Fluid filling systems and methods
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for refilling fluid containers. A fluid container may include a bottle and a valve assembly. The valve assembly may include two valves and be configured to engage with the bottle and a filling head or dispensing head. A system is configured to provide pressurized fluid to the refillable container, monitor filling, determine when to stop filling, and determine how much fluid was provided. The valve assembly may include a float mechanism coupled to one of the valves of the valve assembly to ensure fluid flow is stopped when the fluid container is full. The fluid, which can include carbon dioxide, is stored in a storage tank. A flow system provides the fluid to a filling head, which engages with the fluid container. The flow system includes a transfer pump, valves, and sensors configured to provide the fluid to the filling head.
1 . A refillable fluid container for storing pressurized fluid, comprising:
a bottle comprising:
a side wall defining an inner volume; and
a port arranged at an axial end of the bottle; and
a valve assembly affixed to the bottle at the port, the valve assembly comprising:
a guide body extending axially into the bottle;
a valve pin configured to, in an open position, allow a fluid to flow past the valve pin and into the guide body;
an outlet port arranged axially opposite to the valve pin;
a float configured to move; and
a linkage coupled to the valve pin and to the float, wherein movement of the float causes the valve pin to move between the open position and a closed position.
2 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the guide body constrains movement of the float.
3 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the float comprises an annular cross section surrounding the guide body.
4 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the guide body extends axially into the bottle beyond the valve pin.
5 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the guide body extends axially into the bottle beyond the float.
6 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises a spring configured to provide a force on the valve pin towards the closed position.
7 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the float comprises a density less than a liquid phase of carbon dioxide.
8 . A fluid filling system, comprising:
the refillable fluid container of claim 1 ; and
a filling head configured to engage the valve assembly and supply the fluid under pressure to the valve assembly, wherein movement of the valve pin to the closed position during filling prevents overfilling.
9 . The fluid filling system of claim 8 , further comprising a pressure regulator configured to drop a source pressure of the fluid before the filling head supplies the fluid to the valve assembly.
10 . The fluid filling system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid is carbon dioxide for use in a beverage carbonation device.
11 . A refillable fluid container for storing pressurized fluid, comprising:
a bottle comprising:
a side wall defining an inner volume; and
a port arranged at an axial end of the bottle; and
a valve assembly affixed to the bottle at the port, the valve assembly comprising:
a guide body extending axially into the bottle;
a valve pin configured to, in an open position, allow a fluid to flow past the valve pin and axially into the guide body at a first end,
wherein the guide body has an open second end opposite the first end;
a float configured to move; and
a linkage coupled to the valve pin and to the float, wherein movement of the float causes the valve pin to move between the open position and a closed position.
12 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the valve pin, guide body, and float are arranged along a common axis.
13 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the bottle, valve pin, guide body, and float are arranged along a common axis.
14 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein:
the guide body comprises a hinge point; and
the linkage comprises an arm configured to rotate about the hinge point.
15 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein:
the port comprises internal threads;
the valve assembly comprises external threads; and
the external threads engage with the internal threads to affix the valve assembly to the port.
16 . The refillable fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises a relief port configured to open at a pre-determined pressure of the fluid.
17 . A method for filling a bottle, comprising:
engaging a filling head with a valve assembly affixed to a port arranged at an axial end of the bottle;
providing a fluid from the filling head to the valve assembly, wherein the fluid flows past a valve pin of the valve assembly and axially into a first end of a guide body of the valve assembly that extends axially into the bottle, wherein the guide body has an open second end opposite the first end;
guiding, using the guide body, the fluid into an inner volume defined by a side wall of the bottle;
moving, based on the fluid in the inner volume, a float of the valve assembly from a first position to a second position; and
moving, based on movement of the float from the first position to the second position and a linkage of the valve assembly coupling the float to the valve pin, the valve pin from an unsealed position to a sealed position to cease fluid flow past the valve pin.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the float is configured to cause the valve pin to move to the sealed position in response to the fluid reaching a particular fluid level in the bottle.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid comprises carbon dioxide for use in a beverage carbonation device.