IL200946A - Device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (10) for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry has a container (12), the interior (16) of which may be filled with a liquid (18) and be connected to the valve interior to be monitored in a fluid-conducting fashion, wherein the container (12) has an upper part (22) and a lower part (24) connected to one another, and a compensating container (14) that is connected to the interior (16) of the container (12) via a compensating line (60). The upper part (22) and lower part (24) are held together by a connecting element embodied as a screw (38), with an elongated screw shaft (40) of the screw (38) extending from a bottom (28) of the lower part (24) through the interior (16) of the container (12) to the upper part (22). The compensating container (14) is disposed under the bottom (28) of the lower part (24), with the compensating line (60) extending from an upper region (58) of the interior (16) of the container (12) through the bottom (28) of the lower part (24).

Description

JWttlfl OWN OWVV *?V >tt>30 p^ t 1W i )pTlt Device for monitoring a hermetically seald valve interior SUEDMO Holding GmbH C. 195709 Device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior The invention relates to a device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry, comprising a container, the interior of which can be filled with a liquid and be connected to the valve interior to be monitored in a liquid-conducting fashion, wherein the container has an upper part and a lower part connected to one another, and comprising a compensating vessel, which is connected to the interior of the container via a compensating line.

Such a device is known from document DE 44 19 487 Al.

A device of the type stated in the introduction serves, for example, to monitor the interior of a valve bellows of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry for a possible leak.

Aseptic valves for the chemical or food industry usually have a valve bellows or a diaphragm in order to separate the drive of one or more shut-off members in a hermetically sealed manner from the interior of the valve housing in which a chemical or food product flows, such that the product and possible product carryovers are prevented from coming into contact with the atmosphere. Through contact of the product with the external atmosphere, the product may get contaminated.

In a continuous process, the leak-tightness and integrity of the valve bellows or diaphragm must be constantly monitored for process reliability reasons, which object is served by the device stated in the introduction.

For monitoring purposes, the valve bellows interior (diaphragm interior) is filled with a physiologically harmless liquid, usually glycerol. The valve bellows interior is connected via a connecting line to the container of the device named in the introduction, the interior of the container likewise being filled with the same liquid which is present in the valve bellows interior. When the aseptic valve is operated, the valve bellows is compressed and expanded in accordance with the stroke of the shut-off member between the open setting and the closed setting. When the valve bellows is compressed, liquid is accordingly displaced into the container, and when the valve bellows is expanded, liquid flows, conversely, out of the container into the valve bellows interior. In the regular state of the valve bellows, the valve bellows interior and the interior of the container form a closed, outwardly sealed system.

In the regular state of the valve bellows, the liquid level in the container varies between a maximum and a minimum value in accordance with the closed setting and open setting of the valve, the fill level in the container being permanently registered.

If a defect, for example a tear in the valve bellows, now occurs, the maximum fill level or the minimum fill level changes in the container when the valve is operated, which triggers a corresponding fault message. It may also be, however, that the defect in the valve bellows does not manifest itself in a change in maximum and minimum fill level in the container. For this purpose, the liquid in the container is also additionally monitored with respect to its electrical conductance, which changes when a product infiltrates into the valve bellows interior and then makes its way into the container.

In accordance with the fill level of the liquid, which varies in the container based on the switching movements of the valve, air which is present above the liquid must be displaced from the interior of the container into the compensating vessel, for which purpose the compensating vessel is connected in a gas-conducting manner to the air space in the interior of the container. The compensating vessel, when it is realized as a bellows, performs a "breathing" movement, i.e. expands and contracts, in accordance with the change in fill level, according to whether air is displaced into the compensating vessel or flows back from the compensating vessel back into the air space in the interior of the container. The compensating vessel thus constitutes with the interior of the container also a closed system.

In the monitoring device known from the above-cited document DE 44 19 487 Al, the upper part and the lower part are fastened together at their connecting point by means of a strap. The compensating vessel is disposed laterally above the container, the compensating line extending from the underside of the compensating vessel, in the manner of a tube arch, to a lateral connector in the upper region of the lower part of the container. The connecting line between the container and the one or more valve bellows to be monitored is connected to the underside of the base of the lower part of the container.

The known monitoring device has the drawback that the leak-tightness of the connection between the upper part and the lower part is not reliably ensured by the clamp and, in addition, the sealing between the compensating vessel and the container interior calls for additional seals. Moreover, the spatial requirement of the known monitoring device is disadvantageous^ large, since the compensating vessel is disposed beside the container.

The object of the invention is therefore to refine a device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior, in particular the valve bellows interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry of the type stated in the introduction, to such effect that the above-described drawbacks are avoided, in particular a compact construction is achieved and, in addition, the necessary leak-tightness of the container, on the one hand, and of the system comprising compensating vessel and container, is ensured with just a few parts.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with respect to the device stated in the introduction by virtue of the fact that the upper part and the lower part are held together by a connecting element configured as a screw, an elongated screw shaft of the screw extending from a base of the lower part through the interior of the container to the upper part, and that the compensating vessel is disposed below the base of the lower part, and that the compensating line extends from an upper region of the interior of the container through the base of the lower part.

The monitoring device according to the invention is based on a new concept with respect to the connection of the upper part to the lower part, on the one hand, and the arrangement of the compensating vessel, on the other hand.

The upper part and the lower part of the container of the monitoring device according to the invention are held together by a screw, the elongated screw shaft of which extends from the base of the lower part to the upper part, and the upper part and the lower part are pressed firmly one against the other by tensile forces acting oppositely on both parts. The leak-tightness between the upper part and the lower part is thus reliably ensured.

The compensating vessel of the monitoring device according to the invention is now no longer located to the side of the container, but under the base of the lower part, whereby the transverse dimensions of the monitoring device according to the invention are markedly reduced relative to the known device. In order that the compensat- ing vessel can communicate with the air-filled or gas-filled space in the interior of the container during operation of the device, the compensating line extends from the compensating vessel through the interior of the container and, in the filled state of the container, through the liquid into an upper region of the interior of the container, where it opens out into the air or gas space. The compensating line, too, is thus integrated in a space-saving manner in the container, instead of being run past the side of the container and connected to the interior via a lateral connector in the upper region of the container. The leak-tightness of the system comprising container interior/compensating vessel can thus be easily realized.

The monitoring device according to the invention is thus distinguished, in particular, by a very compact construction, which, in addition, meets high leak-tightness requirements.

In a preferred embodiment, the compensating line is formed by a cavity which is present on the inner side of the screw shaft and opens out into the upper region of the interior of the container.

In this embodiment, the screw additionally assumes the function of the compensating line between the container interior and the compensating vessel, whereby, advantageously, a further component for the compensating line is spared. The further advantage of this measure consists in the screw being able to exercise the additional function of an overflow for the liquid present in the container when, say, the liquid rises in the interior of the container as a result of the infiltration of product from the monitored valve bellows interior.

As an alternative to the previously stated embodiment, it is preferred if the compensating line is formed by a hollow tube which surrounds the screw shaft and opens out into the upper region of the interior of the container.

This measure has the advantage over the previously stated measure that the screw shaft of the screw can be of solid configuration. The hollow tube can preferably be configured in one piece with the base of the lower part or can be connected thereto by a substantive bond, for example by being welded on.

In a further preferred embodiment, the screw shaft is inserted from below through the base of the lower part and is screwed to a thread on the upper part, a screw head of the screw bearing against the underside of the base of the lower part.

In this advantageous embodiment, the upper part and the lower part are clamped together by means of a single screw without additional nuts or the like, and thus with minimal use of parts, since the counterthread for the screw is configured in the upper part itself, for example as an internal thread, while that end of the screw shaft which lies opposite the screw head is correspondingly provided with an external thread. The screw head presses from below against the base of the lower part and thus reliably clamps the lower part to the base part. A further advantage of the described embodiment consists in the fact that a broadly smooth surface of the AVU is achieved, whereby cleanability is optimized. There are, as far as possible, no undercuts, no ponding and no overlaps of components.

In connection with the previously stated embodiment, it is further preferred if the compensating vessel is fixed to the screw head in a gas-tight manner.

The compensating vessel is usually configured in the form of a Teflon or elastomer bellows, one end of which, for example, is detachably fixed in a peripheral groove on the screw head. The compensating vessel is thus seated immediately close to the base of the lower part, thereby further reducing the spatial requirement of the device according to the invention.

In a further preferred embodiment, the compensating line has a bore which passes axially through the screw head and opens out into the compensating vessel.

This embodiment is advantageous, particularly in conjunction with the previously stated embodiment, since the screw head, in addition to the clamping function between upper part and lower part, forms a part of the compensating line, so that the compensating vessel communicates with the interior of the container via the screw head and the above-stated hollow tube or the screw shaft itself. In this embodiment, the device according to the invention possesses a minimum of components, since a number of functions are assigned to the individual components provided.

In particular, two or more such bores can be provided on the screw head, which can then simultaneously serve for the application of a spanner, for example a face spanner, for tightening or loosening the screw in the course of assembly or when the container is opened for maintenance or cleaning purposes.

In a further preferred embodiment, the compensating vessel has at its free end an end plate, which detaches itself if an overpressure in the compensating vessel exceeds a predefined pressure.

In this embodiment, the compensating vessel advantageously also assumes the function of a pressure relief device, in that the end plate is easily blasted off in the event of an overpressure. Such an overpressure situation can arise, in the event of a malfunction of the monitored valve bellows interior, if product infiltrates into the container under high pressure, whereupon the product then makes its way via the compensating line into the compensating vessel, in which the pressure then rises to the point where the end plate detaches itself and opens the compensating vessel to the environment. The discharge direction is oriented downward and defined. This constitutes a safety aspect. The diverted product is expelled downward in a defined manner and can be led off accordingly.

In a further preferred embodiment, the lower part has a base part forming the base of the lower part, an inside base surface of the base part having a downslope extending radially outward, and a preferably pivotable connector for a connecting line to the valve interior to be monitored being disposed, preferably laterally, on the base part.

The design of the base, which slopes down from the middle of the base toward the rim of the container, prevents pools from being formed in the container, in particular allows the container to be completely emptied without significant liquid residues.

In a further preferred embodiment, the lower part has a transparent peripheral wall extending essentially from the base to the upper part.

This measure, which is known per se, has the advantage of a visual control of the liquid in the interior of the container.

In this context, it is additionally preferred if on the inner side of the upper part there is disposed a light source for illuminating the interior of the container.

This measure now has the particular advantage that the interior of the container can be illuminated during operation, whereby the above-stated visual control, in particular in low-light environments, is ensured. As the light source, one or more light emitting diodes, radiating white or colored light, can be used. The light source, by virtue of an appropriate control system, can also serve as indicator of a fault situation, in that should a fault be registered, for example, e.g. an unallowed variation in fill level or electrical conductance, the light source switches over from the continuous operation to an intermittent operation.

In a further preferred embodiment, the upper part has a measuring module with control electronics for measuring one or more states of the liquid in the interior of the container, the upper part having a lid part to which the measuring module is detachably fastened.

It is here advantageous that the measuring instruments for fill level measurement and electrical conductance measurement which are provided in the known monitoring device are amalgamated into a measuring module, which can be removed from the lid part of the upper part for maintenance and repair purposes. The detachable fastening is preferably realized by means of a screw joint. The measuring module is preferably fully encapsulated by potting and can, in particular, bear the above-stated light source.

Further advantages derive from the following description and the appended drawing.

Self-evidently, the above-stated features and those yet to be described below can be used not only in the combination respectively specified, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is represented in the single figure of the drawing.

In the figure, a device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior, in particular a valve bellows interior or sleeve interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry, is represented, which device is provided with the general reference symbol 10. A valve interior of this kind, for example a valve interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food industry, is represented in document DE 44 19 487 Al, the disclosure of which in this regard, through direct reference, is contained in the present disclosure.

The device 10 has generally a container 12 and a compensating vessel 14, which latter is preferably configured as a compensating bellows.

The container 12 has an interior 16, which, during operation of the device 10, is filled with a liquid 18, for example glycerol, up to a maximum fill level 20, the same liquid being found in the valve interior to be monitored.

The container 12 has an upper part 22 and a lower part 24, which are connected to one another in a sealed manner.

The lower part 24 has a base part 26 having a base 28. The lower part 24 additionally has a transparent peripheral wall 30, through which the liquid 18 can be observed. The peripheral wall 30, which accordingly forms an inspection glass, is configured as a tube, which is preferably made of polysulphohe.

The peripheral wall 30 is connected at its lower end in a sealed manner to an annular flange 32 of the base part 26, for example by gluing.

The peripheral wall 30 extends from the base part 26 to the upper part 22.

The upper part 22 has a lid part 34 and a measuring module 36, which latter is further described below.

The upper part 22 and the lower part 24 are connected to one another and held firmly together by a connecting element configured as a screw 38. The screw 38 has an elongated screw shaft 40 and a screw head 42. The screw 38 is thus configured, in its entirety, in single-part or one-piece construction.

The screw shaft 40 is guided through the base 28 of the lower part 24 through an appropriate bore 44 in the latter and extends up to the upper part 22, or more precisely, the lid part 34 of the upper part 22. The screw shaft 40 is screwed to the lid part 34 via a thread 46, which is an external thread, for which purpose the lid part 34 has a corresponding, internally threaded blind bore 48.

In the tightened state of the screw 38, the screw head 42 bears against the underside of the base 28, with the possible additional provision of an appropriate seal.

The compensating vessel 14 is disposed below the base 28 in the immediate vicinity thereof. The compensating vessel 14 is fixed, by its end facing the base 28, to the screw head 42, for which purpose the screw head 42 has a peripheral groove 50, in which the base 28-facing end of a bellows wall 52 of the compensating ves'sel 14 engages in a gas-tight manner. . _ At the end facing away from the base 28, the compensating vessel 14 has an end plate 54, which is connected to the bellows wall 52 in a detachable, yet gas-tight manner. If, in the interior 56 of the compensating vessel 14, a pressure builds up which exceeds a predefined pressure, the end plate 54 is blasted off and the interior 56 is then open to the environment of the compensating vessel 14.

The compensating vessel 14, or more precisely its interior 56, communicates with an upper region 58 of the interior 16 of the container 12, in which, in the regular' operating state of the device 10, a gas or air is present. The compensating vessel 14 communicates with the upper region 58 of the interior 16 of the container 12 via a compensating line 60. The compensating line 60 is configured as a hollow tube 62, which surrounds the screw shaft 40. The hollow tube 62 has in the upper region 58 of the interior 16 a mouth 64.

The hollow tube 62 has an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the screw shaft 40, so that a channel 66 remains between the screw shaft 40 and the hollow tube 62, through which air or gas, or even liquid 18 in the event of a fault occurrence, for example a leak in the monitored valve interior, can stream or flow down into the compensating vessel 14. The compensating line 60 further has one or, in this case, two bores 68a and 68b passing through the screw head 42, which bores extend axially through the saew head 42 and open out into the compensating vessel 14, or more precisely into the interior 56 thereof.

As shown in the figure, the hollow tube 62 can be configured in one piece with the base 28 of the lower part 24, or can be integrally connected to the base 28, for example by welding. The compensating line 60 passes correspondingly through the base 28, to be precise through the bore 44 through which the screw shaft 40 is guided. The bore 44 then opens out into the bores 68a and 68b in the screw head 42.

The bores 68a and 68b additionally serve for the application of a face spanner for tightening or loosening the screw 38 in the assembly or dismantling of the container 12.

In place of the configuration of the compensating line 60 as a hollow tube 62 surrounding the screw shaft 40, the compensating line can also be realized by configuring the screw shaft 40 itself as a hollow tube, which screw shaft correspondingly has a mouth in the upper region.

An internal base surface 70 of the base 28 has a downslope from inside to out in the radial direction, a connector 72 being disposed on the side of the base part 26 for connecting a connecting line 74 to the monitored valve interior. The connector 72 is configured pivotably about a swivel axis 76.

For the sealing of the lower part 24 against the upper part 22, only a seal 78, for example a ring seal, is necessary, which is seated between the upper end of the peripheral wall 30 and the upper part 22, the upper part 22 and the lower part 24 being held firmly together by the screw 38 by mutual tension and the seal 78 accordingly being enclosed in a tight and hence sealing manner.

The measuring module 36 is detachably connected to the lid part 34 via a screw joint, in the shown illustrative embodiment the screw joint having a nut 80, which is screwed onto a downward-extending, externally threaded continuation of the lid part 34. A further ring seal 82 seals the interior 16 radially inside against the upper part 22.

The measuring module 36 has a measuring finger 84 with sensors 86 and 88 for measuring the fill level and also the electrical conductance of the liquid 18.

The measuring module 36 is preferably fully encapsulated by potting.

The measuring module 36 bears one or more light emitting diodes 90, which emit white light or, in particular, colored light and thus illuminate and shine through the interior 16 and the liquid 18. The fill level of the liquid 18 in the interior 16 can thus be particularly easily checked by visual means.

Furthermore, the LEDs 88, 90 can be connected such that, should a fault state be registered by the sensors 86, 88, they switch over from a continuously lighting operation into an intermittently lighting operation, i.e. flash, thereby creating a visual fault indicator.

Finally, on the upper part 22 there is additionally disposed a socket 92 for the connection of a cable for supplying voltage to and controlling the measuring module 36.

Claims (1)

1. Patent claims A device for monitoring a hermetically sealed valve interior of an aseptic valve for the chemical or food comprising a container the interior which can be filled with a liquid and be connected to the valve terior to be monitored in a wherein the container an upper part and a lower part connected to one and comprising a compensating vessel which is connected to the interior of the container a compensating line that the upper part and the lower part are held together by a connecting element configured as a screw an elongated screw shaft the screw extending from a base the lower part through the interior of the container to the upper part and in that the compensating sel disposed below the 0f the lower part and in that the compensating line extends from an upper region the interior of the container through the base the lower part The device of claim characterized in that the compensating line is formed by a cavity which is present on the inner side of the screw shaft and opens out into the upper region the interior the container The device of claim characterized in that the compensating line is formed by a hollow tube surrounds the screw shaft opens out into the upper region the interior οί the container The device of any one of claims 1 through characterized in that the screw shaft inserted from below through the of the lower part and is screwed to a thread on the upper part a screw head the screw bearing against the underside of the base the lower part The device of claim characterized in that the compensating vessel is fixed to the screw head a The device of claim 4 or characterized in that the compensating line has a bore which passes axially through the screw head and opens out into the compensating vessel The device of any one of claims 1 through characterized in that the pensating vessel has at its free end an end plate which detaches itself if an overpressure in the compensating vessel a predefined The device of any one of claims 1 through characterized in that the lower part has a base part iorming the base of the lower part an inside base surface of the base part having a downslope extending radially and a preferably pivotable connector 2 for a connecting line to the valve interior to be monitored being disposed on the base part The device of any one of claims 1 through characterized in that the lower part has a transparent peripheral wall essentially from the base p to the upper part The device of claim characterized in that on the inner side of the upper part there disposed a light source for illuminating the interior of the container The device of any one of claims 1 through characterized in that the upper part a measuring module with control electronics for measuring one or more states of the liquid the interior the container the upper part a lid to which the measuring module is detachably insufficientOCRQuality