초록 ▼

A container filling arrangement having a liquid duct to dispense a stream of liquid into a container, as well as a flushing tube disposed outside of the liquid duct. The flushing tube can be extended into the container to deliver flushing gas to flush out gas present in the container, and can then b

A container filling arrangement having a liquid duct to dispense a stream of liquid into a container, as well as a flushing tube disposed outside of the liquid duct. The flushing tube can be extended into the container to deliver flushing gas to flush out gas present in the container, and can then be retracted prior to filling of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container filling arrangement comprising: a liquid duct being configured to dispense a stream of liquid along a vertical flow path into a container to fill the container;a flushing tube being disposed outside of and adjacent said liquid duct, and being configured to dispense a flushing gas into

1. A container filling arrangement comprising: a liquid duct being configured to dispense a stream of liquid along a vertical flow path into a container to fill the container;a flushing tube being disposed outside of and adjacent said liquid duct, and being configured to dispense a flushing gas into a container to flush out gas present in the container; andsaid flushing tube being configured to be moved from a parked position to a dispensing position in the vertical flow path in the container, and to be moved back out of the vertical flow path prior to filling of the container. 2. The container filling arrangement according to claim 1, said flushing tube is inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical flow path. 3. The container filling arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said flushing tube comprises a main portion and an end portion that is bent at an angle with respect to said main portion, such that said end portion is oriented essentially parallel to the vertical flow path. 4. The container filling arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the container filling arrangement comprises a movement arrangement configured to control the movement of said flushing tube, which movement arrangement comprises at least one of (A), (B), and (C): (A) a linear, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive, (B) a movement thread, and (C) at least one locking bolt configured to restrict the depth of extension of said flushing tube into a container. 5. The container filling arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the container filling arrangement comprises: a housing configured to store said flushing tube in said parked position, and a retaining device configured to retain said flushing tube in said housing;said flushing tube is configured to be moved out of said housing into said dispensing position by a pressure force generated by said flushing gas in said housing; andsaid flushing tube is configured to be moved into said parked position by a pressure force generated by gas in a container upon flushing of the container. 6. The container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said liquid duct is configured to dispense the stream of liquid toward the bottom of the container and away from the side walls of the container. 7. The container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said liquid duct is oriented vertically. 8. The container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said liquid duct is configured to dispense the stream of liquid to form the shape of an essentially circular cylinder. 9. The container filling arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the container filling arrangement is configured to fill large volume containers or kegs. 10. A method of filling containers using a container filling arrangement, said method comprising: moving a flushing tube, disposed adjacent and outside of a liquid duct, from a parked position to a dispensing position in a vertical flow path in a container to be filled;dispensing an essentially oxygen-free flushing gas out of said flushing tube and into said container, and thus flushing out gas present in said container; andmoving said flushing tube out of the vertical flow path, and then opening said liquid duct and dispensing a stream of liquid out of said liquid duct along the vertical flow path into said container. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of dispensing a stream of liquid comprises dispensing a solid stream of liquid. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of moving said flushing tube comprise moving said flushing tube inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical flow path. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of extending said flushing tube comprises extending said flushing tube until said flushing tube reaches an insertion depth into said container of one of (A) and (B): (A) greater than 80% of the height of said container; and(B) such that the end of said flushing tube is disposed at the bottom of said container. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said method further comprises moving the mouth of said container into sealing engagement with a sealing structure of said filling arrangement disposed adjacent said dispensing opening, and then applying a vacuum to the interior of said container; and said step of flowing said flushing gas comprises equalizing the pressure in said container generated by the vacuum with the flushing gas. 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of dispensing a stream of liquid comprises dispensing said stream of liquid to form the shape of an essentially circular cylinder. 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of dispensing a stream of liquid comprises dispensing said stream of liquid toward the bottom of the container and away from the side walls of the container. 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said method comprises filling large volume containers or kegs.