The present invention relates to a method for filling a fluid into a container without using measuring means and to a filling apparatus therefor which comprises an attachment having a predetermined volume V.sub.A, said attachment comprising a valve attachment which has a gas valve and a liquid valve with a valve seat in a housing. Said valve seat surrounds a displacement element that can be moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing, and forms an annular gap. According to said method, the attachment is tightly placed onto a container (1) while the displacement element is inserted into the container (1). When the liquid valve (5) is opened, the filling fluid flows into the nominal volume V.sub.N of the container (1), and said nominal volume is flooded with the filling fluid; the liquid valve is then closed. The displacement element is withdrawn from the container (1) and the flooded remaining volumes top up the contents in the container (1), the volumina V.sub.VA and V.sub.FV equaling the volume V.sub.Rohr of a portion of the displacement element in the flooded portion so that identical containers (1) are filled with identical fill levels.

The present invention relates to a method for filling a fluid into a container without using measuring means and to a filling apparatus therefor which comprises an attachment having a predetermined volume V.sub.A, said attachment comprising a valve attachment which has a gas valve and a liquid valve with a valve seat in a housing. Said valve seat surrounds a displacement element that can be moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing, and forms an annular gap. According to said method, the attachment is tightly placed onto a container (1) while the displacement element is inserted into the container (1). When the liquid valve (5) is opened, the filling fluid flows into the nominal volume V.sub.N of the container (1), and said nominal volume is flooded with the filling fluid; the liquid valve is then closed. The displacement element is withdrawn from the container (1) and the flooded remaining volumes top up the contents in the container (1), the volumina V.sub.VA and V.sub.FV equaling the volume V.sub.Rohr of a portion of the displacement element in the flooded portion so that identical containers (1) are filled with identical fill levels.

The present invention relates to a valve attachment (2) for filling at least one container (1, 1′) with a liquid and draining the at least one container of said liquid, which valve attachment can be tightly attached to the container (1, 1′) by means of a bottom side. The valve attachment (2) has a first and a second valve (5, 6), which each have an annular valve seat (7, 8) and each have an annular closing part (9, 10) corresponding thereto, wherein the closing parts (9, 10) are aligned with each other and are designed to surround a specified tubular element (3) in such a way that an annular gap (7′, 8′) is formed. The first valve seat (7) is stationary and the second valve seat (8) can be moved in a valve longitudinal direction. The closing parts (9, 10) are arranged on a common carrier (11) that can be moved along the valve longitudinal axis. The valve attachment (2) has at least three construction units that are separate from each other, wherein a first construction unit (21′), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing the container (1, 1′) to be filled, comprises a first housing part (21) and the valve seat (7) for the valve (5), which valve seat is comprised by the first housing part. The second construction unit (22′), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing away from the container (1, 1′) to be filled, comprises a second housing part (22) and the valve seat (8) for the valve (6). The third construction unit (23′) comprises the closing parts (9, 10) and the carrier (11). The construction units (21′, 22′, 23′) can be moved in relation to each other in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a filling device that uses the valve attachment (2) according to the invention, a filling assembly, and a filling method and a draining method in which the device according to the invention is used.

The present invention relates to a valve attachment (2) for filling at least one container (1, 1′) with a liquid and draining the at least one container of said liquid, which valve attachment can be tightly attached to the container (1, 1′) by means of a bottom side. The valve attachment (2) has a first and a second valve (5, 6), which each have an annular valve seat (7, 8) and each have an annular closing part (9, 10) corresponding thereto, wherein the closing parts (9, 10) are aligned with each other and are designed to surround a specified tubular element (3) in such a way that an annular gap (7′, 8′) is formed. The first valve seat (7) is stationary and the second valve seat (8) can be moved in a valve longitudinal direction. The closing parts (9, 10) are arranged on a common carrier (11) that can be moved along the valve longitudinal axis. The valve attachment (2) has at least three construction units that are separate from each other, wherein a first construction unit (21′), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing the container (1, 1′) to be filled, comprises a first housing part (21) and the valve seat (7) for the valve (5), which valve seat is comprised by the first housing part. The second construction unit (22′), which is arranged at an end of the valve attachment (2) facing away from the container (1, 1′) to be filled, comprises a second housing part (22) and the valve seat (8) for the valve (6). The third construction unit (23′) comprises the closing parts (9, 10) and the carrier (11). The construction units (21′, 22′, 23′) can be moved in relation to each other in the direction of the valve longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a filling device that uses the valve attachment (2) according to the invention, a filling assembly, and a filling method and a draining method in which the device according to the invention is used.

A device for filling containers with a liquid includes a filling unit; an elevating mechanism; and optionally a conveyor suitable to support and have the containers advance in succession to the filling unit. The filling unit includes connections connected to a source of the liquid, a source of an inert gas and a suction device; a pipe comprising a first tube and a second tube, and a retainer to hold the containers in the filling unit. The elevating mechanism varies the depth with which the pipe and/or at least one of the tubes is inserted in the container. A method for filling containers with a liquid is also provided, wherein the liquid and an inert gas are injected simultaneously through two separate tubes. The tubes are each connectable/connected to one of the connections connectable/connected to a source of liquid, a source of an inert gas and to a suction device.

A device for filling containers with a liquid includes a filling unit; an elevating mechanism; and optionally a conveyor suitable to support and have the containers advance in succession to the filling unit. The filling unit includes connections connected to a source of the liquid, a source of an inert gas and a suction device; a pipe comprising a first tube and a second tube, and a retainer to hold the containers in the filling unit. The elevating mechanism varies the depth with which the pipe and/or at least one of the tubes is inserted in the container. A method for filling containers with a liquid is also provided, wherein the liquid and an inert gas are injected simultaneously through two separate tubes. The tubes are each connectable/connected to one of the connections connectable/connected to a source of liquid, a source of an inert gas and to a suction device.

A method for detecting the defective status of an article intended to be contact-filled with a pourable product stored in a tank using a filling device includes creating a tight-fluid contact between an opening of an article and a first fluidic line defined by the filling device; setting a second valve in a second closed position; setting a first valve in a first open position; measuring the flow of the pourable product along the first fluidic line; and detecting that the article is defective if the flow is greater than a threshold value.

A method for detecting the defective status of an article intended to be contact-filled with a pourable product stored in a tank using a filling device includes creating a tight-fluid contact between an opening of an article and a first fluidic line defined by the filling device; setting a second valve in a second closed position; setting a first valve in a first open position; measuring the flow of the pourable product along the first fluidic line; and detecting that the article is defective if the flow is greater than a threshold value.

A method and apparatus of filing beer for craft breweries combines pressurized beer delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the beer flow into the can. By modulating beer flow and especially beer pressure, it is possible to fill a can's widget (gas reservoir) with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beer filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used by craft brewers. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beer bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

A method and apparatus of filing beer for craft breweries combines pressurized beer delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the beer flow into the can. By modulating beer flow and especially beer pressure, it is possible to fill a can's widget (gas reservoir) with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beer filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used by craft brewers. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beer bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.