Diaphragm valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a diaphragm valve having a movable diaphragm (20) designed as a closing element, the diaphragm valve having a valve housing (6) and a drive (8), wherein the diaphragm (20) is clamped between a flange (18) of the valve housing and a base (10) of the drive (8) and is provided with a first identification means (32) in which wirelessly readable data are stored. Further identification means (50, 56) are also arranged on the flange (18) and / or on the base (10). The reading surface of the further identification means (50, 56) is substantially at a right angle to the reading surface of the identification means (32) on the diaphragm (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a diaphragm valve comprising a movable diaphragm designed as a closing element, a valve housing and a drive, wherein the diaphragm is clamped between a flange of the valve housing and a base of the drive and is provided with a first identification device in which wirelessly readable data are stored. Background Art

[0002] In this case, it is often desirable to provide the valve with an identification device, in particular an RFID chip, which contains data about the valve, such as the material, manufacturing number, manufacturing date, and / or model of the housing, as well as corresponding information about the diaphragm. The identification device already stores wirelessly readable valve data. The data does not necessarily need to be directly stored in the identification device in a readable manner; rather, a code can be stored in the identification device, which is then linked to the data stored in the data memory and represents the aforementioned information about the valve, etc., after reading.

[0003] If more than one identification means is provided on a valve, it must be avoided that, during reading, the identification means that is actually to be read is not read, but rather an adjacent identification means. For the reasons mentioned above, it is desirable to arrange the different identification means as far apart as possible from one another on different or identical components. However, this can make accessibility more difficult, since the valve is installed in an installation or assembly, and not every side of the diaphragm valve is always optimally accessible. Summary of the Invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a diaphragm valve in such a way that its identification means can be read simply and quickly.

[0005] The object is achieved by a diaphragm valve of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the first identification means has a reading surface on which a reading device can be positioned in order to read data from the first identification means, and wherein, in addition,

[0006] A further identification device is provided on the flange, in which wirelessly readable data is stored.

[0007] and / or

[0008] A further identification device is provided on the base, in which wirelessly readable data is stored.

[0009] and

[0010] One or more of the other identification mechanisms have a reading surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the reading surface of the first identification mechanism. The reading surface is the surface of the identification mechanism, such as the surface at which the reading device must be held directly or parallel to the surface in order to optimally read the data. Typically, the identification mechanism, such as an RFID chip, cannot be read from all sides or at least cannot be read equally well from all sides. There is a preferred plane, namely the reading surface, parallel to which the reading device can best read the identification mechanism. In the RFID chip, the reading surface is parallel to the flat, plate-shaped coil. By setting the identification mechanisms perpendicular to each other, there is no risk of unintentionally reading other identification mechanisms if the reading device is not accurately held at or above the reading surface. The right-angle setting effectively prevents this risk. Therefore, the stored data can be associated one-to-one with the corresponding component where the identification mechanism being read is located when reading. The entire system is therefore less prone to errors.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the diaphragm has a tongue protruding laterally outwards, on which the first identification means is arranged. The protruding tongue ensures that the identification means is arranged away from the base and the flange and is easily accessible.

[0012] Furthermore, the tongue is not subjected to the same mechanical loads as the remaining membrane, so that the identification means is protected by this positioning.

[0013] The tongue can be flat and plate-shaped, more precisely, with opposite flat sides, where the flat side is the side with the largest area of ​​the tongue. Furthermore, the tongue has outer sides separating the flat sides, which extend around three sides of the tongue, for example. The reading surface of the first identification means extends parallel to at least one of the flat sides. Within the meaning of the present invention, "parallel" also means that the corresponding reading surface can extend within the flat side itself. In this case, this is the case if the reading surface of the first identification means transitions into one of the flat sides without a shoulder. The flat side of the protruding tongue is very easily accessible from above or below, making the reading process simple and reliable.

[0014] According to a variant of the invention, the flange is also plate-shaped and has a circumferential side that points outward, wherein the reading surface of the identification means on the flange extends parallel to the area of ​​the circumferential side of the flange that is adjacent to the identification means, wherein the "adjacent area" is the area directly adjacent to the identification means. In this case, in contrast to the tongue, the reading surface extends parallel to (or within) the circumferential side, i.e., at a 90° angle to the reading surface of the first identification means. Therefore, the reading device is thus oriented vertically in this case, for example, when the drive is extended upward, in order to read the other identification means, while it must remain horizontal when reading the identification means on the membrane.

[0015] In many diaphragm valves, the flange is essentially quadrangular, where "angular" does not necessarily mean that there are actually corners, as the corners are usually rounded. The diaphragms have essentially the same shape, with side lengths that in any case slightly deviate from the side lengths of the flanges. The flanges accordingly have one or more flat sides along the circumference, with further identification means being placed on the following flat side, which is arranged on the same side of the valve as the tongue is also arranged on the diaphragm. The invention is based in this variant on the fact that the diaphragm valve can be installed in the installation so that it is preferably accessible from one side, so that all or almost all of the identification means can be read from this side. In the prior art, this means that incorrect readings can occur, that is, an incorrect association of the reading process with the corresponding identification means occurs, because the identification means are all very close to each other. However, according to the invention, the arrangement of multiple identification means on one side is not a problem due to the orientation of the reading surfaces relative to each other.

[0016] Cylindrical flange geometries, diaphragm geometries, and seat geometries are also known, and the present invention can be implemented accordingly there.

[0017] The base can optionally be designed to be essentially quadrilateral and plate-shaped, similar to the flange described above. The circumferential side of the base has four side faces, and the additional identification means of the base are located on the side of the valve that is also provided with the tongue on the diaphragm. The advantages described above for providing the additional identification means on the flange also apply to the arrangement of the identification means on the base.

[0018] A further improvement in reading reliability can be achieved by positioning the one or more further identification means laterally offset from the first identification means when viewed in a side view of the side or flat side with the one or more further identification means, thereby increasing the spacing between the identification means.

[0019] The holders for the marking means can be designed so that the marking means are respectively inserted into the receiving openings. Optionally, the respective receiving openings can be closed. Alternatively, the marking means or marking means can be fixed in such a receiving opening without protruding into the receiving opening. For example, the marking means can be cast into a plastic holder, which protrudes into the receiving opening via a projection.

[0020] A variant of the present invention provides that the identification means is an RFID chip. Such an identification means is very simple and cost-effective to produce and can store sufficient data. The flat RFID chip has a reading surface parallel to the parallel flat sides.

[0021] The stored data itself, for example, is data about associated components. Data about associated valves may also be stored, if necessary. This data includes information or placeholders for information such as the manufacturing date, material, manufacturing code, type code, etc. Especially when diaphragm valves are used in pharmaceutical or food processing facilities, a one-to-one association of components or parts with the facility is required throughout the entire life of the corresponding diaphragm valve.

[0022] The valve housing can, for example, comprise a tube formed internally by high pressure, through which the fluid flows. A flange is fixed to the tube, for example, by welding or brazing. Such valve housings are characterized by thin walls, which make it difficult to secure the marking element. For these reasons, the present invention proposes using a flange for securing the marking element.

[0023] The drive can optionally have a cover having an identification device in which wirelessly readable data are stored. Such a drive having a cover is used in particular in diaphragm valves or seat valves.

[0024] If a plurality of components stacked one above the other and fixed to one another are provided with marking means, the invention proposes that the marking means are alternately oriented with their reading surfaces essentially perpendicular to one another, so that parallel reading surfaces are always interrupted by a reading surface essentially perpendicular thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a diaphragm valve according to the present invention, and

[0027] Figure 2 Shows the Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the diaphragm tongue of a diaphragm valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] exist Figure 1 , a diaphragm valve is shown, which has a valve housing 6 and an actuator 8 having a seat 10 . The valve housing 6 has a fluid inlet 12 and an opposite fluid outlet 14 .

[0029] This portion of the valve housing 6 is produced by hydroforming a tube. The valve seat (not shown) is formed on the inside of the recess 16 produced during the forming process. The tube is open laterally toward the valve seat. A plate-shaped flange 18 is welded to this side. The flange 18 has a flat top side, on which a plate-shaped diaphragm 20 rests. The flange 18 is essentially quadrilateral and has a circumferential side with four essentially flat side faces, one of which is designated by reference numeral 22. These side faces can transition into one another via rounded corners.

[0030] The diaphragm 20 is clamped between the flange 18 and the base 10 .

[0031] On the side 24 of the membrane 20 corresponding to the side 22, a tongue 26 protrudes laterally outward from the membrane 20, which is also quadrilaterally designed. The tongue 26 is flat and, as described, plate-shaped and has two opposite flat sides 28, wherein the tongue 26 is flat. Figure 1 Only the upper flat side is visible in FIG. The two flat sides 28 are separated by an outer side 30 that surrounds them on three sides.

[0032] On the tongue 26, as in Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure, an identification means 32 is mounted. Identification means 32 includes an RFID chip 34 embedded in a plastic sheathing 36. Plastic sheathing 36 has a pin-shaped projection 38 that projects into a receiving opening 40 in tongue 26. An opening 42 with an undercut is formed in pin-shaped projection 38, through which a locking element 44 with a mushroom-shaped, complementary projection can be inserted. The locking element 44 and identification means 32 are thus connected to each other via a non-destructively releasable lock, so that both components are securely mounted on tongue 26.

[0033] The receiving opening 40 can extend completely through the tongue 26 .

[0034] RFID chip 34 is plate-shaped. To read it, a reading device 45 must be positioned with its read head and transmitter-receiver surface 46 so that the read head extends at a specific angle, typically parallel, to a read surface 48 of the identification mechanism. Read surface 48 is the upper side of RFID chip 34. In the illustrated embodiment, read surface 48 extends parallel to upper flat side 28 of tongue 26.

[0035] Information about the membrane 20, such as the date of manufacture, product number, type number, etc., is stored on the identification device 32, more precisely on the RFID chip 34. A corresponding number or identifier, which is assigned only once, can be stored on the RFID chip 34. Using a data set stored outside the identification device 32, a single read number or identifier can be linked to all the data stored there (specifically for the membrane instance).

[0036] Not only does the diaphragm 20 carry the identification means 32 as the first identification means 32, but the flange 18 also carries such an identification means 50. Figure 1 The so-called further identification means 50 is shown in FIG.

[0037] The identification device 50 also includes an RFID chip or is formed by it.

[0038] The reading surface of the additional identification means 50 is parallel to the side surface 22 on which the identification means 50 is located. The identification means 50 is embedded in a pin, for example, a cylindrical pin. The end face of the pin extends parallel to the side surface 22 and may protrude slightly relative to the side surface to allow the additional identification means 50 to be locked. The end face of the pin is the reading surface.

[0039] As according to Figure 1 As can be seen, the reading surfaces are substantially perpendicular to one another, or more precisely, the planes in which the respective reading surfaces lie are substantially perpendicular to one another. This is indicated by the perpendicular lines S1 and S2 of the respective reading surfaces of the first identification means 32 and the second identification means 50 .

[0040] exist Figure 1 It can also be seen that, looking at the side 22, that is, in a side view, the identification means 32, 50 are laterally offset relative to each other. This means that, when the drive 8 is oriented vertically with its center axis A, the second identification means 50 is not located directly above or below the first identification means 32, but is laterally offset therefrom as described.

[0041] Alternatively or in addition to the identification means 50, the base 10 can also have further identification means 56. Here, too, the reading surface is essentially perpendicular to the reading surface 48 of the first identification means 32. The identification means 56 is likewise located on the side 58, which is arranged on the same side of the valve as the tongue 26 is also arranged on the diaphragm 20.

[0042] Viewed in side view, identification means 56 is located on the opposite (right) side relative to identification means 50 with respect to identification means 32 in order to achieve the greatest possible spacing between identification means 50 and 56 , with their reading surfaces lying in the same plane or in planes parallel to one another.

[0043] One or more identification means 70 can also be provided on the cover 60 of the drive.

[0044] Since all identification means 32, 50, 56 and 70 are located on the same side of the valve, they can be read quickly and very reliably by the same reading device 45. The identification means 32, 50, 56 and 70 are held in their respective components via the receiving openings and cannot be released without destruction, so that tampering is impossible and the identification means remain fixed to their components.

[0045] If flange 18 is not quadrilateral or polygonal, but rather has a curved circumferential side, the reading surface of identification means 50 is parallel to the directly adjacent region of the circumferential side of flange 18. This means that the user of reading device 45 can set the reading surface of identification means 50 recognized by it not to extend at an angle to the circumferential side, but to lie in the outer circumferential surface, i.e., the circumferential side, or to be offset slightly inwards or slightly outwards from the section. The user thus attempts to orient surface 46 in the region of identification means 50 parallel to the surface of the circumferential side.

Claims

1. A diaphragm valve comprising a movable diaphragm (20) designed as a closing element, a valve housing (6), and a drive (8), wherein the diaphragm (20) is clamped between a flange (18) of the valve housing (6) and a base (10) of the drive (8) and is provided with a first identification device (32), in which wirelessly readable data are stored, wherein The first identification device (32) has a reading surface (48) on which a reading device (45) can be positioned in order to read data from the first identification device (32), wherein Additionally, - a second identification device (50) is provided on the flange (18), in which wirelessly readable data is stored, and / or - a third identification device (56) is provided on the base (10), in which wirelessly readable data is stored, And the second identification means (50) and / or the third identification means (56) have a reading surface extending essentially perpendicularly to the reading surface (48) of the first identification means (32), wherein the second identification means (50) and / or the third identification means (56) are located on the same side of the diaphragm valve as the first identification means (32).

2. The diaphragm valve according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The diaphragm (20) has a tongue (26) protruding laterally outward, on which the first identification means (32) is provided.

3. The diaphragm valve according to claim 2, It is characterized by: The tongue (26) is plate-shaped and flat and has two opposite flat sides (28) and an outer side (30) separating the flat sides (28), wherein the reading surface (48) of the first identification means (32) extends parallel to at least one of the two flat sides (28).

4. The diaphragm valve according to claim 3, It is characterized by: The flange (18) is plate-shaped and has a circumferential side that points outward, wherein a reading surface of a second identification means (50) on the flange (18) is parallel to a region of the circumferential side of the flange (18) that is adjacent to the second identification means.

5. The diaphragm valve according to claim 4, It is characterized by: The flange (18) is quadrilateral and the circumferential side has at least one side surface (22), wherein the second identification means (50) is placed on the side surface (22) and the side surface adjoins the tongue (26).

6. The diaphragm valve according to claim 5, It is characterized by: The base (10) is of quadrilateral and plate-shaped design, wherein the circumferential side of the base (10) has side surfaces, and the third identification means (56) of the base (10) is placed on a second side surface (58) arranged on the same side of the diaphragm valve as is also provided with a tongue (26) arranged on the diaphragm (20).

7. The diaphragm valve according to claim 6, It is characterized by: When viewed in a side view of the side surface (22) with the second identification means (50) and / or the second side surface (58) with the third identification means (56), the second identification means (50) and / or the third identification means (56) are positioned laterally offset from the first identification means (32).

8. The diaphragm valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: The diaphragm (20) has a receiving opening (40) for inserting an associated first identification mechanism (32), the flange (18) has a receiving opening for inserting an associated second identification mechanism (50), and / or the base (10) has a receiving opening for inserting an associated third identification mechanism (56).

9. The diaphragm valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: The first identification device (32), the second identification device (50) and the third identification device (56) have or are RFID chips.

10. The diaphragm valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: Data for the associated component are stored in the respective first identification means (32), second identification means (50), and third identification means (56).

11. The diaphragm valve according to claim 10, It is characterized by: In addition, data for the associated valve are stored in the respective first identification means (32), second identification means (50) and third identification means (56).

12. The diaphragm valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: The valve housing comprises a tube formed by internal high pressure forming, to which the flange (18) is fastened.

13. The diaphragm valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: The drive (8) has a cover (60) having a fourth identification device (70) in which wirelessly readable data are stored.

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