US2003869A - Apparatus for the sterilization and sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous working process - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1935 F. STEGEMANN APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION AND STERILE FILLING OF VESSELS AND THE LIKE IN ONE CONTINUOUS WORKING PROCESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1953 I I 7 2 2 8722; fz dfemdnm June 4, 1935. 4 STEGEMANN 2,003,869

APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION AND STERILE FILLING 0F VESSELS AND THE LIKE IN ONE CONTINUOUS WORKING PROCESS Filed July 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIKE IN PROCESS ONE CONTEN'UGUS WORKING Friedrich Stegemann, Bad Eireuznach, Germany,

assignor to Seitz-Werke G. in. b. H., Kreuznach, Germany, a. firm Application July 3, 1933, Serial No. 678,944 In Germany July 14, 1932 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the sterilization and sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous working process. Anapparatus or device of this kind is described in the U. S. patent application Ser. No. 541,499, filed June 1, 1931 and the main object of the present invention is to further improve such apparatus.

According to the above named application vessels, barrels, casks and the like are sterilized and sterile filled in one continuous procedure without separating the filling member from the cask or the like to be filled. The treatment consistsin sterilizing by means of a disinfectant, scavenging by means or" a sterile gas, thereby producing a counter-pressure suitable for the filling process, and filling the cask with the liquid in question, for instance with beer, wine or the like. The commencement and the termination of the sterilizjng process and the commencement of the scavenging process are controlled automatically as soon as the filling member has been introduced into the cask, whereas the beginning of the filling operation and consequently the interruption of the scavenging preferably is controlled manually.

When the inlet valve for the fluid is operated by hand care must be taken not to stop the scavengin procedure as long as injurious remainders of the disinfectant still are present in the cask. In order to avoid such occurrences under all circumstances the inlet valve of the apparatus is according to the present invention equipped with a timed locking device or cooperates with an optical or acoustic signal device, which indicates the end of the scavenging operation.

The said timed signal devices or the timed devices used for locking the filling member for a definite period and for subsequently opening same may or" course be of any suitable design. However, I prefer to control the operation of the looking or signal device by means of a mechanism comprising a cylinder and an appertaining piston. The cylinder or the piston releases and actuates the locking device or actuates the signal device and when the filling member is lowered into th cask to be filled the cylinder or piston partakes in the movement, whereby a spring is tensioned, which subsequently returns the cylinder or piston to its ori inal position. This return movement is counter-acted by a brake fluid. The release of the locking device or the signal device takes place as soon as the cylinder or piston has reached its original position, i. e. afterthe elapse of a predetermined period. I

The locking or signal device may of course also be operated by means of a control mechanism which is driven by a spring or a dead Weight. Also a sand glass may be used as control device. Another control mechanism consists of two communicating receptacles one of which is filled with a suitable medium. When this medium is allowed to flow into the other receptacle the receptacles will finally tilt over, and this tilting movement may be utilized for tripping the locking device or the signal device.

A locking device and a signal device can be used together in the same apparatus. The improved device is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example on the accompanying drawing, which shows a sterilizing and filling device for beer barrels and the like in which a tensioned spring returns a piston or a piston cylinder to its normal position and thereby actuates a locking device or a signal.

Fig. l is an axial section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the locking device in looking position.

Fig. 2 is a lateral elevational View of the same apparatus. Also in this figure the locking device is shown in looking position.

Fig. 3 shows the locking device in released state.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV.IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line VV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing a device for preventing premature opening of the filling valve.

Figs. '7 to 9 are side views showing the signal means in which the switch member is shown in different positions.

The filling device comprises a cylinder I00 of which only the lower part is shown. A piston E55 enclosed in the cylinder I08 can be lifted by means of compressed air. The compressed air is introduced through a tube 32 and through a bore in the bottom I94 of the cylinder.' By means of a valve I05 and a lever I06 the bore may be brought into communication with the tube 532 or with an escape opening (not shown).

it? denotes the piston rod the upper end of which is fixed in the piston I0 I. To the lower end of the piston rod an arm I53 is attached the movements of which are guided by means of sleeves I09 or the like which cooperate with vertical guide tubes I I0 and I 5 l The upper ends of these tubes are fixed to the bottom of the cylinder I66. The cylinder bottom is as usual equipped with a stufiing box through which the piston rod is passed.

Two cheeks i I2 are connected to the arm I078 bycasting and the lower ends of these checks are interconnected by means of a cover H3 which is formed with an internal thread. Into this cover the so-called filling head H4 is threaded and in this filling head the filling tube I I5 is fixed. The filling head H4 has a lateral lug H6 through which the liquid to be conveyed into the cask or other vessel is supplied in known manner from a container located on a higher level. At the lower end of the filling tube I I5 an abutment member I I1 is arranged and this member is provided with a conical closing valve H8. This valve body is fixed to and operated by a tube H9, which by means of a rubber diaphragm I23 is lifted by the pressure of the liquid when the exposed area of the diaphragm is larger than that of the valve body I I8. (See Fig. 1.) In order that the said valve may be opened against the pressure of the liquid the tube H3 is passed through the cover H3 and is connected with a valve head (Fig. 5), the purpose of which will be fully described hereinafter, and with a closing head I22 which cooperates with a cam member I23. This cam member is located on a bolt I24 and is operated by a lever I25 or a projecting finger I23 on this lever; When the lever I25 is depressed the valve I I8 is opened.

The bung hole of the cask to be filled is closed by means of the so-called pressing head I27, which is fixed to a rod I28. This rod is guided in the lower cylinder cover I54 and its upper end carries an additional dead weight I29 in order that the pressing head may rest with sufiicient pressure on the bung hole of the cask. The head I21 is lifted by means of the member II I when the filling tube I I5 is raised. (See Fig. 1.)

When a cask is to be sterilized the disinfecting agent is introduced through the tube II 9. For this purpose the valve head IZI is provided, the interior of which through a bore I3I may be connected with the tube I I9 and through another bore may be connected with the tube I32 through which the disinfecting agent is supplied. The admission of the disinfecting agent is controlled by a diaphragm valve I33, which is operated by means of a two-armed lever I34 in a manner which will be detailedly described hereinafter.

The remainder of the disinfecting agent is expelled from the cask by scavenging same with a sterile gas, which also is introduced through the tube H9. For this purpose the valve head I2I is connected with a tube I35 which is controlledby means of a valve I36 the valve body of which is equipped with a fork-shaped lever I 31. When the valve I36 is open the scavenging air will flow into the cask through the tube I I9 and will leave the cask through the tubes I39 or, I40, which are guided in the tubes I I0 and I I I respectively in the manner of telescope tubes. The control device, (which will be detailedly described hereinafter) is arranged in such a manner, that the scavenging gas through the tubes H9 and HE! and through the valve I4! is let out into the open air or into a gas purifier (not shown). The valve MI is, like the valves I33 and I35, automatically controlled. The control is exerted by means of a lever I43 which cooperates with the valve rod I42. Moreover, in conduit H8 or on another suitable place a throttle device is arranged, which during the scavenging produces the counter-pressure needed during the filling procedure.

When the valve MI is closed at the beginning of the filling procedure proper the air escapes through the tubes I 49 and III and passes into the main beer container in case the apparatus is connected with a stable-pressure beer filling plant.

The individual valves which are not actuated by means of the lever I25 and the cam I23 are operated automatically by suitably formed stops or abutments during the downward stroke of the filling device. The stops are located on sleeves I44 and I45 of which I44 is adjustably arranged on the rod I28, whereas I45 is fixed to the tubes H6 and III. The valve I33 is controlled by an upwardly yielding lever I45, which is located on the sleeve I44, and by a roller 43 on the sleeve I45. The downward movement of the valve I22 and the two-armed lever I34 will continue also after the pressing head I21 has been brought into contact with the cask. When the lever I34 is operated the valve is opened and shortly before the termination of the downward stroke of the filling tube said lever I34 will contact with the roller I4'I' whereby the valve again is closed. On account of the resiliency of the lever I45 the valve I33 is not opened when the filling tube is lifted.

The valve I36 is operated by a projection I48 which is formed on the sleeve I 45. When the projection I48 is caught by the fork-shaped lever I31 the valve is opened. The abutments or projections I41 and I48 are lying on diiierent levels and the distance between these members is so dimensioned, that the valve I33 is closed before the valve I35 is opened. When the filling tube is raised the valve I36 is again closed automatically.

The valve H8 can only be opened by the cam I23 when the locking device is in released 1. e. inoperative state. The locking device consists of a cylinder I which is filled with oil and in which a piston I5I with a piston rod I52 and a spring I53 are located. The piston rod is pivotally arranged on a pin I54 which is carried by a projecting part of the cylinder cover I84. The cylinder has a projecting part I55 in which a longitudinal hole I56 is formed and the cylinder is fixed to a bolt I5'I in a lever I 58 which is pivotally arranged on the sleeve I45. The lever I58 is equipped with a projecting part I59 and with a segmental member I60. The sleeve I45 also serves as a bearing for a second two-armed lever I6I, the one arm of which lies in the path of the segmental member I60 and the other arm of which lies in the path of the projection I28. In the position shown in Fig. 2 movements of the lever I25 are prevented, since one arm of the lever I 6! is arrested by the stop I26 and the other arm of said lever is arrested by the segmental member I50 on the lever I58.

In Fig. 2 the locking device is shown in tensioned state i. e. in looking position. The looking device is tensioned during the downward stroke of the filling tube by means or a roller I62, which is arranged on the arm I58. A denotes the original position of the roller and B denotes the position taken up by the roller when the pressing head contacts with the cask. When the lever I53 is still in the position shown in Fig. 3 the roller I62 continues its downward movement and strikes against the projecting part I59 which is turned downward. Hereby the cylinder I50 is moved downward whereby simultaneously the spring I53 is tensioned. The oil in the cylinder is for instance through a by-pass conduit I63 conveyed into the lower part of the cylinder. During the continued downward movement the roller I62 again releases the lever I58 and the cylinder I53 and consequently also the lever I58 :are forced slowly upward-by the pres- ;sure of thespring L53. Thevelocity of this movementmay be regulated at will by altering the cross-sectional area-of the by-pass conduit I53. Finally the projecting part I59 is brought into the position shown in Fig. 3. The two-armed lever I6! is released and thevalve II8 may now be opened by actuating the lever I25 by hand. In Fig. 3 theopen position of the lever I25 is indicated in dotted lines.

When the fillingtube moves upward and the projection I26 strikes against a roller I64 on the sleeve I45 the valve I I8 is again closed automatically. The distance between this roller andthe lowermost position of the projection I26 is so dimensioned, that the caskis totally filled before the supply is stopped.

Fig. 6 shows a device for preventing a premature opening of the filling valve, which device is controlled by means of a cylinder. During the downward stroke of the filling member, the lever I58 takes the cylinder I50 along withit and the oil in same is forced under the piston I5I. The spring I53 moves again the cylinder Iiiilupward whereby the latter takes the lever I58 along with it. At the end of its movement the lever abuts against a contact I65 whereby a circuit is closed and an incandescent lamp is ignited or a bell, a loudspeaker or the like is operated to show the beer drawer the proper moment for opening the filling valve.

According to Figs. 7-9 the signal is released by a medium flowing from one container into another one. The switch member which is pivotally arranged on the stationary bolt I68 takes up the position shown in Fig. 9 when the filling member is in its upper position. During the downward stroke of the filling member the roller I62 strikes against the switch member I67, IS'Ia which consists of two vessels interconnected by a narrow bore and which is turned on its pivot into the position shown in Fig. '7. The switch is forced past theyielding locking finger I73 and comes to rest with'its upper end resting. against the upper surface of said finger. One of these vessels (according to Fig. 2 the vessel I6'Ia) is filled with a liquid or with fine sand or the like. This medium will fiow through the bore into the vessel I61. After a period of predetermined length, so much sand will have flowed into the vessel I51, that theswitch body is turnedinto a substantially vertical position (Fig. 8) in which it "is pressed against a contact I69 and the circuit of the lamp I66 or another signal-giving device is-closed. During the upward stroke of the filling member the roller IFIO impacts with the lever III (Fig. 8) and turns the switch into the position shown in Fig. 9, whereby the vessel 161a is forced past the yielding locking finger I12 into its position of rest.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific mannerin accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:-

1. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to leada sterilization .a entand subquently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and a locking deviceadapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release the valve .at a predetermined moment.

3. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuousprocedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and subsequently a scavenging agentinto the ves sels to be filled, and atimed locking device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release the valve at a predetermined moment.

4. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a recip- .roeable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and subsequently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and a signal device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to indicate the correct moment for opening said valve.

5. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like, in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stembeing also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and subsequently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and a timed signal device adapted to beset by the filling member during its downward stroke and to indicate the correct moment for opening said valve.

6. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and subseguently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and an optical signal device adapted'to be set by'the filling member during its downward stroke and to indicate the correct moment for opening said valve. I

'7. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and suband a locking device comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, and a working medium in said cylinder, and being adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release the filling valve at a predetermined moment.

9. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member, a filling valve in same and a control device comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, and a working medium in said cylinder and being adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to operate a signal device at a predetermined moment.

10. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem said'valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and sub sequently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and a control device comprising a spring-actuated driving mechanism and being adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release the valve at a predetermined moment.

11. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciproeable filling member a filling valve in same and a control device comprising two containers which perform a tilting movement when a fluid is allowed to fiow from one container into the other, said control device being adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to close a signal circuit at a predetermined moment.

12. An apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like, comprising, in combination, a supply pipe for the liquid, a reciprocable filling member attached to the lower end of said pipe, means for holding said member in immediate contact with the vessel to be filled during the entire filling operation, a valve for supplying a sterilizing agent, a filling valve, 2. guide and tightening member adapted to be pressed upon the opening of the vessel to be filled, a guide rod movable together with said guide and tightening member, abutment members attached to said rod, for opening and closing the valve for the sterilizing agent during the upward movement of the filling member and a control device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release said filling valve at a predetermined moment.

13. An apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like, comprising, in combination, a supply pipe for the liquid, a reciprocable filling member attached to the lower end of said pipe, means for holding said member in immediate contact with the vessel to be filled during the entire filling operation, a valve for supplying a sterilizing agent, a filling valve, a guide and tightening member adapted to be pressed upon the opening of the vessel to be filled,

a guide rod movable together with said guide and tightening member, abutment members attached to said rod, for opening and closing the Valve for the sterilizing agent during the upward movement of the filling member and a locking device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release said filling valve at a predetermined moment.

14. An apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like, comprising, in combination, a supply pipe for the liquid, a reciprocable filling member attached to the lower end of said pipe, means for holding said member in immediate contact with the vessel to be filled during the entire filling operation, a valve for supplying a sterilizing agent, a filling valve, a guide and tightening member adapted to be pressed upon the opening of the vessel to be filled, a guide rod movable together with said guide and tightening member, abutment members attached to said rod, for opening and closing the valve for the sterilizing agent during the upward movement of the filling member, and a signal device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release a signal at a predetermined moment.

15. An apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like, comprising, in combination, a supply pipe for the liquid, a reciprocable filling member attached to the lower end of said pipe, means for holding said filling member in immediate contact with the vessel to be filled during the entire filling operation, a valve for supplying a sterilizing agent, a filling valve,

a guide and tightening member adapted to be pressed upon the opening of the vessel to be filled, a guide rod movable together with said guide and tightening member, abutment members attached to said rod, for opening and closing the valve for the sterilizing agent during the upward movement of the filling member and a liquid control adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release said filling valve at a predetermined moment.

16. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent and subsequently a scavenging agent into the vessels to be filled, and automatically operating means for preventing a premature opening of said valve.

17. In an apparatus for the sterilization and the sterile filling of vessels and the like in one continuous procedure, in combination, a reciprocable filling member comprising a valve body and a hollow valve stem, said valve stem being also adapted to lead a sterilization agent into the vessels to be filled, a locking device adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to release the valve at a predetermined moment, and a signal device also adapted to be set by the filling member during its downward stroke and to indicate the proper moment for opening said valve.

' FRIEDRICH STEGEMANN.

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