Filling valve apparatus

Abstract

A filling valve apparatus having a body portion with an inner wall terminating at an aperture to define a sealing seat. The inner wall extends below the seat to define a trap for a fluid. A cage extends from the body portion with the cage having an inner wall mating with the inner wall of the body portion to define a continuous inner surface. A stem, having a seal, includes an outer surface that is complementary in configuration to the continuous inner surface to define a smooth passageway for the fluid as the fluid is directed into the container thereby ensuring a laminar flow of the fluid between the inner and outer surfaces and into the container. The filling valve apparatus also includes a pre-assembled body portion, valve assembly, cap assembly, lower vent tube assembly, and snift valve.

1 . A filling valve apparatus for filling a container with a fluid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body portion defining an aperture for directing the fluid into the container with said body portion having an inner wall terminating at said aperture to define a sealing seat and said inner wall extending below said seat to define a trap for the fluid;    a cage extending from said body portion with said cage having an inner wall mating with said inner wall of said body portion to define a continuous inner surface; and    a movable member having a seal movably disposed within said body portion between a closed position with said seal seated against said sealing seat for blocking a flow of the fluid into the container and an open position with said seal spaced from said sealing seat for allowing the fluid to flow into the container;    said apparatus characterized by said movable member having an outer surface that is complementary in configuration to said continuous inner surface to define a smooth passageway for the fluid as the fluid is directed into the container thereby ensuring a laminar flow of the fluid between said inner and outer surfaces and into the container.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said continuous inner surface includes a first substantially vertical section and an outwardly curved section extending from said first vertical section of said inner surface.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said sealing seat is vertically aligned with said first vertical section of said inner surface such that said trap is entirely disposed outboard of said first vertical section of said inner surface.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said outer surface includes a first substantially vertical section and an outwardly curved section extending from said first vertical section of said outer surface with said sections of said outer surface being complementary in configuration with said sections of said inner surface to further define said smooth passageway having an uninterrupted substantially vertical portion and an uninterrupted outwardly curved portion for directing the flow of fluid outboard of said vertical sections.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first vertical section and said curved section of said inner surface defines a first radius and said first vertical section and said curved section of said outer surface defines a second radius equal to said first radius.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said continuous inner surface further includes a second substantially vertical section extending from said curved section of said inner surface.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said continuous inner surface further includes a pocket section extending from said second vertical section of said inner surface to further define said trap for the fluid.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said outer surface further includes a second substantially vertical section extending from said curved section of said outer surface with said second vertical section of said outer surface aligned with said second vertical section of said inner surface to further define said smooth passageway.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said inner wall of said cage defines said first vertical section and said curved section of said inner surface and wherein said inner wall of said body portion defines said second vertical section of said inner surface.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said movable member further includes a bell-shaped portion having a bore with said bell-shaped portion defining said outer surface having said first vertical section and said curved section.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said bell-shaped portion further includes a flange extending from said curved section of said outer surface defining said second substantially vertical section of said outer surface which is aligned with said second vertical section of said inner surface to further define said smooth passageway.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said movable member includes a flange further defining said outer surface and said smooth passageway.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said flange includes a distal end with said distal end remaining within said trap during said movement of said movable member between said closed and open positions for preventing gases from leaking around said trap during an operation of said apparatus.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said seal is mounted to said movable member within said flange.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said cage is a separate component mounted to said body portion and said movable member is further defined as a stem movably mounted within said cage.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said stem includes a bell-shaped portion and an upper vent tube  56  extending from said bell-shaped portion with said bell-shaped portion and said upper vent tube having aligned bores for ventilating gases during an operation of the apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  further including a lower vent tube assembly mounted to said bell-shaped portion of said stem with said lower vent tube assembly including a bore aligned with said bores of said bell-shaped portion and said upper vent tube for ventilating the gases within the container.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said lower vent tube assembly includes a ball cage having a ball seat and a check ball disposed within said ball cage for selectively engaging said ball seat to seal said bores.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said check ball includes a radius of curvature and said ball seat of said ball cage includes a radius of curvature that is complementary in configuration with said radius of curvature of said check ball for preventing gases from leaking into said bores during an operation of said apparatus.  
     
     
         20 . A filling valve apparatus for filling a container with a fluid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body portion defining an aperture for directing the fluid into the container;    a valve assembly selectively mounted to said body portion and extending outwardly therefrom, said valve assembly including a cage and a stem movably mounted to said cage with said stem defining an upper vent tube and having a seal seated against said body portion when said stem is in a closed position and spaced from said body portion when said stem is in an open position;    a cap assembly selectively mounted to said valve assembly, said cap assembly including a cap and a spring secured to said cap with said cap having a seal engaging said stem when said stem is in said closed position; and    a lower vent tube assembly selectively mounted to said stem with said lower vent tube assembly including a ball cage and a check ball disposed within said ball cage for selectively sealing said upper and lower vent tubes.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said valve assembly further includes a block secured to said upper vent tube with said block housed within said cage such that said stem is movably secured within said cage.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said stem includes a bell-shaped portion mounted to said upper vent tube and supporting said seal.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 22  further including a spring disposed within said cage and engaging said block to continuously bias said stem toward said open position.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein cap assembly further includes a sleeve mounted to said cap.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said stem defines a bore and said lower vent tube assembly defines a bore aligned with said bore of said stem for ventilating gases during an operation of said apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said stem includes a locking device and said lower vent tube assembly includes an integral groove engaging said locking device when said lower vent tube assembly is mounted to said stem.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said ball cage of said lower vent tube assembly includes a ball seat with said check ball selectively engaging said ball seat to seal said bores.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 27  wherein said check ball includes a radius of curvature and said ball seat of said ball cage includes a radius of curvature that is complementary in configuration with said radius of curvature of said check ball for preventing gases from leaking into said bores during an operation of said apparatus.