System for simultaneous filling of multiple containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319201-B2
Application number	US-201916519345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2019
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A fluid distribution system is configured to distribute fluid from a first vessel to second vessels includes a hub assembly and a frame assembly. The hub assembly has an input cap, a distribution cap, a first clamp, and a second clamp. The input cap defines an inlet and the distribution cap is sealingly secured to the input cap with a plenum being defined between the input and distribution caps. The distribution cap includes conduit connectors that each defines an outlet in fluid communication with the plenum. The first clamp is disposed over the distribution cap and is engaged with the input cap to secure the input cap to the distribution cap and the second clamp is disposed over the input cap and engaged with the distribution cap to secure the distribution cap to the input cap. The frame assembly supports the hub assembly and is configured to secure each of the secondary vessels at a predetermined distance relative to the hub assembly.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A fluid distribution system configured to distribute fluid from a primary vessel to a plurality of secondary vessels, the fluid distribution system comprising:
a hub assembly comprising:
an input cap including a body having an inlet defined therethrough, the inlet defined about a central axis of the hub assembly, the inlet configured to receive an input tube thereabout; and
a distribution cap sealingly secured to the input cap with a plenum being defined between the input and distribution caps, the distribution cap including a plurality of conduit connectors extending from a surface of the distribution cap, each conduit connector of the plurality of conduit connectors including an outlet defined therethrough and in fluid communication with the inlet via the plenum, the plurality of conduit connectors disposed in a ring about the central axis of the hub assembly;

a plurality of output tubes, each output tube extending from a respective conduit connector to a respective secondary vessel; and
a frame assembly supporting the hub assembly with the central axis of the hub assembly coaxially aligned with a central axis of the frame assembly, the frame assembly configured to secure each secondary vessel of the plurality of secondary vessels a predetermined distance relative to the hub assembly such that each output tube forms an arc between the respective conduit connector and the respective secondary vessel, the arc tuned to balance a flow rate of fluid from the hub assembly between the output tubes, the frame assembly configured to support the hub assembly and the plurality of secondary vessels such that fluid provided to the inlet is simultaneously distributed to each secondary vessel, the frame assembly supporting the hub assembly with the input cap below the distribution cap.

2. The fluid distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the hub assembly further comprises:
a first clamp disposed over the distribution cap and engaged with the input cap to secure the input cap to the distribution cap, the plurality of conduit connectors extending through an opening of the first clamp; and
a second clamp disposed over the input cap and engaged with the distribution cap to secure the distribution cap to the input cap, the body of the input cap extending through an opening of the second clamp.

3. The fluid distribution system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of distribution conduits, each distribution conduit of the plurality of distribution conduits including a first end seemingly secured to a respective conduit connector of the plurality of conduit connectors of the distribution cap with a distribution lumen of the distribution conduit in fluid communication with the plenum through the outlet of the respective conduit connector.

4. The fluid distribution system according to claim 3 , wherein each distribution conduit of the plurality of distribution conduits includes a coupler secured within a second end opposite the first end, the coupler configured to be received within an inlet conduit of a respective secondary vessel of the plurality of secondary vessels.

5. The fluid distribution system according to claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of secondary vessels, each of the secondary vessels including an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the plenum through a respective distribution conduit of the plurality of distribution conduits.

6. The fluid distribution system according to 5 , wherein each inlet conduit and respective distribution conduit forms the output tube between the respective conduit connector and a respective secondary vessel.

7. The fluid distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein each of the secondary vessels is a bottle or a bag.

8. The fluid distribution system according to claim 1 , further comprising an input tube having a first end seemingly secured to the input cap and defining an input lumen in fluid communication with the plenum through the inlet, the input tube having a second end configured to be secured to the primary vessel.

9. The fluid distribution system according to claim 8 , further comprising a pump disposed about the input tube, the pump configured to pump fluid from the primary vessel and into the plenum of the hub assembly through the input tube.

10. The fluid distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes a support collar, lower arms, and a vessel collar, the support collar supporting and coaxially aligning the hub assembly with the central axis of the frame assembly, the support collar defining the central axis of the frame assembly.

11. The fluid distribution systems according to claim 10 , wherein each of the lower arms extends between the support collar and a joint, the vessel collar secured at each joint.

12. The fluid distribution system according to claim 11 , wherein the vessel collar releasably secured at each joint.

13. The fluid distribution system according to claim 11 , wherein the vessel collar includes an outer ring, arm nodes, and vessel receivers, each arm node extending inward from the outer ring and configured to secure to a joint of a respective lower arm, each vessel receiver extending inward from the outer ring, defining an entry at the outer ring, and configured to secure one of the secondary vessels to the vessel collar.

14. The fluid distribution system according to claim 11 , wherein the frame assembly includes upper arms and a central hub, each upper arm extending from a respective joint to the central hub, the central hub disposed about the central axis and offset from the support collar along the central axis.

15. A fluid distribution system comprising:
an input tube;
a plurality of vessels, each vessel including an inflow conduit and an outflow conduit;
a distribution hub comprising:
an input end including a single inlet defined therethrough, the input tube secured about the input end and in fluid communication with the inlet;
a distribution end including a plurality of conduit connectors, each conduit connector in fluid communication with a respective inflow conduit; and
a plenum disposed within the distribution hub between the inlet tube and the inflow conduits and configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet tube and the inflow conduits, the plenum having plenum openings configured to simultaneously distribute substantially equal amounts of fluid through each plenum opening to each inflow conduit and to the vessels; and

a frame assembly supporting the distribution hub with the input end below the distribution end, the frame assembly configured to support the distribution hub and the plurality of vessels such that each inflow conduit forms an arc between the respective conduit connector and the respective vessel, the arc tuned to balance a flow rate of fluid from the hub assembly such that fluid provided to the inlet is simultaneously distribute to each vessel.

16. The fluid distribution system according to claim 15 , wherein the frame assembly supports each of the vessels in substantially the same plane relative to one another.

17. The fluid distribution system according to claim 15 , wherein the frame assembly positions each vessel a substantially equal distance from the hub such that the inflow conduits of the respective vessels form an arc segment between the hub and the vessel.

18. The fluid distribution system according to claim 15 , wherein the inflow conduits are substantially the same length and have substantially the same inner diameter.

19. The fluid dist

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim North America Inc

Inventors

• Zumbrum Michael A
• Kimmick William
• Perdue Kevin
• Neuhaus Jan

Classifications

• B67C3/26

  Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks · CPC title

• B65B3/06

  by gravity flow · CPC title

• B65B55/00

  Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging (by packaging under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions B65B31/00; devices for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents B65B61/22) · CPC title

• B65B3/17

  for filling valve bags · CPC title

• B65B37/02

  by gravity flow · CPC title