Device and arrangement for filling processing stations

Abstract

A device for filling processing stations ( 16 ) with a pumpable working material guarantees a permanent and sufficient supply of working material to the processing station with the lowest possible expense and greatest possible cleanliness. The device includes a transfer chamber ( 42 ) assigned to a central tank ( 55 ) for the working material. The transfer chamber ( 42 ) is assigned to a processing station ( 16 ), in such a way that the working material can be fed at first from the central tank ( 55 ) into the transfer chamber ( 42 ) and from there to the processing station ( 16 ). An arrangement is also provided that includes such a device.

1 . A device for filling processing stations with a pourable working material from a central tank for the working material, the device comprising:
 a transfer chamber associated with the central tank, said transfer chamber being operatively connected to a processing station such that the working material is first conveyed from the central tank into said transfer chamber and from said transfer chamber to the processing station, said transfer chamber having a bottom with a sump and with a bottom surface deepening in the manner of a funnel towards said sump.   
     
     
         2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said sump comprises a blind hole leading to a discharge opening, said blind hole having a dimension corresponding approximately to an internal diameter of said discharge opening. 
     
     
         3 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a pressurizing means with a pressurizing nozzle or a venturi nozzle directed towards said discharge opening, said nozzle pressurizing means being arranged in said transfer chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A device in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising a pressurizing means with a pressurizing nozzle or a venturi nozzle directed towards said discharge opening, said pressurizing means being arranged in said transfer chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a ball valve for closing the transfer chamber with respect to the central tank, said ball valve having a closing means that is open towards said transfer chamber even in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . A device in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising a ball valve for closing the transfer chamber with respect to the central tank, said ball valve having a closing means that is open towards said transfer chamber even in a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . A device in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a ball valve for closing the transfer chamber with respect to the central tank, said ball valve having a closing means that is open towards said transfer chamber even in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . An arrangement for filling processing stations with a pumpable working material, the arrangement comprising:
 a central tank for the working material;   a plurality of processing stations each with a tank;   a plurality of feed lines, each of the feed lines being associated with one of said processing stations for feeding the working material to said one of said processing stations; and   a device for filling said processing stations, the device comprising a transfer chamber associated with said central tank, said transfer chamber being operatively connected to at least one of said processing stations such that the working material is first conveyed from said central tank into said transfer chamber and from said transfer chamber to said at least one of said processing stations, said transfer chamber having a bottom with a sump and with a bottom surface deepening in the manner of a funnel towards said sump whereby the working material is conveyed from the transfer chamber at first into a pressure separation means for pressure reduction and from said pressure separation means into said tank of said at least one of said processing stations in an unpressurized manner.   
     
     
         9 . An arrangement in accordance  claim 8 , wherein said device for filling said processing stations includes at least another transfer chamber to provide two or more transfer chambers associated with said central tank, whereby one of each of said plurality of processing stations is respectively assigned to one of said transfer chambers. 
     
     
         10 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein two or more of said processing stations are assigned to said transfer chamber, whereby said transfer chamber is always connected to one of said processing station by means of one or more switches. 
     
     
         11 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said sump comprises a blind hole leading to a discharge opening, said blind hole having a dimension corresponding approximately to an internal diameter of said discharge opening. 
     
     
         12 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said device for filling said processing stations further comprises a pressurizing means with a pressurizing nozzle or a venturi nozzle directed towards said discharge opening, said pressurizing means being arranged in said transfer chamber. 
     
     
         13 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said device for filling said processing stations further comprises a ball valve for closing the transfer chamber with respect to said central tank, said ball valve having a closing means that is open towards said transfer chamber even in a closed position. 
     
     
         14 . An arrangement for filling processing stations with a flowable working material, the arrangement comprising:
 a processing station with a processing station tank;   a central tank for the working material;   a device for filling said processing station, the device comprising a transfer chamber connected with said central tank; and   a feed line arrangement between said transfer chamber and said processing station, said transfer chamber being operatively connected to said processing station via said feed line arrangement whereby the working material is first conveyed from said central tank into said transfer chamber and subsequently conveyed from said transfer chamber to said processing station, said transfer chamber having a bottom with a sump and with a bottom funnel surface funneling working material towards said sump.   
     
     
         15 . An arrangement for filling processing stations according to  claim 14 , further comprising pressurized fluid separation means, wherein:
 said device for filling said processing station further comprises pressurizing means for pressurized fluid transfer of the working material from said transfer chamber through at least a portion of the feed line arrangement toward said processing station; and   the working material is conveyed from the transfer chamber at first into said pressurized fluid separation means for pressure reduction and from said pressurized fluid separation means into said processing station tank in an unpressurized manner.   
     
     
         16 . An arrangement for filling processing stations according to  claim 15 , further comprising another processing station with a processing station tank to provide a plurality of processing stations, wherein:
 said feed line arrangement comprises a plurality of feed lines associated with said processing stations for feeding the working material to said processing stations from said transfer chamber.   
     
     
         17 . An arrangement in accordance  claim 16 , wherein said device for filling said processing stations includes at least another transfer chamber to provide two or more transfer chambers associated with said central tank, whereby one of each of said plurality of processing stations is respectively assigned to an associated one of said transfer chambers. 
     
     
         18 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein two or more of said processing stations are assigned to said transfer chamber, whereby said transfer chamber is always connected to one of said processing station by means of one or more switches associated with said feed line arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein:
 said sump comprises a blind hole leading to a discharge opening, said blind hole having a dimension corresponding approximately to an internal diameter of said discharge opening; and   said pressurizing means comprises a pressurized nozzle or a venturi nozzle connected to a pressurized fluid source and directed towards said discharge opening, said pressurized nozzle or said venturi nozzle being arranged in said transfer chamber.   
     
     
         20 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said device for filling said processing stations further comprises a ball valve for closing the transfer chamber with respect to said central tank, said ball valve having a closing means that allows the working material in said ball valve to flow to said transfer chamber even in a closed position of said ball valve.