Hygienic flange-type tube joint thermal expansion area for gasket

Abstract

A sealing gasket for insertion into a circumferentially continuous groove of a flange joint for joining axially aligned tube ends, the flange joint being of the type having axially opposed flanges (16, 18) at the tube ends to form a groove (30) therebetween when the joint is assembled, the groove being formed by axially opposed seal faces (22, 24) and radial end faces (16a, 18a) of the flanges, the groove comprising a groove first portion (32) that is open to an interior flow passage of the tubes and a second portion (34) that extends radially outward from the groove first portion, the gasket having a gasket first portion that seals the groove first portion and a gasket second portion that extends from the gasket first portion and into the groove second portion; the gasket second portion being axially compressed when the joint is assembled and engaging with the radial end faces to produce a radial compression of the gasket; the gasket second portion having a volume that is less than volume of the groove second portion to form an expansion space (44) in the groove second portion when the joint is assembled.

Description

[0001] priority claim [0002] This application claims the benefit of the following provisional application, entitled "Improved Sanitary Fittings Having Gasket Thermal Expansion Regions": Unassigned Provisional Application Serial No. 60 / 0383993, filed February 18, 1998, Express Mail No. No. EM178206756US, the contents of which application are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to pipe technology or pipe connection and pipe joint technology, in particular to flanged pipe joints with improved relationship between sealing surfaces and associated gaskets. Background technique [0004] Flanged pipe joints have gaskets of flexible material such as elastomeric, plastic, etc. that are clamped between the sealing end surfaces of opposing flanges. These fittings are often used in sanitation systems where stagnant fluid is highly undesirable. These systems are usually constructed so that the tubes are arranged at a slight angle of...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Gaskets in a restrictive state may prevent the system from meeting the required fluid velocities and therefore failing to meet administrative regulations

The second problem, cell shear, is caused by the impingement of vulnerable microorganisms on the extruded gasket, which results in the destruction of the cells that are the target product of the bioprocess

The third problem, system contamination, is caused by prolonged exposure to process conditions, especially steam, where extruded gaskets become brittle and break into pieces, which contaminate the system

When this happens, only a small compressive force acts on the gasket material that remains inside the device, which can cause the device to loosen

In some cases, only one heating cycle can result in reduced sealing of the boundary surface of the hole, which allows process fluid to easily enter the sealing area and become trapped

Standing fluid cannot be removed without disassembly and can cause contamination of the same batch or subsequent batches

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