JP2004332797A - Aseptic valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aseptic valve in which the passage in piping can be controlled to intercept and pass without transmitting torsion force of a valve shaft for driving a bellows to the bellows, and the durability can be improved by preventing the bellow from being broken. <P>SOLUTION: A bearing 14 is sandwiched between the valve shaft 13 and a rotating member 15. An engaging member 17 is fixed at the lower end of the rotating member 15 with a bolt 16, and the lower end of the bellows 18 is fixed so as to hang over the engaging member 17. Consequently, the torsion force is not transmitted to the bellows 18 without rotating toward the torsion direction for the rotating member 15 by action of the bearing 14 even when torsion is produced in the valve shaft 13 owing to the drive of the bellows 18, therefore the bellows 18 can be prevented from being broken. A sealing film 21 formed at the end of the bellows 18 is continuously pressed against the opening edge of a valve housing 6 with an elastic O-ring 23 so as to enable the prevention of liquid leakage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aseptic valve suitable for use in food and dairy industries requiring sterilization and aseptic processes, as well as apparatuses for producing beverages, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, or biotechnology.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND ART In a food or dairy plant, there is a plant in which a large number of pipes are laid to process and distribute liquefied food materials while processing them. In such a manufacturing process, it is necessary to combine flowing foods and the like for mixing or to interrupt the flow, and an aseptic valve is applied to perform this control.
One configuration example of a conventional aseptic valve is one in which a vertically moving valve shaft is inserted into the valve through an opening formed at one end of the valve, and the valve shaft is vertically moved to control opening and closing of the valve.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the valve shaft moves up and down, part of the valve shaft enters and exits the inside and outside of the valve housing, so that bacteria and dust from the outside adhere to the valve shaft and enter the valve housing. Therefore, in the case of an aseptic process, aseptic air or steam is passed through the connection between the valve shaft and the valve housing to sterilize or blow dust to the outside.
However, there was a possibility that dead bacteria and dust remained after sterilization and might be mixed into the valve.
In order to solve such a problem, an aseptic valve has been proposed in which a thin-film bellows is fixed so as to cover the tip of the valve shaft so that the valve shaft is not exposed inside the valve. According to this configuration, since the valve shaft and the inside of the valve are isolated by the bellows, the above problem is solved.
[0004]
However, according to the study by the present inventors, the following new problem has been found.
That is, the bellows is formed by forming a thin plate into a bellows shape, and has a configuration in which the tip of the bellows is pressed against a valve seat formed on the valve by driving the valve shaft.
On the other hand, the valve shaft is driven by the actuator, but the torsion of the actuator spring is transmitted to the bellows through the valve shaft, and the bellows is twisted at the pressure contact position between the bellows and the valve seat, which is a factor that impairs the durability of the bellows. It became clear that it was.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic valve configured to completely isolate a valve shaft and the inside of a valve and to improve durability of a bellows. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
(1) In an aseptic valve that drives a bellows to shut off a flow path in a pipe and control the communication state,
A valve shaft for driving the bellows, a rotating member for fixing one end of the bellows, and a bearing interposed between the valve shaft and the rotating member, wherein the rotating member floats relative to the valve shaft. An aseptic valve characterized by being configured as possible.
(2) The bellows is formed in a bellows shape, and one closed end is fixed to one end of the rotating member, and the other open end is fixed to an open end of a guide member for guiding the valve shaft. (1) The bellows is prevented from being twisted by the idle operation of the rotating member when the bellows controls the shutoff and communication of the flow path in the pipe in response to the driving of the bubble shaft. Aseptic valve.
(3) The aseptic valve according to (1), wherein an insertion hole communicating with the inside of the bellows is provided in the guide member, and liquid leakage from the outside to the inside of the bellows is detected.
(4) A plurality of pressure contact portions are provided on the bellows, and the first pressure contact portion controls the flow path in the first pipe to be cut off or communicable, and the second pressure contact portion allows the flow path in the second pipe to communicate. Alternatively, the aseptic valve according to (1), which is controlled to shut off.
(5) The aseptic valve according to (1), wherein the bellows is made of PTFE or stainless steel.
(6) The aseptic described in (1), wherein the sealing film formed on the edge of the opening end of the bellows is continuously pressed against the opening edge of the pipe by an elastic O-ring to prevent liquid leakage. valve.
[0007]
According to the aseptic valve described in the above (1), (2) and (5), even if the valve shaft is twisted by the spring provided in the actuator, the torsional force is not transmitted to the rotating member to which the bellows is fixed by the action of the bearing. . Therefore, the bellows is not twisted while being in contact with the pressure contact position formed on the pipe, and can be prevented from being damaged by rubbing, so that the durability is improved.
The aseptic valve according to the above (3) can quickly detect when a hole or the like is formed in the bellows due to use, and can improve safety.
The aseptic valve according to the above (4) can smoothly switch the flow path in the pipe by driving the bellows.
According to the aseptic valve described in (6), the opening of the bellows is sealed by the elasticity of the elastic O-ring, and the liquid leakage at the opening edge of the pipe can be reliably prevented.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of an aseptic valve, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the structure of members constituting the aseptic valve, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the structure of a rotary valve shaft connection, and FIG. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional views showing the configuration of the seal system, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views showing various application examples of the aseptic valve.
[0009]
The configuration of the aseptic valve 1 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The aseptic valve 1 includes a control unit 2, an actuator 3, a seal system 4, a rotary valve shaft connection 5, and the like. The aseptic valve 1 is detachably attached to one end of a valve housing 6 described later, and has a function of controlling closing and opening of a flow path 7 in the valve housing 6.
Note that the valve housing 6 corresponds to a pipe according to the present invention.
[0010]
The control unit 2 controls the actuator 3 based on a control signal or control air supplied from a central control device 8 using a computer or the like via the connection terminals 9a and 9b.
The actuator 3 drives a valve shaft 13 provided in a cylindrical guide member 12 provided to protrude from an opening 3a (see FIG. 2) provided at a lower end in a vertical direction of FIG.
[0011]
At the lower end of the valve shaft 13, a rotary valve shaft connection 5 is provided.
The rotary valve shaft connection 5 includes a cylindrical rotary member 15 supported by a bearing 14 provided at a lower portion inside the valve shaft 13, a bolt 16 inserted through the rotary member 15, and the rotary member 15 Is provided with a locking member 17 and the like fastened and fixed to the lower end of the member.
The rotating member 15 is configured to rotate in the circumferential direction in the valve shaft 13, and is configured to smoothly rotate with low friction by the action of the bearing 14. The lower end of the bellows 18 covers the entire lower surface of the locking member 17, and the valve shaft 13, the rotating member 15, the bolt 16, the locking member 17, and the bellows 18 are integrated.
[0012]
The bellows 18 is formed in a bellows shape that can be extended and contracted, and the closed lower end is locked and integrated with the locking member 17 as described above, but the upper open end is an annular locking member. It is fixed to the upper end of the metal thrust collar 24 by a certain circular clip 19. Therefore, the lower end of the cylindrical guide member 12 is closed by the bellows 18, and the valve shaft 13 passes through the inside of the cylindrical guide member 12 and the bellows 18.
However, since a minute gap is formed between the outer surface of the valve shaft 13 and the inner surface of the bellows 18, the valve shaft 13 can slide up and down inside the bellows 18. The inside of the valve housing 6 constitutes a flow path 7 for food and chemicals, and the flow path 7 and the inside of the bellows 18 are completely isolated by the bellows 18.
[0013]
Here, the external shape of each member will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Connection terminals 9 a and 9 b for supplying a control signal and control air are provided on the lateral side of the control unit 2. A part of the actuator 3 is inserted and connected to a connection port 2a provided at the center of the lower surface.
The lower surface of the actuator 3 is provided with a pipe connector 3b together with the opening 3a. A guide member 12 is attached to the opening 3a as shown in FIG. 3, and a valve shaft or the like is provided therein as described with reference to FIG. I have. One end of a pipe 11 for air circulation is connected to the pipe connector 3b, and the other end of the pipe 11 is connected to one of the connection terminals 9a or 9b also received by the control unit 2 or the central control device 8. The control air is circulated between the two.
The annular locking member 10 is a constituent member of the seal system 4, and its configuration and operation will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When the actuator 3 is fixed to the valve housing 6, the bellows 18 is inserted into the valve housing 6 from the opening 6a as shown by an arrow A in FIG.
[0014]
As described above, the aseptic valve 1 is used integrally with the valve housing 6, but it is necessary to completely prevent loose connection and liquid leakage during the integration. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a seal system 4 described below is used.
The sealing system 4 includes a thin sealing film 21 formed by extending the outer edge of the bellows 18 outward, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 4 to FIG. The sealing film receiving portion 22 provided in the lower part of the connection opening 6a formed in the portion, the elastic O-ring 23 for pressing the sealing film 21 against the sealing film receiving portion 22, and the elastic O-ring 23 are displaced. It is composed of a metal thrust collar 24 and the like which are held without any.
That is, in this embodiment, the bellows 18 is made of PTFE, but PTFE has no elasticity, and once formed into a certain shape, close sealing cannot be performed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sealing film 21 is configured to be sealed by the elastic O-ring 23 having elasticity.
The metal thrust collar 24 is formed in an annular shape as is apparent from FIG. The metal thrust collar 24 is fixed by a step-shaped fixed metal stop 25 provided inside the connection opening 6a.
[0015]
When the aseptic valve 1 is integrated with the valve housing 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the PTFE sealing film 21 is sealed by an elastic O-ring 23 in order to prevent liquid leakage from the connection between them. It is necessary to make pressure contact with the membrane receiver 22. For this purpose, it is necessary to keep the aseptic bubble 1 and the valve housing 6 firmly tightened to each other during the integration.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in an enlarged manner, the outer surface of the press contact portion 12 a provided at the lower end of the guide member 12 and the outer surface of the press contact portion 6 b provided at the upper end of the valve housing 6. Are formed on a tapered inclined surface, and the entire outer periphery thereof is formed into an annular shape, and is fastened by a locking tool 10 having a substantially V-shaped cross section.
[0016]
Next, when the aseptic valve 1 is attached to the valve housing 6, the press contact portion 12a of the guide member 12 and the press contact portion 6b of the valve housing 6 overlap, and the locking tool 10 is fitted from the outside. In this state, when the locking tool 10 is tightened, the ascetic valve 1 is tightened and fixed to the opening 6a of the valve housing 6 by the interaction between the inner slope of the locking tool 10 and the outer slopes of the press contact portions 12a and 6b. Can be.
[0017]
In this state, the sealing film 21 having no elasticity as described above is continuously pressed against the sealing film receiving portion 22 by the elastic O-ring 23 having elasticity. Since the outside of the bellows 18 is the flow path 7, a fluid, for example, an emulsion, drinking water, a medicine, or the like flows during use. However, the sealing action by the press contact can prevent the liquid from leaking from the mounting position.
[0018]
As described above, after the aseptic valve 1 is fixed to the valve housing 6, a control signal and control air are supplied from the central control device 8 to the control unit 2. Incidentally, when the control air is supplied, the air force exceeds the spring force of the spring provided in the actuator 3, and the valve shaft 13 is driven upward in FIG. Further, when the control air is shut off, the bubble shaft 13 is driven downward by the spring force. When the bubble shaft 13 is driven downward, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower surface of the outer edge of the bellows 18 is pressed against the annular pressure contact position 7 a formed in the flow path 7, and the L-shaped flow path is formed. Block 7 When only the actuator 3 is mounted upside down, the driving is reversed, and the relationship between the spring force and the air force is upside down.
[0019]
Here, referring to the material of the bellows 18, PTFE is applied in the present embodiment, the surface roughness Ra of the press-contact position 7a formed in the housing valve 6 is set to Ra <0.8 μm, and the outer surface is polished. ing. Therefore, the bellows 18 is in water-tight contact with the pressure contact position 7a, and can cut off the flow path in the flow path 7. Also, by polishing the outer surface of the press-contact position 7a to the above-mentioned surface roughness, the adhesion of the fluid can be prevented, and the sanitary and aseptic processes are excellent in hygiene.
[0020]
The material of the bellows 18 is not limited to the above-mentioned PTFE, and for example, SUS316L material or the like can be applied. The flow path 7 is completely shut off by the bellows 18, and by the action of the seal system 4, it is possible to prevent liquid leakage at a fixed position between the aseptic valve 1 and the pipe 6.
[0021]
When the drive unit 3 is driven to urge the bellows 18 together with the valve shaft 13 downward, the valve shaft 13 may be twisted by a spring or the like (not shown). However, according to the present embodiment, even if the valve shaft 13 is twisted, the rotation member 15 does not rotate due to the action of the bearing 14. Therefore, the locking member 17 and the bellows 18 fixed to the rotating member 15 by the bolt 16 do not rotate, so that the bellows 18 can be prevented from being damaged or damaged, and the durability is improved.
[0022]
The valve shaft 13 has an insertion hole 27 for inserting, for example, a rod-shaped jig at the time of the fixing. The insertion hole 28 is used for monitoring or the like. For example, when a hole or the like is opened in the bellows 18, the liquid leaks from the outside to the inside of the bellows 18, fills the gap 13 a with the valve shaft 13, and leaks from the insertion hole 28. Therefore, whether or not the bellows 18 is normal can be checked based on whether or not the liquid leaks from the insertion hole 28.
Further, by injecting water or the like from the insertion hole 28, the inside of the bellows 18 can be cleaned. Also, it is possible to constantly monitor by monitoring the conductivity and the like by constantly flowing a liquid that does not affect the product.
[0023]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Although FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aseptic valve 1, members having the same functions as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the present embodiment, the outflow of liquid from the opening 41a formed in the bottom of the tank 41 is controlled as indicated by the imaginary line in the upper part of FIG. The distal end portion 18a of the bellows 18 is configured to be able to come into contact with a pressure contact position 7a formed in the valve housing 6, and the valve housing 6 has a flow path 31b inclined at, for example, about 30 °.
Since the outer edge of the tip 18a of the bellows 18 is pressed against the annular pressure contact position 7a formed in the flow passage 31a, when the bellows 18 is driven upward as described above, the flow passage 31a, Opening 41a is blocked. When the bellows 18 is urged downward, the flow paths 31a and 31b are opened.
[0024]
Also in the present embodiment, the leakage of the liquid can be prevented by the operation of the seal system 4 as described above, and the bellows 18 can also be prevented from being damaged or broken by the operation of the bearing 14.
Further, the detection when the bellows 18 is damaged can be performed in the same manner as described above.
[0025]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aseptic valve, and members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the present embodiment, three valve housings 32, 33, and 34 are arranged in a stack, and the rotary valve shaft connection 5 of the aseptic valve 1 is positioned in the valve housing 32. The valve housings 32, 33, 34 are connected by connecting members 35, 36 so that the flow paths communicate with each other. At the connection position, the locking tool 10 described in the first embodiment is applied to prevent liquid leakage.
[0026]
The bellows 18 includes a first pressure contact portion 18b that presses against the pressure contact position 7a of the valve housing 32, and a second pressure contact portion 18c that extends downward and has a large diameter end. The second pressing portion 18c is dimensioned so as to press the bellows 18 against the pressing position 7b of the valve housing 34 from below when the bellows 18 is controlled to be pulled up.
[0027]
According to the configuration, when the bellows 18 is urged downward as shown in the figure, the first pressure contact portion 18b blocks the space between the valve housings 32 and 33. However, since the second pressure contact portion 18b is separated from the pressure contact position 7b of the valve housing 34, the second pressure contact portion 18b communicates between the valve housings 33 and 34 so that fluid can flow.
On the other hand, when the bellows 18 is urged upward, the bellows 18 contracts due to the bellows structure, the first press contact portion 18b is separated from the press contact position 7a of the valve housing 32, and the second press contact portion 18c is connected to the valve housing 34. The press-contact position 7b is closed, and the flow paths of the valve housings 33 and 34 are blocked.
That is, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the flow path can be switched from the valve housing 33 to the valve housing 32 or the valve housing 34 by driving the bellows 18.
[0028]
Since the surface roughness of each of the press-contact positions 7a and 7b is set in the same manner as described above, the same effect as described above can be obtained in terms of hygiene, and the influence of torsion of the valve shaft 13 can be prevented as in the above. The prevention of liquid leakage by the seal system 4 is performed in the same manner as described above.
[0029]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the material of the bellows is not limited to the above, and a material having acid resistance corresponding to the plant to be used, a material whose strength is set in consideration of the pressure of the fluid, and the like can be appropriately used. Also, the type of pipe and the connection method can be appropriately changed according to the use environment.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the aseptic valve of the present invention, the rotating member to which the bellows is fixed is connected to the valve shaft via the bearing. Therefore, when the valve shaft is driven to block or open the flow path in the pipe, the torsional force generated in the valve shaft is not transmitted to the rotating member, and furthermore, to the bellows fixed to the rotating member. . Although the bellows is formed in a bellows shape, the bellows is not damaged or broken by twisting, and the durability can be improved.
In addition, a sealing film is formed at the opening end of the bellows, and when the aseptic valve is fixed to the pipe, the sealing film is continuously pressed to a fixed position of the pipe by an elastic O-ring. Therefore, even if the bellows is made of a material having no elasticity, the elasticity of the elastic O-ring can prevent liquid leakage at the fixed position.
Furthermore, by providing a plurality of pressure contact portions on the bellows, the flow path can be switched for a plurality of pipes, and this aseptic valve can be used for various types of devices, and can be applied to an existing valve housing. Compatibility is also improved.
[0031]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of an aseptic valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of a control unit and a driving unit.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of a control unit, a bellows, and the like.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a configuration of a rotary valve shaft connection.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the configuration of a seal system.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing attachment of the aseptic valve.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an aseptic valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an aseptic valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Aseptic valve 2 Control part 3 Actuator 4 Seal system 5 Rotating valve shaft connection 6, 32, 33, 34 Valve housing 6a Housing opening 7 Flow paths 7a, 7b Seal surface 8 Central control devices 9a, 9b Connection terminal 10 Locking tool 11 Pipe for air supply 12 Guide member 13 Valve shaft 14 Bearing 15 Rotating member 16 Bolt 17 Locking member 18 Bellows 19 Locking member (circular clip)
21 sealing film 22 sealing film receiving part 23 elastic O-ring 24 metal thrust collar

Claims (6)

In an aseptic valve that drives the bellows to shut off the flow path in the pipe and control the communication state,
A valve shaft for driving the bellows, a rotating member for fixing one end of the bellows, and a bearing interposed between the valve shaft and the rotating member, wherein the rotating member floats relative to the valve shaft. An aseptic valve characterized by being configured as possible. The bellows is formed in a bellows shape, and a closed one end is fixed to one end of the rotating member, and another open end is fixed to an open end of a guide member for guiding the valve shaft, 2. The aseptic valve according to claim 1, wherein the bellows prevents twisting of the bellows due to play of the rotating member when the bellows controls blocking and communication of the flow path in the pipe in response to driving. 2. The aseptic valve according to claim 1, wherein an insertion hole communicating with the inside of the bellows is provided in the guide member, and liquid leakage from the outside to the inside of the bellows is detected. 3. A plurality of pressure contact portions are provided on the bellows, and the first pressure contact portion controls the flow path in the first pipe to be cut off or communicable, and the second pressure contact portion allows the flow path in the second pipe to be communicable or cut off. The aseptic valve according to claim 1, which is controlled. 2. The aseptic valve according to claim 1, wherein the bellows is made of PTFE or stainless steel. 2. The aseptic valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing film formed on the edge of the opening end of the bellows is continuously pressed against the opening edge of the pipe by an elastic O-ring to prevent liquid leakage.

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