US2501764A - Bottle filler valve - Google Patents

Description

, 1950 J. E. DUER BOTTLE FILLER VALVE March 28 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filedf July 9, 1948 are 28, 1950 D ER 2,501,764

BOTTLE FILLER VALVE Filed July 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2%, 1950 BQTTLE FILLER VALVE poration of dllinois Application July 9, 1948, Serial No.'37,788

(Cl. '22l3'93) 6 Claims. l

The invention relates to valves employed in container filling apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid from a reservoir into the container, and more particularly relates to such valves in apparatus adapted to the filling of bottles withmilk.

Bottle filling apparatus for handling milk usually includes a reservoir having several depending discharge or filler tubes, each tube having a lower terminal outlet controlled by a valve mechanism operable by contact with the bottle to be filled. The filler tube usually is constructed of two telescoping sections, the upper section being rigidly secured to the reservoir in open communication therewith. A closure 'valve, commonly of the poppet type, is positioned at the outlet end of the lower section of the tube, the valve being supported by an air vent tube of relatively small diameter extending axially upward within the filler tube and into the reservoir and terminat ng above the level of the milk supply in the reservoir. Supporting means within the reservoir secures the vent tube in operating position.

In the usual filling operation, a bottle is lifted into sealing contact with a flange carried by the lower section of the telescoping filler tube, and is further lifted to raise the lower tube section away from the closure valve carried by the vent tube. Thereupon, milk flows from the reservoir into the bottle while the air contained in the empty bottle is expelled through the vent tube.

In the ordinary arrangement, as exemplified in the Larsen Patent No. 1,550,726, issued August 25, 1925, the vent tube and valve are maintained in axial position in relation to the lower section of the filler tube throughout the operating cycle of filling a bottle. The flowing liquid entering the bottle tends to form a continuous annular stream deflected by the upper'sur-face of the valve toward the side of the bottle. With the discharge orifice fully open, permitting maximum how of milk with sufficient velocity to carry all of the annular stream to the side of the bottle, the milk flows down the 'bottle'surface withoutobstructing the free passage of the air from the inner portion of the bottle to the vent tube orifice. 'This condition is advantageousin requiring minimum filling time and in providing maximum capacity for the filling apparatus.

Diir'iculty arises, however, at the beginning of the operation before the discharge orifice is fully open and before the milk flow has attained sufiicient volume and velocity to carry over to the side of the bottle. The first portion ofmi k flowing crease in the time required to fill the bottle over what would be required if the displaced air had unobstructed access to theven't orifice at all times. This diificultybecomes greater when filling bottles with the more viscous cream.

An improvement in this condition was efiected by swinging the vent tube and valve to one side of the filler tube immediately upon opening the milk discharge orifice, and retaining the Vent tube and valve in such lateral position during the filling operation. Such construction is exemplified in the Olin Patent No. 2,200,189, issued May '7, 1940, and in the Larsen "Patent No. 2,226,619, issued December 31, 1940. By this 'arrangement, the milk flow is cut-off at the one side with largely increased .flow at the opposite side. This lateral shift of position of the vent tube and valve breaks the curtain of in-fiowing milk at the cut-off side and leaves an unobstructed free passage to the vent tube orifice for the escape 'of the air displaced from the bottle by the infiowing milk. I

A disadvantage arises from retaining the vent tube and valve 'at one side of the filler tube throughout the fill ng operation in that the greatly increased flow through the efiective half of the discharge orifice, necessary to attain minimum filling time, causes too much turbulence in the in-fiowing milk and creates excessive foam. The foam requires added time for its dissipation, or results in short measure of the liquid in the bottles.

An object of the present invention is to pro-- 'vide a bottle filler valve in which the vent tube and valve are shifted to one side for the period only'of fully opening the discharge orifice, and are shifted back to axial position in relation to the filler tube when the discharge orifice is open to its full extent. Thus, a clear exit for the displaced air is provided during the initial opening of the is directed in an annular stream smoothly down the sides of the bottle with the central space in the bottle clear for the continued free exit of the displaced air. A minimum of time for filling the bottle, a minimum of foam formed during the filling operation, and a maximum capacity for the bottle filling apparatus is thus assured.

In the early filler valves, as exemplified in Patents No. 1,550,726 and No. 2,200,189, the vent tube air passage extends through the annular milk discharge valve with the air vent orifice at the bottom of the valve open at all times. When the bottle is filled, some quantity of milk and foam rises into the vent tube before the bottle is withdrawn. The valve and filler tube extend into the bottle being filled with suificient volume displacement to provide space for milk draining from the open vent tube when the bottle is lowered from the filler valve at the end of the filling operation. The open vent tube is objectionable in that the amount of milk draining back from the vent tube is variable, and there is continuing drip from the tube after the bottle has been removed.

This ob ection has been overcome by providing a closure valve for the vent tube orifice, operable in sequence with the milk discharge valve so that the vent tube is opened before the milk valve is opened, and is closed after the milk valve is closed and just before the bottle is lowered from the filler valve. Thus accurate filling is accomplished and waste from continued drip is avoided. As exemplified in Patent No. 2,226,619, the vent tube valve may be carried by a supplemental vent tube telescoped within an outer tube supporting the milk discharge valve. Such construction involves an extra tube and mechanism for operating the two valves in timed sequence.

It is customary, also, in the poppet valve type of filler valves, to seat the mi k valve and the air vent valve against the ends of the filler tube and the vent tube respectively with metal-tometal sealing contact between valve and seat. Any obstruction or bruise on the surface of either valve or its seat causes leakage of milk when the valve is closed. Such construction requires detachment of the supporting and operating structure from the upper portion of the vent tube in order to withdraw the vent tube or tubes and valves downward from the filler tube for the necessary frequent washing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a filler valve of improved construction in which a single vent tube carries both the milk valve and the air vent valve, the unitary vent tube and valve assembly being withdrawable upperwardly thru the filler tube without detachment of the simplified upper supporting structure, and with the termi al air vent valve having a readily removably resilient stop member forming an effective seal with the discharge end of the filler tube when the valve is in closed position. This construction provides less parts to be disassembled for cleaning, the discharge orifice is effectively sealed against leakage during the interval between filling operations, and the bottles are rapidly filled with uniform quantities of milk substantially without foam.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view of the filler valve in closed position. Fig. 2 shows the same parts in intermediate position wherein the vent tube orifice is open to the bottle while the filler tube remains closed to the discharge of milk from the reservoir. Fig. 3 shows the vent tube and valves swung to one side as during the opening movement of the milk discharge valve. Fig. 4 shows the parts in fully opened position with the vent tube and valves returned to axial position concentric with the filler tube. Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 except for a modification of the vent tube supporting structure. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vent tube and milk discharge valve taken on the plane of the lower end of the filler tube in Fig. 2, looking upward. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the vent tube supporting member shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the modified vent tube supporting member shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is an upper end view of the modified lower section of the filler tube shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates a portion of the bottom wall of a milk reservoir, as commonly provided in bottle filling apparatus. Depending from the bottom wall I is a telescoping discharge or filler tube, designated generally at 2, comprising an upper section 3 and a lower section 4. The upper section 3 is rigidly mounted in an opening provided in the bottom wall I of the reservoir, and is secured thereto preferably by welding the flared upper end of the tube section to the margin of the wall I about the opening, thereby providing a continuous rounded inner flow surface between wall I and tube 2. The lower section 4 is slidably mounted within the upper section 3 and carries a liquid sealing gasket 5 seated in an annular groove provided in its overlapped portion. The open lower end of the tube section 4 forms a milk discharge orifice.

An annular flange 6 is fixed upon the lower portion of the tube section 4, substantially spaced from the lower end of the tube section. The flange Ii serves as an abutment for a resilient bottle contact ring I mounted on the lower end portion of the tube section. A coiled spring 8 is endwardly confined between the bottom wall I and the flange 6. The spring 8 is tensioned to force the lower tube section 4 downward to the limit of movement hereinafter described.

A vent tube 9 is positioned within the filler tube 2, extending through the tube sections 4 and 3 and upwardly within the reservoir with its open upper end above the milk level. The outer diameter of the vent tube is substantially less than the inner diameters of the telescoping filler tube sections, providing annular flow space between them for the discharge of milk from the reservoir. The vent tube 9 provides an inner passage for the air expelled from a bottle during the filling operation.

A spaced pair of valves I0 and II are mounted on the lower end portion of the vent tube 9. Both valves are dimensioned to a sliding fit within the lower tube section 4 and may be withdrawn with the vent tube upwardly through and out of the filler tube 2. The upper valve I 0 is of annular form secured upon the outer surface of the vent tube 9 and controls the discharge flow of milk from the reservoir through the tube section 4. The upper surface of the valve is of tapered contour so that when the milk discharge orifice is open, with the valve I0 positioned below the lower end of the tube section 4. the flowing milk is deflected radially in an'annular stream.

The lower valve H is secured upon the end of the vent tube 9. The valve is of solid structure, preferably having a conical upper surface. That portion of the vent tube 9 between the valves it! and H is provided with lateral openings 12 Figs. 2 and 6), forming ports communicating with the air passage within the vent tube. An annular groove is is formed in the peripheral surface of the valve II. A ring it of elastic material is removably seated in the groove 13. The outer portion of the ring it extends radially outward of the peripheral surface of the valve H and is normally in abutment with the end of the tube section 4. The resilient ring [A has the dual func tion of serving as a stop member limiting the downward movement actuated by the spring 3 of the telescoped tube section l, and also of accomplishing an effective liquid seal between the valve H and the lower end of the tube section 4. Upon removal of the ring I4 from its seat in the groove I3, the vent tube and valves may be withdrawn upwardly from the filler tube 2 and the tube section 4 may be withdrawn downwardly from the upper tube section 3.

The unitary vent tube and valve structure is supported by a bracket l5 comprising a plate l6 rigidly secured to the vent tube 9 above the filler tube 2 and extending at one side over the upper end of the upper tube section 3 and the reservoir bottom wall l. Depending flanges i! are formed on the laterally extended portion of the plate 16, the flanges I! normally resting upon the flared upper end of the tube section 3 at its juncture with the bottom wall l of the reservoir and thereby limiting the downward movement of the vent tube and valves. Spaced legs l8, preferably three in number, are secured to the underside of the plate It. The legs l8 are located directly over the upper end of the lower tube section 4 in position for contact by the tube sect on 4 when the latter is lifted during the bott e filling operation.

In the operation of fi ling bottles. conventional mechanism is employed to convey a bottle, indicated in part at i9, into pos tion beneath the closed filler valve with the mouth of the bott e in concentric alinement with the resilient contact ring i, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Lifting mechanism raises the bottle into sealing contact with the ring I and further raises the bottle to lift the tube section l and open the filler valve. As the tube section 4 moves upward, the vent tube 9 and the valves ill and i I remain stationary.

The tube section 4 is first lifted from the lower valve ii, thereby opening communication. between the bottle and the vent tube 9 through the ports ii for a period before the milk valve i0 is opened, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This period ermits drainage from the vent tube into the bottle of the milk trapped in the vent tube at the end of the preceding bottle filling operation and clears the vent tube for the free exit of air when the milk valve H] is later opened.

Further upward movement of the tube section 4 lifts its lower end from the upper valve It, whereupon the vent tube 9 swings to one side by gravity because of its off-center support upon the lateral flanges ll of the bracket l5. Thus. the valve it is carried to one side oi-the milk discharge orifice, as illustrated in Fig. 3, with the result that the orifice is substantially closed at that side and the first discharge of milk into the bottle flows through the opposite side of the orifice without interference with the free exit of the expelled air through the vent tube port [2 beneath the closed side of the valve 10.

Final upward movement of the tube section 4 carries its upper end into contact with the legs l8 and lifts the vent tube supporting bracket l5 suf ficiently to raise the flanges I! from the upper end of the upper tube section 3. In final position, the vent tube is supported only upon the legs i 8 resting concentrically upon the upper end of the tube section 4, the vent tube swinging back into axial position with the valve ii] centered below the discharge orifice. In this position the discharge orifice is opened to maximum capacity. The full flow of milk surrounds the valve ill in an annular stream which is deflected outward by the upper surface of the valve to flow smoothly down the sides of the bottle. Both vent tube ports l2 are freely open to the outflow of displaced air from the center of the bottle. When the bottle is filled, the small amount of foam and some liquid milk enters the vent tube through the ports it.

The filler valve is closed by a reverse movement of the lifting mechanism which lowers the bottle. As the bottle descends, the spring 8 maintains the contact ring 'I in sealing contact with the mouth of the bottle, and the tube section t is lowered with the bottle. The vent tube and its supporting bracket 15 are lowered until the flanges I! contact the upper end of the upper tube section 3, thereby limiting further downward movement of the vent tube. The lower end of tube section 4 then passes over the milk valve H] and shuts off further flow of milk from the reservoir. This movement returns the parts of the filler valve to the position shown in Fig. 2.

With the flow passage from the reservoir closed by the valve iii, the milk in the vent tube flows back through the ports i2 into the bottle in replacement of the volume of the lower end of the vent tube and the valve H as the latter are withdrawn from the bottle in the descent of the bottle and the tube section 4. This back flow of milk from the vent tube continues until the lower end of the tube section 4 is seated upon the resilient sealing ring it carried by the valve H, in final closure of the milk discharge orifice. Thus is assured the accurately uniform filling of each bottle with a full volume of liquid milk. The filled bottle is then lowered from the contact ring I and conveyed to conventional means for capping the bottle.

A modification of the construction of the vent tube supporting structure is illustrated in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. In the modified structure, the supporting bracket llia comprises the plate it rigidly secured to the vent tube 9 and having the lateral depending flanges ll normally resting upon the upper end of the tube section 3 as in the preceding description. An annulus 26 is secured to the plate l6 and to the vent tube 9, the annulus having a conical undersurface 2|. The upper end of the tube section t is tapered inwardly to form a seat 22 for the conical surface 2! of the annulus. Recesses 23 are formed in the seat 22, to provide flow passages for the milk when the tube section 4 is in uppermost position in lifting contact with the annulus 2B. The construction and operation of the modified filler valve otherwise is identical with that hereinbefore de scribed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bottle filler valve, a filler tube comprising upper and lower sections in telescoping relation, said upper section being adapted for attachment in communication with a liquid reservoir, said lower section endwardly forming a liquid discharge orifice, a spring tending to move said lower section downwardly, an abutment carried by said lower section adapted for contact by a bottle being elevated for filling, the elevation of said bottle effecting the lifting of said lower section, a vent tube extending through and above said filler tube sections, an upper valve secured upon said vent tube in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, said upper valve being positioned normally within said lower filler tube section and effecting closure thereof, a lower valve secured upon the lower end of said vent tube in endward closure thereof, said lower =valve being positioned normally at the lower end of said lower filler tube section in closurethereof, said vent tube having laterally opening ports positioned between said upper and lower valves, a resilient ring removably mounted upon said lower valve and normally abutting the end of said lower filler tube section, said ring normally effecting a seal between said lower filler tube section and said lower valve and limiting the downward movement of said lower filler tube section, and a supporting bracket secured upon the upper portion of said vent tube, said bracket having a lateral extension normally resting upon the upper end of said upper filler tube section in offcenter support of said vent tube effecting limitation of the downward movement of said vent tube and causing the lower portion of said vent tube to swing to one side when said lower filler tube section is lifted intermediately above said upper valve, said bracket further having an understructure adapted for lifting contact by the upper end of said lower filler tube section effecting the swinging of said vent tube into axial coincidence with said lower filler tube section when said lower filler tube section is lifted fully above said upper valve.

2. In a bottle filler valve, a filler tube having an endward discharge orifice, a vent tube extend- ,ing through said filler tube in longitudinally movable relation thereto, and a pair of spaced valves fixed upon said vent tube and adapted to enter said filler tube in closure of said filler tube and said discharge orifice, saidvent tube having lateral port openings positioned between said valves, the relative movement of said filler tube and said vent tube in one direction causing said pair of valves to close-said discharge orifice successively to the flow of liquid through said filler tube and to the flow of fluid through said vent tube, movement in the opposite direction causing said pair of valves to open said discharge orifice successively to the fiow of fluid through said vent tube and to the flow of liquid through said filler tube.

3. In a bottle filler valve, a filler tube having an endward discharge orifice, a vent tube extending through said filler tube in longitudinally movable relation thereto, a valve secured to the end of said vent tube and normally positioned at the end of said filler tube in closure of said discharge orifice, said valve being peripherally dimensioned for free passage through the length of said filler tube whereby said vent tube and said valve may be withdrawn from said filler tube through the opposite end thereof, said valve having a groove formed in its peripheral surface, and an elastic ring removably mounted in said groove and extending substantially outward from the peripheral surface of said valve, said elastic ring-when positioned in said groove, forming an abutment for the end of said filler tube in limitation of the entry of said valve into said discharge orifice and effecting a seal between said valve and said filler tube.

4. In a bottle filler valve, 2. filler tube having an endward discharge orifice, a vent tube extending through said filler tube, a valve secured to said vent tube, saidfiller tube and said vent tube and valve being relatively movable to open and close said filler tube discharge orifice, and means operable to swing said vent tube and valve to one side of said discharge orifice when-said valve isin intermediately open position and to swing saidvent tube and valve into axial coincidence with said discharge orifice when said valve is in fully open position.

5. In a bottle filler valve, a filler tube comprising a stationary upper section and a movable lower section in telescoping relation, the lower end of said lower section forming a discharge orifice, a vent tube extending through said filler tube, a valve mounted on said vent tube and adapted to open and close said discharge orifice by the movement of said lower section, a supporting bracket mounted on said vent tube, said bracket having a lateral extension normally contacting said stationary upper section in off-center support of said vent tube and tending to swing said vent tube and valve to one side of said orifice, and legs mounted on said bracket about said vent tube in position for lifting contact by said movable lower section and thereby swinging said vent tube and valve into centered relation to said orifice. V

6. In a bottle filler valve, a filler tube comprising a stationary upper section and a movable lower section in telescoping relation, the lower end of said lower section forming a discharge orifice, a vent tube extending through said filler tube, a valve mounted on said vent tube and adapted to open and close said discharge orifice by the movement of said lower section, a supporting bracket mounted on'said venttube, said bracket having a lateral extension normally contacting said stationary upper section in off-center support of said vent tube and tending to swing said vent tube and valve to one side of said orifice, and an annulus mounted on said bracket concentrically with said vent tube in position for lifting contact by the upper end of said lower section and thereby swinging said vent tube and valve into centered relation to said orifice, one of the intercontacting surfaces of said lower section and said annulus having cross recesses formed therein.

JOHN E. DUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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