Device and method for filling a tank with a fluid product

Abstract

A filler device for filling reservoirs with a fluid, the device having a fluid injector, a filler nozzle connected to the injector, a support for receiving a reservoir, and relative movement device for moving the nozzle towards and away from the support along an axis. The support is coupled to a rotation device for driving the support in rotation and thus causing the reservoir to revolve about the axis.

1 . A method of filling a reservoir a fluid, the reservoir having a bottom and an opening, and the method comprising the following successive steps:
 placing the reservoir on a rotary support;   inserting an injection nozzle into the reservoir down to the level of its bottom; and   simultaneously injecting the fluid into the reservoir via the nozzle, causing the rotary support rotate with the reservoir placed thereon, and raising the nozzle inside the reservoir, with the speed of rotation, the injection rate, and/or the upward speed varying during filling of the reservoir.   
   
   
       2 . A filling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle has an outlet that remains substantially static relative to the top surface of the fluid in the reservoir while it is being filled. 
   
   
       3 . A filling method according to  claim 1 , comprising adjusting in correlated manner the speed of rotation, the upward speed of the nozzle, and/or the injection rate while filling the reservoir. 
   
   
       4 . A filling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the speed of rotation, the upward speed, and/or the injection rate are determined as a function of the shape of the reservoir to be filled and/or as a function of the fluid to be injected into the reservoir. 
   
   
       5 . A filling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the speed of rotation and the upward speed are greater at the beginning of filling than at the end of filling. 
   
   
       6 . A filling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a drum, a bottom, and a neck, thereby defining a bottom region I, a drum region II, and a neck region III, the filling comprising at least three stages, namely an initial stage of filling the bottom region I of the reservoir, an intermediate stage of filling the drum region II of the reservoir, and a final stage of filling the neck region III of the reservoir, the speed of rotation advantageously being greater in the initial stage than in the final stage, and lower in the initial stage than in the intermediate stage. 
   
   
       7 . A filler device for filling reservoirs with a fluid, the device comprising fluid injector means, a filler nozzle connected to the injector means, support means for receiving a reservoir, and relative movement means for causing the nozzle to move towards and away from the support means along an axis, the support means being coupled to rotation means for driving the support means in rotation and thus causing the reservoir to revolve about the axis, the device being characterized in that it further comprises adjustment and control means for acting during filling of the reservoir to adjust and control at least one parameter selected from the speed of rotation of the rotation means, the axial speed of the relative movement means, and the injection rate of the injector means. 
   
   
       8 . A filler device according to  claim 7 , wherein the movement means are controllable in axial speed to keep the nozzle at the level of the top surface of the fluid in the reservoir while it is being filled.