Actuator for controlling the fluid paths of a filling unit for a beverage filling system, filling unit, and beverage filling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11022230-B2
Application number	US-201716079317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 1, 2016
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

An actuator that controls flow through a fluid path during filling of beverages includes an actuator element that exerts an actuating force. In response to control signals, the actuator element transitions between an elongated state and a resting state.

First claim

Having described the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus comprising an actuator that controls flow through a fluid path during filling of beverages, said actuator comprising a folding bellows, a control unit, and an actuator element that exerts an actuating force, wherein the control unit causes first and second control signals, wherein said actuator element transitions between an elongated state and a resting state in response to said control signals, and wherein said actuator element is one of a plurality of actuator elements that are connected in series to form at least part of said folding bellows.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator element is a first actuator element, wherein said actuator comprises a second actuator element, and wherein said first and second actuator elements are connected in series, whereby connecting said first and second actuator elements in series increases an extent to which said actuator changes an overall length of said actuator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator element comprises an elastomer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator element comprises a dielectric elastomer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator element comprises a piezoelectric pressure sensor, whereby said actuator element is able to both control a fluid path and to sense pressure along the fluid path, thereby integrating two functions into a single structure.

6. An apparatus comprising an actuator and a filling unit, wherein said actuator controls flow through a fluid path of said filling unit during filling of a container with beverage, wherein said actuator comprises an actuator element that exerts an actuating force and a control unit that causes first and second control signals, wherein said actuator element transitions between an elongated state and a resting state in response to said control signals, wherein said actuator element comprises a magnetorheological elastomer, wherein said actuator element is fixed to a housing and comprises an end that faces fluid path, and wherein in said resting state, said magnetorheological elastomer's shape depends at least in part on forces arising from flow of said beverage through said fluid path.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a beverage filling-system, wherein said filling unit is a constituent of said beverage-filling system.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the actuator element exerts an actuation force that is between 350 and 370 newtons.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a diaphragm that transitions between sealing said fluid path through which beverage flows and opening said fluid path as said actuator element, to which said diaphragm is coupled, transitions between an elongated state and a resting state.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said actuator element exerts said actuation force as a result of causing deformation of a material from which a body of said actuator is made.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a membrane arranged with said actuator element such that said actuator element causes said membrane to move along a lifting path.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is maintained in a given shape before and after actuation.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said magnetorheological elastomer is fixed to said housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising an electromagnet that activates said magnetorheologic elastomer in response to said control signal from said control unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said actuator element that exerts said actuating force is said magnetorheological elastomer and wherein said magnetorheological elastomer exerts said actuating force as a result of a transition between said elongated state and said resting state.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Ohrem Jochen
• Lorenz Jonathan
• Bruch Bernd
• CLüSSERATH LUDWIG

Classifications

• F03G7/066

  Actuator control or monitoring · CPC title

• F03G7/063

  characterised by the mechanic interaction · CPC title

• F03G7/06147

  Magnetic shape memory alloys, e.g. ferro-magnetic alloys · CPC title

• F03G7/0614

  using shape memory elements · CPC title

• F03G7/0612

  using polymers · CPC title