 until the pressure equals or approximates the gaseous pressure in filling chamber I9; thereupon communication between the chambers I4 and I9 is opened by lowering a communicating gate 20 operated by means of a fluid pressure cylinder 2 I.

The containers are. pushed from the entrance chamber I4 into the filling chamber I9 by means of a rocking pusher 22; thereupon the gate 20 is lifted. closing the chamber. I9 from the chamber I4. The selected gas is then withdrawn from the chamber I4 and replaced with air and the gate [2. lowered to open the entrance chamber I4 to receive a succeeding group of containers.

When a group of containers I9 have been pushed into the chamber I9: they are received and heldin position on. a conveyor belt 23. The containers are held in stationary position on this belt until they have been filled with the measured quantity of'material whereupon they are released and transferred to av capping or closing machine.

The material tov be filled into the containers in the chamber I9 is supplied from a storage tank 24 through a pipe 25 to. a supply reservoir 26 which is kept supplied to a level sufficient to ensure an adequate feed of material to the measuring apparatus and; containers. From the supply reservoir 26 a liquid or fluid flows through a manifold 2"! into individual branch pipes 28 leading to measuring glasses 29,.there beingone measuring glass for each container to be filled. The branch supply pipes 28 enter a channel or recess 30 in a valve seat 3|, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in Figs. 5 and 6 as positioned at the upper part of the measuring glass.

The channels 3Il'arev closedb-y means of a valve 32 which rests on the valve seat. This valve is lifted at timed intervals to the position shown in Fig. 6 whereupon the liquid supplied through the pipe 28 flows over the valve seat 3| and downwardly through a depending pipe 33:1;0 the lower or bottom part of the measuring glass 29 and thence outwardly into the latter through lateral openings 34. The flow of liquid into the measuring glass 29 continues until the latter is entirely filled and thence upwardly through a gas inlet pipe 35 until it enters and fills a float valve chamber 35 and lifts a float valve 31 to close this chamber and prevent the further inflow of liquid.

It will be understood that the volume of the measuring glass 29, the pipe 35 and chamber 36, will contain just the amount or volume of liquid required to fill the container to the desired fullness.

When the measuring glass has been completely filled the valve 32 is again lowered to close against further inflow of liquid and the liquid in the measuring glass is supplied to containers I0 in the filling chamber I9. For this purpose a stem 38 extending downwardly through the measuring glass 29 is lowered from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 5. The lower part of the stem 39 is hollow and is provided with inlet openings 39 which in the lowered position of Fig. 5 are on a level with the bottom of the measuring glass so that liquid can flow from the measuring .glass into the downwardly extending stem.

The lower end of they stem 38 is open and is provided with a valve chamber 49 containing a lift valve 4| that is opened when the stem 38 is lowered sufficiently to cause the valve 4| to rest on the bottom of the measuring glass. A collar or flange 42 is mounted on the stem 38 immediately above the openings 39 to engage and lift the valve 32.

The stem 38 is lifted to the position shown in Fig. 6 and lowered to the position shown in Fig. 5 at intervals in timed relation or sequence to the opening and closing of the gates I2 and 29. and the operation of the capping or closing machine. When it is lifted to the position shown in Fig. 6 the valve 4| is closed and the valve 32' is lifted so that liquid may flow into the measuring glass and fill the latter until the float Valve 3'! is lifted whereupon further inflow is prevented.

When the stem 38 moves downwardly the collar 42 permits the valve 32 to fall and close against the valve seat 3| thus shutting off further inflow through the recess 30. The seating of the valve 32 may be ensured by a spring 43 confined between the upper end of the valve and. an inward.- ly extending flange 44 on the cap 45 of themeasuring glass. As the stem reaches its lowermost position, as in Fig. 5, the valve 4.I-opens and the liquid flows downwardly through the hollow" stem into the bottom of the container I 9 and rises until it fills all of the container with the liquid contained in the measuring glass.

The stem 38 may rise if" necessary during the latter'part of this filling operation. The emptying of the gauge glass-causes gas to flow into the valve chamber 36. and pipe 35 and this gas is again forced out when liquid; enters the measuring glass in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The gas supply to the pipe 35 is connected through branch pipes 46, 41 and 48 to the'filling chamber I9 so that the pressures between the filling chamber and the upper end of the measuring glass are always equalized. The pipe 41 also connects with the supply reservoir 26 equalizing pressure between. the latter and the measuring glasses sothat liquid will flow by gravity from the supply reservoir into the latter. Gas may be supplied to the supply reservoir and the piping connected to it from a gas supply 49 through a pipe 56 and pressure regulator 5| and enter the upper part of the supply reservoir 26 through a return. bend 52. Gas is also supplied from the source 49, or any other source,.through the pressure regulator'fi l' and a second pressure regulator 53 to the storage tank 24.

When the liquid reaches a predetermined level or height it lifts a float 54 which opens a valve 55 controlling the inflow of gas to the reservoir.

The stem 38 may be lifted and lowered by any suitable mechanism in timed relation to the operation of the capping or sealing machine and the gates I2 and 20 and the associated gasand air Withdrawing and supplying means.

closing machinen This shaft rotates a rotary.

valve 51 which controls the supply of pressure fluid to theivarious operating mechanisms of the apparatus in timed sequence. Itmay also be arrangedto supply pressure fluid alternatively to pipes 58 and-5 9 which lead to-op'posite ends of a cylinder. 65 which drives mechanism for raising andilowering the stem 33. When pressure fluid is admittedto opposite'ends of the'cylinder it lifts or-lowers a piston rod'fil which, as shown in Fig. 4 ."is 1conne'cted through a link 52 to an arm 53 of a rocking-geari'segment 54. The segment64 in turn meshes with a vertically reciprocating rack which carries a horizontal bar 65 extending lengthwise above the filling chamber. The bar65 has anumber -of recesses, one for each stem 38 extending .upwardlyand each receiving and holding a connecting stem 65 the lower end of which has a cap 67 into which the upper end of its respective stem 38 is threaded.

"It will, therefore, be'understood that the stem Z t will be 'reciprocated through the rack 65 by fluid supplied to the cylinder 6!! at predetermined intervals in 'the rotation of the shaft 56. The movement of the stem 33 is guided through stuffing boxes 68 and 59 which seal the upper and lower ends of the measuring'glass respectively.

The length. of thestem H! of the valve 4! is not sufiicient, when the latter is closed, to reach to the surface of the conveyor 23 upon which the containerslil rest and,-therefore, will not open unless at'container is in position on the conveyor. This ensures against a delivery of the filling material whenever. for any reason, a container may not be imposition beneath its respective filling mechanism.

A predetermined pressure is ensured throughout theia'pparatusbymeans of a pressure release valve'l-l-jFig. 1;'-:which will open upon an excess of pressurejn case pressure is being employed in theapparatusr The pressure gauges 12, Fig. 3 andr'l3, Figs. 1" and 2, are provided to indicate the pressure Within the apparatus. A hand operated valve "54 is' also provided in the feed l ne 25" anda drain cock 15in the manifold 21, Fig. 2.

.A-checkvalve. liifis'also provided at the entrancetothe pipe 4-"! to "prevententrance of the filling material into. the latter in the event of failure of any of the parts. A. gauge glass Tl indicates thG'iIQVBIOfthE material.

The. operation 'of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming the liquid supply tank 25 and the mea uring glass 29 and all the piping from these two containers tohe empty, and the pipe 55 to be filled with'selectedlgasfrom theliquidstorage 24. the hand control valve i4 closed and the gate 253 ra sed to closedpositiom'the chamber 19 and all of chambers connected with it, the"pipes 43. 4

and 46 and the measuringglass 29and the liqu d supply tank-.26 arethen subjected toa'vacuum drawing the air out as completely as possible.

' The chamber 15, liquidsupply tank and measuring glass and the connecting piping are then completely filled with the selectedgas to the tie that supplied to the liquid storage tank 24 and through the valve 55 into the liquid supply tank forcing the liquid downwardly until the float 54 drops sufficiently to close the valve 55. Thereafter with each drop in the surface of the liquid in the supply tank 26 the pressure in the liquid storage tank will force it upwardly until the float 54 opens the valve 55 and counterbalances the lifting pressure on the liquid.

It will be understood that the movements of the float 54 will be very small and the level of the liquid will be substantially constant. If through any failure of the mechanism the liquid level should rise to the entrance of the gas pipe 4?, the float check valve 16 will close and prevent the material from overflowing through the pipes 4! and 48 into the chamber l9.

When the apparatus is thus filled the capping orsealing machine is started. and rotates the shaft 56, Thereupon in succession the gate I2 is lowered, the container I0 is pushed by the rocker arm pusher I 5 into the chamber i 4, the gate 12' is raised to close the chamber M from the atmos phere, air is withdrawn from the chamber l4 through the pipe [8 and replaced with selected gas until the predetermined pressure is reached sufiicient to balance the pressure within the chamber I 9. Thereupon the gate 25 is lowered and the container pushed by the rocker arm pusher 22 into the chamber I 9 and on to the conveyor belt 23.

Prior to the placing of the container H] on the conveyor 23, the stem 38 will be in raised position, Fig. 6, and the valve 32 will be lifted so that the measuring glass 29 will be completely filled, then pressure fluid is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 60 forcing the piston rod 6! upwardly and rotating the gear segment 64 to lower the stem 38 first closing the valve 32 and then opening the valve 40 when the stem reaches. its lowermost position, and the valve stem rests upon the bottom of the container. The filling fluid then flows by gravity from the measuring glass 29 into the container I0, there being an equalization of gas pressure between the container and the upper part of the measuring glass 29 through the pipes 48, 41 and 46. Then in timed sequence pressure fluid is admitted by the rotary valve 5i through the pipe 59 to the upper part of the cylinder (ii! and exhausted from the lower part, whereupon the gear segment 54 is rotated to lift the rack 65 and the stem 38 to the position shown in Fig. 6. This first causes the valve 4| to close and then opens the valve 32 permitting fluid to flow there through downwardly through the tube 33 and upwardly in the measuring glass until it fills the latter and piping 35 and float valve chamber 35. The filling mechanism remains in this position. until the filled containers have moved on and a new set of containers have taken their place.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive there is no measuring glass between the liquid supply reservoir 26 and the container ill in the room 19. Instead of a measuring glass, the reservoir 26 is so positioned that the liquid level in it is even with the level to which the container 15 is to be filled and liquid is siphoned from the reservoir directly into the container until the levels are equal. Thereupon the siphon is withdrawn out of the container and the latter moves on to the sealing or closing mechanism.

The reservoir 26 is lowered to a position alongside of the chamber [9 and is filled from the liquid storage tank 24 through the pipe 25 and valve 74'; as in Fig. 3. The pipes 59' are connectedto the gas supply 49, the liquid storage tank and the liquid supply reservoir 26, as in Fig. 3. The gas pressure forces the liquid through the pipe 25 into the reservoir 26 until the level of. liquid raises the float 78'which extends lengthwisewithin thereservoir 26 sufficiently to tilt the lever arm I9 and shaft 80, Fig. 10, which in turn operates a valve 8| through a crank arm 82 to admit pressure to the supply reservoir above .the liquid level until this pressure plus the head of liquid balances the pressure on the liquid storage tank. By means of the float 79 a constant level of liquid ismaintained in the supply reservoir 26. even with the level to which the containers 'Iil are to be filled in the room I9.

The liquid is siphoned at properly timed inter vals'from the common'supply reservoir 26 through a number of individual siphons 83 to the indi-- vidual' containers Iii inthe filling room I9, twelve siphons being shown in Fig. 10 by way of example. When an empty container I!) has been moved into position to be filled a vertically movable leg 84 of the siphon 83 secured to the horizontal bar 66 as in'Figs. 1 to 7 is lowered by meansof-the rack 65 and segment 64and'operating mechanism, as described above, until a foot valve 85, similar in construction to the valve I9; contacts with the bottom of the container and opens it. The liquid then. flows upwardly through a leg 86 of the siphon extending downwardly into the liquid in the reservoir 26, thence through a flexible connecting link 87 into the leg 84 and the container I9; there being no obstruction to the flow, liquid will flow through the siphon until the level of liquid in the container I9 rises to that in the reservoir 26.' As several containers are filled simultaneously, a relatively long time can be allowed for this filling while still maintaining a high rate for the individual containers. The long filling time and slow flow of fluid eliminate all danger of splashing and foaming. After a properly timed interval, sufficient to permit the flow and equalization of the liquid levels, the'rack 65 and horizontal barBG are lifted thereby lifting the leg 84 to the position shown in Fig. 9. As the valve 85 is lifted from contact with the bottom of the container I it closes and prevents further siphoning of liquid until the container it is replacedby a succeeding container and the leg 34 again lowered. It will be understood that there are as many siphons as there are containers to be filled and that all of them are actuated inv unison by the single horizontal lifting bar 66. It will also be understood that the valve 85 is so arranged that it will not open unless there is a container in position. The siphon remains filled with the filling fluid throughout the operation of the apparatus but the siphon may be broken by an inlet valve $33 when the operation of the apparatus is to be discontinued for cleaning or emptying.

The gaseous pressure between the supply reservoir flii and the filling room I9 is equalized by a connecting pipe or passageway 89 which connects tinuously through a purifier, asdescribedl-incopending application Ser; No. 740,372. An improved means is shown in Flgs..10,v 1'1 and 12 for accurately controlling the leveloflli'qa -uid in the supply reservoir 26 with great sensiativeness and accuracy. For this purpose the valve 8I is provided with an inlet 9| for-gasiunder pressure greater than that in the reservoir 29 and with an outlet pipe 9Tleadingfrom'the' valve: chamber toa lower pressureas, for example, .to a: purifier as. described in co-pendi'ng application Ser. No. 740,372. The incomingpressurerpipe: 9I opens into a valve chamber 93 having a valve seat and opening 941 which is closed by'aball valve 95 actuated by a-spring 96'; Similarly the outlet pipe 92-communicates with avalve" chamber9-I having a valve opening 98 which-is closed'by a; ballvalve 99' actuated by, a spring; I99;- The valves 94 and 98 communicate with a chamber I91 which communicates with'the reservoir 26' by: a connecting pipe I92. A rocking lever. I93 is mounted on a rockshaft I94 to whichthearm' 82 is connected so that when the float 'I8- rises the lever I03 is rocked by the arm-Blinsuch-aposi ti-on as to cause a'lifting'screw I toli'ftcthe' ball valve 95 and admit compressed gas torthe' chamber Inland thence through the connecting V pipe I02 to the upper part of the reservoir". 26;" This immediatelystops the rise ofthe'liquid level in'the reservoir 29; As'the :fioattIlt tends tOHdTOR the armi8'2swings'in the opposite direction permitting the ball valve'95' to close andcthen'upon a further drop in the reservoir 26, the rocking of the lever I93 causes a pin IllIi onthe opposite arm of the lever tolift the ball valve-99 and permit gas to flowoutwardly from the reservoir through the pipe I02 and chamber IIII into the outlet pipe 92.

This lowering of pressureof the liquid-in the reservoir 26 permits the liquid level in' the reser= voir to again rise to the predetermined height- As the flow of gas through the valves 95'and97'is' relatively rapid, and the effective pressure ofcon trolling the flow ofliquid isinstantan'eous'; the above arrangement holds the liquid level variattion within very-close limits; In practice the gaseous pressure will be held substantiallyconstant and the liquid in the reservoir will be kept constant by the flow of liquid fromithe'storage tank 24 to keep pace with the withdrawah of liquid into the containers Ill:v Any momentum of the flowing liquid will be promptly checkedby the gas pressure control.

While the operation of the apparatus h'asbeen described in detail with reference to the movements and filling of a single container; it will'be' understood that a group of' containers islined in single file in properly placed position on the conveyor I I in front of the door I2 and then move in a front formationsuccessively'into the chamber I4 and thence into the'chamber I9 and are filled simultaneously from the measuring glass 29 and then conveyed'by the conveyor-'23 to the capping machine;

The apparatus and process have beent'de-- scribed with particularreference to the packaging of beer under pressure with complete'exclu sion of air. Beer is commonly stored'in contain"- ers which are kept filled with carbon dioxide" under pressure and is thus free from air until the filling and sealing for packaging. The present invention preserves this freedom from contact withiair or oxygen and enables the beer to be sealed without loss or change in pressure and without contamination. It will be understood, however, that beer is mentioned merely by way of example and that other materials, such as fruit juices, and in fact any material that is suiiiciently fluid to flow may be measured and filled by our invention.

The invention has also been described with particular reference to the type of mechanism shown in our co-pending application Ser. No. 740,372 which is particularly suited for carrying on the method and embodying the apparatus and our invention.

.It will be understood, however, that our invention may be used with other mechanisms than that of the above application provided that the container is first evacuated to withdraw'its air content, filled with the selected gas of the desired pressure and then with the measured quantity of the filling material while the latter is under an atmosphere of the selected gas.

. Carbon dioxide has been described merely by way of example of.a selected gas, other gases such as nitrogen may be employed.

Superatmospheric pressures have been described in connection with the selected gas, but it will be understood that the method and apparatus are also applicable to sub-atmospheric pressures.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for filling containers under a selected gas which comprises means for assembling a number of containers in a group formation, means for withdrawing air from said grouped containers and replacing said air with a selected gas, a number of measuring glasses, means for filling said measuring glasses with selected gas and for displacing said gas with filling material to a predetermined volume and means for flowing said measured quantities from said measuring glasses into the respective containers of said group enclosed in said selected gas.

2. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises means for assembling a number of containers into a group formation, means for withdrawing air from the containers of said group and replacing it with selected gas, a number of measuring glasses, means for filling said measuring glasses with selected gas, means for displacing said selected gas from said measuring glasses with filling material and means for equalizing the gas pressure on said measuring glasses and their respective containers to permit said filling material to flow from said measuring glasses into said respective containers.

3. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a chamber, means for introducing containers into said chamber, means for withdrawing air from said chamber and replacing it with selected gas under a predetermined pressure, a measuring glass, means to supply said measuring glass with said selected gas, means for displacing gas from said glass with filling material, and thereafter flowing said material from said measuring glass into said containers in said selected atmosphere.

4. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a chamber, means for introducing containers into said chamber, means for withdrawing air from said chamber and replacing it with selected gas under a predetermined pressure, a measuring glass, means for supplying said measuring glass with said selected gas, means for displacing gas from said glass with filling material and thereafter flowing said material from said measuring glass into said containers in said selected atmosphere and a timing mechanism for cyclically operating said mechanism in timed sequence.

5. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a liquid supply tank, a liquid storage tank, a connection for fluid from the lower part of said liquid storage tank to the lower part of said liquid supply tank, means for creating a difference in pressure of said selected gas between said liquid storage tank and said liquid supply tank to force liquid into said liquid supply tank, means controlled by the liquid level in said liquid supply tank to interrupt said pressure difference above a predetermined level in said liquid supply tank, measuring glasses, means for feeding liquid from said supply tank to the bottom of said measuring glass, means for replacing air with selected gas in containers to be filled and means for flowing a measured quantity of liquid from said measuring glasses to the lower part of said containers.

6. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a liquid supply tank, a liquid storage tank, a connection for fluid from the lower part of said liquid storage tank to the lower part of said liquid supply tank, means for creating a difference in pressure of said selected gas between said liquid storage tank and said liquid supply tank to force liquid into said liquid supply tank, means controlled by the liquid level in said liquid supply tank to interrupt said pressure difference above a predetermined level in said liquid supply tank, a measuring glass, means for feeding liquid from said supply tank to the bottom of said measuring glass, means for replacing air with selected gas in containers to be filled, means for flowing a measured quantity of liquid from said measuring glass to the lower part of said container and meansfor equalizing the pressure of selected gas between said container, said measuring glass and said liquid supply tank.

'7. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a liquid supply tank, a liquid storage tank, a connection for fluid from the lower part of said liquid storage tank to the lower part of said liquid supply tank, means for creating a difference in pressure of said selected gas between said liquid storage tank and said liquid supply tank to force liquid into said liquid supply tank, means controlled by the liquid level in said liquid supply tank to interrupt said pressure difference above a predetermined level in said liquid supply tank, a measuring glass, means for feeding liquid from said supply tank to the bottom of said measuring glass, means for replacing air with selected gas in containers to be filled. meansfor flowing a measured quantity of liquid from said measuring glass to the lower part of said container, means for equalizing the pressure of selected gas between said container, said measuring glass and said liquid supply tank and means to prevent flow of fluid directly from said liquid supply tank to said containers.

8. Means for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a liquid supply tank, a measuring glass, means for replacing air in containers with selected gas, a liquid conduit from said supply tank to said measuring glass and delivering into the lower part of the latter, a vertically movable valve for closing said conduit when loweredv said valve having a hollow stem movable down- Wardly into said container, a lift valve in the lower part of said hollowisteni opening when said valve touches the bottom of the container,

Q. Means for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a liquid supply tank, a measuring glass, means for replacing .air in containers with selected gas, a .liquid conduitfrom said supply tank .to said measuring glass and delivering into the lower :part of the latter, a vertically movable valve for closing said conduit when lower-ed, said valve having a hollow stem movable downwardly into said container, a lift valve in the lowerpart of said hollow stem opening when said valve :touches the bottom .of :the container, a rack and segment for lifting and lowering said valve and stem. 1

:10. Apparatus for filling containers under a selected gas atmosphere which comprises a measuring glassgmeans for positioning a container below said measuring glass :and replacing air in said 'container'with saidselected gas, a liquid supply tank, .a liquid conduit from said supply tank delivering into the lower part of said measuring glass, :meansto stop flow of liquid into said measuring glass at a predetermined level, a valve controlling the flow of liquid from said liquid supply tank through said conduit into said measuring glass, .a stem depending from said Valve, a lift valve in the lower part of said stem, said stem having .an opening communicating 'with said measuring glass, means to lift and lower said valve and stem to close said valve in said. conduit and to open said valve in said stem upon reaching the bottom of said container and reversely to close said valve in said stem and open the valve in said conduit upon being lifted to a predetermined height and means timed cyclically with the placing of said container to operate said valve and said-stem-lifting means.

11. Apparatus for filling containers under a selected gas atmosphere which comprises a measuring glass, means for positioning a container below said measuring glass and replacing air in said container with said selected gas, a liquid sup ply tank, a liquid conduit from said supply tank delivering into the lower part of said measuring glass, means to stop flow of liquid into said measuring glass ata predetermined level, a valve controlling the fiowof liquid from said liquid supply tank through said conduit'into said measuring glass, a stem depending from said valve, a lift valve in the lower part of said stem, said stem having .an opening communicating with said measuring glass, means to lift and lower said valve and stem to close said valve in said conduit and to open said valve and said stem upon reaching the bottom of said container and reversely to close said valve and said stem and open the valve in said conduit upon being lifted to a predetermined height and means timed cyclically with the placing of said container tooperate said valve and said stem-lifting means, said container positioning means being at a sufficiently low level to prevent opening of said lifting valve by contact therewith.

12. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a filling chamber, a transfer chamber having closeable communication with said filling chamber and with the atmosphere, means for aligning a group of containers in position to enter said transfer chamber from the atmosphere, means to open said transfer chamber to the atmosphere to move said containers transversely to their alignment into said transfer chamber and to close the latter, means to withdraw air from said transfer chamber and replace it with a selected gas at the same pressure as in said filling :chamber, means :for opening communication between said transfer chamber and said filling chamber to move said containers sidewise of their alignment into said filling chamber and to close-communication between said transfer chamber and said filling chamber, a number of measuring glasses one for each of said containers positioned above said filling chamber, means for supplying filling material to the lower part of said measuring glasses, means for limiting the level of liquid in said measuring glasses to a predetermined height, a liquid supply having conduits delivering to the lower part of said measuring glasses, vertically movable valve means alternately to open communication from said liquid supply to said measuring glasses and to close said communication and deliver material from said measuring glasses to the lower part of said containers in said filling chamber and means timed cyclically with the movements of said containers to raise and lower said valve means.

13.. Apparatus for filling containers under selected gas which comprises a filling chamber, a transfer chamber having closeable communication with said filling chamber and with the atmosphere, means for aligning a group of containers in position to enter said transfer chamber from "the atmosphere, means to open said transfer chamber to the atmosphere to move said containers transversely to their alignment into said transfer chamber and to close the latter, means to withdraw air from said transfer chamber and replace it with a selected gas at the same pressure as in said filling chamber, means for opening communication between said transfer chamber and said .filling chamber to move said containers .sidewise of their alignment into said filling chamber and :to close communication between said transfer chamber and said filling chamber, a number of measuring glasses, one for each of said containers, positioned above said filling chamber, means for supplying filling material to the lower part of said measuring glasses, means for limiting the level of liquid in said measuring glasses to a predetermined height, a liquid supply having conduits delivering to the lower part of said measuring glasses, vertically movable valve means alternately to open communication from said liquid supply to said measuring glasses and to close said communication and deliver material :from said measuring glasses to the lower :part of said containers in said filling chamber and means -timed cyclically with the movements of said containers to raise and lower said valve means, said valve means being inoperati-ve to deliver liquid from each particular measuring glass unless a container is in position therebeneath, :and means to prevent flow of fiuid directly from said liquid supply to said filling chamber.

14. Apparatus for filling containers under selected .gas which comprises a filling chamber, a transfer chamber having closeable communication with said filling chamber and with the atmosphere, means for aligning a group of containers in position to enter said transfer chamber from the atmosphere, means to open said transfer chamber to the atmosphere to move said containers transversely to their alignment into said transfer chamber and to close the latter, means to withdraw air from said transfer chamber and replace it with a selected gas at the same pressure "as in said filling chamber, means for opening communication between said transfer chamber and said filling chamber to move said containers sidewise of their alignment into said filling chamber and to close communication between said transfer chamber and said filling chamber, a number of measuring glasses, one for each of said containers, positioned above said filling chamber, means for supplying filling material to the lower part of said measuring glasses, means for limiting the level of liquid in said measuringglasses to a predetermined height, a liquid supply having conduits delivering to the lower part of said measuring glasses, vertically movable valve means alternately toopen communication from said liquid supply to said measuring glasses and to close said communication and deliver material from said measuring glasses to the lower part of said containers in said filling chamber and means timed cyclically with the movements of said containers to raise and lower said valve means, means to equalize gaseous pressures between said filling chamber, said measuring glasses and said liquid supply tank.

15. Apparatus for filling a container with a charged liquid under air-free conditions which comprises a filling room, a vacuumizing and gassing chamber opened alternately to atmosphere and said chamber, means for alternately evacuating said room and admitting selected gas and air thereto, means outside of said room for measuring a quantity of liquid out of contact with the atmosphere and means for delivering said measured liquid to'the lower part of said container in said room.

WILLIAM MILES RYAN. JOHN W. BOLD.

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