US1000971A - Bottle-filling machine. - Google Patents

Description

0. L. BASTIAN.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLIGATIO FILED EEB.13, 1905.

' Patented Aug. 1 5

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w r Elin 'Cf LIBASTIAN.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1s, 1905.

1,000,971.-v Y Patented Aug.15,1911.

\ 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III

C. L. BASTIAN. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE A PPLIG IIIIIIIIIII 1:13.13. 1905; v `1,000,971. Patented Aug. 15,1911.

, BSHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. L. BASTIAN'. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,' 1905.

1,000,971. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

` l5 SHEETS-slum 4.

C, .1..VBASTIANI BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED PEB.13, 1905.

1,000,971 Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. BASTIAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 A.

BOTTLERS MACHINERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-FILLING- MACHINE. .y

Specification of Letters Patent. i PatentedvAg. 15, 1911.

Applicationl led February 13, 1905. Serial No. 245,522.l

useful Improvements in Bottle-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to bottle filling. ma-

chines, and is designed primarily to serve` as a counter-pressure filling machine, al-l though capable, by the omission of certain parts, to serve as a direct gravity llin machine'; the machine of the invention eing capable of handling all fluids, whether thick or thin and whether still or under pressure..

The machine is of that general type em-` ploying a rotary tank head from which are suspended an annular series of valves adapted for coperaton with the bottles raised thereto'and retracted therefrom by a se- `ries of rotatable and vertically movable loottle holders carried by the main rotary stem or upright of the machine.

Myl invention has for its principal objects rovide' a machine of this character which shall be capable of'much greater speed than machines of this class now in' use; which shallbe capable of handling bottles ofwidely varying kinds: which shall treat the bottles with a minimum of jar and shock, thus.

reducing vthe liability of foaming and break- 'age;' to produce a machine in which the liquid discharged in the snifting operation is preservechthus conducing to economy; and generally to provide an improved and highly eflicient 'filling machine having a Wide range of application in respect both to the materials illed and the sizes in which itis put up, and allowing for the variation in sizes of the same class ofy bottles that are usual in commerce.

To these ends' the invention resides in a rotary bottle 'filling machine possessing the novel features of construction and manner of operation substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

My. invention, in arv preferred mechanical form, lis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a central vertical sectional view through the completem'acliine; Fig. 2

'is `an enlarged top plan View of the station* member of an air-valve mechanism con-A trolling the How of compressed air to and from the bottle lifts, the main upright shaft appearing in cross-section. Fig. 43 is an enlarged vertical 'sectional view through the air-valve mechanism controlling the flow of air to and from the bottle lifts, and showing valso the means for driving the rotary memtional view of the lower portion of the machine frame showing a source of compressed air driven from the driving shaft.; Flg. 7 1s a cross-sectional view illustrating.themeans 'for'driving the bottle-withdrawing mechanism from the main upright shaft of the' machine; Fig.l 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of a bottle-chargp ing valve mechanism; Fig. 9 is a view of the valve shown in Fig. S in a plane at right angles to the latter figure, certain parts appearing in elevation and others' in vertical section; and Fig. l0 isa cross-sectional view of the valve shown in Figs. 8 and 9, on the line 10-10 of the latter figures.

Referring to the drawings, 12 -designates the circular base-plate on which is rigidly mounted a stationary pedestal comprising a 'hollow circular base member 13 and a vertical cylindrical member 14 which is an nularly cored to form a -compressed air reservoir 15 and a centralvsleeve 16v that constitutes an extended bearing for the lower port-ion of the main upright shaft. 17 stepped centrally on the base-plate 12, preferably by means of anti-friction bearings indicated at'lS. Rest-ing `on the upper end of the main upright shaft v17 is a circular' head in the form of a tank 19 adapted to be closed in an air-tight manner-by a lid or cover 20 that may be' secured thereto as means of hinge-bolts 21 .engaging forked lugsv 22 on the periphery jof said cover. The upper' portionv ofth'e shaft 17 has one or.

more longitudinal feathers 23, and beneath` the latter .a threaded yportion'24. Secured to the underside of the tank '19' centrally.'

thereof is a ydepe'm'ling sleeve 25, \.vhich'.sur`

rounds the shaftl'l' a'ndh'as one or more grwvellgag'ng the feather or feathers 23.

On the lower end of the sleeve 25 is rotatably secured a nut 26 internally threaded to engage the threaded portionl 24 of the shaft, by rotating which nut the tank may be raised or lowered relatively to the upper endofwthe shaft 17 while `still maintaining its driven relation 4to the latter.

.. Referring next to Figs. 1 and 3, 27 designates as an entirety a horizontally disposed plate that surrounds the shaft 17 and 1s secured in an air-tight manner tol the upper end ofthe air reservoir casing 14 as by the bolts 28 and the interposed packing v29. This plate constitutes a stationary member of the 'air-valve mechanismv that cont-rolsvthe fiow of compressed air from the yunderlying reservoir to the several air lifts of the bottles hereinafter described. As shown in' Figs. 3 and 5 said plate has a pairof arc-shaped cored passages and 31 separated by vertical websv 32 and 33, the

former bein approximately 240 degrees in' extent and te latter approximately 120 degrees in extent. To the passage 30 the compressed-air in the underlying reservoir 15 lis admitted through a vertical port 34, and

from the passage 31 the exhaust air isdischarged through. a horizontal port- V'lThrougli-the upper wall of the passageway- 30 is formed: an arc-shaped port 36 coextensive longitudinally with the passageway itself ;;,and through ythe upper wall-of the passageway 31 is formed a similar larcshaped port '37 coextensive longitudinally with said-passageway. The plate 27 above Vthe inlet and exhaust passageways last described 4is providedy with a short vertical `annular wall 27a forming around the central upright shaft 17 an annular socket in which is seated .a stationary rubber washer 38, superimposed on which is a fibrous Washer 38a of similar section, which washers are provided with arc-shaped ports 39 and 40, coextensive and registering with the lower face ofthe block and are adapted to -register With the passageways 39 4and 40 of underlying ports 36 and 37 and restrained by any suitable means against rotation. Seated on said washer'is a revolving member of the air-valve mechanism, consisting of an annular block 41 loosely surrounding the shaft- 17. Said block seats at its lower end on the Washer 38a, and is provided with a 'plurality'of radially extending nipples 41a (Fig. 4), through which nipples and the body of thev block arev formed a corresponding series of ducts 42 that open through the the washer 38, as clearly Shown in Fig. 3.

lSurrounding and connected to the shaft 17 as by a set-screw 43 is a lsleeve 44, between the lowerlend of which and the upper face.

of the revoluble air-valve member 41 is a coil spring 45, the oflice of which is to press the latter to its seat on the fibrous washer in an airtight manner.Vj Depending from the sleevev 44 are a series of lugs 44a adaptedto contact corresponding upstanding lugs 41b on the'rotary valve lmember 41, so as to drive the latter. Extending radially from the sleeve 44 are a series of arms 46 (Fig. 1), each carrying a cylindrical holder 46a in which is secured a cylinder 47 The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a head or cap 48 provided with a port 48 and centrally apertured- :tor the passage therethrough of a square piston rod 49 on the upper end of which is mounted a shoe 50 adapted to supporta bottle 51. vTo the lower end of the cylinder is ailixed a suitable cap 52 having an inwardly projecting portion 5.2a that is provided with two air ducts. One of these, marked 53, communicates with the interior of the cylinder at its A lower end, while the other, marked 54, com'- municates with the interior ofthe cylinder slightly above its lower end. The outer ends of said ports 53 and 54 communicate freely with an open pipe 55, the upper end of which is attached to one of the threaded nipples 41a of the revoluble 'air-valve plate 41. To the lower end of the piston rod 49 I is secured a piston or plunger head 56.

The base of the tank 19 has an annular'v series of openings 19aL formed therethrough,"

casting 62.' The plate-57 and valve` block 62 are centrally apertured to slidingply lit a tube 63' mounted therein and packediagainst leakage by suitable stuffing boxes 64 and65.- Between theglands of said stuiing boxes is interposed a compression coil spring 66.; and fast on the tube 63 inside the spring 66 is a collar 67, constituting a lower abutment for an inner smaller coil spring 68, theL upper end of which also abuts against the gland of the upper stuiiing box. The upper end of the `tube`63 is surniounted by a valve plate ordisk. 69, the lower` operative face `of which is provided with a fibrous or other packing ring 70, immediately beneath which the walls of the tube 63 are provided withone or more ports 71. `The, valve block 62 is cored to form a series ofA valve-controlled passages and ducts to control the passage of compressed air from thel head or tank A19 into the bottles land the egress of such compressed air from the latter` as the bottles are filled, substantially as fllows. 72 and 73 designate a pair of vertical passageways arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the. central tube 643,-in the former' of which 76. The lower ends of the passageways 7:2

and 73 both connect by horizontal ducts 77' andv 78, respectively, with a central vertical Aannular opening if' 9'extending through the Behind andV -betiveen the vertical passageways 72 and A73 lower end of the valve block.

is cored a vertical cylindrical chamber 80 (Fig. 9), in which isa rod 81having fast thereon a pair of separated pistonheads 82 and 83. Said. rod 81 extends above the valve block andA is pro-vided with a head `or nut 84, between which Aand the upper end of the cylinder is coil spring 85 normally tending to maintain the pistons 82 and 83 in the elevated position shown in Fig9. The casing of the cylindrical chamber 80 has laterally' projecting nozzles 86 and 87, the former of which has an axial duct 8S tapping the cylindrical chamber 80 substantially midway of its length, While the latter has an axial duct 89 tapping said chamber at its lower end. From the 'chamber S0 at a'pointslightly below the 4inlet of the duct 88 thereto extend ducts 90 and 91,

the former leading to the upper end of the lshaft 101.

vein-valve 74, andthe latter to the upper end of the 'vertical passage 73 above the plug valve 75, asv plainly indicated in Figs:

8 and 10. The inlet nozzle 86 is connected by a flexible hose 92 (Fig. 1) with the interior of the taiik 19 at or near its upper end; while the discharge nozzle 87 has attached thereto a similar flexible hose that depends therefrom and debouches into an annular trough 91 secured to the central frame 1l, substantially opposite the lower ends of the air cylinders.

The cover 20 ot' the tank head has a centrally disposed jiluid `inlet pipe 95 which may extend to within a short distance of the bottom of the tank. There the machine is employed as a counter-pressure machine for 4the filling of fiuldor hquors more or less 11npregnated with air or gas, and which consequently arel liable to foam, l provide in the cover 20a short tube 96 adapted to permit the discharge of air is the liquid enters up toa certain point, sai-id tube being provided on its lower end .with a valve seat 90a; and inthe tank l provide a hinged float 97 which carries a valve 98 adapted to close said seat .on the rise of the fluid and thereby confine the 'body of airrfemaining in the tank above the liquid, andthus, by)creating a pressure ythis spaceair. discharged from the bottles equal to t-hehyd-'rostatic head of the inco1n ingy liquid, to thereby arrestthe inflow of such liquid until the height' 1n the tank 1s lowered bythe filling of the bottles Into viiows, and suclhexcess is relieved automatically as the liquidfalls, since the falling of `the'iloat retracts the valve from its seat,

ing rotary motion to the'main upright shaft 17 and the various parts carried thereby consists, as herein shown, of a horizontal" worm wheel 99 fast on thelower `end of 'the shaft and housed within the hollow base .13, said Worm wheel being driven by aA worm 100 on a drive-shaft -101 'disposed'substantially tangential tosaid Worm wheel.

The air maintained under pressure in thevtu- .bular reservoir of the machme for operatlng.

the bottle lifts may be 'drawn from any-suitable or convenient source; but in order bo make the` machine completeand self-contained, I preferably provide an air-compressing device in intimate association with the machine and operated from the Source air compressor cylinder 102 (Figs, lv and 6) that discharges into the`"reservoir 15, the-piston rod 103 .of said cylinderbeingdriven through a pltman 104 from a gear' l of power that. drives the machine itself. For thi-s purpose I have herein shown' an 105 mountedon a counter-Shaft' .1064 and driven by a Provision for discharging tles mechanically is aorded' by means 0f a star wheel -108 that is mountedon the u per end of a vertical shaft 109 opposlte and -extending into the circular driven from the main upright Shaft ITL-by means of a sprocket 110 on the latterrdr'iving .a link belt 111 which in turn actufas .f

pinion 107 tast on the drive-V the sued bot..

ath trav`` ersed by. the bottles in'the rotation' of ,the machine, said yshaft109 being conveniently -f ses gasket 113, confined in4 place by aring 11.4"-I i screwed onto the fiange 624. The lower tace of the gasket and the opening lofllthe ring are beveled or concaved, as shown'in Fig. 8, to form a'suitable seatfor air-tight engagement with the upper end of a `bottle; and, in order to insure theentryfof' the tubes 63 into` the necksfof the bottles as well as 'to' accurately guide the latter into perfect registration with the valve seat, (I preferably employ a bell 115 carried by a bracket 116 that is mounted to 'slide freely on a vertical rod 117 passingtlirou'gh apertures in upper and lower lugs 1.16a and`116b of the bracket, sa-id'ro'd 117 being removably;- secured as by' setscrews 118 and 119 in notched lugs 12C-and 121 carried bythe base of the tank andthe revolvingbottle .carrier 46, respectively. Theupper contracted end ofthe bell 115 is axially apertured slidingly receive the dependingKfilhng-'tube 63,

the bellL sliding over said tubjeias Ait risesifli- -scribed, is as follows,

the latter by the sides "f air reservoir is air, and thexmachlne 1s otherwise in condil tion foroperation, the liquidtojbe lled is The opening-.in the upper andy offthe bell is ofsomewhat greater .dlameterthan the up-v per 'end ofthe neck Lofzfthe* bottle, so that lthe latter in registering with the valve seat allowedto flow into the tank and, raising the float 97 4and closing the valve 98, compresses the air above its surfacev to a degree of pressure equaling the hydrostatichead or pressure ofthe liquid at 'its source of supply.. The pistons 82 and 83 of the valve'mechanismbeing in the relative position shown in -F-i -9,the' compressed air Vinthe tank is he d against'escape so lon as the bottle. -charging valve most posit-ion lshown therein. The shoes of the air lifts beingsupplied with as soon as each ofthe ducts 42 of the revolving air valves passes into registration-with the passageway 39 thatcommun'icates with x the passage ofthe stationary member of the air valve, the compressed air .from the vtank passes freely and quickly passage 79 .to the interiorreservoir 15 flowsinstantlythrough the tube 55 and the lower 'duct 63to the underside of piston 56,'causingA the latter to rise and carrying with -it the superposed bottle 51. As soon as the pistonhas passedV the auxiliary duct 54 an additional supply of compressed air l'enters the cylinder casing the piston and its load torise more rapidly..

As soon as the neck of the bottle'enga es the bell 115 it is centered by the latter gif not previously in true axial alinement with vthe. whereupon the bell is car-v valve tube 63), ried upwardly on its sliding support, the lower end ofthe tube 63 entering'the mouth of' the bott-le. 'As'son as the upper end of the bottle contacts the elastic gasket 113 of the filling valve mechanism, the valve block 62 begins to rise on top -of the bottle being guided by the suspension rods 59 on which it slides. ,As soon as the risen sufficient-ly to lower the piston 82 to a point beneaththe lateral ducts'90 and 91, the inlet passage 8 8v 'is placed in vcommunica- .tion with said ducts whereupon the compressed airrabove the fluid in the head or duct 90,'vein-valve 74, duct 77 and annular of the bottle, the

' compressed air to a more limited extent also finding its wary through the 7 9, and the inflow depending uponthe extentto which the gpluggvalye 75 is setto iow. TIn this manner equilibrium of pres- "95 sureinthe head and bottle is quickly estab.

throttle and limitthe mechanism 1s in/its lowerbottles, and the machine being started in operation,

valve casing has through the 'ductsV 91', 73 and' Locom;

lished' before theflow of liquid begins. On Y the still further upward Arise ofthe .valve 4block-62, th'ej gland of thelower packingv vboxstrikes theL collar 67 which is fast on vthe tube '63,'an'dr'aises the-valve 69, lthus al# lowing. flownjof the liquid to be charged into thebottle through theopening .ori-'openings 71.*a'nd. the interior of the tube." vBy reason Aof the-'described equilibrium of pressure in thel tank and bottle., this ow occurs solely by gravity, which, together with the con-- densed condition of the air surrounding said.. liquid, eliminates thebubbling and foaming that would otherwise occur, 'or reduces it to commencing to flow, and by .irnpeding the.

vfall lor lflowv of the liquid to still further prevent foaming,I providing, in fact,.a me.- chanical means of retarding the flow in addition vto the physicalmeansprovided by the establishment of head and bottles. By the time the bottle is -charged with liquid, the revolving member equal pressures inj the tank- 41 of the air-valve mechanism has carried the air conduit passage to the bottle-lifting cylinder overthe web 32 or 33 (according.

to lthe direction of rotation). and brought itl 'into communication with the exhaust through the passageway 31. Thereupon the vbott-lelift begins to descend, forcing the out of the cylinder to the atmosphere, thev descent occuring more slowly` in its final movement after -tliepiston has passed the lateral inlet duct 54. With the descent Aof the bottle and the lvalve block 62 (forced downwardly bythe spring 66)* the pistons air- 83 and 82 rise, until, just before the bottle breaks its connection withthe seat 113t-lie piston S2 uncovers the mouthl of theduct 91,'

thus permitting such air or gas pressure as Vremains inthe neck of the bottle to by a quick movement through the passages 79, 78, 73, l91, cylinder 80, and exhaust passage '89, into the driptube 93, -thus snifting the bottle. So much ofthe fluid as is thus blown off in the final'op'eratin is directed vby thev drip tube i 93 `into the stationary trough 94, from whichl latter it may be d-is- .such residue vin the case y' charged as desired Y of valuble liquors being saved and returned tothe original 'source of supply. Each blow'j out bottle, while undergoing the above described operation, travelsj around approximately three-quarters of' a single revolution-ofthe machine, thelilled bottles being withdrawn?- from the shoes ofthe airlifts one by one in succession by the star wheel: 108', their places being suppliedwith empty bottles by the attendant in charge. j

Where the mach'ne is used in the filling of heavy liquids, vsuch 'as cats`up ior other. notgcharged vwith air or "gas and-4 13e liquids hen`ce not liableto rbubble and foam'during?.`

the atmosphere or With any feed tank attached to it:

The described pneumatic means for raising the bottles into engagement with the filling valve mechanism and maintaining them in such engagement during the filling operation possesses numerous advantages over thermechanical means heretofore' employed in such machines, as follows. action is more elastic and hence produces less shock and jar upon the bottles and is therefore less liable to break or injure the.

latter. The air lift mechanism permits a considerable variation in the size or height ofl'the bottles Without requiring readjustment or resetting of the parts of the machine conformable thereto. The double inlet -for the compressed air at the loiver end of the air lift cylinder is of importance, as it provides for a slow initial rising movement of the bottle, permitting a gradual centering of the bottle. affording ample^ time to the rmerator-in loading the machine `and disposing of the filled bottles, and avoiding concussions or shocks in startinot the up-Ward movement of the bottle. The greater part of the downward movement of the piston is comparatively rapid because the air will escape from 'the cylinder through the tivo ports 53 and 54, -but after the'piston` passes the port 5l .an air cushion will be formed at the bottom ofthe, cylinder by reason of the restricted outlet through the single port 53, and this air cushion avoids shocks or jars which would have a tendency to make the beer foam. Aside'from the capability of the machine in handling bottles of a given size presenting variations in height due to irregularities or imperectionsof manufacture b v reason of the air lift-feature; and t-he vertical adjustability aifordedby the nut 26, the ma' chine is also readily adapta-ble tothe filling of various sizes of bottles, such as quarts,

pints and splits. To adapt a machineto the filling of pints'and splits the ring 114 is Withdrawn and replaced by a sleeve 114a of suitable length, itself trminating in a rnbber-lined mouth 113il (similar to the gasket 113) adapted to receive the head of the smaller bottle, as indicated in Fig..9. This amounts in effect to a longitudinal adjustment of the filling valve-block to accommodate various sizes' or heights of bottles to be filled, The' presence of the compressed air reservoir yWithin-the frame of the machine itself-conduces both' to economy --of space andto the maintenance of a substantially steady and .uniform pressure of the air supply to the bottlelifts. The trough'94 Which The inasmuch as said valve mechanism may he substituted bv other valve mechanism operating in substantially the same Way and effecting the sameresults, I do not claim the novel features of said valve mechanism in the present application, b ut have made them the subject matter ofa companion application led'on the 12th day of April, 1905, Serial No. 255,153'. i r

It is evident that the machine as hereinabove described and shown inthe' drawings might be considerably modified and varied' .in respect to details of construct-ion and the -relativepdisposition of the parts Without departing" from the principle orsacrifi'cing any of the benefits of the invention. Hence, I do not limit the invention to such details ofV construction and varrangement except to t-he extent indicated in specific claims.

I claim:

1. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable upright shaft, a tank carried by said shaft"V a series-ofA bottle filling valves connected ".o said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, and a valve controlling the fluid snpply vto said bottle lifts and operated during the rotation of'said shaft.

.2. In a bottle filling machine, the combination cf a. rotatablenpright shaft, a, tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valves connected to said tank, al series of fluid 'pressure 'l bottle lifts icarried by said shaft, and a valve connect-ed to and operated to said bottle lifts.

3. In a been suing machine, the combination of a rotatable 4upright shaft-,ay tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling 'valves connected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts 'carried byrsaid'f" shaft, and a valve connected to and operated by said shaft for controlling the fluid' supply to and from said bottle liftsu 4. In a bottle filling machine, thecombiyf, nation of abase, av rotatable upright shaft mounted Ion .thenbasev a Atank carried by bv said shaft for controllingl thefluid supply said' straft, a series of bottle'filling valves connected to saidtank, a series of fluid pres-I v, sure bottle liftsA carried by said shaft, a {ini-d pressure reservoirin the. base', :and an auto'- maticallyoperated valve for controlling thel Liso"v flovv of fluid from said reservoir to the boty tle lifts.

5. in a bora@ filling machine, the Combination of a rotatable 'upright shaft, 'a ta-nk carried by said shaft,v a series of bottle'lilling valves connected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure' bottle lifts carried by said shaft, a fluid pressure reservoir, and a two part valve, for controlling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to the bottle lifts, one part of said valve being made to rotate with the shaft.

6. In abottle lling machine, the combination of a rotatable upright shaft, a tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valves connected to said tank, a series of .fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, a fluid pressure reservoir, and atwo part' valve, .for controlling the flow of fluidv from said reservoir to the bottle lifts, one

' part of said valve being made to rotate with mounted on the base, a tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valves connected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft', a fluid con 's trolling valve comprising a fixed member' communicating with the fluid supply and" a.v movablemember, and a fluid pipe connecting eachbott-le lift and said movable memloer.

' 9. In a bottle filling machine, the-combi'-v -A `nation of a base, a rotatable uprightshaft mounted on the'base, a'tank carried by said shaft, 'a series of bottle filling valves Vconnected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, and a fluid controlling-valve comprising a stationary member having an inlet passage communicating with the fluid-.supply and a movable sage.

member having a series of ports each `connected lwith a bottle lift and adapted to be moved into registration With 'said inlet pas '10.-'y In .a bottle filling machine, the combi-A nation of a base, a rotatable upright shaft mounted bn'the'baSe, a tank `carried by said shaft, *alscrlesof .bottle filling valvesj con- .nectedto said tank, a seriesof fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft. and a fluid controllingl valve comprising avstation-4 8. In a'bott-le filling machine, thecombt. nation of a base, a rotatable upright shaftary member having a fluid inlet and ailuid'" outlet passage, the former communicating with the fluid supply, and a movable memf ber having a series of ports each communieating with a bott-le lift and adapted to be moved int-o registration with said passages;

Il. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a base. a rotatable upright shaft Y mounted on said base, a tank carried by said shaft, a series 'of bottle filling valves connected to 'said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by saidA shaft, and sa fluid controlling valve comprising a station ary member mounted on the base and having fluid inlet and exhaust passages, the former communicating with the fluid supply, and a movable member `madeto rotate with said be moved into registration with said pas- .ages

12. In a bottle filling machine, the fcombin'ation of a base, a rotatable upright shaft -mounted on the base, a tank carried by said "s'haft, a series of bottle filling valves con-A nected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by. said shaft, and a fluid controlling valve comprising a stationary member having a fluid inlet passage connect. ed With the fluid supply, and a rotatable mem-' ber carried by the shaft and provided with a series, of'ports eachv communicating with a bottle lift an'd adapted tofbe lmovedinto yielding means for holding said movable `member seated against thestationary memshaft and having a series of ports each communicating With a bottle lift and adapted to' registration with said inlet passage, and-- 13. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a base, a rotatable upright shaft mounted on said base, a tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle. vfilling valves connected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, and

a main fluid cont-rolling' valve encircling nsaid' shaft and comprising a stationary member having a fluid inlet passage and a movable member made to vrotate with the shaft and having a s'eries of ports each communicating with a bottle lift and adapted to .bemoved into registration with said passage, and a spring Hbearing downen the movable member to hold it. against its seat on the stationary member.' f

14. In a. bottle-filling machine, the combination with a frame, a compressed air reservoir, an uprightshaftjournaled in said frane, a tank carried b I said shaft, and a series of bottle-filling va vescarriedv by said tank, of afbottle-supporting frame key'd to said shaft and carrying a series of bottleraisingand lowering cylinders, and an air` -valve mechanismcommunicat-ing with said "reservo1r, said cylinders, and the atmosphere; said yvalve mechanism admitting compressed air to said cylinders during a iso portion of thetravel of the latter around said shaft and `discharging air therefrom during the remainder of said travel.

v 15. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination with a pedestal frame hollowed to provide an annular compressed air reser- Voir, an upright shaft journaled v.in and axially `ofsaid pedestal, a tank carried by said shaft, and a series of bottle-filling ,valvescarried by said tank',.of a bottle-sup- -porting frame keyed to said shaftl and car- I rying a series of bottle-raising and lowering cylinders, a stationary annular Valve member'secured to said pedestal and having inletA and dischargeports communicating with said reservoir and the atmosphere, respectively, a revoluble valve member mount-- ed on said stationary valve member and having'a series of ducts communicating successively with the inlet and discharge ports of said stationary member, andtubes connecting said ducts with said'cylinders.

16. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, a plurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a plurality of fluid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank and located opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder,

a piston working in the Cylinder, and means -for automatically regulating the supplyeof actuating fluid-to said .cylinder to impart to the piston a" slow 1n1t1al upward movement and thereafter a comparatively rapid upward movement.

17.' In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank. a plurality of bottle Ifilling valves carried by the tank, and a plurality of fluid pressure ybottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank. and located opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising acylinder having two ports therein'arranged one above the other, a piston working in the cylinder, and means for supplying fluidA under pressure to saidcylinder through said ports whereby the 'piston has imparted thereto a. comparatively slow movement while the fluid is entering the cylinder' l haust of actuating fluid from said cylinder to impart to the piston a rapid movement for the greater part of its downward strokel and a comparatively slow'cushioned movement as thepiston approaches the limit of' V its downward stroke.

19. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable` tank, a plurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a plurality offluid'pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tankand located opposite thel filling valves, each of said lift-ing mechanisms comprising a cylinder having two ports therein arranged lone abovepthe other, and a pistonlwork'lng in the cylinder and adapted to have a rapid? downward movement while the fluid is escaping through both ports and a retarded and cushioned movement after the piston passes .the upper'port.

20. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable'tank, a plurality of bott-le filling valves carried by the tank, and a plurality of fluid pressure-bottlelifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank and located opposite the filling valves,'each of said i lifting mechanisms comprising ak cylinder, a p1ston workmg 1n the cyhnder, and means for automatically vregulating the-supply .of' fluid to the cylinder and the exhaust of fluid therefrom to impart to the piston a comparatively slow movement at the beginning of its upward stroke and a slow cushioned movement at the end of its downward stroke.

21. In a bottle filling machine, thecombil nation of a rrotatable tank, a plurality. of'bot.

tle filling valves carried bythe tank and a plurality of fluid pressure bottle lifting 'mechanisms rotatable with the .tank and located opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder having two ports therein arranged one above the other, a piston working' in the cyl- '1'05 inder, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to one of said ports to impart to the piston a slow initial upward movement and then to both ports to accelerate the movement of the piston and for exhausting said fluid from the cylinder first through both ports and then through one port to impart tothe piston a comparatively rapid downward ,movement through the greater part of its stroke while both ports are open and then retarding the movement of the piston near the limit of its downward stroke when the fluid is being exhausted through one port only. Y

22. 'In a bottleiilling machine, the combjl `nation of a rotatable tank, a plurality `of bottle filling valves connected to the tank,

anda plurality of fluid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with'the tank and located opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder having two ports arranged one yabove the other, a fluid pressure'supply, means for conducting the fluid to and frm both ports of said cylinder, and an automatically o erated valve for controlling-the supply of uid a plurality of Huid vpressurebottlelifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank and l0-l cated opposite the filling Valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder having a port entering one end thereof and an auxiliary port communicating with the cylinder laterally near said end, means for supplying fluid under pressure to and exhausting it from said ports, a piston, a piston-rod, and a bottle-rest actuated by said piston-rod.

24. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, a plurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a plurality of fluid pressurev bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank andv loinder having a double-ported cylinder-head,

; one port leading into the end of the cylinder and the other into the side of the cylinder near said end, meansfor supplying a Huid under `pressure to and exhausting it from said ports, a piston, a piston-rod, and a bottle-rest actuated by said piston-rod.

25. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, a plurality of bottle filling Valves carried by the tank, and a plurality of lHuid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank and located opposite 'the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder having its lower end closed by a doublepcrted cylinder-head, one port whereof leads into the end of said cylinder and t-he other into its side near said end, means for supplying a motive iuid to and exhausting it from said ports, a piston, a piston-rod, and a bottle-rest carried on the upper end of said piston-rod.

26. 'Ina bottle-lling machineof the char- Copies of this patent may. be obtained'for acter described, lthe combination with a hollowv supportmgframe containing a compressed air reservoir, of a vvertical rshaft Y depending from each valve, a series of bottle lifts carried by said shaft below the filling valves, and successively operated. and independent means separate ,from the filling.

tubes for centering each bottle as it rises into registering engagement with its fillingA valve and comprising a vertical guide adjacent to each filling tube, a bracket slidably mounted on said guide, and a bell carried by said bracket to receive the mouth of the bottle.

28. In a bottle filling machine, the cqinbi-A nation of a rotatable upright shaft, a tank mounted on said shaft, a series of fillingv valves connected to said "tank, a filling tube depending from each valve, a. frame keyed to said shaft, a series of successively operated bottle lifts carried by said frame., and

independent means for centering each bottleas it rises into registering engagement with its filling Valve and comprising a vertical guide securedat its ends tofsaid tank and frame behind each filling tube, a bracket slidably mounted on said guide, and a'bell carried by said bracket.

Witnesses:

` SAMUEL N. POND,

FREDERICK C. GOODWIN.

CHARLES L. *IiAS/TIANl

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