Patent GB-658613-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to filling beer, mineral water or the like into bottles
IPC: B67C3/04
Filed: 1947-12-30
Abstract: 658,613. Bottling. STALLER, J. Dec. 30, 1947, No. 34788. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Dec. 30, 1947]. [Class 125(ii)] Bottles 1 to be filled with beer, mineral water &c. are held neck downwards and filled by the gradual rising of the liquid from the neck to the bottom of the bottle, the gas displaced by the liquid escaping through a pipe 5 inserted from below to near the bottle bottom, and the bottle being closed after the pipe has been withdrawn. The inverted bottle 1 with ball closure 2 is held by the holder 25 with its neck on the packing 4 of the filling head 3 which is connected by pipe 12 and stopcock 13 to the higher level liquid in the reservoir 11. The displaceable gas pipe 5, 8, with lateral openings 6 at the end, is connected by a flexible tube 26 with the pipe 9 opening into the gas space 10 of the reservoir 11. A piston 14 slidable in a widened cylindrical part of the space 24 has a tubular rod 15 slidable in a guide 16 of the head 3, both the rod 5 and guide 16 having a longitudinal slot 17 through which extends the pipe 8 rigidly connected to the guiding head 7 of the pipe 5. The guide 16 has shoulders 20, 21, 23 which coact with latch members 18, 22 on the rod 15. The pipe 5 is guided in a fluid tight manner in the piston 14, and can be pushed into the piston so that the openings 6 are closed. When filling, the bottle is placed in solution and the pipe 5 lowered until the openings 6 are closed and then raised until it strikes the bottle bottom, during the latter movement gas from the space 10 flows through 9, 26, 8, and 5 to equalize the pressure. Cock 13 is opened and liquid from 11 rises in the bottle forcing gas through 5, 8, 26 and 9 to the space 10, until the liquid flows from the openings 6 to fill the tubes 5, 8, 26 and 9. Cock 13 is then closed and the pipe 5 drawn downwards, forming a free space in the space 24 which becomes filled with the liquid in pipes 5, 8, 26 and 9 which are thus emptied. As the pipe 5 descends further the head 7 rocks the member 22 counterclockwise and tensions its spring so that it leaves the shoulder 23, and the rod 15 and piston 14 more downwards due to the pressure in space 24. At the same time the member 18 engages behind shoulder 21 and secures the piston in its lowest position as the space 24 is thus enlarged the liquid it contains falls below the point where the pipe 5 enters the piston 14. The pipe 5 is drawn down until the openings 6 are closed. The bottle is then removed and replaced and the pipe 5 raised when gas passes from 10 to the bottle but causes no splashing &c. of the liquid in 24. On further raising, the head 7 moves catch 18 from the shoulder 21 and engages the tooth 19 and carries the rod 15 and piston 14 with the liquid in space 24, until the latch 18 is moved by the shoulder 20 when the hood moves alone. Cock 13 is then opened &c. The movements of the holder 25, piston 14, pipe 5, and cock 13 may by controlled by auxiliary means, e.g. a cam. The pipe 5 may slide in a separate guide instead of in the piston. The piston may be replaced by a controlled diaphragm ,and the various movements may be controlled by hand, servomotors, pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically.