US 12,252,386 B2
Tube holding apparatuses for filling of multiple containers and methods for using the same
Karine Vizcaino Boissières, La Ciotat (FR); Ali Hojeij, Marseilles (FR); Amélie Rethore, Roquevaire (FR); Timothy Cardace, Bellmore, NY (US); Aleksander Shamin, Hewlett, NY (US); and Meghan Keenan, Bayport, NY (US)
Assigned to Sartorius Stedim North America Inc., Bohemia, NY (US)
Filed by Sartorius Stedim North America Inc., Bohemia, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/617,230.
Application 18/617,230 is a continuation of application No. 18/545,316, filed on Dec. 19, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/461,035, filed on Apr. 21, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351848 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. B67C 3/26 (2006.01); B65B 37/02 (2006.01)
CPC B67C 3/26 (2013.01) [B65B 37/02 (2013.01); B67C 2003/2602 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A filling system for filling storage containers with a fluid, the filling system comprising:
a first storage container;
a second storage container stacked above the first storage container;
a valve tower positioned horizontally spaced apart from the first storage container and the second storage container, the valve tower having a manifold, the manifold configured to receive a fluid; and
a transfer tube set comprising:
an inlet at an upstream end of the transfer tube set, the inlet fluidly coupled to the manifold;
an outlet at a downstream end of the transfer tube set, the outlet open to an environment surrounding the filling system;
a first connection tube fluidly coupled to the first storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the first storage container, the first connection tube extending laterally from the first storage container towards the valve tower;
a second connection tube fluidly coupled to the second storage container to aseptically provide fluid from the manifold to the second storage container, the second connection tube extending laterally from the second storage container towards the valve tower; and
a riser extending between and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet, the riser secured to the valve tower to extend substantially vertically from the inlet to the outlet, the riser including a first connector that fluidly couples the first connection tube to the riser, the riser including a second connector that fluidly couples the second connection tube to the riser, the second connector positioned above the first connector, the first connector comprises:
a first interlink portion;
a second interlink portion; and
a connection portion extending from the first interlink portion and the second interlink portion to form a Y-shape with the first interlink portion and the second interlink portion defining a Y-angle therebetween less than 130 degrees, the connection portion of the first connector fluidly coupled to the first connection tube and configured to fill the first storage container with the fluid received by the manifold.