EP3789341A1

EP3789341A1 - Multi-stage filling valve

Info

Publication number: EP3789341A1
Application number: EP20188413.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Corniani
Original assignee: Weightpack Srl
Current assignee: Weightpack Srl
Priority date: 2019-09-06
Filing date: 2020-07-29
Publication date: 2021-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-29
Also published as: IT201900015752A1; ES2955251T3; EP3789341B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling valve, which can be used in machines for filling containers with a filling fluid, in particular, a multi-stage filling valve.

In particular, the invention relates to a filling valve (1, 101) for machines for filling containers with a filling fluid, comprising a hollow valve body (2) comprising an inlet opening (4) for the filling fluid and a dispensing opening (6) for said fluid, a shutter (3) being longitudinally sliding inside the valve body (2) for closing the dispensing opening (6), characterized in that the valve body (2) comprises an upper recess (8) in flow communication upstream with said inlet opening (4) and downstream with a restricting channel (11), a fluid flow obstructing member (12) being placed in the upper recess (8), configured to be movable between a position of complete obstruction of the restricting channel (11) and opening positions.

Description

The present invention relates to a filling valve which can be used in machines for filling containers with a fluid, in particular, a multi-stage filling valve.
During the processes of filling containers, such as bottles, with fluids it is known that the initial and final filling steps represent critical moments due to the sudden change in kineto-dynamic conditions of the moving fluid (starting and stopping transients of the movement of the fluid). Such criticality is particularly evident when the filling fluid is a liquid which foams easily, such as milk, beer or detergents, but it can also occur with other types of fluid.
Typical evidence of such transients are, for example:

1) the possible formation of foam;
2) uncontrolled splashes of fluid at the start and/or end of the process;
3) dripping of the product left hanging from the end part of the closed valve.

Partialization is a known technology in these steps, on opening and closing the filling valve by means of systems which reduce the passage section of the fluid (and therefore of the flow).
These systems have shown a certain efficacy as regards the first problem, but they are substantially ineffective as regards the other two drawbacks.
A particularly simple example of a partializer according to the state-of-the-art is shown in figure 1. The filling valve shown herein comprises a hollow C valve body, inside which a shutter P is longitudinally sliding. The shutter P comprises a stem S, which terminates at the top with an appendage A, inserted in a restriction G. A ball SF is resting on the upper shoulder of the restriction G. The ball SF only partially obstructs the passage of the fluid, as the surface of the restriction G has recesses, which constantly allow the fluid to pass, although only in small amounts.
As shown in figure 1 (closing position), the shutter P closes the dispensing opening of the valve and the appendage A is spaced apart from the ball SF. When the shutter P starts to slide upwards, the filling fluid introduced through the opening I starts to flow from the valve, due to the fact that the ball SF does not completely obstruct the passage, but the flow is reduced. Whereas, continuing the travel of the shutter P by a few millimeters upwards, when the appendage A insists on the ball SF, the latter is raised, freeing the passage of the fluid, which can then flow freely. On closing the valve, the procedure is repeated in reverse, so in the initial and final filling steps, a partialization of the flow of fluid is obtained, preventing the formation of foam.
Thereby, by means of a single shutter, for example, a pneumatic one-way cylinder, the desired effect of reducing the flow during the opening and closing step of the shutter is obtained. The same result is obtained by using an actuator with two positions, for example, a double-acting pneumatic cylinder and by conveniently shaping the shutter.
The known solutions obtain a reduction in the flow in the desired steps by means of reducing the passage section, but substantially leaving the geodetic wing unaltered on the end part of the shutter. Therefore, in these conditions, in the very first fractions of a millimeter on opening and closing, the passage section is close to zero, generating, for a very short time, elevated fluid speeds, causing splashes at the start and dripping at the end of the dispensing.
Thus, the problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a filling valve, which overcomes the listed problems, namely preventing not only the formation of foam during the dispensing, but also splashes of liquid and dripping in the initial and final steps of dispensing, respectively.
Such problem is overcome by a filling valve as delineated in the appended claims, whose definitions form an integral part of the present description.
Therefore, a filling valve for machines for filling containers with a filling fluid is an object of the invention, comprising a hollow valve body, comprising an inlet opening for the filling fluid and a dispensing opening for said fluid, a shutter being longitudinally sliding inside the valve body for closing the dispensing opening, in which the valve body comprises an upper recess in flow communication upstream with said inlet opening and downstream with a restricting channel, a fluid flow obstructing member being placed in the upper recess, configured to be movable between a position of complete obstruction of the restricting channel and opening positions.
According to a preferred embodiment, the restricting channel connects said upper recess to an intermediate recess and said intermediate recess opens out into a lower recess in flow communication with said dispensing opening, the lower recess preferably being bulb-shaped, with a truncated cone profile tapered towards the bottom.
According to a preferred embodiment, the shutter comprises a shutter portion configured to close the dispensing opening, a stem configured to allow the filling fluid to pass into the intermediate recess, and a spacer element, wherein the spacer element is configured so that it is movable between an opening position and a position of partially closing the restricting channel to partialize the flow of fluid.
According to a preferred embodiment, the spacer element comprises a connection portion for connecting to the stem and an end portion, in which the connection portion has a cross-section with a smaller diameter than that of the restricting channel, so as to create a gap for the passage of the filling fluid, and in which the end portion is configured so as to create a partialization passage between it and the surface of the restricting channel.
Another object of the invention is a method for filling containers with a filling fluid, comprising:

a) providing a filling machine comprising a plurality of filling valves, as defined in the present description;
b) subsequently opening each of said filling valves according to a sequence of operating steps, comprising the following conditions:
1. (i) a condition of complete closure, in which the shutter portion of the shutter closes the dispensing opening, the obstructing member closes the restricting channel and the spacer element of the shutter is spaced apart from the obstructing member;
2. (ii) a condition of starting dispensing, in which the shutter is partially raised, the obstructing member closes the restricting channel and the spacer element of the shutter is adjacent to the obstructing member;
3. (iii) a condition of partialization, in which the shutter is further raised, increasing the lumen for dispensing the fluid from the opening, the obstructing member is raised and opens the restricting channel and the end portion of the spacer element is still engaged in the restricting channel, thus only allowing the filling fluid to pass through the partialization passage;
4. (iv) a condition of complete opening, in which the shutter is further raised, maximizing the lumen for dispensing the fluid from the dispensing opening, the obstructing member is raised in an open position of the restricting channel and the end portion of the spacer element is completely inside the upper recess, thus allowing the filling fluid to pass freely through the gap in the restricting channel;
c) subsequently closing each of said filling valves according to a reverse sequence of operating steps from step (iv) to step (i) of phase (b).

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description of embodiments, shown herein below by way of a nonlimiting example, with reference to the following figures:

Figure 1 depicts a simplified sectional view of a filling valve with partialization of the flow according to the prior art;
Figures 2A-2D show simplified sectional views of a first embodiment of the filling valve of the invention in an operating sequence;
Figures 3A-3D show simplified sectional views of a second embodiment of the filling valve of the invention in the same operating sequence in figures 2A-2D;
Figure 4 shows a simplified sectional view of a detail of the embodiment in figures 2A-2D.

The filling valve of the invention is conventionally installed on a machine for filling containers (not shown), for example, a rotary machine, comprising a plurality of said filling valves.
With reference to the figures, the filling valve of the invention globally referred to with numeral 1 in the embodiment in figures 2A-2D and with numeral 101 in the embodiment in figures 3A-3D, comprises a hollow valve body 2, inside which a shutter 3 is longitudinally sliding.
The valve body 2 comprises an inlet opening 4 for the filling fluid and a dispensing opening 6 for the fluid.
The inlet opening 4 comprises a connector 5 for a tubing, which conveys the filling fluid to the valve from a system for distributing said fluid, conventionally a manifold (not shown), and it is placed close to the upper end 2a of the valve body 2, preferably on the side wall of the valve body 2.
The dispensing opening 6 is placed at the lower end 2b of the valve body 2 and it is coaxial to the longitudinal axis X-X of the valve. At the edges 7 of said dispensing opening 6, the valve body 2 has an inner surface shaped so as to substantially correspond to the end portion 3' of the shutter 3.
The valve body 2 is hollow and comprises therein an upper recess 8, into which the inlet opening 4 of the filling fluid opens out, an intermediate recess 9 and a lower recess 10.
The upper recess 8 is connected to the intermediate recess 9 by a restricting channel 11, formed by a restriction 2c of the inner wall of the valve body 2. The intermediate recess 9 is substantially cylinder-shaped and opens out into the lower recess 10.
The lower recess 10 is bulb-shaped and has a truncated-cone profile tapered towards the bottom, where it opens out into the dispensing opening 6.
An obstructing member 12 of the restricting channel 11, placed in the upper recess 8 of the valve body 2, is shaped so as to completely close said restricting channel 11 during an initial step and a final step of the dispensing of the filling fluid.
In the embodiment in figures 2A-2D and 4, said obstructing member 12 consists of a ball 13. Although the shape of the ball is capable of ensuring an improved seal in the present application, it is also possible to use an obstructing member 12 having a different shape, for example, a discoid shape. The ball 13 is not constrained and it is movable between an obstructing position (figures 2A and 2B) and opening positions (figures 2C and 2D).
The shutter 3 comprises a shutter portion 3a, a stem 3b and a spacer element 3c.
The shutter portion 3a is housed in the lower recess 10 of the valve body 2 and, in turn, it is bulb-shaped with a truncated-cone body tapered towards the bottom so as to allow the coupling, on closing, with the surface of the lower recess 10 and, in particular, with the edge 7 of the dispensing opening 6.
The stem 3b is substantially cylinder-shaped and has a slightly smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the intermediate recess 9, so as to create therewith a gap to allow the filling fluid to pass. In preferred embodiments, the stem 3b comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs (not shown), which act as a guide for keeping the shutter 3 in axis.
In certain embodiments, the stem 3b can contain permanent magnets therein, adapted to interact with means for generating an electromagnetic field positioned externally to the intermediate recess 9, conventionally in the wall of the valve body 2. Thereby, it is possible to obtain the controlled actuation of the shutter 3 on opening and closing. However, such actuation system is known and will not be described in further detail.
The spacer element 3c comprises a connection portion 14 for connecting to the stem 3b and an end portion 15, configured so as to be coupled to the obstructing member 12. Thus, in the example shown in the figures, the end portion 15 will have a concave head surface 15a, so as to be coupled to the ball 13.
The connection portion 14 of the spacer element 3c is preferably cylinder-shaped and has a cross-section with a smaller diameter than that of the restricting channel 11, so as to create a gap 11a for the filling fluid to pass.
The end portion 15 has a section with a greater diameter than that of the connection portion 14, but it is still slightly smaller than the diameter of the restricting channel 11, so as to create a partialization passage 11b for the filling fluid, which will nonetheless be smaller than that formed by the gap 11a at the connection portion 14, which is more clearly visible in figure 4.
In certain embodiments, the partialization passage 11b can take the shape of one or more vertical grooves formed by a convenient shaping of the outer surface of the end portion 15, whose diameter can therefore also be substantially equal to that of the restricting channel 11. The dimensioning of the partialization passage 11b will generally depend on the flow of the filling fluid and on the type of fluid itself and will thus be determined in the design step of the valve.
Figures 2A-2D show an operating sequence of the filling valve of the invention.
Figure 2A shows the valve in an operating condition of complete closure. In this condition:

the shutter portion 3a of the shutter 3 closes the dispensing opening 6,
the obstructing member 12, i.e. the ball 13, rests on the restricting edges 2c, thus preventing the passage of the fluid,
the spacer element 3c of the shutter 3 is spaced apart from the obstructing member 12.

Figure 2B shows the dispensing start condition, in which:

the shutter 3 is partially raised, allowing the fluid to be dispensed from the opening 6,
the obstructing member 12, i.e. the ball 13, is still resting on the restricting edges 2c, thus preventing the passage of the fluid,
the spacer element 3c of the shutter 3 is adjacent to the obstructing member 12, however, without applying a lifting force thereon.

Figure 2C shows the step immediately afterwards, which can be seen better in the enlargement in figure 4, wherein:

the shutter 3 is further raised, increasing the dispensing lumen of the fluid from the opening 6,
the obstructing member 12, i.e. the ball 13, is raised by interference with the spacer element 3c of the shutter 3, thus allowing the fluid to pass;
the end portion 15 of the spacer element 3c is still engaged in the restricting channel 11, thus allowing the filling fluid to pass only through the small partialization passage 11b.

Finally, figure 2D shows the condition of complete opening, wherein:

the shutter 3 is further raised, maximizing the dispensing lumen of the fluid from the dispensing opening 6,
the obstructing member 12, i.e. the ball 13, is further raised by the spacer element 3c of the shutter 3;
the end portion 15 of the spacer element 3c is completely inside the upper recess 8, thus allowing the filling fluid to pass through the larger gap 11a in the restricting channel 11.

The reverse operating sequence, i.e. passing from the condition in figure 2D to that in figure 2A, corresponds to the closing step of the filling valve 1.
Therefore, in the opening step, in sequence, first, the gradual opening of the dispensing opening 6 is obtained, then partialization of the flow by means of the lifting of the obstructing member 12 and the introduction of fluid into the small partialization passage 11b and then the complete opening of the valve. This prevents both the formation of initial splashes and foaming of the filling fluid.
Whereas, during the closing step, in order, there is a partialization of the flow of the fluid through the small passage 11b, then an interruption of the fluid inlet due to the positioning of the obstructing member 12 on the edges of the restricting channel 11 and finally a complete closing of the valve by the obstructing portion 3a of the shutter 3.
The closing of the restricting channel 11 by the obstructing member 12 allows the geodetic wing to be limited at the distance just between the channel 11 and dispensing opening 6, which eliminates the problem of splashes. Furthermore, in the closing step, as the intermediate recess 9 and the lower recess 10 gradually tend to empty, a depression is created in such recesses, which prevents the final dripping of the fluid.
Figures 3A-3D show the operating sequence of a second embodiment of the filling valve 101 of the invention, whose only difference with the previously described embodiment consists of the fact that, instead of consisting of a ball 13, which is freely movable under the thrust of the shutter 3, the obstructing member 12 consists of a piston element 120, which is movable in a cylinder 121, for example, by pneumatic or hydraulic actuation. The piston element 120 terminates at the bottom with a bulb element 113, which comprises at least a hemispherical end surface, configured so as to obstruct the restricting channel 11, positioning itself on the upper edges of the same.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the obstructing member 12 can be moved in a controlled manner independently of the shutter 3, so the operating opening-closing sequence of the valve can be carried out by means of a command and control unit, which will coordinate the independent movements of the shutter 3 and the obstructing member 12.
Clearly only a few particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, so an expert skilled in the art will be able to make all of the necessary changes for the adaptation thereof to particular applications, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

A filling valve (1, 101) for machines for filling containers with a filling fluid, comprising a hollow valve body (2) comprising an inlet opening (4) for the filling fluid and a dispensing opening (6) for said fluid, a shutter (3) being longitudinally sliding inside the valve body (2) for closing the dispensing opening (6), characterized in that the valve body (2) comprises an upper recess (8) in flow communication upstream with said inlet opening (4) and downstream with a restricting channel (11), a fluid flow obstructing member (12) being placed in the upper recess (8), configured to be movable between a position of complete obstruction of the restricting channel (11) and opening positions.
The filling valve (1, 101) according to claim 1, wherein said restricting channel (11) connects said upper recess (8) to an intermediate recess (9) and wherein said intermediate recess (9) opens out into a lower recess (10) in flow communication with said dispensing opening (6).
The filling valve (1, 101) according to claim 2, wherein the lower recess (10) is bulb-shaped and has a truncated-cone profile tapered towards the bottom, where it opens out into the dispensing opening (6).
The filling valve (1, 101) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the shutter (3) comprises a shutter portion (3a) configured to close the dispensing opening (6), a stem (3b) configured to allow the filling fluid to pass into the intermediate recess (9), and a spacer element (3c), wherein the spacer element (3c) is configured to be movable between an opening position and a partial closing position of the restricting channel (11) to partialize the flow of fluid.
The filling valve (1, 101) according to claim 4, wherein the spacer element (3c) comprises a connection portion (14) to the stem (3b) and an end portion (15), wherein:
- the connection portion (14) has a cross-section with a smaller diameter than that of the restricting channel (11), so as to create a gap (11a) for the passage of the filling fluid;

- the end portion (15) is configured to create a partialization passage (11b) between it and the surface of the restricting channel (11).
The filling valve (1, 101) according to claim 5, wherein:
- the end portion (15) has a section with a greater diameter than that of the connection portion (14), but which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the restricting channel (11) so as to create said partialization passage (11b); or

- the end portion (15) has a section with a greater diameter than that of the connection portion (14) and comprises one or more vertical grooves so as to create said partialization passage (11b).
The filling valve (1) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein said obstructing member (12) is a ball (13) which is not constrained and is movable, under the thrust of the spacer element (3c), between an obstructing position of the restricting channel (11) and opening positions.
The filling valve (1) according to claim 7, wherein the end portion (15) of the spacer element (3c) is shaped so as to be coupled to said ball (13) .
The filling valve (101) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein said obstructing member (12) of the restricting channel (11) is movable in a controlled manner irrespective of the shutter (3).
The filling valve (101) according to claim 9, wherein said obstructing member (12) consists of a piston element (120) which is movable in a cylinder (121), for example by means of pneumatic or hydraulic actuation, and wherein the piston element (120) ends at the bottom with a bulb-like element (113) comprising at least one hemispherical end surface, configured to close the restricting channel (11).
A method of filling containers with a filling fluid, comprising:
a) providing a filling machine comprising a plurality of filling valves (1, 101) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 10;

b) then opening each of said filling valves (1, 101) according to a sequence of operating steps, comprising the following conditions:
(i) a condition of complete closure, in which the shutter portion (3a) of the shutter (3) closes the dispensing opening (6), the obstructing member (12) closes the restricting channel (11) and the spacer element (3c) of the shutter (3) is spaced apart from the obstructing member (12);

(ii) a dispensing start condition, in which the shutter (3) is partially raised, the obstructing member (12) closes the restricting channel (11) and the spacer element (3c) of the shutter (3) is adjacent to the obstructing member (12);

(iii) a partialization condition, in which the shutter (3) is further raised, increasing the lumen for dispensing the fluid from the opening (6), the obstructing member (12) is raised and opens the restricting channel (11) and the end portion (15) of the spacer element (3c) is still engaged in the restricting channel (11), thus only allowing the passage of the filling fluid through the partialization passage (11b);

(iv) a condition of complete opening, in which the shutter (3) is further raised, maximizing the lumen for dispensing the fluid from the dispensing opening (6), the obstructing member (12) is raised in an open position of the restricting channel (11) and the end portion (15) of the spacer element (3c) is completely inside the upper recess (8), thus allowing the free passage of the filling fluid through the gap (11a) in the restricting channel (11);