Abstract: A filling valve assembly (10) is provided for use in filling containers (50) with a carbonated liquid or other type of liquid. The assembly (10) includes a housing (11) having a filling passage (40) for allowing liquid to flow therethrough. A valve stem (13) includes a passageway (24) therethrough and is slideable within the passage (40) wherein a first end allows gas into the passageway (29) and a second end allows gas to escape and supports a valve seal (36) thereabout. The valve seal (36) is movable against the housing (11) for selectively opening and closing the filling passage (40). A capillary screen (38) is connected above the valve seal (36) and is moveable therewith. A resilient charging cap (24) operates against the first end of the valve stem (13) for opening to allow gas therein and closing to disallow gas therein. The valve stem (13) includes a key above the liquid flow and cooperating with a groove in a guide (15 ) of the housing (11) to prevent rotation thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling bottles or other containers under the influence of counterpressure by of a filling unit, pressurized gas is led into the bottle after terminating the inflow of liquid, with the pressurized gas valve and liquid valve being closed and with a bypass of the gas return tube, and the liquid that thereby remains above the lower open tip of the gas return tube is expelled into a space having a lower pressure than exists in the bottle.

Abstract: A filling valve assembly (10) is provided for use in filling containers (50) with a carbonated liquid or other type of liquid. The assembly (10) includes a housing (11) having a filling passage (40) for allowing liquid to flow therethrough. A valve stem (13) includes a passageway (24) therethrough and is slideable within the passage (40) wherein a first end allows gas into the passageway (29) and a second end allows gas to escape and supports a valve seal (36) thereabout. The valve seal (36) is movable against the housing (11) for selectively opening and closing the filling passage (40). A capillary screen (38) is connected above the valve seal (36) and is moveable therewith. A resilient charging cap (24) operates against the first end of the valve stem (13) for opening to allow gas therein and closing to disallow gas therein. A cap member (22) encompasses the charging cap (24) and includes an aperture (130) for equalizing pressure against the charging cap (24) to perfect a seal thereof against the first end.

Abstract: A filling valve assembly (10) is provided for use in filling containers (50) with a carbonated liquid or other type of liquid. The assembly (10) includes a housing (11) having a filling orifice (40) for allowing liquid to flow therethrough. A valve element (13) is located within and movable through the housing (11) and includes a valve seal (36) movable against the housing (11) for selectively opening and closing the filling passage (40). A capillary screen (38) is connected above the valve seal (36) and is moveable therewith. The orifice (40) is aerodynamically shaped and has an annular enlarged portion (72) smoothly feeding into a narrowed venturi area (76) to continually compress the liquid, and then into an expanded area (70) to the walls of the container (50). A container seal (110) forms part of the expanded area (70) to enhance the laminar flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling cans with a liquid such as beer or soft drinks. The filling machine includes a turntable having a surface to support a plurality of open top cans and a reservoir containing a liquid is spaced above the supporting surface. A plurality of filling heads are mounted on the reservoir and serve to dispense the liquid into the individual cans. Each filling head includes a spring loaded cylindrical tulip adapted to seal against the upper edge of the can and a vent tube and fill tube are disposed concentrically within the tulip. The lower end of the vent tube communicates with the can while the upper end is sealed against the surface of the reservoir and when the sealing engagement is released the vent tube communicates with the headspace of the reservoir. The lower end of the fill tube carries a valve that controls flow of liquid from the reservoir into the can.

Abstract: In apparatus for filling cans with beverage the can is coupled to the filler valve and purged of atmospheric air with a mostly inert gas and air mixture derived from the space of the liquid in a storage tank. When the exhaust valve is closed, another valve opens to permit pure inert gas stored in a reservoir to flow into the can and pressurize it to slightly above atmospheric pressure but below the pressure in the storage tank. A pre-pressurization valve is then opened to let some of the inert gas and air mixture in the storage tank flow to the can which is occupied by the substantially pure inert gas so practically none of the downflowing gas and air mixture from the storage tank enters the can although it fills the chamber to which the can is connected and thereby pressurizes the can. When the can pressure and storage tank pressure become equal, a liquid control valve opens to drain liquid from the tank into the can.

Abstract: In a method for filling bottles or other containrs under the influence of counterpressure by means of a filling unit, pressurized gas is led into the bottle after terminating the inflow of liquid, with the pressurized gas valve and liquid valve being closed and with a bypass of the gas return tube, and the liquid that thereby remains above the lower open tip of the gas return tube is expelled into a space having a lower pressure than exists in the bottle.

Abstract: Counterpressure valves for filling cans with liquids under pressure such as carbonated beverages are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a filing valve in which the seal between the valve and a can is created by an O-ring seal disposed about a valve member. Preferably, two concentric, axially-spaced O-rings are used; a first o-ring serves as a guide, while the second, slightly larger O-ring creates a seal. Since the sealing O-ring may be moved axially along the can to permit the head space volume to expand, the need for a snift valve or similar relief valve is eliminated. Sealing valves utilizing radially expandable gaskets are also disclosed. In these embodiments, the gasket expand radially under counterpressure to form a seal with the inner surface of the can.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers, under counterpressure, with carbonated liquids. The return gas that is to be withdrawn from a container that is being filled is conveyed, accompanied by a pressure differential, into a return gas chamber via a connection that is provided with a flow control mechanism. In this return gas chamber a pressure is regulated that is adjustable within a range that is between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the flow control mechanism. In this way, the flow velocity with which the dispensed liquid flows into a container that is being filled can be smoothly adapted in an infinitely variable manner to the filling characteristics of a respectively dispensed liquid, and/or to the respective output requirements of the filling apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling cans with a liquid such as beer or soft drinks. The filling machine includes a turntable having a surface to support a plurality of open top cans and a reservoir containing a liquid is spaced above the supporting surface. A plurality of filling heads are mounted on the reservoir and serve to dispense the liquid into the individual cans. Each filling head includes a spring loaded cylindrical tulip adapted to seal against the upper edge of the can and a vent tube and fill tube are disposed concentrically within the tulip. The lower end of the vent tube communicates with the can while the upper end is sealed against the surface of the reservoir and when the sealing engagement is released the vent tube communicates with the headspace of the reservoir. The lower end of the fill tube carries a valve that controls flow of liquid from the reservoir into the can.

Abstract: A method for filling liquids includes first supplying container with a gas-generating water or water in an amount somewhat greater than a predetermined amount thereof and subsequently filling the container with a predetermined amount of an undiluted solution by injection thereof, after which the excess portion of the gas-generating water or water is removed from an upper stratum or portion of liquid in the container. Thereby, the amounts of the two liquids filled into the container correspond to the predetermined amounts. By first supplying the container with the gas-generating water or water and subsequently filling the container with the undiluted solution, the gas-generating water or water is unsusceptible to mixing with the undiluted solution. The final filled quantity of the liquid product is controlled by removing excess quantity of the first supplied gas-generating water or water, whereby the accuracy of the contents and amounts of liquids filled is improved.

Abstract: A control system controls an amount of liquid filled into a container such as a bottle, a can or the like to be a predetermined amount in a precise and reliable manner. Liquid to be filled into the container is fed through a filling nozzle approximately up to a level somewhat higher than a predetermined target level. Then surplus liquid exceeding the predetermined target level is controllably ejected through an ejection nozzle piping having one end inserted into the container and opened at the target level. The surplus filled liquid is ejected through the ejection nozzle piping by suction or by pressure. When the ejection of the surplus filled liquid through the ejection nozzle piping begins, the pressure in the ejection nozzle piping changes from an initial valve. The end of ejection of the surplus filled liquid is detected by a pressure sensor disposed in the ejection nozzle piping.

Abstract: An automatic container filling apparatus for continuously filling a moving line of containers with a fluent material is disclosed. The flow of material to any container is controlled by a single supply of air at a predetermined pressure above atmospheric pressure. The apparatus includes a product filling head having an outlet nozzle arranged to extend into the mouth of a container to be filled. An air supply provides regulated air at a predetermined high pressure. There is also provided a control for receiving and directing the high pressure air to the other components of the apparatus. A sensor tube is adapted to be positioned at a fixed point within the container to be filled. Air from the controller is directed through the sensor tube during the filling of the container. An actuator valve and an interface valve both communicate with the control to receive the high pressure air therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to the art of high speed bottle filling machines and particularly to the use of a one-piece liquid filler tube that is inserted down through the neck of a bottle and is adapted to be joined to a tank of the bottle filling machine. The filler tube has an outer tube with an open upper end furnished with an external mounting that is joined to a tank of the bottle filling machine as well as capable of temporarily sealing the mouth of the bottle during the filling. The lower end of the outer tube has a conical tip with a series of large radially spaced discharge holes, and a second series of large radially spaced discharge holes formed in the outer tube adjacent the first series. A coarse mesh screen covers each discharge hole.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling electrically controlled filling elements in bottle filling machines for filling liquids into containers by opening a liquid flow valve, and including at least one signal emitter responding at a predetermined liquid level to the liquid in the container to be filled. After response to the signal emitter, the liquid flow valve is closed with a time delay under the influence of a correction factor. A system for carrying out the foregoing method has associated with each filling element a correction element connected to the signal emitter of the filling element, with the output signal thereof acting on a control unit which in turn acts on the liquid flow valve.

Abstract: A filling device for use in a bottling machine, which device is provided with a sealing member for closing the opening of a bottle, a filling tube for supplying the bottle with a filling liquid and an exhaust tube for discharging the air from the bottle to the outside during the filling operation. When the opening of the bottle is closed by the sealing member, the filling liquid is fed into the bottle through the filling tube and the air in the bottle is simultaneously discharged outside. The filling device is provided with a valve mechanism which receives the pressure of the air remaining in the bottle as an indication pressure when the filling liquid in the bottle blocks the lower end of the exhaust tube. The valve mechanism closes the exhaust tube or the filling tube when the indication pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for use with a container filling device, in particular jars, which includes a dispensing tube from which the liquid falls downward and outward in a paraboloid bell-shaped stream, and which has a return air pipe and a ball valve sensor to stop filling when liquid droplets coat said ball. The air pipe and sensor are both located in the space enclosed by the bell-shaped stream. A sealing device contacts the jar rim during filling.