Filling Element With Vibrating Body for Uniform Liquid Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling elements struggle to fill containers uniformly, leading to inconsistencies in the fill level, which can result in suboptimal filling processes and potential defects in the filling process or bottles.
Innovation Solution
A filling element equipped with a vibrating body and a measuring device that oscillates at a defined frequency, allowing for precise measurement of the fill level by comparing the current vibration frequency with a reference value, triggering the filling valve to close when the desired level is reached, ensuring uniform filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional filling element is used, then the filling process is simple, but the fill level uniformity is poor leading to inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by introducing a vibrating body that oscillates at a defined frequency into the filling jet. This vibration causes the liquid stream to break up into uniform droplets, significantly improving fill level uniformity. The vibrating body is actuated by an excitation device and its motion is measured by a measuring device to ensure consistent operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using a measuring device to detect the vibration frequency of the vibrating body and comparing it with a reference value. When the current frequency deviates from the reference, the system adjusts the excitation to maintain the defined frequency, ensuring consistent filling performance and enabling automatic correction of deviations.
2Measurement precision
If the vibrating body is excited continuously, then the fill level measurement is accurate, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by exciting the vibrating body in pulses rather than continuously. The excitation device applies periodic excitation signals at intervals that are optimized to maintain vibration during filling while reducing overall energy consumption. This pulsed excitation maintains measurement accuracy while being more energy-efficient than continuous operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures accurate and uniform filling by minimizing deviations in vibration frequency during the filling process, allowing for reliable detection of fill level changes and preventing overfilling, thus enhancing the reliability of the filling process and reducing defects.
Implementation Method 1
The filling level sensor has at least one vibrating body and a measuring device to measure the vibration of the vibrating body. The vibrating body vibrates at a defined frequency, preferably at its resonant frequency.
Implementation Method 2
The vibrating body vibrates at a defined frequency, preferably at its resonant frequency. Such an oscillation is easy to induce and its frequency is very defined.
Implementation Method 3
the vibrating body is made to oscillate, e.g. by the flow in the filling jet
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filling element (10) for filling containers with a liquid, the element comprising a filling element body (12) with a product channel (14), in which a filling valve (22) is formed, a dispensing opening (24) being formed at the lower end of the product channel (14). In addition, a retainer (28) for a container (30) is provided in the filling element below the dispensing opening (24) and the filling element (10) has a level sensor (35) extending at least partially vertically below the dispensing opening (24), the filling valve (22) being activatable in accordance with the signal of the level sensor (35). The level sensor (35) has an oscillating body (34; 46) in addition to a measuring device (38) for measuring the oscillation of the oscillating body (34; 46).