Filling method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said piston is moved by said propellant and wherein said propellant is forced through said piston and said plunger to an outlet in said plunger.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said piston is moved by a predetermined amount of propellant.

Claim 5

Apparatus for charging with propellant a container having a manually operable dispensing valve in the top portion and a propellant-charging valve in the base, said apparatus comprising a filling platform adapted to support said container in upright position, a depending operating head positioned above said platform and adapted to engage the top portion of said container, means for producing relative movement between said platform and said operating head sufficient to secure said container therebetween and means including a chamber, a propellant-charging plunger in said chamber for introducing a predetermined quantity of propellant through said filling platform and said propellant-charging valve into said container and a piston coupled to said propellant-charging plunger, said piston being arranged to project said propellant-charging plunger up from the filing platform surface to engage said propellant-charging valve during the charging of said container and to retract same below the surface of said filling platform upon completion of said charging.

Claim 6

Apparatus for charging with propellant a container having a manually operable dispensing valve in the top portion and a propellant-charging valve in the base, said apparatus comprising a filling platform adapted to support said container in upright position, a depending operating head positioned above said platform and adapted to engage the top portion of said container, means for producing relative movement between said platform and said operating head sufficient to secure said container therebetween and means including a chamber, a propellant-charging plunger in said chamber for introducing a predetermined quantity of propellant through said filling platform and said propellant-charging valve into said container and a piston coupled to said propellant-charging plunger, said piston being arranged to project said propellant-charging plunger up from the filing platform surface to engage said propellant-charging valve during the charging of said container and to retract same below the surface of said filling platform upon completion of said charging.

Claim 7

The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said piston is activated by the fluid in said chamber and said piston is spring biased to maintain said charging plunger below the surface of said filling platform. 6 The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fluid includes said propellant and wherein said charging plunger and said piston are channeled to provide a propellant conduit from said fluid chamber to said charging plunger.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid chamber is connected to dispensing means for supply of a predetermined amount of propellant.

Claim 9

Apparatus for charging with propellant a container having a manually operable dispensing valve in the top portion and having a propellant-charging valve in the base portion, said apparatus comprising a fluid chamber adapted to be fastened to a filling platform which supports said container in an upright position, a propellant-charging plunger and piston means in said chamber, the latter adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure in said chamber for projecting said plunger up from the filling platform surface to engage said propellant-charging valve of said container during the charging thereof and for retracting said plunger below the surface of said filling platform upon completion of said charging.

Claim 10

Apparatus for charging with propellant a container having a manually operable dispensing valve in the top portion and having a propellant-charging valve in the base portion, said apparatus comprising a fluid chamber adapted to be fastened to a filling platform which supports said container in an upright position, a propellant-charging plunger and piston means in said chamber, the latter adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure in said chamber for projecting said plunger up from the filling platform surface to engage said propellant-charging valve of said container during the charging thereof and for retracting said plunger below the surface of said filling platform upon completion of said charging.

Claim 11

The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said piston means is spring biased normally to maintain said charging plunger below the surface of said filling platform. 10 The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said charging plunger and said piston are coupled together and move in a common motion plane.

Claim 12

The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said fluid includes said propellant and wherein said charging plunger and said piston are channeled to provide a propellant conduit from said fluid chamber into said charging plunger.

Claim 13

The apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said fluid chamber is connectable to means for dispensing a predetermined amount of propellant.