US2701676A - Filling nozzle for apparatus for filling containers with liquid - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1955 Filed June 8, 1951 C. L. DAY ET AL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 8, 1955 Filed June 8, 1951 C. L. DAY ETAL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A gg" A INVENTORS'."

L ,ed E P/uil,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 8, 1955 c. L DAY l-:T Al.

FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1951 66' INVENTQRS:

11,20 ITP/1721 Feb. 8, 1955 CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 8, 1951 6 a? 0 a F 3 4 m 5 3 w ww ym 6 Nv 1 a 2 R u United States Patent C FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR-FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Carl L'. Day and Leo F. Pahl, Baltimore, Md., assignors to -Crown Cork @a Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporatiorrof New York Application .lime 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,586

17 Ciaims. (Cl. 226-124) This invention relates to a filling Valve or nozzle for machines for` filling containers with non-carbonated liquid; More particularly, this invention relates to an 1mproved. filling nozzle for conventional automatic bottle filling machinesof the type which have a filling platform, on'which-the bottle to be filled is located, and a superposed liquidreservoir. In such machines the filling platform'either lifts to raise the bottle into engagement with a' filling nozzlewhich depends from the liquid reservolr, or the liquid reservoir is lowered to accomplish such -engagement.y Y

The filling nozzle of such machine incorporates a valve Which is opened by the engagement and movement of a portion of the nozzle by the container to be filled, to thus automatically permit'liquid to fiow from the reservoir through the nozzle and into the container. In order to' prevent overflow of the container being filled, the nozzle is-provided with an annular gasket or pad that is engageable with the mouth of the container to seal thev same from the atmosphere. This seal creates the problem of properly venting the air from the container during-filling thereof with liquid. Accordingly, the filling nozzle must also be constructed to incorporate such a vent. The vent usually leads to the air space above the liquid in the reservoir, which space may be under a pressure less than atmospheric in some types of machines, i. e., so-called vacuum machines. After the containerl has been filled, it is lowered from engagement with the nozzle to automatically close the valve and stop the flow of'liquid.

Nozzles of the aforementioned type present numerous problems which must beovercome to provide satisfactory operation without undue complexity. Among thesev problems may be mentioned those of providing a nozzle' structure which may be easily taken apart and cleaned fo'rsanita'ry reasons, as when filling containers With vario'us types of beverages, of providing a nozzle which is dri'pless to avoid a messy and unsanitary'condition of the filling machine, and of preventing blocking of the vent'passage with the liquid.

Accordingly, lit is an objectof this invention to provide an improved filling nozzle for vacuum or non-vacuum app'aratusl for' filling containers with non-carbonated or still liquids.

It isv another object of this invention to provide 'a filling nozzle which is absolutely d'ripless.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filling nozzle with means for preventing the vent passage therethrough from becoming blocked with the liquid with which the container is being filled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filling. nozzle of the type described with suction and pressure creating means, operable by the filling'movementsv of the nozzle, for withdrawing residual liquid from the lower end of thevent passage and the filling passage at the end of the filling operation, and for forcing such residual liquid into the container at the beginning of the next filling operation.

It isstill another object of this invention to provide a nozzle of the type described that can easily and quickly be disassembled for cleaning purposes and can be reassembled in an extremely short time, such nozzle being of such simplified construction that all parts thereof, when disassembled, may be reached and readily cleaned with a brushv to thereby provide an extremely sanitary construction.

It'vis still' another'obje'ctof this invention to provide- 2,701,676 Patented.v Feb. 8,.v 1955 2. a filling nozzle of the-type described having no threads exposed for contact -w-ith the liquid passing therethrough for obvious sanitary reasons.

It is still another object of this inventionk to providefa filling nozzle of the type describedof simplified construction, having nosoldered-orwelded joints.

It is-stillanotherobject of this invention to providea filling nozzle of the type described with means by which the filling level, that is, the height to which the container is filled with liquid, maybe readily adjusted and accurately maintained.

Other objectsl and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent-from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view oa-portion of a container filling. machine illustrating -a filling-nozzle embodying this invention in operative position overa container to be filled.

Figure 2 is anv enlarged vertical sectional view yofthe filling nozzlel illustrated in yFigure l showing the con.- tainer engaged therewith in position to start a filling,y op.- eration.

Figure 3 is a viewv corresponding to Figure 2 vshowing the position of the nozzle' parts at the-end of their initial "upward movement during the filling operation'.

Flgure 4 is a view correspondingto Figure 2 illustrating. the position of the nozzle parts at the terminus of their upward. movement during th'e filling operation.

Figure 5`is a kfragmentary sectional View. taken on line 5-'-5.' of Figure 4.

F1gures6, 7, 8; 9, 10, 1l, .and l2 are sectionalv views takeg on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure Figure 1.3 is ay sectional view'taken on line 13-13of Figure l2.

Figure 14 is a view correspondingto Figure 2: illustrating a modifiedy form of the invention.

Figure l5 is a View corresponding toFigure 14 illustratlng` the position ofl the nozzle'parts atfthe terminus of' their upward movement during the fillingi operation;

Flgure 16 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 16-1'6 of'Figure 14.

Figures 17 and 18 are sectional views taken' on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure ll5.

Referring now to the drawings, there`are shown in Figure l-the filling platform 20and superposed, preferably constant level, liquid reservoir 22 that are'conventional in automatic bottle fillingmachines of the-type with` whichl thisv invention is concerned. small mout-hed beverage bottle 24- is shown on the platform in position to be filled, but Vitwill berealized that the filling no zzle is adapted for use to fill all-types of liquid con# talners, whetherof glass or other material. The reservoirJ is provided with a removablecover 26 anda depending' 'do'wnspo'ut 28 `positioned directly 'over the filling platformZii. The downspout'28'has a smooth cylindrical'bore 30- therethrough and is'provided, adjacent theV bottom .wall 32 of the reservoir, with an upwardly-facing frusto-conica-l :valve seat 34.'

A--valve body-36 is mounted for vertical slidable movement within the bore 30 ofthe downspout 28'and has anl enlarged upper portion forming-.ar shoulderliI against which an annular detachable valve'head 40, preferably of rubber, is seated. The lower end` of the valve head 40 has aA frusto-conicaly valve surface 42v complementary to and seating on the valve seat 34. They valve body 36' preferablyis weighted, for reasons later described. The reducedlower portion of the valve body 361 fits. snugly Within the bore'3tl of the down'spout andextends down- Wardly therethroughv to a point adjacent the bottom thereof.l Extending vertically through the valve body 36 is a vent passage 44 which is continued upwardiy above the level ofthe liquid in the reservoir 22 by a vent pipe 46 mounted in a counterbore in theupper end of the vent passage, as shown best in Figure l. Although a nozzle embodying'this'invention is principally intended for use with-'non-vacuum machines, it may be used satisfactorily with vacuum machines. In the latter event, the air space 47 in the reservoir would'be under reduced pressure.

Mounted in a central counterbore in the lower end of theval-ve body and depending'therefrom isf arelatively long lling tube 48 having an inclined discharge port 50 at one side of the lower end thereof. A deflector block 52 is positioned in the lower end of the tube 48 opposite the discharge port 5t) and has an inclined surface 54 facing the latter. Several lateral ports 56, three as illustrated in the drawing, are provided in the reduced lower portion of the valve body, immediately beneath the sealing surface 42 of the valve head 40, for communication with the upper end of the tube 4S. These ports S6, when the valve body 36 is seated on the valve seat 34, are disposed completely within the bore 30 of the downspout 28. The lower end of the valve body is provided with a central circular recess 58 concentric with the tilling tube 48 and into which the lower end of the vent passage 44 opens.

A sleeve 60 concentrically encloses the filling tube 4S and has a reduced upper portion which is telescopically slidable within the recess 53 in the lower end of the valve body. Secured to and depending from the lower end of the sleeve 60 is a concentric vent tube 62 having its open end normally supported by and seating upon the upwardly facing frusto-conical surface 64 of a valve element 66, preferably of rubber or other appropriate resilient material, that is secured to the lower end of the liquid tube 4S. This rubber valve element 66 has a diameter only slightly greater than that of the vent tube 62 and is hollow to enable it to be stretched over and supported on a buibous metallic core 68 having a stern 7G that is secured to and depends from the lower end of the liquid tube 48. The core 68 is of smaller diameter than the interior of the vent tube 62 for assembly and disassembly purposes. The interior diameters of both the sleeve 60 and the vent tube 62 are greater than the exterior diameter of the liquid tube 43 to provide an annular vent passageway '72 therebetween that communicates, at its upper end, with the circular recess 58 and thereby with the lower end of the vent passage 44 through the valve body 36.

From the construction thus far described, it will be seen that the valve element 66 and the lower ends of the vent and iilling tubes are adapted to be inserted into the container 24 and that when the sleeve 60 is raised relative to the liquid tube 43, the lower end of the vent passageway '72 will be opened to permit free communication between the interior of the container and the air space 47 in the reservoir 22. Continued upward movement of the sleeve 60 engages its reduced upper end with the bottom of the recess 58 in the valve body 36, as shown in Figure 3, and then raises the valve body 36 off its seat 34, as illustrated in Figure 4. In this position of the movable parts of the nozzle, liquid may ilow through the gap between the valve head 4t) and the seat 34, through the lateral ports 56, and down through the liquid tube 4S for discharge through the inclined port 50 into the container 24. At the same time the air displaced from the container by the iniiowing liquid is vented upwardly through the vent passageway 72 and vent passage 44 to the air space 47 above the liquid in the reservoir 22. It will be noted that the upper end of the sleeve 60 is internally beveled, as at 74, so that in the position of the parts shown in Figure 4 lifting engagement of the sleeve with the valve body will not block oti the lower end of the vent passage 44 through the valve body.

The mechanism for effecting such operating movements of the nozzle parts by means of the upward movement of the container 24 on the filling platform 20 consists of a collar 76 which is threadedly supported on a reduced lower portion of the sleeve 60 and has an annular recess in the lower end thereof in which is positioned an annular sealing gasket or pad 78 that snugly embraces the Vent tube 62. This pad '78 engages and seals the mouth of the container 24 from the surrounding atmosphere upon upward movement of the latter. A lock nut 80 is threaded on the sleeve 60 above the collar 76. The threaded engagernent of the collar 76 with the sleeve 60 provides a method by which the pad 78 may be adiusted vertically relatively to the sleeve 6i) to thereby afford a convenient method of adiusting the tilling height or headspace of the container 24. Slidably mounted for vertical movement on the collar 76 is another sleeve 82 having an externally threaded lower end. Engageable shoulders S4 on the lower ends of the collar 76 and the sleeve 82 serve to limit the downward movement of the sleeve 82 relative to, and to support the sleeve 82 from, the collar 76.

A bell-shaped guide S6 having a central circular opening 88 depends from and is supported by the sleeve 82 by ,Q Z means of a pair of upright legs 90 secured to an internally threaded split collar 92 threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve 82 and having a pair of radially extending opposed ears 94 through which a bolt 96 may be inserted for clamping the collar 92 securely to the sleeve 82. The purpose of the guide 86 is to correctly center the mouth of a container to be filled directly beneath the vent tube 62 and the liquid tube 43, in case the container is improperly positioned upon the filling platform Ztl. ln the latter event, as best shown by dotted lines in Figure 14, the guide 86 serves to move the container 24 into correctly centered position with respect to the vent and liquid tubes 62 and 48. ln this connection it will be noted that the lower end of the Valve member 66 is of pointed conical configuration for cooperation with the guide 86 in the centering operation.

The lower end of the downspout 28 is formed with a downwardly facing annular shoulder 98, while the intermediate portion of the sleeve 60 is formed with an upwardly facing shoulder 190. Seated against these shoulders 9? and wil and snugly embracing the downspout 28 and the sleeve 6l) are the upper and lower rims 102 and tlt, respectively, of an annular resilient bellows-like element M6, preferably made of rubber or other appropriate material. This element provides a seal for the telescoping joint between the lower end of the valve body 36 and the upper portion of the siidable sleeve 64). The reduced upper portion of the sleeve has lateral ports MS to provide communication between the interior chamber of the bellows-like element 106 and the vent passageway 72. These ports ltl are so located that in the normally extended position of the parts, shown in Figure 2, open communication is provided between the chamber 110 and the vent passageway 72, but when the sleeve 60 is raised into lifting engagement with the valve body 36, as shown in Figure 3, the side wall of the recess S8 covers the ports ltl to shut oli such communication.

The operation of the filling nozzle is as follows: With a container 24 positioned on the filling platform, as illustrated in Figure l, the filling machine operates to raise such platform and lift the container over the filling and vent tubes 4&3 and 62 and into sealing engagement with the gasket 78, as shown in Figure 2. In the event that the container is improperly centered on the filling platform 2t?, the guide 36 serves to correctly center the mouth of the container, as illustrated in Figure 14, for reception of the valve element 66 and the lower ends of the vent tube 62 and liquid tube 48. Continued upward movement of the filling platform serves to raise the sleeve 6i), thereby contracting and reducing the volume of the chamber liti within the bellow-like element 106. Simultaneously, such lifting of the sleeve 60 serves to raise it from engagement with the valve element 66 supported on the end of the liquid tube 43 to provide free communication between the interior of the container and the vent passageway 72. Any residual liquid within the vent passageway 72 and/or the chamber il@ within the bellows-like element drains or is forced downwardly into the container 24 by reason of the pressure developed on such liquid by the contraction of the bellows-like element 106. While it is true that such pressure may also escape upwardly through the vent pipe 46, it has been observed in actual operation that enough of the residual liquid drains or is forced downwardly into the container to clear the vent passageway 72 sufliciently to permit unobstructed venting of the container during the iilling operation.

When the container 24 has been raised sufficiently to cause the sleeve 60 to engage with the valve body 36, as shown in Figure 3, continued movement will lift the latter to the position shown in Figure 4 to thereby separate the valve head 44B from its seat 34 and permit liquid to ilow from the reservoir 22 through the lateral ports 56 and down the filling tube 48 into the container. In this position of the parts it will be noted that the lower end of the vent tube 62 is spaced above the lower portion of the discharge port Sil in the filling tube 48. Hence, there is no interference between the inflowing liquid and the air being vented upwardly, through the annular inlet to the vent passageway '72, that might cause blocking of such inlet with liquid. The container will continue to be filled until the level of the liquid therein reaches the lower end of the vent tube 62 at which time the filling operation will cease, as shown in Figure 4, except for such liquid as continues to rise through the vent passageway 72.

After the container has bern filled, the -filling platform 20 lowers, thereby permitting the weighted valve body 36 to lower into engagement with its seat 34 and shut ofi? further flow of liquid through the filling tube 48. Thereafter, liquid drains from the filling tube 48 into the container until continued lowering movement of the container uncovers the lateral ports 108 in the sleeve 60 and sufficient suction is developed by expansion of the chamber 110 to withdraw residual liquid from the lower end of the vent tube 62 and, in the final seating movement of the sleeve 60 from the lower end of the filling tube 48 up through the vent passageway 72, through the lateral ports 108, and into the chamber 110. Continued lowering of the container permits the vent tube 62, aided by the spring-like action of the bellows element 106, to seat on the valve element 66, and thereby positively prevent any drip of liquid from the lower end of the filling tube 48 after disengagement of the mouth of the container from the sealing gasket 78 and withdrawal of the nozzle from the container interior. Thereafter another container is positioned on the lifting platform and the above described filling cycle is repeated.

In the event it is desired to fill a container to a higher level than that illustrated in Figure 4, i. e., decrease the headspace, the lock nut 80 is loosened and the sleeve '76 is rotated in a direction to move it, together with the gasket 78, downwardly on the sliding sleeve 60 to thereby lessen the distance to which the vent tube 62 and filling tube 48 are inserted within the container.

In the event that the container mouth is too large to pass through the central circular opening 88 in the guide 86, the vertically slidable mounting of the sleeve 82 permits the guide to raise until the mouth of the container is engaged with the sealing gasket '78.

The construction of the parts of the nozzle facilitates the ease of disassembly for cleaning and reassembly into operating position in the reservoir downspout 28. When it is desired to disassemble the nozzle, the rubber valve element 66 is pulled off the bulbous core 68 and the sleeve 60, together with the vent tube 62, gasket 7S, collar 76, sleeve 82, and guide S6, is pulled downwardly as a unit from the assembly. Such downward movement disengages the lower rim 104 of the bellows-like element 106 from its seat on the sleeve 60, thereby permitting the sleeve assembly unit to be completely removed and disassembled separately for cleaning and/ or sterilizing. Upon the removal of the rubber valve element 66, the valve body 36, together with the depending filling tube 4S and upstanding vent pipe 46, may be removed in an upward direction out of the downspout 28. The annular valve head 40 may be slipped off of the valve body for replacement and/or cleaning of both the valve head and the valve body and the parts supported thereon. After the sleeve assembly unit has been removed, the bellowslike element 106 may be pulled downwardly to detach its upper rim 102 from the seat at the lower end of the downspout 28, thus permitting the bellows-like element to be cleaned separately.

In order to reassemble the nozzle, the valve head 40 is replaced upon the valve body 36 and the latter dropped downwardly into operating position within the downspout 28. The bellows element 106 is thereupon seated on the lower end of the downspout 28 and the sle'eve assembly unit slipped up over the filling tube 48 and seated against and within the lower rim 104 of the bellows-like element. The sleeve assembly unit is then held in raised position while the rubber valve element 66 is stretched and pushed over its supporting core 68.

From the above it will be seen that no tools are required for assembling or disasembling the nozzle structure and that all parts may be quickly and easily separated for individual cleaning.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 14, the lower end of the filling tube 48 is completely closed by a plug-like element 112 from which the stem 70 of the valve core 68 depends and a plurality of radial discharge ports 114 are formed in the lower end of the vent tube 62 immediately above the plug-like element 112. The single bellows element 106 shown in Figure 2 is replaced by the multiple-chamber compound bellows 116 shown in Figure 14. For this purpose the telescopically engageable portions of the lower end of the considerably elongated and the lateral ports 108 which afford communication between the bellows chamber 110 and the vent passageway 72, in the construction shown in Figure 2, must, of necessity, be rearranged somewhat. As shown in Figure 14, communication between the lower bellows chamber 118 and the vent passageway 72 is afforded by a longitudinal groove 120 extending along the exterior of the reduced upper portion of the sleeve 60 to the upper end thereof. Communication between the upper bellows chamber 122 and the vent passageway 72 is provided by means of a lateral port 124 through the depending annular portion of the lower end of the Valve body 36 and in circumferential alignment with the longitudinal groove 120.

The compound bellows 116 consists essentially of two bellows elements, corresponding to the elements 106 shown in Figure 2, vulcanized together to provide the two chambers 118 and 122 separated by an intermediate partition 126. The walls of the central opening through this partition 126 snugly embrace the lower end of the valve body 36. Hence, the upper chamber 122 contracts only upon upward movement of the valve body. As best illustrated in Figure l5, the mounting of the compound bellows 116 eliminates the necessity for actual lifting engagement between the sleeve 60 and the valve body 36 since the intermediate partition 126 of the bellows grips the lower end of the depending annular portion of the valve body, and starts to lift the latter after a predetermined raising movement of the sleeve 60. It will be noted, however, that in the position of the parts shown in Figure l5, that is, when the valve head 40 has been lifted from its seat 34, communication between the chambers 118 and 122 and the vent passageway 72 is interrupted.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been effectively and efficiently accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the specific embodiments shown and described are for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that various changes will occur to one skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention embraces all modifications encompassed by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A filling nozzle for container filling apparatus having a filling platform 'and a superposed liquid reservoir, at least one of which is vertically movable, said nozzle being adapted to depend from the reservoir into a container to be filled and comprising: a vertically movable assembly having a vent passage and a liquid passage extending therethrough; means on said assembly engageable by the container for raising said assembly; normally closed valve means controlling said liquid passage; means for opening said valve means by the terminal upward movement of said assembly; normally closed valve means controlling said vent passage; means for opening said lastmentioned valve means by the initial upward movement of said assembly; and means forming a normallyexpanded contractible chamber in communication with said vent passage above said vent passage valve means, said chamber being mounted at least in part on said assembly for contraction and expansion upon upward and downward movements, respectively, of said assembly.

2. The structure defined in claim l including normally open valve means controlling the communication between the chamber and the vent passage, and means for closing said valve means during terminal upward movement of the assembly.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the contractible chamber comprises a bellows having one end thereof secured to the assembly and the other end adapted to be secured to the reservoir.

4. A filling nozzle for container filling apparatus having a filling -platform and a superposed liquid reservoir, at least one of which is vertically movable, said nozzle being adapted to depend from the reservoir and comprising: a vertically movable valve body having a vent passage therethrough; an upwardly facing valve seat for said body; a filling tube depending from said body for insertion into a container to be filled, upward movement of said body being effective to permit liquid to flow from the reservoir through said tube; a vent tube concentrically mounted over said filling tube for lost motion lifting engagement with said valve body, said vent tube terminating adjacent the lower end of said valve body 36 and the upper end of the sleeve 60 are 85 filling tube to define therewith a vent passageway in communicatien .with said fyalye .bedy vent massage; .sa :valve controllingsaidyent passageway and .QPeningupcn Y.up- .wardtmovernentiof tsaidyent tuberrneans cn said vent Ytube rengageable .by :the container vfor raising saidy Veut tube and Asubsequently said valve body;Y and means form- :ing .a .ncrmal-lynexpanded .contractible ...chamber .in v come mnnication with.. said .ventspassageway betweenrthe ends vthereof, 1said .chamber :being ;t..rn.cunte.d .at least in part ffcr :contraction and :expansion rupon :upward and downfwardmovernents, respectively, of. saidvent tube- -5. The structure.. deiined in elaim;4in which the ,vent lpassageway lvalve `'comprises a valve element on the r`lowerendtof 1thertilling .tube normally. in` sealing engagement with the lower end of Said vent tube, and-in- .cluding a dischargenort i n.;.th.e .tillingtubefabove said .valve element.

.6. yAiilling:nezzlefor1container tillingtapparatusfhavfing. .a liquid reservoir .and -a lilling-platferin .therebelow at least oneofwhichfis `verticallyn iovable, said nozzle being adaptedto depend .from the reservoir and vcomprising: upper and lower vertically landrelatively movabletsectionsHhaving a vent; passage and al liquid passage extending e therethrough; Ineens l0.11 .said Aleu/er .section fhavinglostmetion lifting .engagement withsaid .upper section, relative t. advancing Amovement -.between the eentainer and the reservoir being;e ifective to.engage a con- .tainer to-behtilled with said lower section, ini t ially.raise said lower section into lifting engagement with Asaid upper section, and thereafter tol raise bothsaid sections, andwithdrawing relative-movementbetween the container and the-reservoir effecting loweringgmovement of said sections in the reverse order; normally. closed valves controlling said. vent passage a nd saidliquidpassage and being opened in succession by; -t he ini tial upward move vment of asid lowersectiouzandthe vupward.movement of .said upper section, respectively, said; valves being closed in reverse .order .by the v.lowering -movements of said sections; and means forming at least one normallyexpanded contractibleichamber in communication with .said -ventpassage above said ventpassage valve, said ,chamber being mounted t. at least in part -on said `lower section for contraction -bytheinitial upward movement thereof in order to expel residual liquid in saidventpas- .sageinto the containerprior `.to the yopening of said liquid passage valve,..andv for-expansion by thegtinal lowering movement of said lower section in .order towith- .drawliquid from .said .vent passage in to .said chamber.

7. Thestructure delined.-inclaim-6 `including a nor mally open lvalve controlling .the communication between the chamber and .the `vent-passage said' valve bein-g closed .during vertical movement vof the upper -section.

8. The structuredeiined in claim 6 in which the vent .passage includes a vent tube. Adependingffrom v the lower section, the liquidI passage in cludesvav iillingtube depending from.v the'uppertsection concentrically, within .said vent tube, the vent passageva-lve uincludes-a tip secured;to the .lovvenendrofA said iilling tube and pro- Viding an enlarged. annular.- surface. on Vwhichgthe end of said vent tube normallyseats, Aand including: a discharge portin said filling. tube .above said annular valve surface.

.9. `The structurel defined in claimb -in which the con- .tractible chamber comprises a bellows having` oneend thereof.secured to.the. .lowersection and theother yend .adapted .to be secured .to the reservoir.

l0. The structuredeiined in claim-.6in which the contractible chamber comprises a compound multi-chamberf bellows .having onecnd 4thereof securedto `the lower section, an intermediate portion thereof secured Ato the upper. sectiou,.and .thel otherend thereof adaptedrto be secured to the reservoir, Weach of the chambers of said bellows normally-.being yin communication withsaid vent passage.

.ll. The structure defined inclaimrv .in which the uppersection comprises a. Valve- Abody Vs lidably -mounted .in a reservoir downspout and having an-annularwvalve surface thereon for seating engagement .witha comple- ,mentary seat about the downspout, and the lliquid passageextends through saidbodyand.includesy a lateral `inlet portbelowsaid valve surface.

.l2-.In a tilting .nczzle forcentainer; Vfilling.-.apparatus vhaving a...1ilingfplatfern1 and. a superpcsed liquid res- Iervci'r, .at,least one. .of ,whichis. ,vertically movable, .the combination ofen innerliquid tube=..and..au 'cuter .c011- centrio vent tube.. mounted fory relative vertical movement,

.surface vnormally closing the lower end of said vent tube, said liquid tube having adischarge .port abovev said ,valve surface.

13. A filling ,nozgle for container illing apparatus having a filling platform and (a Asuperposedliquid reservoir, at least one of rwhiehis vertically movable, said vnozzle being adapted ltodepend,from the liquid reser- .veir and cernprisingr normally-.extended vertically .and

relatively movable telescoping sections ythe lower of .which is adapted tdbeengagedtand raised, by a centainer to be lled, intoliftingengagernent with the next higher section; a vent,tu be depending5nfrom said lower vsection for insertion into .the container and a vfilling tube depending .frein saidfnext highenSectiOn inte.y and extendingto a point adiacent the end of, saidt.vent tube; a valve on the lower endof said fillingtube for n orymally closing vthe .lower en d of said Ivent tube; valve means controlling saidiilling. tube Eand, opening upon upward movement of said next highersection; and resilient chamber means in communic ation ,wi th said .vent'vtube above said-valve, said chamber. means being mounted at least in Partonsaid l ower. s ect ion Yfor contractionby the raising movement thereof in order .to expel residual liquid fromsaid vent tuboprior tothe opening of said filling tubevalve means.

l4. A nozzle for `filling containerswithliquid from a superposed reservoirA comprising: yaqpairof vertically and relativelymovable tubes, one for supplying liquid to the containerandthe other forventingthe same; 4a .valve on the liqui d vtube normally closing thetlower .end of the vent tube; rneans. von;s aid,vent tube engageable by a container `to be lilled,. relative advancing movement between the container and the nozzlebeing effectiveto raise said vent tubeand open said, valve; -a valve controlling said liquid tube and .opening upon upward movement thereof;.means on said vent tube having lost motion lifting engagementwith saidliquidttube upon upward movement of said vent tube; anda contractible chamber in communication with said vent tube above said .lower end theerof andmounted yin part on said vent Vtube for contraction by its upward movement.

l5. In a filling nozzle f or container 'lling apparatus having a lling platform and a superposedliquid reservoir, .at least one of which is verticallymovable, the combination of a vertically movable depending liquid tube having .a discharge port. adjacentthe'lower end thereof; a vent .tube movable .vertically and relativeto said liquid tube, said vent tube being concentrically disposed over said liquid tube and forming a vent passage therebetween; stop means on said liquid tube .engageable by said vent tube to limit theupward movement .of the latterrelative to ,said liquid tube; anannular member on .said .Vent'tube for vsealing .engagement with the `mouth of a containerto. be-.iilled ,and for raising said vent tube thereby; a collar ,mounting saidmember and vertically adjustable on said vent,tube for varying the iilling height of the-. container; a bell-shaped member depending from said collar.for .-gu iding themouth of the container over. said vent andliquid l tubes; and means mounting said bell-shaped member forvertical slidable movement on I said collar.

16, A filling nozzle fon apparatus forlling containers with liquidfrom a reservoir, said nozzle comprising: a downspcut depending.. from the .bo.ttom of the reservoir and having an-upwardly facing valve seat; a weighted vvalve body 4s'lidably mounted in said downspout for. seating on said seat and having a vent *passage extending vertically therethrough and alateralport normally spaced below said seat; a vent pipe..mounted on said body and extending upwardly from said vent passage above the level of the liquid in the reservoir; alilling tube in communication with said-lateral portandV depending from -said valve .body for insertion into a container .to. belled, said tube .having a discharge port adjacent the Y lowerend thereof; a .tip on thelowenend ofsaid tubepresen ting all enlarged .upwardly facing Vannular surface below .said discharge tiert; La .Sleeve .Inernber ihaving .telescnping engagement with the lower. end of said valve-body.a1 id surrounding .said iilling .tube in spaced relation A.. tl1 eret o,. said sleeve having a lateral yport nogmally, positioned '.below said valve body; a vent tube depending from said sleeve about and in spaced relation to said lling tube and normally seating on said annular surface of said tip, said sleeve and vent tube dening with said lling tube a vent passageway communicating with said valve body vent passage; a resilient annular bellows secured to and between said downspout and said sleeve and having the interior thereof in communication with said sleeve port; and an annular pad on said vent tube above the lower end thereof for sealing engagement with the mouth of the container.

17. The structure defined in claim 16 including engageable stops on said sleeve and said valve body to limit the amount of relative collapsing telescoping movement therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,013 Smallwood July 17, 1894 Troupe June 23, 1903 Gull Nov. 2, 1909 Haller Dec. 13, 1910 Herd Dec. 5, 1911 Haight June 18, 1912 Hanger et a1. Oct. 28, 1930 Kantor July 31, 1934 De Markus Dec. 25, 1934 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 21, 1926 France May 13, 1930 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1941 Netherlands June 16, 1941

Images