Method and apparatus for auto-cascade bottle filling

Abstract

A system is disclosed for filling bottles and other fluid holding vessels. In the system, a pressure transducer monitors fluid pressure within a conduit that communicates with fluid filled storage banks. Using a programmable logic controller, valves associated with the banks may be systematically opened to cause fluid to pass though the conduit and into a downstream bottle. As a particular bank has discharged and the downstream bottle is filled the rate of change in the pressure in the conduit will fall to zero. If the bottle has been filled before or upon equalization of the pressure, the fill operation may be discontinued. However, if the bottle is not filled, the controller may then cause the valve to close, and the either activate a compressor or open the valve of a second bank causing that bank to discharge into the conduit and continue filling the bottle.

1 . A fill apparatus for a fluid holding vessels comprising:
 a first and a second fluid storage bank, each bank communicating with a common outlet line;   a first valve operable to selectively control the flow of a fluid from the first storage bank into the common outlet line;   a second valve operable to selectively control the flow of a fluid from the second storage bank into the common outlet line;   a pressure measuring device operable to measure a rate of change of a fluid pressure in the common outlet line; and   a programmable logic controller in electronic communication with the first and second valve and the pressure measuring device and operating to transmit a control signal to at least one of the first or second valves, in response to a predetermined rate of change of the fluid pressure in the common outlet line, to cause the selected valve to open or close.   
   
   
       2 . The fill apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid compressor and a common inlet line, the fluid compressor communicating with the common inlet line and the common inlet line communicating with the first and second fluid storage bank. 
   
   
       3 . The fill apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising a control valve operable to selectively control the flow of a fluid from the compressor to the common inlet line. 
   
   
       4 . The fill apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising a vessel filling station communicating with the common outlet line. 
   
   
       5 . The fill apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the compressor communicates with the common outlet line so that the compressor is operable to transmit fluid directly to the vessel filling station. 
   
   
       6 . The fill apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a vessel filling station communicating with the common outlet line. 
   
   
       7 . The fill apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising a fluid compressor and a common inlet line, the fluid compressor communicating with the common inlet line and the common inlet line communicating with the first and second fluid storage bank. 
   
   
       8 . The fill apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the compressor communicates with the common outlet line so that the compressor is operable to transmit fluid directly to the vessel filling station. 
   
   
       9 . A fill apparatus for a fluid holding vessels comprising:
 a fluid conduit;   a first and a second valve, each valve communicating with the fluid conduit and each having an inlet port;   a pressure measuring device operable to measure a rate of change of a fluid pressure in the fluid conduit; and   a programmable logic controller in electronic communication with the first and second valve and the pressure measuring device and operating to transmit a control signal to at least one of the first or second valves in response to a predetermined rate of change of the fluid pressure in the fluid conduit, to cause the selected valve to open or close.   
   
   
       10 . The fill apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second valve comprise solenoid controlled valves. 
   
   
       11 . The fill apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a vessel filling station communicating with the fluid conduit. 
   
   
       12 . The fill apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a housing, the fluid conduit and the first and second valves being positioned on the housing; and   a second fluid conduit positioned on the housing.   
   
   
       13 . The fill apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a first fluid storage bank having an outlet communicating with the inlet port of the first valve, and a second fluid storage bank having an outlet communicating with the inlet port of the second valve. 
   
   
       14 . The fill apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a fluid compressor communicating with the second fluid conduit. 
   
   
       15 . The fill apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a control valve operable to selectively open to allow the flow of a fluid into the second fluid conduit. 
   
   
       16 . The fill apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each bank further comprises an inlet in communication with the second fluid conduit. 
   
   
       17 . The fill apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising a fluid compressor communicating with the control valve. 
   
   
       18 . A method of filling a fluid holding vessel comprising:
 providing a fill apparatus including a fluid conduit, a first and a second valve, each valve communicating with the fluid conduit and each having an inlet port, a pressure measuring device operable to measure a rate of change of a fluid pressure in the fluid conduit; and a programmable logic controller in electronic communication with the first and second valve and tie pressure measuring device and operating to transmit a control signal to at least one of the first or second valves in response to a predetermined rate of change of the fluid pressure in the fluid conduit;   providing a first fluid storage bank having an outlet communicating with the inlet port of the first valve, and a second fluid storage bank having an outlet communicating with the inlet port of the second valve;   providing a vessel filling port communicating with the fluid conduit;   providing a fluid holding vessel removably engaging and communicating with the vessel filling port so that an interior of the vessel is in communication with the fluid conduit;   transmitting a first control signal from the programmable logic controller to the first valve causing the valve to open and a fluid to flow from the first storage bank to the vessel filling port;   transmitting a second control signal from the programmable logic controller to the first valve causing the valve to close when the rate of change of a fluid pressure in the fluid conduit has reached a predetermined rate;   transmitting a third control signal, after the second control signal, from the programmable logic controller to the second valve causing the valve to open and a fluid to flow from the second fluid storage bank to the vessel filling port.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a fluid compressor in electronic communication with the programmable logic controller and communicating with the fluid conduit so that the compressor is operable to transmit a fluid directly to the vessel filling port; and   transmitting a control signal from the programmable logic controller to the compressor causing fluid to flow from the compressor to the vessel filling port.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising transmitting a control signal from the programmable logic controller to the compressor causing fluid to flow from the compressor to the vessel filling port when the rate of change of a fluid pressure in the conduit has reached a predetermined rate and each bank has been discharged.