Isobaric Filling Machine Segmented Tank Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Isobaric filling machines face issues with gas leakage and contamination of the liquid tank due to the use of flexible conduits under high pressures, and the inability to regulate the liquid level in containers effectively, leading to oxidation and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
An isobaric machine design featuring a rotary turntable with valve units having a coaxially mounted compensation cannula connected to a separate tank, allowing for hydraulic insulation and adjustable positioning to regulate liquid levels, with balancing means to maintain pressure equilibrium and prevent gas leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible conduits are used to transport gas and liquid from containers to the tank, then the machine can operate under high pressure, but gas leakage and contamination of the liquid tank occur
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is divided into two separate tanks: a first tank for pressurized liquid and a second tank for receiving gas and liquid fraction from containers. This segmentation prevents contamination of the pressurized liquid in the first tank while maintaining high pressure operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of transporting gas and liquid directly into the pressurized liquid tank is eliminated by extracting this function and creating a separate second tank specifically for receiving effluents from containers. This removes the contamination pathway while preserving the high pressure operational capability.
2Device complexity
If the compensation cannula is fixed to the tank, then the structure is simple, but the liquid level in containers cannot be regulated
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation cannula is made movable relative to the tank through a regulation mechanism, allowing its vertical position to be adjusted. This enables liquid level regulation in containers while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to complex automated systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the compensation cannula traverses the pressurized liquid tank, then the cannula can be positioned at different heights, but the cannula is not hydraulically insulated from the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The tank system is segmented into two separate tanks: the first tank for pressurized liquid and the second tank for receiving effluents. The compensation cannula connects to the second tank, maintaining hydraulic insulation from the first tank while allowing vertical positioning through the regulation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The second tank acts as an intermediary between the compensation cannula and the pressurized liquid in the first tank. This intermediary structure allows the cannula to be positioned at different heights and receive effluents without compromising the hydraulic insulation of the pressurized liquid system.
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
The machine effectively evacuates gas without contaminating the liquid tank, operates reliably under high pressures, and allows for precise regulation of liquid levels in containers, reducing oxidation and contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
said compensation cannula being hydraulically insulated from the first tank and connected - at the upper part - to a second tank
Implementation Method 2
balancing means being provided for substantially balancing the pressures between the first and the second tank
Implementation Method 3
regulation means mechanically connected to the second tank, actuatable to move the latter with respect to the first tank, transporting the compensation cannula through said first tank with the open lower end between different level heights
Implementation Method 4
said second tank being connected to the exterior by means of a vent valve
Data Source
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AI summary
Isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, which comprises a rotary turntable (2), on which a first tank (6) for the pressurised containment of a liquid gassed to be bottled in containers (4); and a plurality of valve units (3) hydraulically connected to the first tank (6) are mounted. Each valve unit (3) comprises: a supply conduit (11), for the inflow of the liquid from the first tank (6) to the containers (4) to be bottled, interception means (18, 19) associated to the supply conduit (11) and adapted to regulate the inflow of the liquid in the containers (4); a compensation cannula (26) coaxially mounted within the supply conduit (11), susceptible of transporting a gaseous fluid or a fraction of the bottled liquid, coming from the containers (4), during a step for filling and/or self-levelling the containers (4). The compensation cannula (26) traverses the first tank (6) though remaining hydraulically insulated from the latter, and it is connected - at the upper part - to a second tank (60). The latter is in communication with the first tank (6) through means for balancing the pressures advantageously obtained by means of a balancing conduit (61) of the pressures arranged between the two tanks (6, 60) to connect them. The second tank (60) is also in communication with the external environment by means of a vent valve (62) of the gaseous fluid. [B67C].