Patent GB-625971-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to means for introducing liquids into containers
IPC: B67C3/26
Filed: 1946-02-11
Abstract: 625,971. Bottling. MOJONNIER, H. G. Feb. 11, 1946, No. 4226. Convention date, Feb. 15,1945. [Class 125(ii)] A mechanism for filling containers such as bottles and the like with liquid comprises a liquid supply chamber, a gas escape tube adapted to project into a container and having an escape opening disposed at a predetermined level therein, a filling conduit for liquid interconnecting the supply chamber and the container, and a restricted passageway disposed in said conduit, the passageway being restricted only sufficiently to stop liquid flow therethrough when the escape of gas through said escape opening is cut off. As shown, empty bottles 12 are fed on a conveyer 10 (Fig. 2) to a machine for bottling carbonated liquids under pressure, filled bottles being discharged on conveyer 44. Bottle supports 42 (Fig. 1) on a support plate 40 secured to a pedestal 18 are rotated in step-by-step manner by a Geneva drive, a stationary cam 46 co-operating with plungers 48 to raise the bottles into engagement with the filling heads. After a bottle is brought into sealed engagement with a gasket 62 (Fig. 3), a plunger 168 is operated by cam 170 to momentarily open a valve 164 to introduce into the bottle counter-pressure gas from space 130 in the annular filler bowl 50, in which liquid is maintained by suitable means at a constant level 74. Counter pressure gas reaches the bottle via tube 150, valve 164, passages 152, 154, annular channel 156 and pipe 160. As the pressure in the bottle rises to that of the filler bowl, liquid control valve 98, normally held closed by filler bowl pressure, is opened by the action of spring 140, a pin 126 being lifted therewith and tilting the gas escape valve 124 into open position. Liquid enters the bottle via a narrow annular passage 109 which may be about <SP>1</SP>/ 16  in. wide and is formed between two relatively separable members 106, 58. The liquid impinges against the tapered surface 194 of member 58 so as to avoid foaming. Displaced air escapes through tube 122 provided with an opening 192. When the liquid level reaches opening 192, air escape is cut off, and the surface tension of the liquid in the narrow passage 109 stops the flow of liquid. Plunger 134 is then depressed by stationary cam 136, forcing valve member 98 closed and causing gas escape valve 124 to close simultaneously. On further movement of the bottle, cam 177 raises plunger 188 to open scavenge valve 186 and admit CO 2  gas, at a pressure higher than that within the bottle, from a supply pipe 76. Air trapped in the bottle head-space is thus replaced by CO 2  and the liquid level is lowered to that of the pipe end 190 since opening 192 is so restricted in size that air is also forced out through opening 190. Further bottle movement causes cam 177 to close the scavenge valve and open a vent valve 172 to lower the gas pressure in the bottle to atmospheric, after which the bottle is lowered and discharged from the machine. After venting, plunger 134 may resume its normal upper position since filler bowl pressure will keep valve 98 closed. Escape of counter-pressure from a broken or improperly sealed bottle will also cause filler bowl pressure to close valve 98 and stop the filling operation. Positioning of pipe 160 keeps counter-pressure, scavenging and vent gas passages free from liquid, thereby avoiding formation of vapour clouds. In a modification, the scavenging operation is omitted, air escape tube 122 being provided without opening 192, so that filling only proceeds to 'the level of tube end 190. Specification 626,042 is referred to.