Methods for filing tubes having inner and outer tubes separated by a predetermined
gap are provided including delivering the tube to a tube filling station, filling
the predetermined gap at the tube filling station by centering the outer tube with
respect to an elongated nozzle including a plurality of filling pipes corresponding
to the predetermined gap and a mandrel for insertion into the inner tube by means
of a centering sleeve disposed externally around the elongated nozzle to provide
the outer tube with a nominal cross sectional shape and centering the inner tube
with respect to the elongated nozzle by means of the mandrel disposed within the
inner tube to provide the inner tube with its nominal cross sectional shape, positioning
the elongated nozzle proximate to a common tube shoulder at the first end of the
tube connecting the inner tube to the outer tube, filling the predetermined gap
with the plurality of filling tubes while guiding the elongated nozzle out of the
second end of the tube while retaining the centering sleeve around the elongated
nozzle and filling the inner tube. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.