Multifunction filling valve

Abstract

Filling valve (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably a beverage in a beverage filling plant, comprising a valve body (10) which has: a discharge outlet (13) configured to discharge the filling product into the container (100); a swirl chamber (11) configured to receive the filling product and which can be brought into fluid communication with the discharge outlet (13); and a main inlet (12) which opens into the swirl chamber (11) and is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber (11) in such a way that the filling product is set into a swirl in the swirl chamber (11), causing the filling product to flow downwards in a spiral motion in the container (100) after exiting the discharge outlet (13); characterized in that the swirl chamber (11) has a ring shape, the cross-sectional contour of which has a rounded shape essentially without corner points in the direction of extension as well as perpendicular to the direction of extension.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling valve for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a beverage in a beverage filling plant. State of the art

[0002] In order to mix and fill filling products consisting of several components, various technologies for dosing the individual components are known, which are briefly presented below: For example, the desired components can be dosed and filled individually via separate dosing stations, as known from US 2008 / 0271809 A1, for example. However, the use of separate dosing stations for a large number of components leads to a complex system structure and process sequence, since the filling of each container is divided up between several separate dosing / filling stations, at which the container must be positioned for the duration of the respective dosing times. Although it is in principle possible to dose the multiple components into the containers simultaneously via separate lines and dispensing openings and at a common filling station, this is limited by the size of the bottle or container mouth.

[0003] Alternatively, the components can be combined in a common filling valve, see, for example, EP 0 775 668 A1 and WO 2009 / 114121 A1. The dosing of a component to be added to a base fluid takes place upstream of the filling valve outlet, whereby the desired amount can be measured, for example, by a volume measurement using a flow meter (EP 0 775 668 A1) or by another volumetric dosing technology (WO 2009 / 114121 A1), such as a dosing piston and / or a diaphragm pump.

[0004] High dosing accuracies can be achieved by measuring with a flowmeter. This measures the volume or mass to be dosed and closes a shut-off valve in the dosing line when a threshold is reached. Other volumetric dosing methods, such as pumps or time / pressure filling, often have greater uncertainties and tend to react more sensitively to changes in the dosing medium, for example, changes in pressure, temperature, or composition. This requires frequent calibration, especially when changing the dosing medium. Gravimetric measurement of the dosages is hardly feasible due to large differences between the dosage weight for very small quantities (µl) and the container weight.

[0005] The technologies outlined above are characterized by the fact that the components are mixed at a late stage, i.e., either during or shortly before filling. One advantage of the late addition of components, in contrast to the equally common industrial blending of large quantities and later filling, is that it prevents the carryover of intense aroma substances, which, for example, migrate into seals and cannot be completely removed from the seals by cleaning. If the components are transported separately from one another to the container mouth and the dosage remains drip-free, the carryover of components or their aroma substances can be essentially eliminated.

[0006] However, late blending also presents technical difficulties. For example, optimizing the filling process's timing is not readily possible, as the dosing process cannot be accelerated arbitrarily, for example, using a flow meter. The time the container remains below the dosing point is directly proportional to the filling line's performance. Therefore, if higher performance is required, either the dosing time and thus the dosing range must be reduced, or a second parallel dosing line must be set up. The possible dosing range depends on the available dosing time and thus on the line's performance.

[0007] In addition, late mixing results in considerable structural complexity. In the case of small container mouths, it is difficult to fill a moving container with a stationary dosing head. Therefore, either the dosing head must move with the container (e.g., as a rotary device) or the container must remain stationary beneath the dosing head for the dosing and filling process, as with a linear transfer machine. If a large number of different dosing components are to be available simultaneously, both solutions are complex in terms of mechanical engineering, cost-intensive, and maintenance-intensive due to the large number of filling points and / or dosing components on the filling valve, and require a lot of installation space.

[0008] Dosing techniques that simultaneously determine the volume and convey the medium, such as pumps or piston dosing devices, have the disadvantage that no feedback can be provided to the control system regarding the actual volume introduced into the container. This also applies to time / pressure filling. If a valve fails to open or the line is blocked, this cannot be immediately detected by the system. Since subsequent quality control of the filled container is not feasible or only very complex in the case of customized filling with multiple components, feedback from the dosing system regarding the actual dosed amount is desirable, if not absolutely necessary.

[0009] The technical problems described above have led to a further development of the dosing / filling process, which is evident, for example, from EP 2 272 790 A1 and DE 10 2009 049 583 A1. Here, the components of the filling product are dosed directly during filling using a flow meter and introduced together into the container to be filled, whereby during dosing a main component is displaced backwards by the added component. The displaced volume of the main component is determined using the flow meter, and thus the volume of the added component is also known and controllable. During the subsequent filling of the filling product into the container, the main component, together with the added component, is completely flushed from the filling valve into the container, whereby the total fill quantity can be determined simultaneously using the same flow meter.During the next filling cycle, the filling quantities and the added component quantities can be redefined. This enables highly flexible filling of customized beverages without changeover times.

[0010] It is known to swirl the liquid being filled so that it flows downwards along the container wall in a spiral motion under the influence of centrifugal force. Any gas present in the container, which is displaced by the filling product during filling, can escape centrally through the container mouth. This allows for consistent, smooth, and trouble-free filling with short filling times. To generate swirl, the filling valve can be equipped with swirl elements, which can be implemented, for example, in the form of guide vanes or swirl channels, as is known, for example, from DE 40 12 849 A1 and DE 26 20 753 A1.

[0011] Filling valves with swirl elements, however, have the problem that they are difficult to free from carryover of the filling product, especially from any dosage components. To ensure that no residues remain in the filling valve that could contaminate the filling product during the subsequent filling process, the quantity and filling of the main component must be adjusted so that they completely free the filling valve of any residues from the previous filling. However, the generation of swirl counteracts such complete cleaning. On the one hand, residues can become caught on the swirl elements; on the other hand, the swirl creates a laminar flow. In laminar flows, however, there is hardly any cross-mixing, which would be important for complete flushing. In addition, the swirled laminar flow in the filling valve flows through an annular gap with a comparatively large specific surface area.

[0012] A further technical difficulty with the swirl valves described above is that they do not provide a continuously variable flow rate control function and are therefore not suitable for current high-performance filling machines, especially those with flexible dosing through reverse displacement. For such flow rate or filling rate control, a proportional flow regulator (PFR) installed upstream of the shut-off valve is currently used. The use of two control elements in series—shut-off and flow control—is structurally complex and increases pressure loss. Currently, a wide variety of filling valves exists for different applications (carbonated or still filling products, with or without granules, glass or PET containers, etc.). This leads to high care and maintenance costs and numerous machine variants.

[0013] EP 0 453 879 A1, EP 0 775 668 A1, DE 72 38 305 U and US 2003 / 0150517 A1 describe filling devices with a swirl chamber or swirl elements for filling containers with a liquid, wherein EP 0 453 879 A1 discloses a filling valve according to the preamble of claim 1. Description of the invention

[0014] An object of the invention is to provide an improved filling valve, in particular to improve the hygienic properties in the case of frequent product changes while maintaining a compact and reliable design.

[0015] The object is achieved by a filling valve having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments follow from the subclaims, the following presentation of the invention and the description of preferred embodiments.

[0016] The filling valve according to the invention is designed for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a beverage, in a beverage filling plant. The filling product is preferably a multi-component filling product consisting of a main component and at least one additional component. The main component can be, for example, water or juice; the additional components can include, for example, syrup, pulp, fruit pieces, etc. If the filling product consists only of a main component, without additional component(s), the terms "main component" and "filling product" are used synonymously.

[0017] The filling valve comprises a valve body with an outlet configured to discharge or introduce the filling product into the container. The container mouth is typically located directly below the outlet during filling. For this purpose, the container mouth can be positioned against a mouth section of the valve body. Alternatively, the filling valve can also be used as a free-jet valve.

[0018] The valve body has a swirl chamber which is designed to receive the filling product and can be brought into fluid communication with the outlet.

[0019] The valve body further comprises a main inlet which opens into the swirl chamber and is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber in such a way that the filling product is swirled in the swirl chamber.

[0020] The swirl chamber has a ring shape, the cross-sectional contour of which has a rounded shape in the direction of extension and perpendicular to the direction of extension, preferably essentially without corner points.

[0021] In other words, the swirl chamber wall is geometrically essentially continuous and differentiable, both along its annular axis and perpendicular to it. The term "essentially" indicates, firstly, that corners, for example, in the outlet areas of the main inlet and any secondary inlets described below, are not always avoidable, and secondly, that geometric terms such as "continuous," "differentiable," "corners," etc., are not to be interpreted in an ideal mathematical manner. It is important to note that the aforementioned cross-sectional contours of the swirl chamber do not have a polygonal, such as a rectangular, shape.

[0022] Furthermore, the valve body has a valve housing which forms at least part of the wall defining the swirl chamber and the outlet, and a membrane made of a deformable material which forms part of the wall defining the swirl chamber and is connected to the valve housing at an outer contour which is preferably circular.

[0023] It should be noted that spatial specifications such as "below," "beneath," "above," "above," etc., refer to the installation position of the filling valve, which is uniquely determined by the direction of gravity. The axial direction of the filling valve, when installed, essentially coincides with the direction of gravity.

[0024] The valve body requires neither swirl elements, such as guide vanes or swirl channels, nor additional flow guides, making it highly hygienic and tolerant of dispersed solid / liquid mixtures containing, for example, fruit pieces, slurry, fruit fibers, or the like. Furthermore, the absence of swirl elements means that the size of particles in the flow is virtually unlimited. The valve body allows for complete flushing of the valve interior with minimal flushing volume due to the high turbulence achievable in the swirl chamber and a comparatively small surface area. Furthermore, the swirl chamber has essentially no corners where flavorings, fruit pieces, and the like could become trapped. This also optimizes flushability. For these reasons, the valve body is particularly suitable for flexible, container-by-container filling product changes, particularly through the addition of additional components.

[0025] Since the filling valve with the valve body can be used for both wall filling and free-jet filling, or for products that are filled at atmospheric pressure, the number of filling valve variants for different applications is reduced. This reduces the care and maintenance effort and the number of machine variants. Filling systems equipped with filling valves of the type described here are universally applicable. They can be used to fill a wide variety of different beverages, container formats, and materials (PET, glass, can, still, carbonated, etc.).

[0026] The swirl chamber is preferably shaped like a torus. The term "torus" refers not only to a body of revolution constructed from a circular contour, although this is preferred; the rotational contour or surface can also be elliptical, oval, or otherwise rounded, as long as polygonal corners and edges are avoided. Such a rotationally symmetrical structure further supports the formation of a uniform swirl and facilitates flushing.

[0027] Preferably, the main inlet flows tangentially into the swirl chamber. The term "tangential" does not require a geometrically perfect tangential connection of the main inlet. Rather, it may be structurally advantageous to have the main inlet flow into the swirl chamber at a certain angle. It is important that the inflow direction in this case is essentially lateral, i.e., not from above, thus directly creating a swirl, i.e., annular flow, in the swirl chamber.

[0028] The tangential entry of the filling product from the main inlet into the swirl chamber creates optimal swirl, whereby the filling product is propelled outwards by centrifugal force and, after exiting the outlet, flows downwards in a spiral motion within the vessel, preferably along the vessel wall. The tapering or constriction of the swirl chamber towards the outlet results in a pressure drop and thus a stabilization of the swirl. This leads to a uniform, well-defined swirl across the circumference and is also a key determinant of the flow rate. The lateral main inlet, i.e., opening tangentially into the swirl chamber, also creates space above the swirl chamber.The space is unobstructed and can be used to modularly expand the valve body, allowing for later development of variants or differentiation of the filling valve for specific applications, thus saving costs and resources. The compact design of the valve body enables, for example, the hygienic integration of a valve cone actuator for flow control and, if necessary, additional control functions (gas valve(s) for pre-pressurizing the containers, return gas line(s), relief line(s), solenoid valve(s), etc.) above the valve body. Likewise, a control board for implementing decentralized control architectures can be installed in a valve head above the valve body.

[0029] Preferably, at least the axial outer wall of the swirl chamber transitions smoothly and distinctly into the main inlet to optimize swirl formation and flushability. For the same reasons, the main inlet in the area of ​​the opening into the swirl chamber preferably has essentially the same cross-sectional contour perpendicular to the direction of extension as the swirl chamber. Both contours are preferably circular with essentially the same diameter. In this way, the tangential feed of the filling product transitions optimally into the annular flow within the swirl chamber.

[0030] The outlet is preferably annular, with the also annular swirl chamber gradually tapering towards the outlet, causing the filling product to flow downwards in a spiral motion within the container after exiting the outlet. By targeted acceleration of the filling product in the annular channel between the swirl chamber and the outlet, rapid and controlled filling is possible. The swirl chamber preferably has an axially symmetrical shape relative to the axis of the annular outlet.

[0031] The filling valve preferably has a valve cone, preferably made at least partially of Teflon and / or preferably adjustable. The adjustability of the valve cone can include a shut-off function and / or flow control, as explained below.

[0032] The valve body thus preferably has a valve cone that is adjustable for regulating the flow of the filling product through the outlet. The term "flow control" here refers to a change in the flow by adjusting the valve cone, without this completely stopping the flow, i.e., a flow of zero. A binary switching of the flow on and off therefore does not fall under flow control. The adjustability of the valve cone is preferably translational along the axial direction determined by the outlet. The valve cone itself also preferably extends along the axial direction. The valve cone is preferably continuously adjustable within a working travel.

[0033] The valve cone supports the swirl formation. For filling large pieces, for example, with volumes of 5 x 5 x 5 mm or more, the valve cone stroke can be flexibly increased during the filling process. This allows the adjustability of the valve cone to not only regulate the filling speed but also expand the range of fillable products.

[0034] If the valve cone is made of Teflon, the drainage behavior can be improved due to its low surface energy. Furthermore, if a Teflon valve cone is combined with a stainless steel valve body, such a material combination can ensure complete sealing even at high differential pressures, provided the filling valve provides a shut-off function. Teflon also offers very good resistance to any migration of flavorings.

[0035] Preferably, the valve body has a valve seat, with the valve cone and the valve seat being configured such that the valve cone is in sealing contact with the valve seat in a shut-off position to completely close the outlet. The integration of flow control and shut-off functions in the valve body allows for a reduction in components and a simplification of the product path. This leads to lower pressure losses and contributes to gentler product handling and reduced foam formation during the filling process.

[0036] Preferably, the filling valve has a control valve which is arranged upstream of the valve body, whereby pressure surges at the beginning of the filling process can be absorbed and the constriction of the product flow can be improved towards the end of the filling and the swirl can be reliably maintained.

[0037] Preferably, the valve cone has a conical outlet contour that tapers toward the outlet and extends at least partially into the swirl chamber. This makes the design of the valve body particularly compact.

[0038] The swirl chamber preferably extends essentially axially symmetrically around the valve cone. In this case, the valve cone penetrates the swirl chamber centrally, whereby the valve cone synergistically forms part of the wall forming the swirl chamber. This allows the valve body to be designed even more compactly, with the functionalities of the valve cone and the swirl chamber structurally integrated.

[0039] The valve body preferably has one or more secondary inlets that open into the swirl chamber and are configured to introduce one or more additional components of the filling product into the swirl chamber so that they mix with the main component. The secondary inlets allow any additional components to be mixed directly in the swirl chamber, ensuring good rinsability of the valve body and minimizing any aroma carryover. Furthermore, the filling valve is particularly suitable for applications in filling systems designed for flexible dosing and immediate product changeover through reverse displacement.

[0040] In this case, the filling product is made up of several components: a main component such as water or juice and at least one additional component such as syrup, mixed directly in the swirl chamber of the filling valve. During filling, the additional components of the filling product are introduced into the swirl chamber and then swirled together into the container to be filled. By introducing the additional components into the swirl chamber, the main component previously supplied through the main feed is displaced backward. The displaced volume of the main component is determined, for example, using a flow meter, and thus the volume of the added component(s) is also known and controllable.During the subsequent filling of the product into the container, the main component, along with the added components, is completely flushed from the filling valve into the container, allowing the total fill volume to be determined simultaneously using the same flow meter. During the next filling cycle, the fill volumes and the added component quantities can be recalculated. This enables highly flexible and hygienic filling of customized beverages with essentially no changeover time.

[0041] By having a valve housing that forms at least part of the wall defining the swirl chamber and the outlet, the valve body is structurally simplified and particularly reliable. The valve housing can be manufactured in one piece. Preferably, the valve housing is a cast body.

[0042] Preferably, at least one of the secondary inlets is formed by openings in the valve housing. By integrating the supply of dosage components into the valve housing, no hoses or additional lines are required. This optimizes the flushability of the valve body and minimizes any aroma carryover in a structurally simple and reliable manner.

[0043] The valve body has a diaphragm made of a deformable material, preferably Teflon, which forms part of the wall bounding the swirl chamber, preferably in the upper region. The diaphragm is connected to the valve housing by an outer contour, which is preferably circular, and to the valve cone, if present, by an inner contour, which is also preferably circular. The main inlet, which opens lateral, i.e., tangentially into the swirl chamber, creates space above the swirl chamber, in addition to the aforementioned technical effects, which can be used to mount a diaphragm that seals the swirl chamber in the upper region.

[0044] The diaphragm is made of a deformable or flexible material, allowing it to follow the axial movement of the valve cone while ensuring a hygienic seal. The working range of the valve cone also determines the degree of deformability the diaphragm material must provide. This functionality defines the terms "flexible," "deformable," etc., in relation to the diaphragm. The flexibility of the diaphragm and the material properties, particularly in the case of Teflon, also support filling the filling product with swirl, even at very low filling flows. An unintentional, local maximum flow at the beginning of a filling process, before a uniform flow with swirl is established, can be counteracted by adjusting the valve cone or by using an upstream control valve.

[0045] The symmetry of the diaphragm also allows for a design with a high number of load cycles, which is usually required for filling valves. Preferably, the diaphragm has an annular clamping section designed for attachment to the valve housing.

[0046] Preferably, the valve housing has one or more interfaces on the outer side facing away from the swirl chamber for connecting a line or a metering valve, allowing the filling valve to be modularly expanded. By connecting metering valves, any additional components can be precisely metered, particularly in applications requiring flexible metering through reverse displacement.

[0047] Preferably, the valve body has a gas channel that penetrates the valve cone in the axial direction, wherein the gas channel preferably provides separate gas paths via a tube-in-tube construction. The gas channel can be used as a return gas channel to discharge a gaseous atmosphere in the container that is displaced from the container during filling. However, the gas channel can also have a multi-channel construction to create separate supply and exhaust gas paths, for example, to evacuate the container to be filled, to pre-pressurize it with a pressurizing gas, such as carbon dioxide, to purge it, to clean it, etc.

[0048] The filling valve preferably has a valve cone drive that is mechanically connected to a connecting section of the valve cone and configured to actuate the valve cone, preferably electromotively, magnetically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. The valve cone drive preferably has a spring for biasing the valve cone into a working position, preferably the shut-off position. The compact design of the valve body enables hygienic, reliable, and structurally simple integration of the valve cone drive.

[0049] The filling valve preferably has a valve center section mounted on the valve body and a valve head section mounted on the valve center section, wherein the valve center section comprises the valve cone drive. The tangential main inlet described above leaves the top of the valve body unobstructed in such a way that one or more valve components can be stacked together. This allows the filling valve to be constructed modularly and allows for the creation of variants or differentiation for the specific application to occur later. This reduces the care and maintenance effort and the number of machine variants.

[0050] Preferably, the valve head part has one or more supply connections which are in fluid communication with the gas channel and each provide an inlet and / or outlet for gas, whereby the filling valve can be used flexibly and is easy to install and maintain due to the easily accessible supply connections on the valve head part.

[0051] Preferably, the valve head part has one or more gas valve interfaces for connecting a gas valve each, whereby the filling valve can be constructed or configured in a further modular manner and the variant creation or differentiation for the specific application can only take place at a later stage.

[0052] Preferably, the filling valve further comprises a rod-shaped height probe that can be inserted through the gas channel and is configured to protrude into the container when inserted and detect the fill level of the filling product in the container. A corresponding interface with an opening for mounting the height probe can be formed in the valve head. In this way, the filling valve can be expanded with measuring technology within the framework of the basic modular design.

[0053] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features presented above, provided the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred embodiments is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. Short description of the characters

[0054] Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description of the figures. In the figures: Figure 1 a perspective sectional view of a valve body with swirl chamber, valve cone and membrane; Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of the valve body of the Figure 1 ; Figure 3a a cross-sectional view of a valve body with swirl chamber, valve cone and membrane according to another embodiment; Figure 3b the valve body of the Figure 3a in a plan view; Figure 4 a perspective sectional view of a structural unit consisting of valve cone and membrane of the valve body of the Figures 3a and 3b ; Figure 5 a perspective view of the valve housing as a modular component of the valve body of the Figures 3a and 3b ; Figures 5a to 5dperspective views of different configurations of the valve housing of the Figure 5; Figure 6 a cross-sectional view of a filling valve with a valve body according to the Figures 3a and 3b , a valve center section with valve cone drive and a valve head section with valve support plate; Figure 6a a perspective view of the housing of the valve center section of the Figure 6 ; Figure 6b a perspective view of the valve head part of the Figure 6 ; Figures 7a to 7d show perspective views of exemplary configurations of the filling valve; Figures 8a to 8c show exemplary applications of the filling valve in relation to the container to be filled; Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a filling valve with an inserted height probe; Figure 9a shows a perspective view of the height probe of the Figure 9 . Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0055] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar, or equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals in the figures, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancies.

[0056] The Figure 1 is a perspective view of the valve body 10 of a filling valve 1 (cf. Figure 6 ) with swirl generation. The Figure 2 shows the valve body 10 in a cross-sectional view.

[0057] The valve body 10 has a swirl chamber 11 designed as an annular channel or torus. The valve body 10 also has a Figure 1 The main inlet 12 is not visible and opens tangentially or essentially tangentially into the swirl chamber 11. The main inlet 12 is shown schematically from the Figure 2 The main inlet 12 is also shown in the embodiments of the Figures 2 , 3a, 3b and others.

[0058] In the lower area of ​​the valve body 10, the swirl chamber 11 tapers to an annular outlet 13, from which the filling product emerges during filling and into a container placed below the valve body 10 (in the Figures 1 and 2 not shown).

[0059] It should be noted that spatial specifications such as "below," "beneath," "above," "above," etc., refer to the installation position of the filling valve 1, which is clearly determined by the direction of gravity. Furthermore, the filling valve 1, or rather its valve body 10, has a clearly defined axial direction due to the annular outlet 13, which, in the installed state, at least substantially coincides with the direction of gravity.

[0060] The tangential feed of the filling product from the main inlet 12 into the swirl chamber 11 causes the filling product to swirl, which is propelled outward by centrifugal force. After exiting the valve body 10, it is pressed outward and flows downwards along the container wall. The tapering or constriction of the swirl chamber 11 toward the outlet 13 results in a uniform, well-defined swirl across the circumference and is also a key determining factor for the flow rate. If the degree of tapering, in particular the size of the annular gap at the outlet 13, is adjustable, integrated flow control can be implemented, possibly even up to shutoff, or the maximum size of the particles contained in the filling product can be changed.

[0061] The above-mentioned flow control can be implemented as follows: According to the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2For this purpose, the valve base body 10 has a valve cone 14 which has a cylindrical shape tapering towards the outlet 13. The annular gap adjoining the swirl chamber 11 is formed on the inside, at least in sections, by the outer circumferential surface of the valve cone 14. On the outside, the annular gap is delimited or formed by a valve housing 15. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the valve cone 14 is designed to be displaceable in the axial direction, i.e., upwards and downwards. In this way, the annular gap at the outlet 13 can be enlarged and reduced. The height of the valve cone 14 is preferably continuously adjustable within the working range, i.e., between a fully open position and a closed position or a position of minimum flow.If the inner shape of the valve housing 15 forms a valve seat 16 which is in sealing contact with the valve cone 14 in a closed position of the filling valve 1, the outlet 13 can be completely closed, thereby realizing a shut-off function.

[0062] The main inlet 12, which opens laterally, i.e. tangentially into the swirl chamber 11, creates space above the swirl chamber 11 in addition to the technical effects mentioned above. This space is unobstructed and can be used to mount a diaphragm 17, which seals the swirl chamber 11 in the upper area. The diaphragm 17 has a circular outer contour that is connected directly or indirectly via a fastening means to the valve housing 15. The diaphragm 17 is fastened radially on the inside to the valve cone 14. The diaphragm 17 is made of a flexible material, preferably Teflon, which allows it to follow the axial movement of the valve cone 14 and at the same time ensures hygienic sealing of the swirl chamber 11. The symmetry of the diaphragm 17 also allows a design with a high number of load cycles, as is usually necessary for filling valves.

[0063] The valve body 10 further includes a gas channel 18 that centrally penetrates the valve cone 14 in the axial direction. The gas channel 18 is, for example, a return gas channel for discharging any gas, such as pressurizing gas, that is displaced from the container during filling. However, the gas channel 18 can also have a multi-channel design, for example, a tube-in-tube design, to create separate supply and exhaust paths.

[0064] The valve cone 14 ends essentially directly below a throttle point, i.e., the narrowest point of the annular gap forming the outlet 13, thereby implementing a defined transition from a single-phase gap flow to a wall-film flow in the container. This creates a well-defined, consistent separation edge of the liquid at the point of highest flow velocity. Preferably, the valve seat 16, i.e., the shut-off point, is located in the immediate vicinity of the separation edge, thereby minimizing the surface areas that could lead to dripping.

[0065] The valve cone 14 is preferably made of Teflon, which improves drainage behavior due to its low surface energy. If the valve housing 15 is also made of stainless steel, such a material combination can ensure complete sealing even at high differential pressures.

[0066] Apart from the valve cone 14, the valve body 10 requires neither swirl elements, such as guide vanes or swirl channels, nor additional flow guides, making it highly hygienic and tolerant of dispersed solid / liquid mixtures containing, for example, fruit pieces, slurry, fruit fibers, or the like. Furthermore, the absence of swirl elements means that the size of the pieces in the flow is virtually unlimited. To fill larger pieces, for example, with volumes of 5 x 5 x 5 mm or larger, the valve cone stroke can be flexibly increased during the filling process.

[0067] The valve body 10 is particularly suitable for the above-described wall filling process, in which the filling product spirals downwards along the inner wall of the container. However, a filling valve 1 equipped with the valve body 10 can also be used as a free-jet valve. In this case, the valve body 10 can be used as a hygienic control valve by installing it in a suitable filling product line with a subsequent settling section and, if necessary, a gas barrier at the outlet. If necessary, the swirl can be removed by a radial instead of tangential main inlet 12.

[0068] The valve body 10 allows complete flushing of the valve interior, in particular the swirl chamber 11 and the outlet 13 adjoining it in the filling direction, with minimal flushing volume due to the high turbulence achievable in the swirl chamber 11 and a comparatively small surface area. For this reason, the valve body 10 is particularly suitable for frequent changes of the filling product, for example, up to container-by-container, especially of components that can be added. Due to its particularly good flushability, the valve body 10 can also be used in aseptic filling machines.

[0069] The integration of control and shut-off functions in the valve body 10 allows for a reduction in components and a simplification of the product path. This leads to lower pressure losses and contributes to gentler product handling and reduced foam formation during the filling process.

[0070] The compact design of the valve body 10 also enables hygienic integration of the valve cone drive and, if necessary, further control functions in the valve head, i.e. above the swirl chamber 11, for example integration of gas valves for pre-pressurizing the containers, return gas lines, relief lines, solenoid valves for further separate control functions in the area of ​​the filling valve 1, such as raising and lowering the valve, dosing components, etc. Likewise, for example, a control board can be installed in the valve head to implement decentralized control architectures.

[0071] Since the filling valve 1 with the valve base body 10 is modularly expandable and can also be used for both wall filling and free-jet filling, or for products to be filled at atmospheric pressure, the number of filling valve variants for different applications is reduced. This reduces the care and maintenance effort and the number of machine variants. Filling systems equipped with filling valves 1 of the type described here are universally applicable. They can be used to fill a wide variety of different beverages, container formats, and materials (PET, glass, can, still, carbonated, etc.).

[0072] The Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of a valve body 10 with swirl generation according to another embodiment. A top view of the valve body 10 is shown in Figure 3bThe basic structure and the associated technical functions are similar to the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 . The valve body 10 according to the Figures 3a and 3b However, it has an expanded range of functions compared to the versions described above.

[0073] The valve body 10 thus has two additional inlets, referred to herein as the first and second secondary inlets 12a, 12b. The number of secondary inlets is only an example and may vary depending on the application.

[0074] The secondary inlets 12a, 12b allow the supply of further components, which are also referred to herein as additional component(s), directly into the swirl chamber 11. In order to be able to dose the quantities of the additional components, the secondary inlets 12a, 12b can each be equipped with a metering valve 19a, 19b. The metering valve 19b is in the perspective of the Figure 3a not recognizable, but can, for example, be the Figure 7a The metering valves 19a, 19b allow, in particular, metering by reverse displacement, as described in more detail below. First, however, further structural features and embodiments of the valve body 10 will be discussed.

[0075] Through the secondary inlets 12a, 12b, the addition of additional components takes place directly in the swirl chamber 11, ensuring good rinsing of the valve body 10 and minimizing any possible aroma carryover. By integrating the supply of dosage components into the valve housing 15, no hoses or additional lines are required. This makes the valve body 10 particularly suitable for instant product changeovers.

[0076] The valve body 10 is modular in several respects and can thus be easily expanded and adapted. Figure 4A structural unit consisting of a valve cone 14 and a diaphragm 17 is shown. The diaphragm 17 has a clamping section 17a, which is designed for fastening in the valve housing 15. The clamping section 17a is an annular structure that can be an integral part of the diaphragm 17 or attached thereto as a separate element. In the radially inner region, the diaphragm 17 is attached to the valve cone 14. In the upper region of the valve cone 14 there is a connecting section 14a for connection to a possible valve cone drive.

[0077] A material combination of Teflon is preferred for the valve cone 14 and the diaphragm 17. The flexibility of the diaphragm and the material properties support filling of the filling product with swirl, even at very low filling flows. Furthermore, an unintended, local maximum flow rate at the beginning of a filling process, before a uniform flow with swirl is established, is counteracted. In combination with a valve cone 14 made of Teflon, which optimizes the discharge behavior due to its low surface energy, this enables consistent, quiet, and trouble-free filling with short filling times.

[0078] Because the clamping section 17a and the connecting section 14a have defined, preferably standardized, dimensions, various diaphragms 17 and / or valve cones 14 with different flow and filling properties can be used without having to redesign the entire valve body 10. The remaining valve body 10, in particular the valve housing 15, can be a fixed, standardized component, while the valve properties are simply variable due to the structural unit consisting of the valve cone 14 and diaphragm 17. In this way, for example, the size of the swirl chamber 11, the shape of the valve cone 14, in particular its outlet contour 14b, the preload position and preload force of the valve cone 14 by the diaphragm 17, and the like can be easily modified and adapted to the desired application environment.

[0079] In an analogous manner, the valve body 10, in particular the valve housing 15, can also be designed modularly. Figure 5 in perspective the valve housing 15 as a modular unit of the valve base body 10 according to an embodiment.

[0080] The valve housing 15 is in the Figure 5 shown in a basic form. This is preferably designed as a cast body with uniform interfaces. The valve housing 15 in the basic form serves as a starting component for various manufacturing variants, which may, for example, relate to variants of the outlet section 15c for connection to the container to be filled or the shape and number of interfaces 15a, 15b for any secondary inlets 12a, 12b.

[0081] The Figures 5a to 5d show different designs of the valve housing 15 to suit different application environments. Figure 5aa variant in which the secondary inlets 12a and 12b are open. Lines, metering valves 19a, 19b, or the like can now be connected to the interfaces 15a, 15b located there in order to introduce and / or meter components of the filling product, such as syrup, pulp, slurry, pieces, etc., into the swirl chamber 11. Figure 5b shows the basic shape of the valve body 10 in the production variant with closed or non-implemented secondary inlets. The interfaces 15a, 15b or not further differentiated basic forms of the same are visible. Figure 5c shows the valve housing 15 with a mouth section 15c, which is designed to accommodate bottle mouths or for filling glass bottles. Figure 5d shows the valve housing 15 with a mouth section 15c, which is designed to accommodate bottle mouths or for filling PET bottles.

[0082] Coming back to the Figure 3aThis shows a possible connection of a bottle-shaped container 100 to the mouth section 15c of the valve housing 15. The container 100 has a container mouth 101, which in the wall-filling mode is in contact with the mouth section 15c, whereby the filling product, swirled by the swirl chamber 11 during filling, flows downwards along the container wall in a spiral motion under the influence of centrifugal force.

[0083] The tangential main inlet 12 described above leaves the top of the valve body 10 unobstructed in such a way that one or more modular valve components can be attached. Figure 6 an exemplary filling valve 1 in a cross-sectional view, which has a valve body 10 in the embodiment of the Figures 3a and 3b , a valve center part 20 as a first modular valve component and a valve head part 30 as a second modular valve component.

[0084] The valve center section 20 is attached to the valve housing 15 of the valve body 10 via an interface. In the embodiment of the Figure 6 The valve center section 20 comprises a valve cone drive 21 for actuating the valve cone 14. For this purpose, the valve cone drive 21 has an actuator that operates, for example, electromotively, magnetically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. In the present example, the valve cone drive 21 has a media connection 21a through which a working medium, such as compressed air, can be supplied to actuate the valve cone 14. Furthermore, the valve cone drive 21 has a spring 21b, preferably designed as a spiral spring, which serves to preload the valve cone 14 into a working position, for example, the shut-off position or the fully open position.

[0085] According to this embodiment, the gas channel 18 provides separate gas paths via a tube-in-tube construction. The separation of the gas paths can be supported at the interface between the valve center section 20 and the valve head section 30 by means of a membrane, preferably made of Teflon, so that they can be connected in the valve head section 30 to the connections and / or interfaces described below.

[0086] The valve cone actuator 21 is accommodated in a cylindrical housing 22, which is designed for attachment to the valve body 10 and for this purpose has one or more well-defined, preferably standardized, interfaces. The housing 22 is separately Figure 6aThis shows a lower square flange section 22a and an upper annular flange section 22b, which are exemplary interfaces for mounting the valve center section 20. Such a deliberate breaking of symmetry ensures that the valve center section 20 is always mounted in the correct position and orientation. The lower and upper flange sections 22a, 22b each have openings through which screws can be screwed as fastening means, whereby the valve base body 10 and the valve head section 30 can be screwed to the valve center section 20.

[0087] The valve head part 30, which is separately in the Figure 6b As shown, the filling valve 1 closes at the top and has a valve carrier plate 31 as well as various connections and / or interfaces which relate to the functionality of the filling valve 1.

[0088] The valve head part 30 is attached to the valve center part 20 via the valve support plate 31. In this case, the valve head part 30, in particular its valve support plate 31, can be configured for connection directly to the valve base body 10.

[0089] In the present exemplary embodiment, the valve head part 30 has several, for example three, gas valve interfaces 32, 33 and 34, which are used to connect gas valves 40, 41, 42 (cf. Figures 7a, 7b and 7c ) are installed. The control of the gas valves 40, 41, 42 as well as the gas supply / discharge are carried out via corresponding supply connections 35.

[0090] The Figures 7a to 7d show exemplary configurations of the filling valve 1. Due to the modular design, the creation of variants or differentiation for the specific application takes place only at a later stage, which saves costs and resources.

[0091] The Figure 7ashows the filling valve 1 with three gas valves 40, 41, 42 and two dosing valves 19a, 19b. In this configuration, the filling valve 1 is suitable, for example, for filling carbonated beverages such as beer and CSD (carbonated soft drink). The gas valve 40 serves as a preload valve to preload the container 100 using a pressurizing gas, usually carbon dioxide. The gas valve 41 serves to relieve the pressure in the container 100; i.e., gas under excess pressure or gas displaced during filling can thus be discharged from the container 100 in a controlled manner via the gas valve 41. For filling under negative pressure, removal of purge gas, or the like, a negative pressure or vacuum can be generated in the container 100 via the gas valve 42. By evacuating the container 100 before filling, the amount of oxygen in the container 100 can be reduced and thus any impairment of the product quality can be counteracted.The various gas supply and gas discharge functions are realized via separate gas paths, preferably via a tube-in-tube construction of the gas channel 18, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 In order to enable highly flexible filling of individualized beverages with little or no changeover time, one or two dosage components, such as syrup or pulp, can be added to the main component, such as water or juice, introduced into the swirl chamber 11 via the main inlet 12 via the dosage valves 19a, 19b.

[0092] The Figure 7bshows the filling valve 1 with two gas valves 40, 41 and two dosing valves 19a, 19b. In this configuration, the filling valve 1 is suitable, for example, for filling water and carbonated soft drinks (CSD). The gas valve 40 serves as a preload valve to preload the container 100 using a pressurizing gas, usually carbon dioxide. The gas valve 41 serves to relieve the pressure in the container 100; i.e., gas under excess pressure or gas displaced during filling can thus be discharged from the container 100 in a controlled manner via the gas valve 41. The various gas supply and gas discharge functions are realized via separate gas paths, preferably via a tube-in-tube construction of the gas channel 18, as can be seen from the Figure 6In order to enable highly flexible filling of individualized beverages with little or no changeover time, one or two dosage components, such as syrup, can be added to the main component, such as water, introduced into the swirl chamber 11 via the main inlet 12 via the dosage valves 19a, 19b.

[0093] The Figure 7cshows the filling valve 1 with a connected second secondary inlet 12b, but without gas valves. A valve 19b is attached to the second secondary inlet 12b. In this configuration, the filling valve 1 is suitable, for example, for hot filling of juices. The main inlet 12 serves as the hot supply line, while the second secondary inlet 12b with the connected valve 19b functions as the hot return line. The gas channel 18 communicates with the external environment, for example, via the valve head 30 and serves purely as a return air channel without the need for a gas valve. Separate gas paths are not absolutely necessary in this application.

[0094] The Figure 7dshows the filling valve 1 with two gas valves 40, 41 and a connected second secondary inlet 12b. A valve 19b is attached to the second secondary inlet 12b. In this configuration, the filling valve 1 is suitable, for example, for filling carbonated soft drinks (CSD) and for hot filling juice. In the latter case, the main inlet 12 serves as a hot supply line, while the second secondary inlet 12b with the connected valve 19b functions as a hot return line. The gas valve 40 serves as a preload valve to preload the container 100 using a pressurizing gas, usually carbon dioxide. The gas valve 41 serves to relieve the pressure in the container 100; i.e., gas under excess pressure or gas displaced during filling can thus be discharged from the container 100 in a controlled manner via the gas valve 41.The various gas supply and gas discharge functions are realized via separate gas paths, preferably via a tube-in-tube construction of the gas channel 18, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 emerges.

[0095] A further aspect of the flexibility of the filling valve 1 described herein concerns its handling in relation to the container 100 to be filled. Figures 8a to 8c show different applications of the filling valve 1.

[0096] According to the Figures 8a and 8c The filling valve 1 can be designed to be vertically movable. For this purpose, the main inlet 12 can be connected to a flexible product line 50. A filling valve 1 designed in this way is used, for example, in the case of so-called "neck handling", as in the Figure 8aIn this case, the container 100 to be filled is held and transported by a holding device 52, for example a holding clamp on a transport star, at the neck or at the container mouth 101. This form of handling is often used for PET bottles. Figure 8c also shows a vertically movable filling valve 1, with the container 100 placed on a table-like container holder 53. This form of handling is also referred to as "base handling" and is used, for example, for glass bottles. A "base handling" with a stationary filling valve 1 is shown in Figure 8b In this case, the main inlet 12 can be connected to a rigid product line 51, since the container 100 for filling is moved from below to the filling valve 1 by a vertically movable, table-like container holder 53'.

[0097] The filling valve 1 can be equipped with a height probe 60, as shown in the Figures 9 and 9a shown. The altitude probe 60, cf. Figure 9a , is rod-shaped, with a sensor element 61 at one end of the rod. The height probe 60 is configured to detect a fill level of the filling product in the container 100, for example, by wetting the sensor element 61. For this purpose, the height probe 60 is inserted through the gas channel 18 until the sensor element 61 is located at a defined position in the container 100. A corresponding interface with an opening for mounting the height probe 60 is formed in the valve head part 30.

[0098] The filling valve 1 presented herein is particularly suitable for use in filling systems designed for flexible dosing and immediate product changeover by reverse displacement. In this case, the filling product is mixed directly in the swirl chamber 11 of the filling valve 1 from several components, a main component such as water and at least one additional component such as syrup. During filling, the additional components of the filling product are introduced into the swirl chamber 11 via any dosing valves 19a, 19b and are then introduced together into the container 100 to be filled. By introducing the additional components into the swirl chamber 11, the main component previously supplied via the main feed 12 is displaced backward. The displaced volume of the main component is determined by means of a flow meter, and thus the volume of the added component(s) is also known and controllable.During the subsequent filling of the filling product into container 100, the main component, together with the added components, is completely flushed from the filling valve 1 into container 100, whereby the total filling quantity can be determined simultaneously using the same flow meter. During the next filling cycle, the filling quantities and the added component quantities can be re-determined. This enables highly flexible filling of customized beverages, essentially without changeover times. List of reference symbols

[0099] 1 Filling valve 10 Valve body 11 Swirl chamber 12 Main inlet 12a First secondary inlet 12b Second secondary inlet 13 Outlet 14 Valve cone 14a Connection section 14b Outlet contour 15 Valve housing 15a, 15b Interface 15c Outlet section 16 Valve seat 17 Diaphragm 17a Clamping section 18 Gas channel 19a, 19b Metering valve 20 Valve center section 21 Valve cone actuator 21a Media connection 21b Spring 22 Housing 22a Square flange section 22b Cylindrical flange section 23 Diaphragm 30 Valve head section 31 Valve support plate 32, 33, 34 Gas valve interface 35 Supply connections 40, 41, 42Gas valve 50Flexible product line 51Rigid product line 52Holding device 53, 53Table-type container holder 60Height probe 61Sensor element 100Container 101Container mouth

Claims

1. Filling valve (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably a beverage in a beverage filling system, comprising a valve base body (10) which comprises: an outlet (13) which is configured to discharge the filling product into the container (100); a swirl chamber (11), preferably having shape of a torus, which is configured to receive the filling product and is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the outlet (13); and a main inlet (12) which feeds into the swirl chamber (11) and which is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber (11) such that the filling product is swirled in the swirl chamber (11); wherein the swirl chamber (11) has an annular shape; wherein the cross-sectional contour of the swirl chamber (11) has a rounded shape, preferably substantially without corner points, in the direction of extent and perpendicular to the direction of extent; and the valve base body (10) comprises a valve housing (15) which forms at least a part of the wall defining the swirl chamber (11) and the outlet (13), characterized in that the valve base body (10) comprises a membrane (17) made of a deformable material, which forms a part of the wall defining the swirl chamber (11) and is connected to the valve housing (15) on an outer contour, which is preferably circular.

2. Filling valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main inlet (12) opens tangentially into the swirl chamber (11), wherein preferably at least the axial outer wall of the swirl chamber (11) transitions in a continuous and differentiable manner into the main inlet (12).

3. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the opening into the swirl chamber (11) the main inlet (12) has substantially the same cross-sectional contour perpendicular to the direction of extent as the swirl chamber (11).

4. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet (13) is annular and the swirl chamber (12) gradually tapers toward the outlet (13), whereby after exiting from the outlet (13) the filling product flows downwardly in a spiral movement in the container (100).

5. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filling valve comprises a valve cone (14), which is preferably at least partially produced from Teflon and / or preferably configured to be adjustable.

6. Filling valve (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the valve cone (14) is configured for a flow control of the filling product through the outlet (13) in an adjustable, preferably axially displaceable, manner, and / or the valve base body (10) comprises a valve seat (16), wherein the valve cone (14) and the valve seat (16) are configured such that in a shut-off position the valve cone (14) is sealingly in contact with the valve seat (16) for completely sealing the outlet (13), and / or the swirl chamber (11) extends substantially axially symmetrically about the valve cone (14).

7. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve base body (10) comprises one or more secondary inlets (12a, 12b) which open into the swirl chamber (11) and which are correspondingly configured to introduce one or more additional components of the filling product into the swirl chamber (11) such that these additional components are mixed therein with the main component.

8. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve housing (15) is produced as a cast body and / or the membrane (17) is made of Teflon, wherein the membrane (17) preferably has an annular clamping portion (17a) which is configured for fastening to the valve housing (15).

9. Filling valve (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the membrane (17) is connected to the valve cone (14) on an inner contour which is preferably circular.

10. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the secondary inlets (12a, 12b) are configured by apertures in the valve housing (15), wherein the valve housing (15) comprises one or more interfaces (15a, 15b) on the outer face remote from the swirl chamber (11) for respectively connecting a line or a metering valve (19a, 19b).

11. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims and Claim 5, characterized in that the valve base body (10) comprises a gas duct (18) which penetrates the valve cone (14) in the axial direction, wherein the gas duct (18) preferably provides separate gas paths via a pipe-in-pipe construction.

12. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims and Claim 5, characterized in that this filling valve comprises a valve cone drive (21) which is mechanically connected to a connecting portion (14a) of the valve cone (14) and which is configured to actuate the valve cone (14), preferably electromotively, magnetically, pneumatically or hydraulically, wherein the valve cone drive (21) preferably comprises a spring (21b) for prestressing the valve cone (14) into a working position, wherein the filling valve (1) preferably comprises a valve central part (20) which is connected to the valve base body (10) and a valve head part (30) which is connected to the valve central part (20), wherein the valve central part (20) comprises the valve cone drive (21).

13. Filling valve (1) according to claim 11 and 12, characterized in that the valve head part (30) comprises one or more supply connections (34) which are in a fluidic communication with the gas duct (18) and in each case provide an inlet and / or outlet for gas.

14. Filling valve (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve head part (30) comprises one or more gas valve interfaces (32, 33, 34) for connecting one respective gas valve (40, 41, 42).

15. Filling valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims and claim 11, characterized in that this filling valve also comprises a rod-shaped level probe (60) which is able to be inserted through the gas duct (18) and which is configured to protrude in the inserted state into the container (100) and to detect a filling level of the filling product in the container (100).

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