Patent GB-1316629-A (GB)
Title: Filling elements for counter pressure filling machines
IPC: B67C3/08
Filed: 1970-06-01
Abstract: 1316629 Counterpressure filling machines SEITZ-WERKE GmbH 1 June 1970 [31 May 1969] 26275/70 Heading B8T A filling element for a multi-element rotating counterpressure filling machine is attached above a support table 11 to a liquid reservoir 10 by gas and liquid inlets 16 and 17. The filling element has a housing 15 to which is attached, by a holder 24, a valve seat 18 and a liquid distributer 20 integral with a filling pipe 21, a feed pipe 30, and a gas pipe 31. The valve body 60, which, with seal 61, forms the liquid valve 18, 61, has a bore 70, in which the gas pipe 31 extends, and a recess 68 with a valve seat 69. A further valve body 73 forms a gas valve 73, 69 and carries a piston 74 on which is mounted a threaded sleeve 80 with slots (81), Fig. 3 (not shown), and with a set wheel 83 which adjusts the height of probe comprising a shaft 86 with an electric liquid level sensor 90. In operation a lifting member 12 raises a container, which is centred by a tulip 37, against a contact seal 36, and the filling pipe 21, feed pipe 30, and the probe 86, 90 are inserted. The tulip 37, together with an intermediate part 35, rises up to the holder 24, and a channel 39, 38, 25, 32 is formed, by seals 36, 54, 53, from the container to the gas pipe 31. A proximity switch 40 is operated by the intermediate part 35 and actuates a magnetic valve 78, via a printed circuit card 93, which opens a pressure fluid inlet 75. Piston 74 now rises lifting valve body 73 from its seat 69 so that pressurized gas flows into the container from reservoir 10. Liquid valve 18, 61 is now opened by spring 63 raising valve body 60 up against stop 89, the gas valve 69, 73 remaining open, and proximity switch 72 is operated by the shoulder 65 and, via the circuit cord 93, activates the probe 86, 90. The filling material now flows, via the open liquid valve 18, 60, the guide channels (27) and (28), Fig. 2 (not shown), and the filling pipe 21, into the container. The gas thereby driven out flows back into the reservoir 10, and gas present in the feed pipe 30 escapes through the bore 34 into the return gas path. When the liquid level within the feed pipe 30 reaches the sensor 90 this actuates, via the circuit cord 93, the magnetic valve 78 which shuts pressure fluid inlet 75 and vents it to the atmosphere simultaneously opening pressure fluid inlet 76, and piston 74 now falls closing gas valve 73, 69 followed by liquid valve 18, 61. After a suitable time lag a magnetic valve actuated by the sensor 90, opens and vents the container to the atmosphere. The lifting element 12 now lowers the container, and the tulip 37 and intermediate part 35 fall causing the proximity switch 40, via the circuit cord 93, to close the magnetic valve 42. In a modification, Fig. 7 (not shown), the probe is a conduit (86a) with a pneumatic switch (105) comprising a membrane (106) dividing the switch housing into upper and lower pressure chambers (108), (110). One chamber (110) is connected to the conduit (86a) and the other, via a conduit (109), to the container. The switch (105) is activated by the proximity switch 72, and then when the filling liquid rises up the conduit (86a) the membrane (106) is deflected by the pressure difference between the chambers, closes switch contacts (107), (111) and, via circuit cord 93, actuates the magnetic valve 78 to stop the filling process. In a multi-element machine the height of all the probes may be adjusted together by fitting, Fig. 4 (not shown), a sprocket (94) to the set wheels (83a) with a common sprocket ring (98) or chain drive from a motor (97).