EP0465545A1

EP0465545A1 - Valve assembly with axially movable valve

Info

Publication number: EP0465545A1
Application number: EP90905700A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lucas Johannes Jansz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-31
Filing date: 1990-03-30
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Also published as: DE3910425A1; WO1990011965A1; ZA902487B; AU5407690A

Abstract

Ensemble de vanne (1), dans lequel le corps de vanne (2) est muni d'au moins deux pignons (5) qui sont répartis sur la péripherie du corps de vanne et qui sont entraînés par un organe de commande annulaire rotatif (3). Les pignons présentent des moyens (7) permettant de transformer un mouvement de rotation en un mouvement de translation, ces moyens étant raccordés à une vanne (13) appartenant audit ensemble de vanne.Valve assembly (1), in which the valve body (2) is provided with at least two pinions (5) which are distributed over the periphery of the valve body and which are driven by a rotary annular actuator (3 ). The pinions have means (7) making it possible to transform a rotational movement into a translational movement, these means being connected to a valve (13) belonging to said valve assembly.

Description

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The present invention relates to a valve assembly comprising a valve body with aperture for fixing to a container or the like, and provided with means for moving a valve which closes the aperture axially relative to the aperture, and means for moving said valve.

Such a valve is known from DE-C-35,039,16. This valve is made of stainless steel and is used, inter alia, in so-called bag- in-box systems. These are non-returnable packs, in which an internal plastic bag is placed in a rigid outer container, and which possibly after sterilization can be filled and emptied in stages without further cleansing activities having to be carried out. The valve assemblies used here have to meet considerable standards, such as being absolutely tight, easy to operate and simple to fasten to the plastic bag. The valve assemblies known from the art are complex and expensive to manufacture and do not function without special apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve which is simple to produce and in which a great contact pressure between valve body and valve seat can be achieved with relatively little force.

This object is achieved in a valve assembly of the type described above in that the means for moving the valve comprise at least two pinions distributed along the periphery of the valve body, and provided with means for converting rotary motion into translatory motion, said means being connected at one end to the valve; and a rotary annular control element at least partially fitted round the valve body and with toothing in engagement with the pinions.

The invention is based on the idea of achieving the control of the valve by means of a control ring/pinion system. In this way it is possible to achieve a high contact pressure with relatively little force. This means that, even with the use of simple plastic materials, optimum sealing between the valve body and the valve can be ensured. Unlike known butterfly or ball valves, the assembly according to the present invention is very simple to manufacture with parts which can be made by injection moulding, while the considerable contact pressure between valve body and valve eliminates the problem of sealing which occurs if injection-moulded parts which are not machined any further are used. Through the principle according to the invention, there can be considerable tolerance between the different parts. In addition, it is possible, if there are more solid parts in the fluid stored in the container, to press these away or splitting these by applying the considerable closing force, so that no leakage can occur in the closing position of the container.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for converting rotary motion into translatory motion comprise a pin which is firmly connected to each pinion. This pin is mounted in the valve body at a side of the pinion away from the valve, and at the other side is provided with screw thread engaging with a non-rotatable sliding part which is provided with corresponding screw thread. The non-rotatable sliding part will move through rotation of the pin. Here the pin is preferably externally threaded and the non-rotatable sliding part internally threaded. In this way it is only necessary to provide a seal between the bore in which the non-rotatable sliding part moves and said part in order to separate the control mechanism of the valve assembly according to the invention completely from the contents of the container.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, means are present to limit the stroke of the control element relative to the valve body. The opening stroke of the valve can be limited in this way, which is important because opening past a particular point has hardly any influence on the through-flowing quantity of material, while, on the other hand, the valve is prevented from becoming detached from the control means. Besides, this means that the stroke for reclosing the valve can be limited, because the valve is not opened far. The stroke-limiting means can in this case be provided with a blocking mechanism.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the annular control element comprises a closed, toothed belt. In this way it is possible, for example, to drive at least one of the pinions, and the other pinion is driven by means of the toothed belt oran The above-described valve assembly is particularly suitable for use in aseptic filling and emptying of bag-in-box systems, without the necessity for special devices such as in the state of the art.

It is possible to design the valve assembly in such a way that it can either be used once with the container or is designed for use on various containers. These containers can be of the disposable or return type. In the latter design the valve assembly is designed in such a way that it can be detachably fixed to a neck part of the container or the like, and in this case the neck part is provided with the valve. The ends of the means for converting a rotary motion into a translatory motion can be brought into engagement with the valve via coupling means. Although for the connection between valve body and neck part any connection known in the art, such as bayonet connections, can be used, according to an advantageous embodiment, the valve body and the neck part are provided with mating screw thread. The same applies to the coupling means making the connection between the means for converting a rotary motion into a translatory motion and the valve. Here any connecting techniques known in the state of the art can be used, but it is preferable here to use a screw thread connection with the specific feature that the pitch of said screw thread corresponds to the pitch of the screw thread used between the valve body and the neck part. When the valve body is being screwed into the neck part the connection with the valve takes place simultaneously (or before or after it) .

According to an advantageous embodiment, blocking means which simultaneously prevent rotation of the valve body and the control element are present. In this way it is ensured that during fixing or removal of the valve body the valve is not operated, and the valve body is prevented from moving relative to the neck when the valve is being operated. These blocking means comprise in particular an axially slidable ring provided with toothing which is brought into engagement with toothing on the valve body, the control element and/or the neck. In this way, only movement between either valve body and neck or control element and valve body is possible.

The valve assembly according to the invention can be used in particular in a valve assembly comprising a rigid carrier and a flexible reservoir, the rigid carrier having an aperture for the non-rotatable accommodation of the valve assembly, and the valve assembly being provided with means for the sealing connection with the flexible, reservoir.

A number of examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention with the valve in the closed position, in side view, with the top half being shown in cross-section;

Fig. 2 shows the valve assembly according to Fig. 1 in the open position, and on a smaller scale; Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention, in side view, with the bottom half being shown in cross-section, the valve assembly being detachable from the container, in the position just before the fitting of the valve assembly;

Fig. 6 shows a view according to Fig. 5 with valve assembly fitted on the container; and

Fig. 7 shows the valve assembly according to Figs. and 6 in the open position of the valve.

The valve assembly shown in Fig. 1 is indicated in its entirety by 1, and comprises a valve body 2 on which a control ring 3 is rotatably mounted, the axial confinement taking place, on the one hand, by resting against the four pinions 5 (only one is shown) lying inside or against the valve body 2 and, on the other hand, against a stop ή. The control ring 3 is provided with an internal toothing 6, on which the pinions 5 present engage. Although four pinions are provided here, it goes without saying that two or more pinions can be used. These pinions 5 are provided with internal screw thread which is engaged by screw thread of pins slidably fitted in apertures 11 of the valve body, and with 0-ring seals 12 being present. At the other end, a valve 13 is connected to the cylindrical shafts 10, said valve serving to shut off an aperture 18. This fixing takes place by means of screws 14, an elastic sealing disc 16 being fixed between the end face 15 of the cylindrical shafts 10 and the valve, said disc also being centred at a centering part 17 of the valve 13•

For promoting the sealing action, the sealing face 19 of the valve body 2 has one or more pointed sealing rings 20 being pointed in cross section, so that even if the sealing face 19 and the contact face of the sealing disc 16 of the valve 13 are not made precisely flat, a reliable seal is guaranteed, because the ring 20 can be pressed without gap over the entire periphery into the elastic sealing disc 16. In addition, such a ring 20 ensures that after closing of the valve more solid constituents of the liquid, for example present on the sealing face 19. can be pressed out of the only schematically shown container 29, so that such solid constituents do not adversely affect the seal either. The valve assembly 1 can be fixed in a known manner for the retention thereof, or for determining the position thereof, to a fixing part 23, here a corrugated cardboard part. For this, the valve body 2 has on the inside a seat face 25 with an annular contact face 2 , and at the other side the fixing part 23 is held by a nut 26 between the latter and the valve body 2.

The valve body 2 is provided on the inside with a thin connecting flange 28, to which a plastic bag 29 is fixed by welding in a known manner. After this welding, when the valve is closed, sterilization - for example by gamma radiation - can take place, so that after the fitting of a seal between the valve body 2 and the inside of the control ring 3 a guarantee of sterility of the valve body 2 with the plastic bag 29 is achieved.

The front connection 30 of the valve body 2 corresponds to the standardized design. A supply or discharge line is connected to the screw thread 31 by means of a cap nut, so that the aperture 18 of the valve assembly can be sterilized by subjecting to steam. Through rotation of the control ring 3. the pinions 5 are set in rotation. The pins 7 which are in engagement with the pinions 5 by means of screw thread move to and fro with the cylindrical shafts 10, and valve 13 moves out of the position shown in Fig. 1 into the opening position shown in Fig. 2. In order to make the flow, shown schematically by arrow 32, occur as far as possible without eddying of the liquid, valve 13 is streamlined in the interior 33 towards the aperture 18 by a corresponding curvature. For limitation of the opening path of the valve cover 13. the pins 7 have placed in them pins 8 which extend in length to the external diameter of the screw thread, and said pins 8 with the internal screw thread of the pinions 5 produce a stop in the turning of the control ring 3 when the opening position according to Fig. 2 is attained.

The control ring 3 is ribbed at the external face 21 or is provided with other means for a better grip, depending on the torque to be applied. This torque also determines the number of pinions fitted along the periphery. Through the device according to the invention it is possible to apply a considerable closing or opening force on the valve by applying a relatively small force to control ring 3_* Moreover, material present in the container cannot reach the control mechanism and thus put it out of action. The control mechanism is shut off relative to the environment in a simple manner by means of 0-ring 12. The closing force influencing the valve 13 must be so great that harder particles are also separated by the sealing ring 20 being pointed in cross section. This is important particularly where containers are emptied in stages. With this device it is possible to fill and empty containers 29 aseptically without special additional measures. fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention which is characterized by a compact layout with a relatively large opening path. In this case threaded pins 37 are accommodated in the interior of cylindrical shafts 38, which are provided with corresponding screw thread. Cylindrical shafts 38 are disposed in the interior of valve 39. which is shown half cut away. Valve 39 can be opened to a relatively considerable extent 40, as the position shown by 52 by dotted and dashed lines demonstrates.

For simple fitting, the cylindrical shafts 38 are provided with snap heads l, which means that pressing on the valve 39 is all that is necessary for fitting. In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 the valve 39 has a relatively large design of pointed seal 42, which mates with a sealing face 3 of the valve body 44. There can also be a reversal here, so that such a sealing ring 42 is present on the valve body 44. In this embodiment also, depending on the circumstances or the material used, an elastic sealing disc of the type described above with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 can be used. For fixing pinions 4 and 46 relative to each other, they are placed horizontally against each other, and the threaded pinion 45 is screwed onto the pin 37 and in order to secure it is tightened against the pinion 46 - which rests against a thickened part 48 of the pin 37 - until the teeth thereof correspond for engagement with the internal toothing 49 of the control ring 50.

The fixing part 23 comes to rest on the valve body 44, and more particularly the connecting flange 28 thereof and the plastic bag 29, through tightening of the nut 5 • Through the use of the control rings, which do not have any projecting parts such as handles, the fully fitted valve assembly 1, 36 can be welded to the plastic bag by means of the flange thereof and also placed in the aperture of the fixing parts 23.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 4, and the whole unit is indicated by 5 - The valve body is indicated by 56, and the valve by 57• The pinions are indicated by 58 (only one shown). Firmly connected thereto is a pin 59. provided with screw thread 60 which is in engagement with a shaft 61 provided with corresponding screw thread and provided with a sealing 93- Shaft 61 is fixed at the end 62 to valve 57 in a non-rotatable manner. Shaft 61 will be translated through rotation of pinion 58 and thus of pin

59« In order to make valve 57 open and close in a well-defined limited region, both control ring 63 and valve body 56 contain a groove lying opposite each other, and indicated by 64 and 65 respectively. Each of these grooves 64, 65 has a circular form, but each groove extends only over a limited number of degrees of arc. These grooves contain a cam element 67, shown hatched, of limited dimensions. Said element can be moved freely in the space bounded by the two grooves. Since both grooves are only partially circular, in this way a stroke greater than 360°, but smaller than 720° is limited for the control ring 63. The maximum opening stroke can be adjusted depending from the fluid flowing through by varying the length of grooves 64, 65. A fluid being viscous or comprises larger particles will correspond to a larger opening. In order to provide a seal or indication of first use, the control ring 63 contains an aperture 68 through which a pin 69. shown only schematically, can be inserted and acts on cam element 67_* Control ring 69 cannot be turned other than by removal of pin 69 from aperture 68. After the removal of pin 69. it cannot be inserted again into cam element 67, so that an indication of the first use of the valve assembly according to the invention is given. The seat face of valve 57 is formed by a part 70 being pointed in cross section of valve body 56 against which 0-ring 71 of valve 57 acts.

Figs. 5 - 7 show a further embodiment of the invention, in which the valve 75 is fitted detachably relative to the valve body

76. Valve 75 in the position shown in Fig. 5 is accommodated in neck part 77. which is connected in the manner described above both to the cardboard fixing part 23 and to the plastic part 29 of a container. In this case the rigid fixing part 23 can be a hexagonal or square shape in order to fix neck part 77 in a non- rotatable manner relative thereto. Valve 75 is provided with external screw thread 8l in the curved part 78. Valve element 76 is provided with the pinion/shaft system, as shown in Fig. 4. The reference numbers used there are retained here. The groove/cam system 64, 65, 67 shown there is also present. End 62 of shaft 61 is in this embodiment connected to coupling part 80 provided with internal screw thread 79 which mates with external screw thread 81. Valve body 76 is also provided with external screw thread 83 which can mate with internal screw thread 84 of neck part 77• The control ring is indicated by 85 in this embodiment. A coupling ring 86 is also fitted. Coupling ring 86 is slidable to and fro in the direction of arrow 87 and is provided internally with toothing 88 which can engage with corresponding toothing 89 on control ring 85, 90 on valve body 76 and 91 on neck part 77-

The pitch of screw thread 81 corresponds to the pitch of The device described above works, starting from the position in Fig. 5. as follows:

When the outer ring 86 in Fig. 5 is slid to the left, on rotation thereof both control ring 85 and valve body 76 will be acted upon. Rotation between these two parts is prevented in this way. On placing on the neck part 77 and subsequently engaging the screw thread 83 with screw thread 84, a constantly increasing engagement will be achieved between valve body 76 and neck part 77- At the same time as, or before or after the first engagement of screw thread 83 and 84, engagement of screw thread 79 and 8l, i.e. of coupling part 80 and valve 75 takes place. On completion of the screwing-in movement of outer ring 86 on neck part 77. the position shown in Fig. 6 is reached. Locking of valve body 76 in a non- rotatable manner relative to neck part 77 takes place by moving coupling ring 86 to the right. Control ring 85 is now freely movable and, by turning it, valve 75. can be moved inwards in order to clear an aperture and subsequently moved outwards to close the opening. Due to the fact that the valve part 75 with flange 9 lies flat and centred against neck part 77. correct positioning of screw thread 79 relative to screw thread 81 is always ensured.

Before or after use, after closing of valve 75. in the absence of the valve body 7 with the control mechanism present in it, a simple stop can be placed on neck part 77. said stop being provided with two screw thread parts, one for engagement with screw thread 84 of the neck part, and one for engagement with screw thread 79 of valve 7 • Of course, the screw thread 79 of valve 75 can be an internal screw thread, and the screw thread on the coupling part 80 can be an external screw thread. The embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 - 4 will preferably be used where a single use of the valve assembly is justifiable. The design according to Figs. 5 - 7 is used if repeated use of the valve assembly or container is required. Although the above-described embodiments are preferred embodiments, it must be understood that numerous modifications can be made thereto, without going beyond the scope of the present application. The range of application of the valve described above is very wide. Apart from the sealing of all kinds of containers, it is possible with the valve assembly according to the invention to use it for aerating and venting larger areas, such as tanks in, for example, ships. The design according to the invention is characterized in that a considerable closing moment can be applied in a guaranteed manner with little operating force. Although the control ring is shown as a rigid one, it can also comprise a toothed belt. Through driving of one of the pinions, the others are then forced to move with it. It is also possible to use such a belt with external drive. ^">

Furthermore the references used here have to be understood in the broadest sense. For instance the container can comprise a bottle, the valve a cork and the coupling mean a helical part.

Claims

1. Valve assembly comprising a valve body with aperture for fixing to a container or the like, and provided with means for moving a valve which closes the aperture axially relative to the aperture, and means for moving said valve, characterized in that the means for moving the valve comprise at least two pinions distributed along the periphery of the valve body, and provided with means for converting rotary motion into translatory motion, said means being connected at one end to the valve; and a rotary annular control element at least fitted round the valve body and with toothing in engagement with the pinions.

2. Valve assembly according to Claim 1, in which the means for converting rotary motion into translatory motion comprise a pin which is firmly connected to each pinion and is mounted in the valve body at a side of the pinion away from the valve, and at the other side is provided with screw thread in engagement with a non- rotatable sliding part which is provided with corresponding screw thread.

3. Valve assembly according to Claim 2, in which the pin is provided with external screw thread and the non-rotatable sliding part is provided with internal screw thread.

4. Valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which means are present to limit the stroke of the control element relative to the valve element.

5. Valve assembly according to Claim 4, in which the stroke- limiting means are provided with a blocking mechanism.

6. Valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the annular control element comprises a closed toothed belt.

7. Valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims wherein the annular control element comprises a rigid ring.

8. Valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the valve body is detachably fixed to a neck part of the container or the like, and in which the neck part is provided with the valve, while the ends of the means for converting rotary motion into translatory motion can be brought into engagement with .

9. Valve assembly according to Claim 8, in which the valve body and the neck part are provided with mating screw thread.

10. Valve assembly according to Claim 8 and 9. in which the coupling means comprise parts provided with mating screw thread, and in which the pitch of said screw thread is equal to the pitch of the screw thread of the neck part.

11. Valve assembly according to any of Claims 8 - 10, in which blocking means which prevent simultaneous rotation of the valve body and the control element are present.

12. Valve assembly according to Claim 11, in which the blocking means comprise an axially slidable ring provided with toothing which is brought into engagement with toothing on the valve body, the control element and/or the neck.

13. Valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the container comprises an assembly of a rigid carrier and flexible reservoir, in which the rigid carrier has an aperture for the non-rotatable accommodation of the valve assembly, and the valve assembly is provided with means for the sealing connection with the flexible reservoir.