Patent GB-654570-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for rinsing the interiors of vessels
IPC: B08B9/34
Filed: 1948-12-06
Abstract: 654,570. Washing bottles HARLEY, C. B. Dec. 6, 1948, No. 31533. [Class 138(i)] An apparatus for rinsing the interior of a vessel such as a bottle, comprises a head arranged to receive the mouth of the vessel, suction means connected with the head and arranged to partially exhaust the vessel through the interior of the head, a valve controlling the suction means, and a delivery nozzle on the head connected to a supply of rinsing liquid, the arrangement being such that the liquid is only delivered while a partial vacuum is maintained in the vessel. As shown in Figs. 1a and 1b a head 10 is connected by a pipe 57 with a measuring chamber 46 in a liquid reservoir 49. A nozzle member 24 having a resilient part 25 which receives the mouth of the vessel is slidably movable in the head on a rod 35 against the action of a spring 41. A suction pipe 40 is connected to the head and can communicate with an intercepting chamber 23 supported under the head, when the rod 35 is depressed: When the rod 35 is depressed by inserting the mouth of a vessel in a part 25, the vessel is exhausted through passages 30, 31, 29. flexible pipe 28, passages 15 and 32, a pipe 33, intercepting chamber 23, passage 39, an annular groove 38 on the rod 35, another passage 15 and pipe 40. The lower end of the rod is meanwhile seated on a washer 42, on the top of a nipple 43 connected to the pipe 57. Liquid is thus drawn up the pipe 57, through a bore 44 in the nipple 43, a bore 35a in the rod 35 and a tube 37, into the vessel. The used rinsing liquid passes through passages 30, 31, 29, pipe 28, passages 15, 32, pipe 33 into the intercepting chamber 23 where it is retained while the rod 35 is depressed. After a predetermined quantity of liquid has rinsed the vessel it is removed from the nozzle and the rod 35 is then moved upwardly by the spring 41. The used liquid in the chamber 23 then passes through channels 22 and an annular recess 21 in a bush 18, through channels 12, 13 in a spigot 11 depending from the head 10, bore 44 and pipe 57 to the measuring chamber. The pipe 57 communicates with the measuring chamber through holes 59. The bottom of the pipe 57 is provided with a solid spigot 58 which has a clearance fit with a hole 53 in the bottom 50 of the measuring chamber. The measuring chamber is provided with holes 52 above the level of the liquid in the reservoir. In order to control the amount of liquid supplied for rinsing a vessel a displacement member 54 is adjustably mounted in the measuring chamber and has a clearance fit with the wall of the chamber and with the pipe 57. During the passage of liquid to the vessel liquid can seep through the hole 50, pass the spigot' 58, from the reservoir but not in sufficient quantity as to allow a continuous stream to the vessel. Consequently after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed to the vessel intermittent flow and spitting will occur and it will be obvious to the operator that quantity of liquid originally contained in the chamber 46 has been used. The returning used liquid cannot all be received by the chamber 46 owing to the seepage that has occurred therein during the rinsing operation. Excess liquid therefore overflows through the holes 52 into the reservoir and any solid matter which was rinsed from the vessel and is contained or suspended in the returning liquid will fall to the bottom of the reservoir 49 and will not be recirculated during the next rinsing operation. In another embodiment, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown), the bore 44 is connected either to waste or a separate reservoir and liquid is supplied by a pipe connecting with the head above the suction pipe connection. The bore of the rod 35 does not then extend completely therethrough but terminates at its lower end in a transverse passage which, when the rod is depressed, wilLcommunicate with the liquid supply pipe. In this embodiment the used liquid will not return to the measuring chamber and this is of advantage e.g. when rinsing a vessel after a previous rinse with an acid solution. A rinsing machine using four rinsing heads of the type disclosed in first embodiment is described each head being served by a separate reservoir and measuring chamber. Alternatively there may be only one reservoir in which are supported several measuring chambers. A suction pump is connected to the heads through a suction regulating valve and suction accumulator which also serves to trap any liquid in the suction line. The invention includes the provision of rinsing heads mounted on a machine rotated by power and so arranged that vessels are lowered on to the heads or the heads are raised to the vessels. The heads may also operate in conjunction with mechanical means for conveying vessels by a continuous or intermittent movement. The vessels may then be lowered to the heads or the heads raised to the vessels in timed relation to the movement of the means conveying the vessels.