Patent GB-1093148-A (GB)
Title: Pressure filler head having a universal adapter holder and adapters for pressure filling valved aerosol containers
Inventor: ROUSSEAU ROY SETTLE
IPC: B65B31/00
Filed: 1965-03-29
Abstract: 1,093,148. Filling aerosol containers. KARTRIDGE PAK CO. March 29, 1965, No. 13296/65. Heading B8T. A filling head for filling valved aerosol containers comprises an adapter body provided with a releasable collar and sleeve holder which retains in position one or other of a number of interchangeable adapter heads engaged with the aerosol containers for filling and selected according to the size, shape, &c. of the containers. Filling head.-A pressure filling head 10 is mounted to slide vertically upon a support post 11 so that it may be brought into engagement with an aerosol 114. Liquid under pressure is supplied continuously through a nipple 31, an annular passage 27 and passages 26 to a space 25 in the filler head. Before the head is engaged with the aerosol 114, a disc valve 46 is slidden downwards by gravity from the position shown to open a port 45, through which the liquid passes into a metering chamber 44. The liquid in the annular passage 27 is also passed through passages 30 to the other end of the metering chamber 44, which contains a piston 32. The piston 32 is carried by a rod 34 which so reduces its area upon its upper side, that under the conditions described, the resulting differential piston area causes the piston to be slidden upwards until a cross-bar 42 on the rod abuts adjusting nuts 43 upon a threaded fixed stem 38. The metering chamber 44 is accordingly filled with liquid. Adjustment of the nuts 43 permits variation in the effective size of the metering chamber 44, and hence of the liquid passed through the head into the aerosol. To fill an aerosol 114, the head 10 is slidden downwardly of its post 11, into engagement with the top of the aerosol. A readily replaceable adapter head 125, which can be selected from one of a number of suitable types according to the type of aerosol 114 to be filled, accordingly engages in fluid-type manner with the top of the aerosol. The adapter 125 is free to slide relatively to the head in its holder 79. A stem 68 projecting upwardly from the adapter 125 then engages a valve 72, which is opened against the bias of a spring 76. A passage 66, in communication with a central pipe 49 passing through the stem of the valve 46, is thus opened to the aerosol 114, Fig. 3. Continued downward movement of the head 10 upon its support post 11 pushes the adapter 125, its holder 79, a mounting plate 64 fast therewith and the pipe 49 upwardly, so as to shut the port 45 leading from the annular passage 27 into the metering chamber 44. The metered liquid in the chamber 44 now begins to flow down the pipe, &c. 49, 66, through the valve 72 and into the aerosol. As the valve 46 is shut the pressure in the metering chamber 44 falls. However, the pressure on the opposite side of the piston 32 is still that supplied through the nipple 31. Accordingly, the piston 32 slides down within the metering chamber 44, to force the metered liquid into the aerosol. When the aerosol 114 has been filled, the filling head 10 is slidden upwards of its support post 11, the valve 45 is accordingly opened, and liquid is again supplied through the nipple 31 into the metering chamber 44, ready for the next aerosol filling operation. As shown, a resiliently mounted and slidable guide ring 98 is carried on pins 101 at the base of the filling head 10, to guide and retain the aerosol 114 in its filling position. The adapter 125 is releasably secured at the foot of the filling head by two similar semi-cylindrical holders 80, also illustrated in Fig. 8 (not shown), having internal lips 84, (141), 85, which engage over a lip 82 at the foot of the filling head and in annular grooves in the adapter. A sleeve 81, held by a releasable stud 87, is slidden upwardly over the two securing holders 80 and the foot of the filler head, to hold the parts assembled. By releasing the screw 87, and sliding downwardly the holding sleeve 81, the two semi-cylindrical holders can be removed, for replacement of the adapter head 125. Adapter heads.-As shown, the adapter head 125 comprises two axially slidable telescopic cylindrical members 127, 132, Fig. 3, having a sealing gasket 129 between them. Engagement of the adapter head 125 with the aerosol 114, to slide it upwardly to open the valve 72, telescopes the two parts 127, 132 of the adapter 125 together so that a wedgeshaped ring 143 on the latter part engages firmly with the gasket 129. An O-ring 138 is provided around the upper surface of the adaptor member 132. In another form, an adapter (161), Fig. 4 (not shown), comprises an outer member (148) with a stepped bore containing an inner member (162) having a relatively large lower flange sliding in the largest diameter part (154) of the stepped bore. An O-ring (153) is provided at the upper end of the inner adapter member (162), adjacent a step in the bore through the adapter. When an aerosol (114) is engaged by the adapter (161), the inner member (162) is forced upwardly, to compress the O-ring (153), which is expanded radially into sealing engagement with the upper end (146) of the aerosol valve. In another form, for filling aerosols having a valve mechanism contained substantially within their bodies, a one-piece adapter (172), Fig. 5 (not shown), is slidably mounted at the lower end of the filling head. A pipe (181) extends through the adapter and has a projection (178) at its lower end adapted to enter the valve housing (170) of the aerosol (114). In yet another form, a onepiece adapter (185), Fig. 6 (not shown), contains a thick annular washer (197) having a projecting rib (198) around its lower, inner edge, for engagement with the aerosol (114). The washer (197) is held in position by retaining rings (199, 200). In yet another form, for use with aerosols (206), Fig. 7 (not shown), having long valves (211) opened by a lateral bending, a one-piece adapter (217) is provided with a long, stepped bore (223) to receive the aerosol valve. Surrounding the adapter (217) is a flanged guide (98A) adapted to engage, and seal upon, the top rim of the aerosol (206).