Multi-Channel Beverage Filling Valve for Solid Matter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage bottling technologies face challenges in efficiently filling bottles with liquids containing solid matter, such as fruit pulp, due to issues with gas cutoff mechanisms that lead to overfilling, clogging, and inconsistent fill levels, particularly when using open-jet bottling without counter-pressure.
Innovation Solution
A filling valve with a gas cutoff realized as a flow element featuring multiple channels that interact with each other, allowing for a stable and laminar flow of liquid, preventing splashing and dripping, and ensuring effective separation of gas and solids, even with changing volume flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a siphon channel and cutoff cap are used to prevent liquid after-running, then liquid leakage is prevented, but the flow cross-section is reduced and fill levels become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cutoff is divided into multiple separate channels (first gas cutoff channel, second gas cutoff channel, etc.) instead of a single siphon channel. Each channel independently prevents liquid after-running, while their combined structure maintains a larger effective flow cross-section, resolving the contradiction between leakage prevention and fill level consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single vertical siphon channel to a multi-channel radial or distributed structure. This dimensional change allows gas cutoff functionality to be distributed across multiple pathways, preventing liquid leakage while maintaining consistent flow characteristics and fill levels through the combined effect of multiple channels.
2Reliability
If the cutoff cap is immersed deep in the sealing liquid to ensure gas cutoff, then liquid leakage is prevented, but the flow path length increases and output is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cutoff function is segmented into multiple shallow channels instead of one deep channel. This segmentation allows each channel to be shorter and more efficient, while collectively providing the same or better gas cutoff effectiveness, thereby increasing flow rate and bottling output.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple gas cutoff channels are merged into a single functional unit that performs gas cutoff across multiple pathways. This merging provides redundancy and efficiency, ensuring reliable gas cutoff while maintaining a larger effective flow cross-section and higher productivity.
3Productivity
If holes are added to the cutoff cap to increase flow cross-section, then liquid flow is improved, but gas cutoff reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding holes to a single cap, the invention creates multiple separate gas cutoff channels. Each channel independently maintains gas cutoff reliability, while their combined structure provides a larger effective flow cross-section, achieving both improved liquid flow and maintained gas cutoff reliability.
4Productivity
If open-jet bottling without counter-pressure is used for beverages with solid matter, then clogging is reduced, but gas cutoff becomes difficult and overfilling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cutoff mechanism is segmented into multiple channels that work in parallel. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable gas cutoff in open-jet bottling without counter-pressure, preventing overfilling while handling beverages with solid matter efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple gas cutoff channels act as intermediaries between the liquid flow and the sealing mechanism. They provide a reliable gas cutoff function in open-jet bottling, enabling efficient filling of beverages with solid matter without overfilling or clogging issues.
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 solution ensures a satisfactory gas cutoff, maintaining a large flow cross-section for liquids while preventing overfilling and clogging, ensuring accurate and efficient filling of bottles with beverages containing solid matter.
Implementation Method 1
the flow opening of the flow element comprises a plurality of channels that interact with one another and run in the flow direction... allowing for a stable and laminar flow of liquid, preventing splashing and dripping
Implementation Method 2
a gas cutoff that corresponds to the liquid channel... The flow element with multiple channels ensures effective separation of gas and solids
Implementation Method 3
the prior art has taught that the valve seat can be realized in the form of a siphon... As a result of the interaction of the channels which are adjacent to one another with their open ends and form a flow cross section that is open to all the channels
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage bottling plant and method for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having a bottle filling machine with a filling valve for filling bottles with a liquid beverage. The filling valve having a gas cutoff element comprising a plurality of channels being configured and disposed to permit flow of a liquid into a container disposed at some distance beneath said filling element; each of the plurality of channels having a length, a width, and a height, wherein the width is substantially smaller than at least one of the height and the length, and the height is the distance from said liquid beverage inlet to the liquid beverage outlet.