Filling system for hot filling of beverage bottles or containers in a bottle or container filling plant

Abstract

A filling system for hot filling of beverage bottles or containers in a bottle or container filling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A bottle filling system in a bottle filling plant, which bottle filling system is configured to fill bottles with a hot liquid, said bottle filling system comprising:
 a hot liquid reservoir configured and disposed to hold a supply of hot liquid and a gas in a head space above the hot liquid;   at least one filling element, each said at least one filling element comprising:
 a housing; 
 a dispensing opening disposed on the bottom of said housing; 
 said dispensing opening being configured and disposed to permit the dispensing of hot liquid therethrough and into a bottle to be filled; 
 a hot liquid flow arrangement being disposed and configured to permit the flow of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir to said dispensing opening; 
 a flow meter being disposed and configured to measure the flow of hot liquid flowing from said hot liquid reservoir to its corresponding filling element; 
 a return gas flow arrangement being configured and disposed to receive a flow of displaced gas from a bottle being filled with hot liquid, said return gas flow arrangement comprising:
 at least one valve configured to switch the gas flow rate of displaced gas from a bottle being filled with hot liquid to permit switching its corresponding filling element between a higher liquid filling rate, during initial filling of a bottle with hot liquid, and a lower liquid filling rate, during final filling of a bottle with hot liquid; 
 a first gas duct disposed in said housing and being operatively connected to said return gas flow arrangement and said at least one valve; 
 a second gas duct disposed in said housing and being operatively connected to said head space in said hot liquid reservoir and said return gas flowing arrangement; 
 a gas flow throttle operatively connected to said second gas duct, said gas flow throttle being configured and disposed to permit a throttled flow of gas through said second gas duct; 
 said at least one valve being configured to permit gas flow through said first and said second gas ducts, in parallel, with gas flow through said flow throttle, and to permit displaced gas to flow out of a bottle and into said headspace during the higher liquid filling rate, upon a bottle being filled with hot liquid during the higher liquid filling rate, during initial filling; 
 said at least one valve being configured to stop the flow of gas through said first gas duct and still permit a flow of gas through said second gas duct, during the lower liquid filling rate during final filling, 
 
   each said at least one filling element further comprising:
 a temperature maintaining system configured to maintain a temperature of each said at least one filling element and hot liquid within said at least one filling element at a temperature substantially equal to a bottle filling temperature by circulation of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir, upon said bottle filling system not filling bottles; 
 said temperature maintaining system comprising:
 a hot liquid circulation arrangement comprising an inlet operatively connected to said hot liquid flow arrangement, upstream said dispensing opening; 
 a weighted one way valve in said hot liquid circulation arrangement, disposed downstream of said inlet of said hot liquid circulation arrangement, configured to open upon a predetermined pressure being reached in said hot liquid flow arrangement and to inhibit a flow of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir to said inlet of said hot liquid circulation arrangement; 
 a ring shaped hot liquid collecting channel disposed completely about said bottle filling system, said hot liquid collecting channel cooperating with each said hot liquid circulation arrangement of each said at least one filling element, said hot liquid collecting channel being configured to collect hot liquid after flowing through each said weighted one way valve of each said at least one filling element; 
 a shut off valve, disposed downstream of said hot liquid collecting channel, configured to stop the flow of hot liquid in said hot liquid circulation arrangement; 
 said hot liquid circulation arrangement comprising an outlet into said hot liquid reservoir; and 
 a pump configured to move hot liquid through said hot liquid circulation arrangement from said hot liquid flow arrangement to said hot liquid reservoir; 
 
   said bottle filling system further comprising a controller operatively connected to said at least one valve, said flow meter, said shut off valve, and said pump;   said controller being configured to open said first gas duct upon initiation of filling of a bottle and to close said first gas duct upon a predetermined initial amount of hot liquid passing through said flow meter to a bottle being filled; and   said controller further being configured to start said pump and move hot liquid through said hot liquid circulation arrangement, upon the stopping of filling of bottles by said bottle filling system.   
   
   
       2 . The bottle filling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filling element comprises a plurality of filling elements, each said plurality of filling elements being substantially equidistantly disposed about a perimeter of a rotor, said bottle filling system further comprising a gas collecting chamber, said gas collecting chamber being operatively connected to said second gas duct of each said plurality of filling elements and being configured to receive displaced gas, from bottles being filled, and convey the displaced gas to said head space in said hot liquid reservoir. 
   
   
       3 . The bottle filling system according to  claim 2 , wherein said housing comprises a gas reservoir operatively connected to said return gas flow arrangement, said first gas duct, and a piston, said piston being operatively connected to a camming arrangement configured to increase the volume of said housing gas reservoir upon the sealing of a bottle about said dispensing opening. 
   
   
       4 . A container filling system configured to fill containers with a hot liquid, said container filling system comprising:
 a hot liquid reservoir configured and disposed to hold a supply of hot liquid;   at least one filling element, each said at least one filling element comprising:
 a housing; 
 a dispensing opening disposed on the bottom of said housing; 
 said dispensing opening being configured and disposed to permit the dispensing of hot liquid therethrough and into a container to be filled; 
 a hot liquid flow arrangement being disposed and configured to permit the flow of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir to said dispensing opening; 
 a temperature maintaining system configured to maintain a temperature of each said at least one filling element and hot liquid within each said at least one filling element at a temperature substantially equal to a container filling temperature by the circulation of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir, upon said container filling system not filling containers; 
 said temperature maintaining system comprising: 
 a hot liquid circulation arrangement comprising an inlet operatively connected to said hot liquid flow arrangement, above said dispensing opening; 
 a weighted one way valve in said hot liquid circulation arrangement, disposed downstream of said inlet of said hot liquid circulation arrangement, configured to open upon a predetermined pressure being reached in said hot liquid flow arrangement and to inhibit a flow of hot liquid from said hot liquid reservoir to said inlet of said hot liquid circulation arrangement; 
 a hot liquid collecting channel, disposed downstream of said weighted one way valve, configured to collect hot liquid flowing through said weighted one way valve; 
 said hot liquid circulation arrangement comprising an outlet into said hot liquid reservoir; and 
 a circulating arrangement configured to provide flow of hot liquid through said hot liquid circulation arrangement upon said container filling system not filling containers and to not provide flow of hot liquid through said hot liquid circulation arrangement upon said filling system filling containers. 
   
   
   
       5 . The container filling system of  claim 4  wherein said circulating arrangement comprises a shut off valve, disposed downstream of said hot liquid collecting channel, configured to stop the flow of hot liquid in said hot liquid circulation arrangement. 
   
   
       6 . The container filling system of  claim 5  wherein said circulating arrangement comprises a pump disposed and configured to move hot liquid from said hot liquid flow arrangement to said hot liquid reservoir. 
   
   
       7 . The container filling system according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one filling element comprises a plurality of filling elements, each said plurality of filling elements being substantially equidistantly disposed about said container filling system, said hot liquid collecting channel comprises a ring shaped hot liquid collecting channel disposed completely about said container filling system, said hot liquid collecting channel cooperating with each said hot liquid circulation arrangement of each said plurality of filling elements, said hot liquid collecting channel being configured to collect hot liquid from each said weighted one way valve of each said plurality of filling elements. 
   
   
       8 . The container filling system according to  claim 7 , wherein each said plurality of filling elements comprise a return gas flow arrangement being configured and disposed to receive a flow of displaced gas from a container being filled with hot liquid, said return gas flow arrangement comprising:
 at least one valve configured to switch the gas flow rate of displaced gas from a container being filled with hot liquid to permit switching its corresponding filling element between a higher liquid filling rate, during initial filling of a container with hot liquid, and a lower liquid filling rate, during final filling of a container with hot liquid.   
   
   
       9 . The container filling system according to  claim 8 , wherein each said return gas flow arrangements further comprise:
 a first gas duct disposed in said housing and being operatively connected to said return gas flow arrangement and said at least one valve;   a second gas duct disposed in said housing and being operatively connected to a head space in said hot liquid reservoir and said return gas flowing arrangement;   a gas flow throttle operatively connected to said second gas duct, said gas flow throttle being configured and disposed to permit a throttled flow of gas through said second gas duct;   said at least one valve being configured to permit gas flow through said first and said second gas ducts, in parallel, with gas flow through said flow throttle, and to permit displaced gas to flow out of a container and into the headspace during the higher liquid filling rate, upon a bottle being filled with hot liquid during the higher liquid filling rate, during initial filling;   said at least one valve being configured to stop the flow of gas through said first gas duct and still permit a flow of gas through said second gas duct, during the lower liquid filling rate during final filling.   
   
   
       10 . The container filling system according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one valve comprises a sole valve disposed and configured to stop the flow of gas through said first gas duct and still permit a flow of gas through said second gas duct and said gas flow throttle, during the lower liquid filling rate during final filling. 
   
   
       11 . The container filling system according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one valve comprises a first and a second valve disposed and configured to stop the flow of gas through said first gas duct and still permit a flow of gas through said second gas duct and said gas flow throttle, during the lower liquid filling rate during final filling. 
   
   
       12 . The container filling system according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one valve comprises a third valve cooperatively connected to said return gas flow arrangement and said hot liquid collecting channel, said third valve being disposed and configured to calm pressurized hot liquid in a filled container by providing a controlled flow between said return gas flow arrangement and said hot liquid collecting channel, upon opening of said third valve upon a container being filled with pressurized hot liquid. 
   
   
       13 . The container filling system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one valve comprises a fourth valve cooperatively connected to said hot liquid flow arrangement and said hot liquid collecting channel, said fourth valve being disposed and configured to provide flow between said hot liquid flow arrangement and said hot liquid collecting channel, providing a flow of hot liquid through said hot liquid flow arrangement, upon opening of said fourth valve upon said container filling system not filling containers. 
   
   
       14 . The container filling system according to  claim 9 , wherein said container filling system further comprises a gas collecting chamber, said gas collecting chamber being operatively connected to said second gas duct of each said plurality of filling elements and being configured to receive displaced gas, from containers being filled, and convey the displaced gas to the head space in said hot liquid reservoir. 
   
   
       15 . The container filling system of  claim 14  further comprising a heater, said heater being disposed and configured to heat the hot liquid. 
   
   
       16 . A filling system for filling a liquid product into bottles or similar containers ( 2 ), said filling system having at least one filler element ( 3 ,  3   a ) with a product space or liquid channel ( 8 ) realized in a filler element housing ( 7 ,  7   a ), said product space or liquid channel being in communication with a reservoir ( 6 ) for the liquid product and on the underside of the filler element ( 3 ,  3   a ) forming a liquid product discharge ( 11 ), via which the liquid product flows to the respective container ( 2 ) to be filled retained on a container carrier ( 4 ), and having a liquid valve ( 10 ) positioned in the liquid channel ( 8 ), whereby to heat or keep the filler element ( 3 ,  3   a ) warm during a hot-filling process, in the filler element housing ( 7 ,  7   a ) there is a first flow path ( 24 ,  27 ;  33 ), which connects a part section ( 8 . 1 ) of the liquid channel ( 8 ), located with reference to the flow direction of the liquid product in the liquid channel ( 8 ) upstream of the liquid valve ( 10 ), to a ring channel ( 26 ) that is common to a plurality of filler elements ( 3 ,  3   a ), and in that at least one control valve ( 36 ) is provided for controlling the flow of a hot liquid product from the reservoir ( 6 ) through the part section ( 8 . 1 ) and the first flow path into the first collecting channel ( 26 ), wherein the control valve ( 36 ) is located downstream of the ring channel ( 26 ), and in the first flow path ( 33 ) a check valve ( 34 ) is provided, which opens for a flow from the liquid channel ( 8 ) of the filling element ( 3   a ) into the first ring channel ( 26 ) and closes for a flow in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       17 . Filling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one first control valve ( 25 ) is provided in the first flow path ( 24 ,  27 ). 
   
   
       18 . Filling system according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one first control valve ( 36 ) is provided in a line ( 35 ) that is connected to the first collecting chamber ( 26 ) for conducting the liquid product away, for example for returning said liquid product to the reservoir ( 6 ). 
   
   
       19 . Filling system according to  claim 18 , wherein the case of a filling machine with a plurality of filler elements ( 3   a ), the first control valve ( 36 ) is provided for all the filler elements of the filling machine or in common for a group of a plurality of filler elements ( 3   a ). 
   
   
       20 . Filling system according to  claim 19 , wherein the first flow path ( 24 ,  27 ;  33 ) empties in the immediate vicinity of the liquid valve ( 10 ) or of a valve seat ( 10 . 2 ) of the liquid value ( 10 ) into the liquid channel ( 8 ).