JP4440549B2 - Valve with isolation membrane body and method for detecting breakage of isolation membrane body - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a valve with an isolation film body, and more particularly to a damage detection mechanism and a damage detection method for the isolation film body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The filling valve that opens and closes the opening of the nozzle that fills the contents of the container and the plug valve that opens and closes the opening of the food supply port or drainage port of the food tank prevent invasion of germs and foreign substances from the opening. Therefore, on the contrary, the valve opening side and the valve operating side are formed of a deformable material such as a diaphragm or a bellows in order to prevent contents from entering the valve operating side. Isolation with an isolation film body is performed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-44601 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Publication 1-18482 [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent No. 3214113 [Patent Document 4]
JP-A-2001-219996 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The isolation membrane used in the above filling valve and plug valve is a cleaning liquid heated to a desired temperature on the opening side for cleaning or sterilization or a sterilizing liquid such as hydrogen peroxide or steam, and heated aseptic air for drying. May be rapidly deteriorated by flowing, and the like, and may be damaged by repeated deformation due to repeated opening and closing, and a small hole may be opened.
When a small hole is opened in the isolation film body, there is a possibility that germs and foreign substances may be mixed into the container or tank from the small hole. In particular, in the aseptic filling method, since the sterilization step to be performed after filling the container with the contents and sealing the container is omitted, it is conceivable that in the worst case, the contents liquid will rot. In addition, the isolation membrane used for the valve is often arranged so that it cannot be seen from the outside due to its configuration, and periodic disassembly and inspection is necessary to confirm damage to the isolation membrane. It was. Therefore, there has been a demand for a valve that can easily detect breakage of the isolation film body and a breakage detection method thereof.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a valve and a breakage detection method capable of detecting breakage of an isolation film body with a very simple configuration.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a valve with an isolation film body according to the present invention is provided with a fluid passage portion serving as a fluid passage inside, and a plug body for opening and closing the outlet or / and the inlet of the fluid passage portion. Means, a moving means for moving the plug body means forward and backward, and an isolation film body fixed to the wall of the plug body means and the fluid passage portion and deformed in accordance with the movement of the plug body means, The outlet or / and inlet is closed when the plug means advance, and the outlet or / and inlet is opened and the outlet or / and inlet is opened and closed when the plug means is retracted. In addition, in the valve with a separation membrane body that separates the fluid passage portion side and the moving means side from each other by the separation membrane body, the stopper body continuously extends from the wall of the fluid passage portion in the backward direction of the plug body means. hand stage, a space integral with the moving unit及 beauty said separator member As formed, is formed into a bottomed cylindrical cross-section concave shape, the outer peripheral surface of the tubular is exposed to the outside, and said closure body means and said moving means by penetrating the moving means at its bottom And a housing part provided with an air vent hole that directly communicates the space and the outside, and a temperature that is installed in the housing part via the air vent hole and detects the temperature of the space in the housing part Detecting means, and detecting breakage of the isolation film body based on temperature information in the housing portion measured by the temperature detecting means.
[0007]
The method for detecting breakage of a separation membrane body according to the present invention includes a fluid passage portion serving as a fluid passage inside, plug means for opening and closing the outlet or / and the inlet of the fluid passage portion, and the stopper A moving means for moving the means forward and backward, and an isolation film body fixed to the wall of the plug means and the fluid passage portion and deformed in accordance with the movement of the plug means, and when the plug means is advanced The outlet or / and inlet is closed, and the outlet or / and inlet is opened and closed when the plug means is retracted, and the outlet or / and inlet is opened and closed. in separator body with valve for isolating said moving means side to the fluid passage portion side, the plug body hand stage, so as to form a space integral with said moving means及 beauty the separator body, the cross-sectional concave shape It is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and its cylindrical outer peripheral surface is exposed to the outside And the housing portion and by connecting the said closure body means and said moving means by penetrating the moving means, the vent holes and direct communication between the space and the outside is provided at the bottom thereof, the housing A method for detecting breakage of an isolation membrane body in a valve with an isolation membrane body provided with a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of a space in the housing portion installed through the air vent hole in the portion, When a fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature is passing, the temperature information of the space in the housing part is measured, and the measured temperature information is compared with the normal reference temperature information measured in advance. By this, the breakage of the isolation film body is detected.
[0008]
Further, in the above-described method for detecting breakage of the separator film, the measured temperature information is temperature information after a predetermined time has elapsed since a fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature starts to pass through the fluid passage, The reference temperature information is reference temperature information after a predetermined time has elapsed since a fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature starts to pass through the fluid passage, and the measured temperature information is higher than the reference temperature information. It is preferable to determine that there is damage to the isolation film body.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The valve with a separator according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a valve with a separator according to the present invention. The valve 10 with a separator according to the present invention includes a fluid passage portion 12 serving as a fluid passage in a liquid state or a gas state, and a plug means (plug body) for opening and closing the inlet 16 of the fluid passage portion 12. 24), moving means (rod 28, air cylinder 26) for moving the plug body 24, and the isolation film body 14 deformed in accordance with the movement of the plug body 24. The isolation film body 14 isolates the fluid passage portion 12 side from the moving means side. Further, a housing part 20 is installed on the moving means side so as to surround the isolation film body 14, and a temperature detection means (temperature sensor 22) is provided in the housing part 20.
[0010]
In this embodiment, as a plug body means for opening and closing the valve, a plug body 24 that is fitted into the inlet 16 and closes the inlet 16 is provided. Further, as moving means for moving the plug 24, a rod 28 connected to the plug 24 and an air cylinder 26 connected to the rod 28 are provided. The plug 24 is moved by the air cylinder 26 to open and close the valve. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the plug 24 is open, and fluid flows through the fluid passage portion 12. In other words, the fluid is discharged from the inlet 16 of the valve connected to the outlet 46 of the tank or the like, through the fluid passage portion 12 and from the drain pipe 30 connected to the outlet 18 of the valve.
[0011]
The isolation film body 14 is fixed to the plug body 24 on the plug body 24 side by a pressing plate 32, and the outer edge side is fixed to the housing portion 20. In this manner, the isolation membrane body 14 blocks the fluid passage portion 12 from the moving means side of the valve on which the air cylinder 26 and the like are installed. That is, a part of the boundary of the space forming the fluid passage portion 12 is formed by the isolation film body 14. Moreover, the housing part 20 is installed so that the isolation membrane body 14 and the rod 28 may be enclosed by the moving means side. The housing portion 20 is provided with an air vent hole 34 for smooth movement of the plug body 24, and the temperature sensor 22 is installed at the air vent hole 34.
[0012]
The above is the schematic configuration of the present invention. Next, each component will be described in detail. 1 and 2 show a valve with an isolation membrane according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the valve is opened, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the valve is closed. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are assigned to corresponding parts.
The inlet 16 of the fluid passage portion 12 of the valve 10 is used by being fixed to an outlet 46 such as a tank. The distal end of the plug 24 is surrounded by a ring-shaped packing 48. When the valve is closed, the distal end of the plug 24 is fitted into the inlet 16 as shown in FIG. Stopped. The plug 24 is connected to an air cylinder 26 via a rod 28, and the plug 24 is opened and closed by the air cylinder 26. The isolation film body 14 is configured to be deformable with the movement of the plug body 24. The separator 14 may have a conventionally known configuration such as an ethylene propylene rubber bellows or diaphragm reinforced with aramid fibers.
[0013]
In addition, a housing part 20 is provided so as to surround the isolation film body 14 and the rod 28, and the isolation film body 14 is pressed against the plug body 24 by a pressing plate 32 and is airtightly fixed to the plug body 24. The outer edge side is airtightly fixed to the housing part 20. In this way, the isolation film body 14 is configured to block the fluid passage portion 12 from the outside in an airtight manner. A cylindrical guide tube 36 is provided between the rod 28 and the plug 24, and the isolation film member 14 is deformed so as to wrap the guide tube 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
Further, the housing part 20 is provided with an air vent hole 34, and therefore, the deformation of the isolation film body 14 accompanying opening and closing of the plug body 24 is facilitated.
[0014]
When the air cylinder 26 contracts, as shown in FIG. 1, the plug 24 is disengaged from the inlet 16 of the valve, and the drain pipe 30 connected to the outlet 18 of the valve and the tank connected to the valve A discharge port 46 communicates with the remaining liquid, cleaning liquid, etc. in the tank. At this time, the isolation film body 14 is deformed along the inside of the housing part 20 and the outside of the guide tube 36, the air in the housing part 20 is discharged from the air vent hole 34, and the air in the housing part 20 is deformed of the isolation film body. It is the composition which does not inhibit. In contrast, when the air cylinder 26 is extended to close the inlet 16 of the valve, as shown in FIG. 2, air flows in from the air vent hole 34 so that the isolation membrane body 14 wraps around the guide cylinder 36 and is plugged. 24 fits into the inlet 16 of the valve and seals the outlet 46 of the tank.
[0015]
The characteristic part of the present invention resides in that a temperature detecting means is provided on the moving means side outside the fluid passage portion separated by the isolation film body. A method for detecting breakage of the separator film will be described below.
First, the time change of the temperature in the housing is measured in advance with the isolation film body in a normal state. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the time change of the temperature in the housing part 20 is measured when a high-temperature fluid (cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid heated to a normal state) flows through the fluid passage part 12. To do. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the isolation film body. FIG. 3 (a) schematically shows a normal state, and FIG. 3 (b) schematically shows a damaged state.
[0016]
The setting of the reference temperature information is performed by measuring the temperature in the housing part at the normal time as shown in FIG. The temperature in the housing portion is determined by heat conduction through the wall of the isolation membrane body or the valve, and shows a temperature and a temperature change specific to the valve. The temperature rise graph in the predetermined time range measured in this way, the temperature at a certain time point, etc. are set as reference temperature information by the setting means 40 and stored in the storage means 42 such as a memory included in the computer 38. The reference temperature information may be set automatically by sending temperature measurement data from the temperature sensor 22 to the setting means 40 of the computer 38.
[0017]
Detection of the breakage of the isolation film body is performed by comparison with the reference temperature information obtained as described above. As shown in FIG. 1, a time change in the temperature inside the housing portion 20 is measured by the temperature sensor 22 in the housing portion 20 in a state where a high-temperature fluid flows in the fluid passage portion 12. This measured temperature information is sent to and stored in the storage means 42 in the computer 38. Therefore, the reference temperature information stored in advance and the measured temperature information are compared by the comparison means 44 in the computer 38 to detect the presence or absence of damage.
[0018]
The presence or absence of breakage is confirmed by comparing the characteristics of temperature information such as temperature at a predetermined time. FIG. 3B schematically shows a state where the separator film body is damaged. If there is a damaged part in the isolation film body, the temperature change measured in the predetermined time range shows a more rapid change than the temperature change in the normal state, and the temperature in the housing part is always higher than the normal state. . This is because, in addition to the temperature change inherent to the valve as described above, heat transfer due to fluid leakage from the damaged portion is added as shown in FIG. As described above, the temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature change caused by the fluid leaking from the damaged part directly contacting the temperature sensor 22 or the indirect temperature change in the housing part caused by the fluid leak, thereby enabling the damage detection. Become.
[0019]
Since the temperature change in the normal state and the temperature change in the case of breakage have a remarkable and stable difference within a certain time range, it is preferable to measure the temperature change within the time range.
As described above, in the valve with the isolation film body according to the present invention, since the temperature detection means is provided on the outside of the isolation film body, the damage of the isolation film body can be detected with a simple configuration. In addition, according to the method for detecting breakage of the isolation film body of the present invention, it is possible to detect the breakage of the isolation film body, which can be found only by periodic disassembly and inspection of the valve, without disassembling the valve.
It is also possible to connect the air cylinder to a computer and automatically close the valve when a breakage is detected, or to generate a warning signal.
[0020]
【Example】
The valve with a separator according to the present invention can be used for a plug valve, a filling valve and the like. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the valve with a separator according to the present invention is attached to a drain port of a tank of an aseptic filling apparatus as a plug valve. The aseptic filling device is used for filling a food content liquid in a container such as a plastic cup or a basket. The valve 10 of the present invention is attached to the discharge port 46 of the tank 50.
The upper side wall of the tank 50 has a gas inlet 52 for filling the tank 50 with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas to protect the content liquid from oxidation, and the lower side wall of the tank 50 enters the tank 50. A content liquid supply port 54 for supplying the content liquid is provided.
[0021]
A filling valve 56 is provided at the bottom of the tank 50, and the filling valve 56 is capable of quantitative filling by a ring-shaped outer piston 58 and a central cylindrical inner piston 60.
Further, a stirring plate 62 having an arc-shaped cross section with a hole is suspended in the tank 50, and the stirring plate 62 is moved up and down by an air cylinder (not shown) to transfer the content liquid into the container. When filling, the content liquid in the tank 50 is prevented from being precipitated. Further, superheated steam from the nozzle 68 is passed through the slide bearing 66 of the rod 64 that supports the stirring plate 62 so that germs and foreign substances do not enter the tank 50 from the slide bearing 66.
[0022]
The test of the damage detection method of the present invention was performed with the above-described configuration. However, the tank had a capacity of 100 liters, was equipped with 7 filling valves and 5 plug valves with a diameter of about 50 mm. One of the plug valves was used as a valve of the present invention, and the temperature change in the housing portion was measured. FIG. 5 is a graph showing temperature changes in a normal state and in a state in which the isolation film body is damaged. The horizontal axis is time (seconds), and the vertical axis is temperature (° C.).
A graph A in FIG. 5 shows a change in temperature in a normal state, and a graph B shows a change in temperature when a 10 mm slit is formed in the separator and a damaged separator is assumed. .
[0023]
First, with the valve closed, in order to sterilize the tank, superheated steam at 130 ° C. was supplied into the tank at a pressure of 0.2 MPa and an amount of 500 kg / hour from a pipe 69 installed near the ceiling of the tank (FIG. 4). The valve was opened 180 seconds after the superheated steam was supplied into the tank, and the supply of superheated steam was stopped after 2540 seconds.
[0024]
In 0 seconds when superheated steam is started to be supplied to the tank, both the graph A and the graph B exhibit a room temperature of about 20 ° C. Then, when the valve plug was opened after about 180 seconds, in graph A (normal state), the temperature started to increase after about 60 seconds. Further, in a valve having a normal isolation film body, the temperature change in the housing is due to heat conduction through the isolation film body and the wall surface of the valve, and therefore, a moderate temperature change is shown together with the effect of heat radiation from the valve surface. That is, as can be seen from the graph A, the temperature gradually rises to about 100 ° C. while showing a rise and fall in a range of about 5 ° C. due to heat transferred by heat conduction and heat radiation from the surface. After the supply of superheated steam is stopped, the temperature decreases due to heat dissipation. The superheated steam becomes water and is discharged from the drain pipe of the valve.
[0025]
On the other hand, in graph B (when a slit is inserted in the separator film and damage is assumed), the temperature rises more rapidly in a shorter time than graph A after the valve is opened due to, for example, direct leakage of superheated steam from the slit, The temperature in the housing jumped to about 120 ° C. Further, in the case of graph B, the temperature finally increased to about 130 ° C., which is the temperature of superheated steam, and reached equilibrium there. After the supply of superheated steam is stopped, the temperature decreases as in the case of graph A.
[0026]
In the case of the apparatus of the present embodiment, even if the separator film body is smallly damaged, normal isolation is performed between 500 seconds and 1000 seconds after starting the supply of superheated steam (320 seconds to 820 seconds after opening the valve). The temperature difference in the housing between the one with the membrane body (graph A) and the one with the damaged separator membrane body (graph B) becomes stable and remarkable. Therefore, it is preferable to set the temperature information during this period as reference temperature information (graph A) and compare the reference temperature information with measured temperature information measured during this time (graph B) to detect the presence or absence of breakage. That is, the temperature information in a predetermined time range between 500 seconds and 1000 seconds after the supply of superheated steam is compared, and the presence or absence of breakage is detected by detecting the state where the measured temperature information is higher than the reference temperature information. . In the case of the apparatus of the present embodiment, the reference temperature information (graph A) for 500 seconds to 1000 seconds after the supply of superheated steam is 50 ° C. to 85 ° C., and the measured temperature information (graph B) is 120 ° C. to 130 ° C. Since it is ° C., there is a difference of 45 ° C. or more, so damage is reliably detected.
In the present embodiment, the valve with a separator according to the present invention is used as a plug valve, but it is obvious that the valve may be applied to a filling valve.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the valve with an isolation film body of the present invention, it is possible to easily detect the breakage of the isolation film body by providing the temperature detection means on the moving means side. In addition, according to the method for detecting breakage of the isolation film body of the present invention, it is possible to detect breakage of the isolation film body without detecting the valve by disassembling and checking the temperature information in the housing portion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a valve with a separator according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a valve with a separator according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a separation membrane body portion of the valve.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tank equipped with a valve with a separator film according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a temperature change inside the housing.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Valve with isolation membrane body 12 ... Fluid passage part 14 ... Isolation film body 16 ... Inlet 18 ... Outlet 20 ... Housing part 22 ... Temperature sensor 24 ... Plug body 26 ... Air cylinder 28 ... Rod

Claims (3)

A fluid passage portion serving as a fluid passage; plug means for opening and closing the outlet or / and inlet of the fluid passage portion; moving means for moving the stopper means forward and backward; and the stopper An isolation membrane that is fixed to the body means and the wall of the fluid passage portion and deforms as the plug means moves, and closes the outlet or / and the inlet when the plug means advances. When the plug means is retracted, the outlet or / and the inlet is opened to open / close the outlet or / and the inlet, and the fluid passage section side and the moving means side are separated by the isolation film body. In a valve with an isolating membrane to isolate,
To backward direction of said closure member means continuously from the wall of the fluid passage portion, the plug body hand stage, so as to form a space integral with said moving means及 beauty the separator body, closed cross-sectional concave shape It is formed in a bottom cylindrical shape, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shape is exposed to the outside, and the stopper means and the moving means are connected by penetrating the moving means at the bottom, and the space A housing part provided with an air vent hole that directly communicates with the outside;
A temperature detecting means that is installed in the housing part through the air vent hole and detects the temperature of the space in the housing part;
The isolation membrane body-equipped valve is characterized in that breakage of the isolation membrane body is detected from temperature information in the housing portion measured by the temperature detection means. A fluid passage portion serving as a fluid passage; plug means for opening and closing the outlet or / and inlet of the fluid passage portion; moving means for moving the stopper means forward and backward; and the stopper An isolation membrane that is fixed to the body means and the wall of the fluid passage portion and deforms as the plug means moves, and closes the outlet or / and the inlet when the plug means advances. When the plug means is retracted, the outlet or / and the inlet is opened to open / close the outlet or / and the inlet, and the fluid passage section side and the moving means side are separated by the isolation film body. formed in the separator body valved to isolate, and to the retracted direction of said closure member means continuously from the wall of the fluid passage portion, the plug body hand stage, a space integral with said moving means及 beauty said separator member So that it is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with a concave cross section, and its cylindrical shape The outer peripheral surface is exposed to the outside, and by coupling the said closure body means and said moving means by penetrating the moving means, the vent holes and direct communication between the space and the outside is provided at the bottom thereof A method for detecting breakage of an isolation film body in a valve with an isolation film body comprising a housing portion and a temperature detection means that is installed in the housing portion through the air vent hole and detects the temperature of the space in the housing portion. And
When a fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature passes through the fluid passage, the temperature information of the space in the housing part is measured,
A method for detecting breakage of an isolation film body, wherein the breakage of the isolation film body is detected by comparing measured temperature information with reference temperature information measured in advance under normal conditions. In the method for detecting breakage of the separator film according to claim 2,
The measured temperature information is temperature information after a predetermined time has elapsed since a fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature starts to pass through the fluid passage.
The reference temperature information is reference temperature information after a predetermined time has elapsed since the fluid having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature starts to pass through the fluid passage.
A method for detecting breakage of an isolation film body, characterized in that when the measured temperature information is higher than the reference temperature information, the isolation film body is judged to be damaged.

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