Method and apparatus for filling containers

Abstract

A filling apparatus for, a filling system for and a method of introducing into a container a suspension or solution of a substance, in particular a pharmaceutical substance, in a propellant under pressure, the filling apparatus comprising: a main body ( 4 ) including a passageway ( 20 ) having an inlet opening ( 21 ) and first and second outlet openings ( 25, 22 ), the first outlet opening ( 25 ) communicating, in use, with a valve stem ( 144 ) extending from a head ( 141 ) of a body ( 139 ) of a container ( 138 ); a fill actuator ( 7 ) in communication with the inlet opening ( 21 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) comprising a filling valve assembly ( 29 ) for selectively introducing propellant under pressure containing a substance in a suspension or solution into the passageway ( 20 ); an exhaust actuator ( 10 ) in communication with the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) comprising an exhaust valve assembly ( 48 ) for selectively exhausting propellant under pressure containing substance from the passageway ( 20 ) and including at least one exhaust gas conduit ( 84, 92, 93 ) having an outlet ( 86, 94, 95 ) configured so as, in use, to provide a flow of exhaust gas substantially aligned with a flow of propellant containing substance from the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ); and a container-engaging body ( 16 ) for receiving, in use, the head ( 141 ) of the body ( 139 ) of the container ( 138 ) which includes the valve stem ( 144 ).

1 . A filling apparatus for introducing into a container a suspension or solution of a substance, in particular a pharmaceutical substance, in a propellant under pressure, comprising: 
 a main body ( 4 ) including a passageway ( 20 ) having an inlet opening ( 21 ) and first and second outlet openings ( 25 ,  22 ), the first outlet opening ( 25 ) communicating, in use, with a valve stem ( 144 ) extending from a head ( 141 ) of a body ( 139 ) of a container ( 138 );    a fill actuator ( 7 ) in communication with the inlet opening ( 21 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) comprising a filling valve assembly ( 29 ) for selectively introducing propellant under pressure containing a substance in a suspension or solution into the passageway ( 20 ); an exhaust actuator ( 10 ) in communication with the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) comprising an exhaust valve assembly ( 48 ) for selectively exhausting propellant under pressure containing substance from the passageway ( 20 ) and including at least one exhaust gas conduit ( 84 ,  92 ,  93 ) having an outlet opening ( 86 ,  94 ,  95 ) configured so as, in use, to provide a flow of exhaust gas substantially aligned with a flow of propellant containing substance from the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ); and    a container-engaging body ( 16 ) for receiving, in use, the head ( 141 ) of the body ( 139 ) of the container ( 138 ) which includes the valve stem ( 144 ).    
     
     
         2 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a plurality of first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ), the respective outlet openings ( 86 ) of which define an array surrounding the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         3 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 2   , wherein the outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) are disposed downstream, with respect to the direction of flow, of the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         4 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 2    or    3   , wherein the array of outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) define a circular array.  
     
     
         5 . The filling apparatus according to any of    claims 2    to    4   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a first chamber ( 88 ) with which the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) commonly communicate and a conduit ( 90 ) in communication with the first chamber ( 88 ) through which exhaust gas is delivered.  
     
     
         6 . The filling apparatus according to any of    claims 2    to    5   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a plurality of second exhaust gas conduits ( 92 ), the respective outlet openings ( 94 ) of which are downstream, with respect to the direction of flow, of the outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) and define an array surrounding the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         7 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 6   , wherein the array of outlet openings ( 94 ) of the second exhaust gas conduits ( 92 ) define a circular array.  
     
     
         8 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 6    or    7   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a second chamber ( 96 ) with which the second exhaust gas conduits ( 92 ) commonly communicate and a conduit ( 98 ) in communication with the second chamber ( 96 ) through which exhaust gas is delivered.  
     
     
         9 . The filling apparatus according to any of    claims 1    to    8   , wherein the exhaust valve assembly ( 48 ) includes an exhaust valve body ( 50 ) which is configured selectively to be seated on or unseated from a valve seat ( 67 ) disposed at the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) and a substantially annular chamber ( 70 ) which surrounds the exhaust valve body ( 50 ) through which, in use, flows propellant containing substance and exhaust gas when the exhaust valve body ( 50 ) is unseated from the valve seat ( 67 ).  
     
     
         10 . The filling apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein the annular chamber ( 70 ) is conical in shape, increasing in diameter from the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         11 . A filling system for introducing into a container a suspension or solution of a substance, in particular a pharmaceutical substance, in a propellant under pressure incorporating the filling apparatus according to any of    claims 1    to    10   .  
     
     
         12 . A method of introducing into a container a suspension or solution of a substance, in particular a pharmaceutical substance, in a propellant under pressure, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container ( 138 ) comprising a body ( 139 ) defining a storage chamber ( 140 ) and a valve stem ( 144 ) extending from the body ( 139 );    communicating the valve stem ( 144 ) of the container ( 138 ) with a first outlet opening ( 25 ) of a passageway ( 20 ) in a main body ( 4 ) of a filling apparatus ( 2 ), the filling apparatus ( 2 ) comprising a fill actuator ( 7 ) comprising a filling valve assembly ( 29 ) for selectively introducing into an inlet opening ( 21 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) propellant under pressure containing a substance in a suspension or solution and an exhaust actuator ( 10 ) comprising an exhaust valve assembly ( 48 ) for selectively exhausting propellant under pressure containing substance from a second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) and including at least one exhaust gas conduit ( 84 ,  92 ,  93 ) having an outlet opening ( 86 ,  94 ,  95 ) configured so as, in use, to provide a flow of exhaust gas substantially aligned with a flow of propellant containing substance from the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 );    opening the filling valve assembly ( 29 ) thereby to fill the storage chamber ( 140 ) of the container ( 138 ) with propellant under pressure containing a substance in a suspension or solution;    closing the filling valve assembly ( 29 );    providing exhaust gas through the at least one exhaust gas conduit ( 84 ,  92 ,  93 ); and    opening the exhaust valve assembly ( 48 ) to enable propellant under pressure containing substance in the passageway ( 20 ) and the valve stem ( 144 ) of the container ( 138 ) to exhaust, whereby the exhausted propellant containing substance is entrained in the exhaust gas.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 12   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a plurality of first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ), the respective outlet openings ( 86 ) of which define an array surrounding the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 13   , wherein the outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) are disposed downstream, with respect to the direction of flow, of the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 13    or    14   , wherein the array of outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) define a circular array.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to any of    claims 13    to    15   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a first chamber ( 88 ) with which the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) commonly communicate and a conduit ( 90 ) in communication with the first chamber ( 88 ) through which exhaust as is delivered.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to any of    claims 13    to    16   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a plurality of second exhaust gas conduits ( 92 ), the respective outlet openings ( 94 ) of which are downstream, with respect to the direction of flow, of the outlet openings ( 86 ) of the first exhaust gas conduits ( 84 ) and define an array surrounding the second outlet opening, ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 17   , wherein the array of outlet openings ( 94 ) of the second exhaust as conduits ( 92 ) define a circular array.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 17    or    18   , wherein the exhaust actuator ( 10 ) includes a second chamber ( 96 ) with which the second exhaust gas conduits ( 92 ) commonly communicate and a conduit ( 98 ) in communication with the second chamber ( 96 ) through which exhaust gas is delivered.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to any of    claims 12    to    19   , wherein the exhaust valve assembly ( 29 ) includes an exhaust valve body ( 50 ) which is configured selectively to be seated on or unseated from a valve seat ( 67 ) disposed at the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ) and a substantially annular chamber ( 70 ) which surrounds the exhaust valve body ( 50 ) through which, in use, flows propellant containing substance and exhaust gas when the exhaust valve body ( 50 ) is unseated from the valve seat ( 67 ).  
     
     
         21 . The method according to    claim 20   , wherein the annular chamber ( 70 ) is conical in shape, increasing in diameter from the second outlet opening ( 22 ) of the passageway ( 20 ).  
     
     
         22 . The method according to any of    claims 12    to    21   , wherein the exhaust gas is heated to a temperature of at least about 35° C.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to any of    claims 12    to    22   , wherein the ratio of the mass flow rate of the exhaust gas to the exhausted propellant containing substance is at least 10:1.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to any of    claims 12    to    23   , wherein the exhaust gas has a mass flow rate of from 0.1 to 10 grams/second.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to any of    claims 12    to    24   , wherein the exhaust gas comprises pressurised air.