WO2002073075A1 - Sanitary drain valve design - Google Patents
Sanitary drain valve design Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002073075A1 WO2002073075A1 PCT/US2001/007606 US0107606W WO02073075A1 WO 2002073075 A1 WO2002073075 A1 WO 2002073075A1 US 0107606 W US0107606 W US 0107606W WO 02073075 A1 WO02073075 A1 WO 02073075A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- diaphragm
- seal
- internal cavity
- sealing
- Prior art date
Links
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- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 109
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 96
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K51/00—Other details not peculiar to particular types of valves or cut-off apparatus
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K27/00—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor
- F16K27/07—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor of cutting-off parts of tanks, e.g. tank-cars
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K41/00—Spindle sealings
- F16K41/10—Spindle sealings with diaphragm, e.g. shaped as bellows or tube
- F16K41/103—Spindle sealings with diaphragm, e.g. shaped as bellows or tube the diaphragm and the closure member being integrated in one member
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to an improved sanitary valve design.
- the present invention is directed to a sanitary valve design that allows for free- drainage of process and sterilizing and cleaning materials.
- valves over time, a consequence of the selection of valves emphasizing design robustness and mechanical reliability over in- situ process cleanability and sterilizability.
- Cleaning and sterilizing followed by the initiation of process production may cause large deposits or accumulations to soften and slough or break off, getting blended into downstream process materials, representing significant contamination to the process.
- These large deposits are of particular concern because they represent contamination threats large enough to significantly affect product quality and process outcome even for processes traditionally considered very robust, such as some food, beverage and chemical production.
- Diaphragm valves with flexing diaphragms that allow valve actuation while isolating the process from moving valve parts and the surrounding outside environment, generally include less crevice areas and have smooth surfaces, all of which make them the best candidates available for use in CIP (clean-in-place) and SIP (steam sterilize-in-place) sanitary process applications.
- CIP clean-in-place
- SIP steam sterilize-in-place
- valves are relatively inexpensive to install and maintain and are simple and mechanically reliable. Furthermore, even though they have more crevices as compared to diaphragm valves, it had been thought that their benefits were greater than their weaknesses and their weaknesses were not so serious as to restrict their use in processes requiring CIP and SIP steps before each batch, particularly in the more robust, food, beverage and chemical processing applications. [0008] Inspection of valves commercially available today and of the background art reveal certain features common, not only to those drain valves making use of O-ring seals but also to both types of diaphragm drain valves. In particular, the seals formed between the valve body and the diaphragm or O-ring are made with the second, lower side of the bottom wall of the valve body internal cavity.
- the thickness of the bottom wall between the first (process) and second (non-process) sides form the wall of a well which is not possible to drain and serves to entrap and shelter process material, cleaning agents, rinse water and steam condensate.
- this well though' very large in diameter and, therefore, capable of harboring a large volume, relatively speaking, most areas can be washed clean except for the area immediately adjacent to the well wall.
- the problem associated with valves equipped with O-ring seals is, generally speaking, just the opposite.
- the wells above the seals tend to be very narrow because of the need for tight tolerances and a relatively close fit between the valve operating rod and O-ring/O-ring groove combination.
- the volume of the well tends to be much less, effective access for proper CIP and SIP procedure execution is not consistently possible.
- valves associated with the design of bottom seal devices are their general tendency to have at least partially flat bottom walls to the valve internal cavity. While these walls may make these valves easier to fabricate, flat surfaces do not contribute to achieving positive drainage of materials from within the valve. Standing fluids, in many instances, can be as large of a threat of contamination as entrapped material, sometimes more because of the presence of large amounts of water, an important ingredient for microbial proliferation.
- devices mentioned in this discussion may have certain weaknesses when used as drain valves or similar applications in sanitary processes, they may be perfectly adapted for other applications. It is the author's intent, however, to describe a valve design which includes several novel features which are flexible in concept and lend themselves to the improvement of more traditional drain valve designs.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an improved general valve design having good characteristics of process isolation and in-situ cleanability in many orientations as well as providing specific improvements in cleanability and drainability performance capabilities over the background art when used in conduit or tank bottom valve applications.
- Another benefit of the present invention is an improved, free-draining, cleaner sealing arrangement for tulip, kettle and other O-ring-based seal designs, it also being possible to clean and sterilize the sealing arrangement from the back, non-process side independently from the process side on a descript or continuous basis, even while the valve is being operated.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a valve that can be mounted directly on the bottom of a tank, and, in the diaphragm configuration, can provide absolute isolation of the process from the valve components and the outside surrounding environment. Furthermore, in the case of o-ring designs, the present invention can provide a high degree of isolation of the process from the valve components and the outside surrounding environment. [0014]
- a benefit of the device of the present invention is that it provides a smooth, crevice free flow path, which will permit very highly effective drainage of process material from a tank or conduit.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a design that can be flush- mounted, thereby eliminating the formation of dead zones at the inlet into the valve.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a valve design where process material, cleaning solutions, rinse water and steam condensate drains down and away from the seal formed between the valve body and the sealing body (diaphragm or O-ring), eliminating the undrainable well or sump area that occurs in the prior art where material collects and is difficult to remove.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an internal valve body design with a second inlet positioned in the same plane or above the outlet and directed so that flow from the second inlet flows into, around and out of the internal cavity of the valve in a circular or spiral path so as to provide improved CIP and SIP performance.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a design that can be actuated manually or automatically and which can be opened partially or fully, thereby allowing the valve to be used to regulate flow.
- a further benefit of the valve design concept of the present invention is that it can be employed in many design forms all of which may provide diaphragm isolation in combination with drainable seals and internal valve cavities.
- Yet another object of the present invention is a valve body design that can be fabricated as a single piece
- connection flange may be constructed as a separate piece from the. valve body, allowing it to be changed to fit a clamp or bolt pattern already installed on the vessel or conduit.
- diaphragm arrangement valve may be constructed of many types of material so as to impart flexibility of manufacture and use in a variety of different material processes.
- a further benefit of the valve design concept of the present invention is that it illustrates how the diaphragm may include single or multiple sections, and guidance on how those may be incorporated into sealing arrangements in the valve in order to provide a greater range of motion for the sealing tip of the valve even when the diaphragm membrane may exhibit greater or lesser degrees of rigidity, flexibility or elasticity.
- valve of the present invention may be rotated 360 degrees so as to provide greater installation versatility.
- Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple, economic design that may easily be disassembled for maintenance purposes.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a design that can be used to great effect over other prior designs in installations and applications other than tank or conduit drain applications and where superior clean-in-place and sterilize-in-place as well as drainability characteristics will be demonstrated.
- Figure 1 is a cross-section of a 1 -piece "Mushroom" diaphragm valve in closed position, with a second inlet feeding to the internal cavity through the valve body side wall, above the drain opening;
- Figure 2 is a cross-section of a 1 -piece "Mushroom” diaphragm valve in an opened position, with a second inlet feeding into the internal cavity through the cover plate from a radial position;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view in cross-section of one alternative diaphragm design offering a greater range of motion through the incorporation of a bellows;
- Figure 4 is a cross-section of a 2-piece "Mushroom” diaphragm valve;
- Figure 5 is a close-up cross-section of the 2-layer diaphragm sealing device mounted in the cap;
- Figures 6(a)-6(e) are central cross-sections of examples of other diaphragm sealing arrangements
- Figure 7 is a cross-section of an example of inverted sealing technology applied using a diaphragm in a tulip valve configuration
- Figure 8 is a cross-section of an example of the inverted sealing technology applied in an O-ring configuration to a tulip valve design and incorporating CIP/SIP capabilities to the non-process side of the seal as well as the process side; and [0037] Figure 9 is a cross-section of an example of the inverted sealing technology applied in an O-ring configuration to a plunger valve design and incorporating CIP/SIP capabilities to the non-process side of the seal as well as the process side.
- the device of the present invention includes a valve body equipped with a manual, automated or combination actuator capable of moving a sealing tip attached to a valve operating rod reversibly into a sealing condition with a valve seat surrounding a first inlet flow passage into an internal cavity in the valve body.
- the valve body has at least one outlet flow passage placed at the bottom of the internal valve body cavity to receive drainage, the bottom preferably but not necessarily being cantilevered or otherwise formed so as to assist drainage down to at least one outlet flow passage.
- a seal is formed between the static valve body and the dynamic valve actuating rod in which, whether an O-ring seal or diaphragm seal is used, the interface between the sealing elements is carried out in a face- down configuration so as to create a self-draining sealing interface and to eliminate the pooling that is associated with sump or well areas that occur in the annular space above the face-up seals found in the background art.
- One preferred arrangement of the device includes a second inlet which is placed near the top of the internal cavity, near the first inlet but spaced radially from it, a bottom outlet placed at the bottom of the internal cavity, the opening of the second inlet and the opening of the outlet being diametrically opposed with regard to flow in such a way that flowable material fed through the second inlet will spiral down and around, sweeping and scouring the sides of the internal cavity before flowing directly into the facing bottom outlet.
- the device will be described in detail below in some of the various configurations it may be designed into once the main concept of the present invention is understood.
- a valve design arrangement will be described which includes a one-piece flexing diaphragm with a sealing tip which, when actuated by a valve operating rod, cause the sealing tip of the diaphragm to form a reversible process seal with the valve body so as to permit control of process flow through the valve all while maintaining the integrity of the process separate from that of the valve and the surrounding outside environment.
- Figure 1 is a center cross-sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention, shown in position as a bottom drain valve.
- valve assembly 1 includes a valve body subassembly 2, diaphragm subassembly 3, valve actuator rod subassembly 4 and actuator device 5, which, in this case, is a manual actuator.
- actuator device 5 which, in this case, is a manual actuator.
- all of the internal passages of the valve which are in contact with the process material should be rounded in order to avoid any sharp corners where the process material, cleaning materials, steam, etc. may accumulate.
- Several of the Figures in the present application illustrate sharp corners, although it is preferable that curved corners be included.
- the valve body subassembly 2 will now be described.
- the valve body subassembly 2 includes a valve body 10 and a cover plate 100 which are connected together by an attachment device 107.
- Valve body 10 has an internal cavity 11 with a bottom wall 12 having an upper first side 85 and a lower second side 86, upper first side 85 being exposed to the process, lower second side 86 being removed from the process.
- Internal cavity 11 or valve body 10 is in communication with at least one drain outlet 30 and at least one first inlet 20.
- the drain outlet 30 is in communication with a drain passage opening 31.
- the upper surface 102 of cover plate 100 forms a portion of a wall or drain basin 103 of a tank or conduit (not shown).
- the lower surface of cover plate 100 forms a roof 13 of the internal cavity 11.
- first inlet 20 is centered at the bottom of drain basin 103 having a bottom formed by the upper surface 102 of the cover plate 100.
- a second side of the cover plate 100 forms an uppermost side or roof 13 of internal cavity 11.
- the annular surface of roof 13 immediately adjacent the first inlet 20 forms an inlet annular sealing surface 21 with which a seal is reversibly formed when mated with an annular diaphragm sealing tip surface 63 on an actuating cap or sealing tip 83.
- Figure 1 illustrates roof 13 with a conical profile that tapers up to the first inlet 20. Although not a necessity, the taper can improve flow through the valve and serve as a guide to center the annular diaphragm sealing tip surface 63 onto the mating inlet annular sealing surface 21.
- cover plate 100 is illustrated with upper flanges 105 welded into a wall of a conduit or vessel (not shown). However, cover plate 100 may take many other forms such as, for instance, a sanitary ferrule with an internal diameter the same as the diameter of the first inlet 20 and to which the valve assembly could be attached.
- cover plate 100 can be attached to the valve body 10 by an attachment device 107 such as a bolt 108 and threads 109 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, mating flanged elements.
- Clamp 113 clamps cover plate flange 101, located above and valve mounting flange 112, located below, together about swivel shoulder 111. Swivel shoulder 111 engages with mounting flange shoulder 114.
- valve mounting flange 112 as a distinct piece from valve body 10 as shown in Figure 1 is that it will allow one standard body of the valve to be mated with a variety of preexisting bolt and clamp patterns.
- valve body 10 and the attached actuator device 5 may be quickly and easily disconnected from cover plate 100 by removing the attachment device 107.
- Valve body 10 may have a second inlet 160 entering into internal cavity 11 through a second inlet opening 161 in the side wall of valve body 10 as shown in Figure 1. This additional inlet generally would be used to supply cleaning solutions, rinse water and steam to clean the valve in-situ between uses.
- FIG. 1 Placing the second inlet in a side wall of valve body 10 as shown in Figure 1 may be simpler to do than in many other places on the valve, but the most effective location is likely to be near the top of the internal cavity 11, radially from the diaphragm and offset to one side, preferably in an orientation that would direct inlet flow in a downward spiral pattern with the flow being oriented so as to flow directly into the drain passage opening 31.
- Figure 2 illustrates an example of effective positioning of the second inlet 160. Drain passage, opening 31 is shown centrally placed at the bottom of internal cavity 11. Drain passage opening 31 might be most effective if it was shifted to the side so as to capture more fully the second inlet flow.
- Drain outlet 30, which is in communication with drain passage opening 31 opens into drain passage 32, which, in turn, leads to drain passage exit 33.
- Drain passage exit 33 includes a drain connection device 34 for forming a connection to downstream piping so as to convey the material drained through the valve assembly away.
- drain connection device 34 is shown here as a sanitary clamp connection but could be any suitable form of connection capable of conveying drained material.
- bottom wall 12 is shown declining to drain passage opening 31.
- a primary source of problems occurring in valves used as drain valves in sanitary applications relates to the seal arrangement made between the valve body and the valve operating rod. With valve designs in use today, a seal is formed between a second side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity with a sealing element, be it an O-ring or diaphragm.
- the present invention includes a central raised tubular structure or pedestal 50. Shoulder 43 of diaphragm clamp sleeve 40 is inserted up into diaphragm shoulder recess 64. A lower portion of diaphragm clamp sleeve 40 is inserted into pedestal central bore 51. Furthermore, the diaphragm clamp sleeve 40 includes a central bore 41 through which a valve operating rod 130 passes.
- Inverted seal 56 and other seals like it that will be discussed below are all exposed seals that are easy to clean in-situ and are passively self-draining seals that tend to shed process material rather than collect them.
- the retainer nut 140 includes retainer nut flats 141 for engaging with a wrench to tighten the retainer nut 140.
- Figure 1 depicts upper, lip 69 and lower lip " 70 on shoulder 68 interlocking with lip 44 on shoulder 43 and raised outer annular lip 52 on top annular surface 53, respectively.
- Diaphragm 60 may be formed as a one-piece unit with a threaded tip insert 81 as shown in Figure 1. Diaphragm 60 also includes a flexing upper base shoulder 67, neck 65, and sealing tip 62. The threads 132 on the tip of valve operating rod 130 may be threaded up into threads 87 in insert 81.
- a pin 138 may be inserted partway through a hole 47 in the wall of diaphragm clamp sleeve 40 so that it extends into a longitudinal keyway 136 in the side of valve actuating rod 130.
- a longitudinal keyway 45 is fitted with a pin 46 which extends out into a recess notch 48 cut into the second side 86 of bottom wall 12. Pin 46 is fixed in notch 48 by pressure from below by the upper face of retainer nut 140.
- Valve operating rod 130 includes a long neck 121 that fits inside diaphragm neck 65. At the base of long neck 121 is a diaphragm support shoulder 122 that mates with flexing upper base shoulder 67 of diaphragm 60, providing it with support. Just below the diaphragm support shoulder 122 is an O . -ring 134 and groove 135 that seals between valve operating rod 130 and the central bore 41 of diaphragm clamp sleeve 40.
- the lower body 123 of valve operating rod 130 terminates in T-cap 137. T-cap 137 fits into a T-slot 146 formed in handwheel 144, which is equipped with threads 145 which mate with opposing bonnet threads 155 formed in bonnet 163.
- handwheel 144 fits into a central bore 165 in handgrip 156 where it is pinned with a lock-pin 148 inserted in a bore 158 extending laterally through the side of handgrip 156 and into a similar bore 147 in handwheel 144.
- Handgrip 156 has a handle sleeve 157 that fits around the outside of bonnet neck 164 and seals against it with an O-ring and groove combination 159.
- bonnet 163 has a base plate 151 with alignment lip 154 and bonnet recess 152 and is shown affixed to valve body 10 by bolts 149 inserted in bolt holes 153 formed in base plate 151 and threaded into valve body 10. This method of attachment is simply one example of many different ways that could be used to attach the bonnet 163 to the valve body 10.
- Figure 2 depicts the valve in an opened condition.
- Figure 2 also shows an alternative position of the second inlet 160 which offers benefits with regard to improved cleaning, rinsing and sterilizing over the position depicted in Figure 1.
- the remaining elements in Figure 2 are the same as those in Figure 1 and have therefore not been further described.
- Figure 3 depicts one alternative diaphragm design offering a greater range of motion through the incorporation of a bellows 66 as an integral part of the diaphragm 60.
- the embodiment of Figure 3 fails to include the second inlet 160 of Figures 1 and 2; however, it should be understood that a second inlet 160 may be included, depending on the application.
- the remaining elements in Figure 3 are substantially the same as those in Figures 1 and 2 and therefore have not been further described.
- Figure 4 depicts another arrangement of the inverted seal design of the present invention in which the diaphragm 60 is annular or frusto-conical and double-layered. The arrangement shows inner and outer diameter sealing arrangements in addition to depicting one method by which a 2-layer sealing cap 83 may also be secured over an insert 81.
- Figure 4 also illustrates another attachment device 107 for connecting valve body 10 to cover plate 100, as described previously, wherein a bolt 108 and threads 109 are used to secure the elements together.
- Figure 5 is a close-up of the sealing device of the valve 1 shown in Figure 4.
- the sealing cap 83 includes two layers. A first, outer layer 88 and a second, inner layer 89.
- the diaphragm 60 includes two layers 94 and 95.
- Diaphragms used in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries are usually made of Buna-N (Butadiene/acrylotonil), EPDM (Ethylene/propylene/diene), Viton (Flurocarbon), Silicon (Medical grade silicon) or Teflon (PTFE or Polytetraflouroethylene)
- Buna-N butadiene/acrylotonil
- EPDM Ethylene/propylene/diene
- Viton Fluor
- Silicon Medical grade silicon
- Teflon PTFE or Polytetraflouroethylene
- inventions of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1-3 may also include two layer diaphragms and the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 may be made with one layer of material for the sealing cap 83 and the diaphragm 60, depending upon the particular application of the valve 1.
- Figures 6(a) to 6(e) depict several other methods by
- Figure 6(a) illustrates another manner in which the concept of the inverted
- diaphragm 60 is now formed in the shoulder 68, rather than in the shoulder 67 as in
- the insert 81 includes an undercut 181 where the diaphragm 60 thickness is made
- This thickness or rib 182 serves to stabilize the diaphragm 60 and dampening
- first ring 183 positioned in the diaphragm 60 near the outer rim of the .* * insert 81. Besides serving to dampen the transfer of motion caused by the flexing of
- both the rib 182 and the first ring 183 tend to keep the diaphragm 60
- Figure 6(a) also includes a second ring 184 positioned within the diaphragm
- the diaphragm 60 has no inclusions and, in order to
- stabilizing element may be used, here, shown as rings 183 and 184.
- Other approaches may be used, here, shown as rings 183 and 184.
- the diaphragm 60 could be molded around the threaded insert
- the rings 183 and 184 could be stabilized during the molding process from the insert
- a drip lip 186 designed to encourage materials running down the upper surface of the
- sealing tip 62 to drip off rather than cling to the underside of the diaphragm 60 and
- Figure 6(b) is the same as Figure 6(a) with regard to peripheral structures of
- Figure 6(b) is also similar to 6(a) in that the flexing of the
- diaphragm 60 takes place on the shoulder 68 as illustrated by the flexing portion 59.
- Figure 6(b) includes a double-layered diaphragm 60 as do Figures 4, 5, 6(c),
- Figure 6(b) also depicts a pedestal shoulder 49 (described in the
- diaphragm 60 may be made in a number of ways such as
- valve operating rod so that, in both cases, the valve operating rod can move the assembly
- the diaphragm 60 in Figure 6(b) has a short upper shoulder 58
- the short upper shoulder 58 forms the sealing surface 63 that mates with the sealing surface 21 about
- the shape of the nested two-piece insert is designed so as to
- the outer nesting insert 172 which fits into the diaphragm recess can be sectioned
- 6(b) also includes the rib 182 to dampen transfer of the flexing motion of the shoulder
- Figure 6(c) combines the short upper shoulder 58 and long lower shoulder
- a cap 74 can be formed in the end of the valve
- valve operating rod 130 can be threaded up on the valve operating rod 130 threads until a tight seal is formed
- insert 190 compresses the elements and forms tight seals about the lower shoulder of
- sleeve40 is formed in the same fashion and elements as in Figure 6(b).
- sealing caps used can be designed so they are relatively flat and open, making
- diaphragm can be used to make many different arrangement and configurations. All
- Figure 6(d) are identical to each other as well as to each of the ones pictured in Figure
- valve operating rod 130 may be threaded up onto the threads on the outside of the valve operating rod 130 and
- Fig. 6(e) combines both the upper and lower double-layer diaphragm
- the tip is a separate piece with
- diaphragm clamp sleeve 40 in 6(e) is the same as in all of the other configurations
- Figure 6(e) also depicts a diaphragm 60 with a rib 182 formed in a
- Figure 7 illustrates a diaphragm tulip valve. Tulip or kettle valves available
- a pedestal 50 is extended up from the first side of the bottom wall 12 through the first inlet 20 and the lip 71 on the inner diameter of the flexing diaphragm 60 is captured by inserting the diaphragm clamping sleeve 40 through the center hole 72 in diaphragm 60 and then inserting it into the central bore 51 of pedestal 50.
- the inner diameter (which may or may not have a lip 71) of the diaphragm 60 is captured between the shoulder 43 of the diaphragm clamping sleeve 40 and the top annular surface 53 of pedestal 50 as retainer nut 140 ( Figure 1) or other tightening devices are applied at the distal end of the diaphragm clamping sleeve 40. If the seal had the diaphragm formed as an integrated part, then, by definition the outer diameter lip of the diaphragm would be an integrated part of the sealing tip and it would not be necessary to further secure it to the sealing tip. If, however, the diaphragm is not formed as an integrated part of the sealing tip, it would need to be captured on the sealing tip as well as illustrated in Figure 7.
- a threaded collar insert 73 is formed as a part of the diaphragm 60 or is inserted into a mating space within the diaphragm 60 near its outer rim.
- This threaded collar can be installed allows greater flexing diaphragm cone radiuses to be used, thus, allowing greater ranges of motion to be achieved.
- Figure 8 is an O-ring seal tulip valve.
- many operators continue to used the traditional O-ring-based tulip and kettle valve designs, as described above, because they are, relatively ' speaking, very inexpensive to install and maintain.
- the traditional valve designs have provided long periods of service with minimal down time for maintenance. Nonetheless, there have been several incidents in the last few years where these types of valves have been implicated as the source of food and beverage contamination episodes that resulted in serious illness to people. Because these valves are frequently used in process applications that do not lend themselves to the introduction of diaphragm valves, either for physical, chemical or economic reasons, it is still of value to try to improve upon their design so as to further reduce the risk of process contamination events in the future.
- FIG 8 is an example illustrating how tulip and kettle valves can be modified and their sealing systems rearranged using inverted seal technology to make them easier to clean and sterilize in-situ, to reduce their threat as a potential source of process contaminants, including threatening microbes.
- the valve body 10 has a pedestal 50 extending up from the bottom wall 12 of the internal valve cavity 1 1.
- Valve operating rod 130 is fitted with or is formed with a cap 74 as in Figure 7.
- the cap may itself be capable of forming a seal with the inlet annular sealing surface 21 about the first inlet 20 or it may have integrated into it a sealing element (not shown) or the sealing surface 21 with which it will mate may have a sealing element 23 integrated therewith, as can be seen in Figure 8.
- a seal may be reversibly formed with a mating annular sealing surface 84 about the first inlet 20 on either the upper surface 102 or the lower surface or roof 13 of the cover plate 100 about first inlet 20.
- the valve operating rod would extend through first inlet 20 and the affixed cap 74 would be raised above the first inlet 20 in the opened condition and be retracted so as to bring the sealing surface 84 of the cap 74, in this instance located on its lower margin, into sealing contact with an upper annular sealing surface 21 located along surface 102 of cover plate 100 and sealing element 23 into sealing contact with each other.
- An O-ring 93 installed in O-ring groove 91 forms a sliding sealing arrangement with the outside diameter wall 54 of pedestal 50.
- the benefits of this sealing device is that it is inverted from that found in traditional tulip, kettle, plug, ball and other valve designs, thereby creating a passively draining sealing arrangement that will not tend to collect material in pooling fashion as is found with the prior art.
- an access to the non-process side of the seal can be achieved by boring holes in the valve operating rod as illustrated in Figure 7 or, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, by constructing an upper portion XXX of pedestal 50 with an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of valve operating rod 130, a significantly sized space 55 may be created within the pedestal.
- feed and drain passages 14 and 15 can be bored in bottom wall 12 of valve body 10 that will be large enough for cleaning agents, rinses and steam can be fed at high flow rates into the cavity to assure highly effective in-situ cleaning, rinsing and sterilizing of the non-process side of sliding sealing arrangement to be accomplished without clogging.
- the process side of the valve can be cleaned by including a second inlet opening directly into the valve body internal cavity 11, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, through which cleaning agents, rinses and steam directly can be supplied. These will be drained from the valve internal cavity by flowing down and out the drain outlet 30.
- This design has the special benefit of a seal design that can be very effectively cleaned from both the process and no- process sides simultaneously.
- valve illustrated in Figure 8 and described above could most effectively be cleaned and sterilized when it is in the open (extended) position.
- the valve illustrated in Figure 9 and also described above, could best be cleaned while in the closed position.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP01918495A EP1269055A4 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2001-03-09 | Sanitary drain valve design |
AU2001245564A AU2001245564A1 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2001-03-09 | Sanitary drain valve design |
CA002402387A CA2402387C (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2001-03-09 | Sanitary drain valve design |
JP2002572300A JP2004519630A (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2001-03-09 | Hygienic drain valve design |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18799600P | 2000-03-09 | 2000-03-09 | |
US60/187,996 | 2000-03-09 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002073075A1 true WO2002073075A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 |
WO2002073075A8 WO2002073075A8 (en) | 2002-10-24 |
Family
ID=22691352
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/007606 WO2002073075A1 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2001-03-09 | Sanitary drain valve design |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US6491283B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1269055A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004519630A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001245564A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2402387C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002073075A1 (en) |
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CA2402387C (en) * | 2000-03-09 | 2009-11-03 | Nl Technologies, Ltd. | Sanitary drain valve design |
US20050236599A1 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2005-10-27 | Newberg Douglas A | Sanitary drain valve design |
US7927316B2 (en) | 2002-04-26 | 2011-04-19 | Millipore Corporation | Disposable, sterile fluid transfer device |
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US8602386B2 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2013-12-10 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Valve with actuator assist |
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US20100140528A1 (en) * | 2006-07-05 | 2010-06-10 | Mclennan William Ross | Valve construction |
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US8529545B2 (en) * | 2007-09-11 | 2013-09-10 | Asepco | Aseptic connector with lip seal |
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FR2940440B1 (en) | 2008-12-18 | 2010-12-24 | Millipore Corp | DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING A MEDIUM |
FR2940439B1 (en) | 2008-12-18 | 2011-02-11 | Millipore Corp | DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING A MEDIUM |
US8544497B2 (en) | 2009-10-30 | 2013-10-01 | Emd Millipore Corporation | Fluid transfer device and system |
DE102009055953A1 (en) * | 2009-11-27 | 2011-06-01 | Honeywell Technologies S.A.R.L. | Blocking means for a secondary outlet of a valve, in particular a strand regulating valve, and valve with the same |
US9568113B2 (en) | 2010-01-15 | 2017-02-14 | Allpure Technologies, Llc | Fluid transfer device |
US9499782B2 (en) * | 2011-05-06 | 2016-11-22 | Bend Research, Inc. | Automatic aseptic sampling valve for sampling from enclosed containers |
US9869403B2 (en) * | 2011-05-09 | 2018-01-16 | Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation | Valve having pressure-relieving vent passage |
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US9046180B2 (en) | 2012-08-30 | 2015-06-02 | Itt Manufacturing Enterprises Llc. | Diaphragm and backing cushion shaping for increased membrane life |
US9322749B2 (en) | 2012-11-05 | 2016-04-26 | Bend Research, Inc. | Automatic sampling system for sampling from enclosed containers |
US9389151B2 (en) | 2012-11-05 | 2016-07-12 | Bend Research, Inc. | Fixed volume aseptic sampling valve for sampling from enclosed containers |
CN103256403B (en) * | 2013-05-16 | 2015-05-13 | 上海东富龙科技股份有限公司 | On-off valve used for time pressure method split charging and cip-sip |
US9975753B1 (en) | 2017-04-26 | 2018-05-22 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | Detachable fluid transfer device accessory and a fluid transfer assembly |
IT201700071761A1 (en) * | 2017-06-27 | 2018-12-27 | Nol Tec Europe S R L | BLOWING ORGAN FOR PNEUMATIC MIXERS AND PNEUMATIC MIXING SYSTEM OF GRANULATES, DUST AND / OR LIQUIDS INCLUDING SUCH BLOWER |
EP3803168A4 (en) * | 2018-06-10 | 2022-05-04 | Newberg, Douglas, Arthur | Diaphragm valve |
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- 2001-03-09 JP JP2002572300A patent/JP2004519630A/en active Pending
- 2001-03-09 WO PCT/US2001/007606 patent/WO2002073075A1/en active Search and Examination
- 2001-03-09 EP EP01918495A patent/EP1269055A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-03-09 US US09/801,783 patent/US6491283B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-03-09 AU AU2001245564A patent/AU2001245564A1/en not_active Abandoned
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2002
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20010028050A1 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
US6491283B2 (en) | 2002-12-10 |
US20040021121A1 (en) | 2004-02-05 |
AU2001245564A1 (en) | 2002-09-24 |
US20030062503A1 (en) | 2003-04-03 |
WO2002073075A8 (en) | 2002-10-24 |
JP2004519630A (en) | 2004-07-02 |
CA2402387A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 |
EP1269055A4 (en) | 2005-09-21 |
CA2402387C (en) | 2009-11-03 |
US6601823B2 (en) | 2003-08-05 |
US6916012B2 (en) | 2005-07-12 |
EP1269055A1 (en) | 2003-01-02 |
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