EP1820771B1 - Sealing assembly for sealing the transition between a rotating and a stationary machine element and installation or device for handling bottles or similar containers with at least one such sealing assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement comprises a seal (9). A mechanical seal (31) is arranged at one side of seal, by bridging a siphon, and the transition (8). The mechanical seal comprises one seal element (28) at the revolving or stationary mechanical component (11,19,20) as well as it comprises a co-active sealing surface (30) with the seal element at the stationary or at the revolving mechanical component. The mechanical seal is provided in the non sterile area or range (22), which faces the side of siphon seal. An independent claim is also included for the installation or device for treating bottles or such containers.

Description

The invention relates to a sealing arrangement for sealing a transition between a rotating and a stationary machine element of a plant or apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers, in particular for sealing the transition between a circumferential and a stationary part of a sterile room or area of a non Sterile space or area separating enclosure of a system for cold aseptic filling, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a plant or apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers, in particular plant or apparatus for cold aseptic filling, with at least one transition between a rotating and a stationary machine element and with a transition provided at the transition and the relative movement between the Machine elements enabling sealing arrangement, according to the preamble of claim 14.

Installations for the cold aseptic filling of a liquid filling material into bottles or the like containers, for example for the cold aseptic filling of heat-sensitive beverages (for example fruit juices) are known in various designs. The individual machines forming such a plant and adjoining each other in the manufacturing or treatment line, such as e.g. Rinser, sterilizer, filling machine, capper, are provided with enclosures, in such a way that within the plant a conveyor line for the container or bottles in a sterile space results, through this enclosure against adjacent non-sterile rooms or areas, such as the environment in particular is also sealed against the penetration of germs.

Among other things, when using machines of rotating design, as is customary for rinsers, sterilizers, filling machines and / or closing machines, such housing usually has several transitions between a rotating or rotating Part of the enclosure and a fixed part of this enclosure, so that in these areas special seals are required.

It is known ( W02004 / 065283 ) form such seals as labyrinth or siphon seals. Each siphon seal consists essentially of at least one of the rotational or rotational axis of the peripheral part of the enclosure annularly enclosing channel-like channel or annular channel, in which an annular wall portion extends to a provided on the other part of the housing element of the siphon seal. At least during the filling operation of the annular channel is filled with a barrier liquid to the extent that even the at least one annular wall portion of the siphon seal immersed sufficiently deep in the barrier liquid, so that the remaining between the two elements of the respective siphon seal column is sealed by the barrier liquid , The barrier liquid preferably contains a sterilizing medium and consists for example of distilled, sterile water with a proportion of hydrogen peroxide H ₂ O ₂ . In general, the at least one annular channel-forming element of the siphon seal on the non-rotating part and provided in the ring channel extending into the annular wall portion having element of the siphon seal on the peripheral part of the housing at the relevant transition.

In order to achieve the desired sealing and blocking effect, it is necessary that the level of the barrier liquid in the respective annular channel does not fall below a predetermined level. In the known machine each siphon seal for this purpose is assigned an independent buffer container for the barrier liquid, which is connected via a line to the annular channel of the siphon seal in the manner of communicating tubes. By an electronic control circuit with a level sensor in the buffer tank and a control valve in a supply line of the liquid level of the barrier liquid is maintained at a predetermined level, so that the liquid level of the barrier liquid in the annular channel of the associated siphon seal has the predetermined level.

Due to the design of such a siphon seals at different levels are necessary in a system for cold aseptic filling, so that in the known system at least for each level an independent buffer tank with control circuit and the associated components (sensors, control valves, etc.) is necessary, which is a considerable design effort means.

A disadvantage of the known plant u.a. also that the respective siphon seal is exposed both to the sterile space or area and to the non-sterile space or area, e.g. Contamination of the sealing or sealing fluid by influences from the non-sterile space or by influences from the sterile room, e.g. can not be excluded by the liquid contents just as little, such. Odor nuisance and / or injury to persons (operating personnel) by the barrier fluid.

The object of the invention is to show a seal arrangement which avoids such disadvantages. To solve this problem, a seal assembly according to claim 1 is formed. A plant or device for treating bottles or similar containers with at least one, but preferably with a plurality of such sealing arrangements is the subject of claim 14.

The seal assembly according to the invention is particularly advantageous in systems for treating bottles or similar containers everywhere where a seal between a rotating part or element and a stationary part or element of the relevant system is required, but especially at the transition between a rotating and a stationary Part of a machine or plant for cold aseptic filling of a liquid filling material in bottles or similar containers.

In the invention, at least one mechanical seal is provided at the transition between the rotating or rotating part of the housing and the stationary part of the housing, which then consists of a sealing element extending along the siphon seal on one of the housings, which has a sealing surface on the other Part of the housing cooperates. In this case, this mechanical seal is preferably provided on the side of the siphon seal facing the non-sterile region, so that the siphon seal is shielded from the non-sterile region by the mechanical seal. This results in several other advantages. Thus, the direct contact of the barrier liquid with the non-sterile area or with the local air is avoided by this mechanical seal, which in particular the microbial contamination and / or contamination of the barrier liquid is reduced. Furthermore, an occurrence of barrier fluid and / or the present in this liquid sterilization medium in the not Sterile area prevents and thus in particular impairments, such as odor nuisance for persons, such as operating personnel, who are in the non-sterile area.

In a system for cold aseptic filling are usually provided several seal assemblies with mechanical seal and siphon seal, at different levels, respectively at the transitions between a rotating or rotating part of the housing and a stationary part of the enclosure. All siphon seals or their annular channels are then constantly supplied with barrier liquid from a common supply or supply tank or reservoir, for example via a common pump and individually associated with the individual siphon seals means for adjusting or regulating the flow rate of the respective Siphon seal inflowing barrier fluid. Since the at least one outlet of the respective annular channel is designed as an overflow, the necessary level of the liquid level of the barrier liquid automatically arises in each annular channel without the need for an electronic control loop.

The individually provided in the supply or in the supply lines of the siphon seals means for adjusting or regulating the flow hydrostatic differences that result from the different height level of the various siphon seals balanced. Preferably, these means for adjusting and regulating the volume flow of adjusting valves are formed, which are set once, for example, when commissioning the system. By adjusting the volume flow of the barrier liquid and different pollution conditions at the individual siphon seals can be accommodated, i. the volume flow of such siphon seals, where the barrier liquid is subject to the formation and / or arrangement of the relevant seal and / or external influences of higher pollution or contamination, is set higher than those siphon seals, in which the degree of Pollution is lower.

To immediately detect any errors in the supply system for supplying the siphon seals with the sealing or sealing liquid and to take appropriate action in case of failure, such as the discontinuation of an error message and / or the interruption of the filling process, is in the barrier fluid return each siphon Seal arranged a flow meter, the either actually determines the volume flow of the backflowing barrier liquid and compares it with the volume flow of the barrier liquid supplied to the respective siphon seal, so that the error message and / or the production interruption are caused by a difference exceeding a permissible tolerance limit or else the error message and / or the immediate production interruption then caused when the flowmeter concerned no return flowing barrier fluid is detected or the flow rate determined by the flow meter is below a predetermined threshold.

A level control of the liquid level of the barrier liquid in the siphon seals is neither provided nor required in the invention. This results in a significant simplification of the design and beyond a much improved reliability, since the level of the liquid level regulating electronic control circuits are avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one siphon seal is provided with at least one outlet opening or nozzle for a cleaning or sterilizing medium, so that this seal or its annular channel is then cleaned and / or sterilized in a CIP cleaning or SIP sterilization can be, which is particularly in a plant with a variety of provided on Einhausungsübergängen siphon seals of great advantage, in particular, the cleaning and sterilization of the siphon seals a system with a variety of such seals are much easier and can be carried out in little time. ,

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment.

Fig. 1

in sehr vereinfachter Blockdarstellung mehrere zu einer Anlage zusammengestellte Einzelmaschinen für eine kaltsterile oder kaltaseptische Abfüllung eines Füllgutes in Flaschen;

Fig. 2

in Teildarstellung einen der Behandlungs- bzw. Sterilisationsköpfe einer Vorrichtung oder Einzelmaschine (Sterilisator) zum Sterilisieren der Flaschen, zusammen mit einer einen sterilen Raum von einem nicht sterilen Raum, z.B. derUmgebung trennenden Siphon- oder Labyrinth-Dichtung an einem Einhausungsübergang

Fig. 3

ein Versorgungssystem zur Versorgung mehrerer Siphon- und Labyrinth-Dichtungen mit der erforderlichen Dicht- oder Sperrflüssigkeit

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung wie Figur 2, jedoch in einer Ausführung für eine CIP-Reinigung und/oder SIP-Sterilisation der Siphon- bzw. Labyrinth-Dichtung;

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a very simplified block diagram of several assembled to form a single machines for cold-sterile or cold aseptic filling of a filling in bottles;

Fig. 2

a partial representation of one of the treatment or sterilization heads of a device or single machine (sterilizer) for sterilizing the bottles, together with a siphon or labyrinth seal separating a sterile space from a non-sterile space, eg the environment, at a housing transition

Fig. 3

a supply system to supply multiple siphon and labyrinth seals with the required sealing or barrier fluid

Fig. 4

a representation like FIG. 2 but in one embodiment for CIP cleaning and / or SIP sterilization of the siphon or labyrinth seal;

The in the FIG. 1 generally designated 1 overall system is used for cold aseptic filling of a liquid filling material in bottles 2, which in the Appendix 1 via a conveyor 3 (arrow A) supplied and, for example, initially cleaned in the system and in a sterilizer 4 with a suitable treatment medium, including a heated or vaporized aerosol consisting of air and water peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) treated, then filled in a filling machine 5 with the contents and finally sealed in a capper 6, so that the filled and sealed bottles 2 then on the conveyor 7 another station , For example, a labeling can be supplied.

Within the plant 1, the bottles move in a germ-free, sterile sealed to the outside space, which is formed by a corresponding housing. But since the sterilizer 4 as well as other individual machines, such as the filling machine 5 and the capping machine 6 and possibly an unillustrated rinser are designed as machines revolving design, resulting in the housing or at the separation between the sterile room and the non-sterile Space also Einhausungsübergange between each a rotating or rotating element and a stationary, ie non-rotating element. Such a transition is in the FIG. 2 illustrated by way of example and denoted by the arrow 8. To seal such transitions, siphon or labyrinth seals are provided there. Such a seal is in the FIG. 2 exemplified and generally designated 9.

In detail shows the FIG. 2 a treatment head 10 of the sterilizer 4. This treatment head is provided on the upper side of a disk-like rotor 11 driven circumferentially around a vertical machine axis and has substantially the training known in the art, including with a nozzle tube 12 which extends over the underside of the rotor 11th projecting and for sterilization of the respective bottle 2 in this through their mouths 2.1 is inserted. The bottles 2 are each held on a bottle carrier 13, which is provided in the region of each treatment head 10 on the rotor 11. The lowering and raising of the nozzle tube is pneumatically by a provided in the housing of the treatment head 10 actuator (piston 14 and return spring 15). In the treatment head 10, a helical channel 16 is further formed, which is traversed during the sterilization phase of the provided in a nozzle assembly 17 treatment or sterilization medium. The treatment head 10 is further sealed to the top of the disc-shaped rotor 11 so that only the nozzle tube 12 projects through a sealed opening 18 in the rotor 11 over the bottom of this rotor.

The rotor 11 as well as a non-rotating with the rotor, i. fixed wall 19 to a machine frame 20 are parts of the housing, which separates a sterile space 21, which is formed below the rotor 11 and within the wall 19 and in which the bottles 2 move, from an outer, non-sterile space 22. As already stated, at the transition 8 between the rotor 11 and the stationary wall element 19 there is a siphon or labyrinth seal 9. In the illustrated embodiment, this essentially consists of a rotor 11 which does not encircle the machine frame 20 , the vertical axis of the rotor 11 concentrically enclosing ring 23, which forms an open at the top annular channel 24. In this annular channel 24 extends from above an annular, the axis of the rotor 11 concentrically enclosing wall portion 25 into it, which is part of an attached to the circumference of the circular disk-shaped rotor 11 annular body 26.

For sterile sealing of the space 21 with respect to the environment 22, the annular channel 24 is filled to a level 27 with a barrier liquid, so that the wall portion 25 is immersed with a greater part of its axial length in this liquid and thereby the siphon or labyrinth seal 9 results.

The barrier liquid consists for example of sterile or distilled water and has, in order to meet the hygienic requirements of the filling process, sterilizing, cleaning and germicidal properties, which is achieved in particular by maintaining a minimum concentration of a germicidal and sterilizing additive, for example H ₂ O ₂ becomes. The H ₂ O ₂ concentration is for example 35%.

On the annular body 26 is relative to the axis of the rotor 11 radially outwardly a sealing ring 28 provided with sealing lip 29 made of a suitable rubber-elastic material or elastomeric plastic. The sealing lip 29 of the, the axis of the rotor 11 concentrically enclosing seal ring 28 rests on an annular, the axis of the rotor 11 also concentrically enclosing sealing surface 30 which is provided on the rotor 11 remote from the radially outer side of the ring 23. The seal 28 cooperating with the sealing surface 30 forms an additional mechanical seal 31. It is essential that this seal 31 be provided between the siphon seal 9 and the non-sterile region 22, e.g. the environment is provided, i. the mechanical seal 31 shields the siphon or labyrinth seal 9 from the environment 22.

By the mechanical seal 31 u.a. prevents barrier or barrier liquid or the sterilization medium present in this liquid from entering the environment, and persons present in this environment, in particular also operating personnel, are at least adversely affected by the smell of the barrier fluid and / or are contaminated and / or endangered by this barrier fluid ,

By the mechanical seal 31, the barrier liquid is effectively protected against contamination and / or contamination of the environment 22 forth, so that the desired barrier effect is achieved with high security.

Essential for achieving the desired barrier effect is, inter alia, that the annular channel 26 with the barrier fluid sufficient, i. is filled to the level 27 and thus the portion 25 extends sufficiently deep into the barrier liquid. This is ensured by the fact that during the filling operation via one or more inlets 32 sealing liquid is constantly supplied to the annular channel 24 and this liquid is constantly removed via one or more outlets 33 from the annular channel 24. The outlets 33 are designed as overflows, so that this automatically, i. without a regulation the level 27 of the liquid level of the barrier liquid in the annular channel 24 sets.

In the area of the plant 1, several transitions 8 are provided between a peripheral part and a stationary part of the enclosure, for example in the area of the filling machine 5 and in the area of the capper 6. At all these transitions 8 corresponding siphon or labyrinth seals are provided to the siphon or labyrinth seal 9, and in turn preferably each with an additional mechanical seal 31 on the outside, ie the environment facing side of the respective siphon seal. 9

To supply all siphon seals 9, which are arranged, inter alia, machine-related at different levels, which serves in the FIG. 3 reproduced supply system. This includes, inter alia, a treatment and storage tank 34 for the fresh barrier liquid. This tank is supplied via control valves 36 and 37 controlled by a processor 35 H ₂ O ₂ and distilled and sterile water, depending on the required and monitored by a sensor 38 H ₂ O ₂ concentration (eg 35%) of the barrier liquid ,

The supply tank 34 is connected to various ring or supply lines 41, which are each connected via a control valve 42 for adjusting the volume flow or the flow rate with the inlets 32 of the annular channel 24 of a siphon seal 9. The respective control valve 42 is set, for example, during commissioning or during a test run such that, despite the different height levels of the individual siphon seals 9 the annular channel 24 each siphon seal 9 sufficient fluid is flowing, not only to maintain the required level 27 of Liquid level of the barrier liquid in the respective annular channel 24, but also to achieve a sufficient replacement of the barrier liquid in the respective annular channel 24, among others also depending on the expected degree of contamination. With the respective control valve 42 is thus preferably a constant volume flow for the respective siphon seal 9 zuflie-ßende barrier liquid set.

The outlets 33 of each annular channel 24 are connected to a common conduit 43 in which a flow meter 44 is provided and which leads to a buffer tank 45. At the outlet of the buffer tank 45 provided control valve 46, the buffer tank 45 is level controlled drained, in a common for all siphon seals 9 ring or manifold 47 through which the barrier liquid by means provided in this manifold, additional pump 48 to the tank 34 is returned. In the collecting line 47, a sensor or analysis unit 49 is provided, with which the H ₂ O ₂ content of the recirculated barrier liquid is analyzed, so then depending on the supplied from this sensor unit 49 Measured data on the processor 35, the addition of H ₂ O ₂ can be controlled, to maintain the required H ₂ O ₂ concentration.

By in the FIG. 3 shown supply system is, inter alia, ensures that all siphon seals 9 are sufficiently supplied with barrier fluid even at different height level and the barrier fluid in each siphon seal 9 also has the required H ₂ O ₂ concentration. A significant safety factor in this case forms the individually provided in the return line 43 of each siphon seal 9 flow meter 44. The flow meter 44 monitors that a sufficient amount of sealing liquid flows back through the outlets formed as overflow 33. Then, when the amount of barrier fluid flowing through the flowmeter 44 falls below a predetermined lower threshold value, a malfunction of the system 1 is visually and / or acoustically indicated on the basis of the measured data of the flowmeter 44 and / or the operation of the system 1 is stopped.

For this purpose, the volumetric flow of the sealing liquid flowing back from the siphon seal is determined with the flow meter 44, for example, and then compared with the fixed value of the volumetric flow of the sealing liquid flowing into the respective siphon seal 9. If the difference exceeds a predetermined tolerance value, an error message is output which leads to the visual and / or acoustic error signal and / or causes an immediate production interruption. Basically, there is e.g. also the possibility of the flowmeter 44 in such a way that an error message is then caused when the volume flow of the back flowing from the respective siphon seal 9 sealing liquid falls below a predetermined threshold.

It has been assumed above that the recirculated barrier liquid returns to the tank 34 after passing through the sensor unit 49. In principle, it is also possible to provide a further treatment of the barrier liquid before it is then returned to the tank 34.

The described construction of the siphon seals 9 also makes it possible to clean all the siphon seals 9 during the cleaning of the system 1 as part of a ClP cleaning (cleaning in place) and also to sterilize them in the context of a SIP sterilization (sterilization in place) , Especially in the field of cold aseptic filling, it is of particular importance, all internal, ie in the sterile room 21st regularly cleaned areas of a plant 1 and disinfect or sterilize.

For CIP cleaning or SIP sterilization are according to the FIG. 4 provided at the respective siphon seal 9 in addition to the inlets 32 and outlets 33 nozzles or nozzle orifices 50 and 51, which form a spray and disinfection device and on the respective siphon seal 9 and in particular its ring 23 including the annular channel 24 can be cleaned or rinsed with a cleaning liquid and then treated with a liquid disinfecting or sterilizing medium, for example with a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution. The nozzle openings 50 and 51 are for this purpose connected to a corresponding system for supplying the cleaning and / or sterilization medium. The reaching into the annular channel 24 treatment medium flows through the outlets 33. In addition, closed during the normal filling operation outlets 52 are used to completely empty the respective annular channel 24th

In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzles or nozzle orifices 50 and 51 are provided on the rotating part, ie on the ring body 26 rotating with the rotor, so that with a relatively small amount of cleaning and disinfecting medium, a cleaning of the entire siphon seal 9 and in particular of the ring 23 with the annular channel 24 is possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Plant for aseptic cold filling

2

bottle

3

carrier

4

sterilizer

5

filling Machine

6

capper

7

carrier

8th

Transition between a circumferential and a stationary part of the enclosure

9

Siphon or labyrinth seal

10

treatment head

11

rotor

12

nozzle tube

13

Bottle or container carrier

14

piston

15

Return spring

16

channel

17

nozzle assembly

18

opening

19

wall element

20

machine frame

21

sterile room

22

non-sterile room or environment

23

ring

24

annular channel

25

ring section

26

ring body

27

Level of sealing or sealing fluid

28

sealing ring

29

sealing lip

30

sealing

31

mechanical seal

32

inlet

33

outlet

34

tank

35

processor

36, 37

control valve

38

sensor

39

pump

40

distributor

41

supply line

42

Flow control valve

43

return

44

Flowmeter

45

buffer tank

46

control valve

47

manifold

48

pump

49

sensor unit

50, 51

Outlet or nozzle for cleaning or sterilizing medium

52

outlet

A

transport direction

Claims (26)

1. Sealing arrangement for the sealing of a intersection (8) between a rotating and a fixed machine element (11; 19, 20 ) of an installation(1) or device for the handling of bottles or similar containers (2), in particular for the sealing-off of the intersection (8) between a rotating and a fixed part of an enclosure of an installation for cold-aseptic filling separating a sterile space or area (21) from a non-sterile space or area(22) with a siphon seal (9), enabling a relative movement between the machine elements (11. 19), which has an annular channel (24) concentrically enclosing one axis of rotating machine element (11) for containing a blocking or sealing liquid on a machine element (19, 20) and at least one annular wall section (15) on the other machine element (11) extending into the annular channel and into the sealing liquid that is there.
   characterized in that,
   at least one side of the (at least) one siphon seal (9) is fitted with a mechanical seal (31) that bypasses the intersection (8) with at least one sealing element (28) on the rotating and /or fixed machine element (11; 19, 20) and with at least one sealing surface (30) on the fixed and/or rotating machine element (19, 20; 11) that interacts with the sealing element (30).
2. Sealing arrangement as per Claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical seal (31) is provided on the side of the (at least) one siphon seal (9) that faces the non-sterile space or area.
3. Sealing arrangement as per Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the (at least) one mechanical seal (31) is provided on the side of the (at least) one siphon seal (9) on the side that faces the sterile space or area (21).
4. Sealing arrangement as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the (at least) one mechanical seal (31) encloses the (at least) one siphon seal (9).
5. Sealing arrangement as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the (at least) one mechanical seal (31) is enclosed by the (at least) one siphon seal.
6. Sealing arrangement as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that at least one sealing element is a seal ring (28).
7. Sealing arrangement as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that at least one sealing element has at least one sealing lip (29) that interacts with the sealing surface (30).
8. Sealing arrangement as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the (at least) one annular channel (24) has at least one inlet point (32) and at least one outlet point (33) for the sealing liquid.
9. Sealing arrangement as per Claim 8, characterized in that the (at least) one outlet point(33) is designed as an adjusting overflow for the level of the sealing liquid (27).
10. Sealing element as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that there is at least one outlet point or nozzle (50, 51) for a means of cleaning and/or sterilization of the sealing arrangement and in particular of the (at least) one siphon seal (9) in a CIP (Cleaning in Place) cleaning and/or SIP (Sterilization in Place) sterilization process.
11. Sealing arrangement as per Claim 10, characterized in that the (at least) one outlet point or nozzle (50, 51) is fitted on the rotating machine element (11).
12. Sealing arrangement as per Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the (at least) one outlet point or nozzle is provided on one element (26) of the siphon seal (9), preferably on one of the elements of the siphon seal to be mounted on the rotating machine element (11).
13. Sealing arrangement as per one of the Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that there is (at least) one outlet point opening or nozzle (50, 51) that is positioned opposite to the (at least) one annular channel (24) of the (at least ) one siphon seal (9) and or to the element (23) of the siphon seal (9).
14. Assembly or device for the handling of bottles or similar containers (2), with at least one intersection (8), between the rotating machine element (11) and a fixed machine element (19, 20) and with a sealing arrangement fitted on the intersection and enabling the interaction between the machine elements, characterized in that the sealing arrangement is designed in accordance with one of the aforementioned claims.
15. Assembly as per Claim 14, characterized in that with an assembly for the cold-aseptic filling with a liquid product of bottles or similar containers (2), which are the machine element parts (11, 19) forming the intersection (8) of an enclosure separating a sterile space or area (21) from at least one non-sterile space or area.
16. Assembly as per Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the (at least) one inlet point of the (at least) one annular channel (24) of the respective siphon seal (9) is connected to a reservoir (34), from which sealing liquid is constantly fed to the annular channel (24).
17. Assembly as per Claim 16, characterized by a flow meter (44) on the (at least) one outlet point of the respective annular channel(24) designed as an overflow, whereby the draining volume flow of the sealing liquid from the annular channel (24) is run through the flow meter (44) for monitoring by the latter.
18. Assembly as per Claim 17, characterized in that the flow meter (44) serves to generate a measuring signal, which then triggers an error message and/or an immediate interruption of production, if the back-flowing volume flow from the (at least) one annular channel (26) does not correspond to the volume flow of the inflowing sealing liquid to the (at least) one annular channel (26) and/or the back-flowing volume flow is less than a preset threshold value.
19. Assembly as per one of aforementioned claims, characterized in that a means for adjusting or controlling of the (at least) one siphon seal (9) inflowing volume-flow of the sealing liquid to the (at least) one siphon seal (9) is provided in a supply line (41) connected to the (at least) one inlet point (32) of the (at least) one siphon seal (9).
20. Assembly as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized by there being at least one sensor unit (40) for the constant analysis of the back-flowing sealing liquid, in particular for the determining of the concentration of a sterilization medium in the sealing liquid, via which the back-flowing sealing liquid gets into the reservoir (4) or to a device for preparing the sealing liquid.
21. Assembly as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized by several sealing arrangements on respectively one intersection between a rotating and a fixed machine element (11, 19) each having at least one siphon seal (9), whereby all of the siphon seals (9) are supplied with the sealing liquid from one common reservoir (34).
22. Assembly as per Claim 21 characterized in that the means for adjusting and/or controlling of the flow volume of the inflowing sealing liquid are provided independently in the supply line (41) of each siphon seal.
23. Assembly as per Claim 21 or 22, characterized in that a common pump (39) is assigned to all of the siphon seals (9) or groups of such seals.
24. Assembly as per one of the aforementioned claims characterized in that its own flow meter (44) is fitted to the (at least) one outlet point (33) or to the return flow of each siphon seal connected to this outlet point (33).
25. Assembly as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the reservoir (34) for supplying the siphon seals (9) is at the same time the reservoir for collecting the re-circulated sealing liquid.
26. Assembly as per one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the means (35, 36, 37, 38) for adjusting and controlling of a preset concentration of sterilization medium or for the replenishment of the sterilization medium are provided on the reservoir (34).

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