Bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of a bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device, in particular to a device which comprises a bottom ring and an upper ring; shaft holes for connecting a stirring shaft are arranged at the shaft centers of the inside of the bottom ring and the inside of the upper ring; a partition seat is arranged outside the shaft hole in the bottom ring; an inner ring is connected in the partition seat and used for positioning the stirring shaft; an inner diameter ring is arranged at the lower end face inside of the upper ring outside the shaft hole. The upper ring is connected and fixed with the stirring shaft through a fixed cover; the shaft outer sealing ring inside the shaft hole in the upper ring seals the connection for the first time; the bottom ring and the sealing ring are connected in cooperation to seal the connection between the bottom ring and the upper ring; the inner ring in the bottom ring seals the stirring shaft for the second time; when being connected, the inner diameter ring of the lower end face of the upper ring is connected to the upper end face of the inner ring to realize secondary sealing; meanwhile, the inner ring and the bottom ring are sealed twice, so that the sealing does not fail when rotating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of bioreactor stirring shaft sealing devices, specifically to bioreactor stirring shaft sealing devices. Background Technology

[0002] A bioreactor is a device system, cell, tissue, organ, etc. that utilizes the biological functions of organisms to obtain target products through biochemical reactions or the organism's own metabolism, either in vitro or in vivo. Microbial reactions can be used to manufacture products such as fertilizers and food. When using a microbial reactor, a reaction vessel is often used to better promote the reaction of microorganisms and the fusion of raw materials.

[0003] Stirring can be an independent unit operation within the realm of fluid mechanics, primarily aimed at promoting mixing, such as liquid-liquid mixing, solid-liquid suspension, and gas-liquid dispersion. It is also a necessary means to complete other unit operations, primarily aimed at promoting heat transfer, mass transfer, and chemical reactions, such as heating and cooling fluids, extraction, absorption, dissolution, crystallization, and polymerization. Therefore, the stirring principle of a reaction vessel is used to achieve the following four objectives: 1. To fully disperse gas in liquid, enhancing mass transfer or chemical reactions; 2. To enhance heat transfer and prevent localized overheating or overcooling; 3. To mix immiscible liquids uniformly, preparing homogeneous mixtures or emulsions, and enhancing the mass transfer process; 4. To prepare homogeneous suspensions, accelerating the dissolution, extraction, or liquid-solid chemical reactions of solids.

[0004] Installation method of the agitator shaft in the reactor: 1. Place a soft pad inside the reactor and place the agitator on the pad. Then, hoist the cover to the predetermined position, with the upper end of the agitator extending from the connection hole in the top cover of the reactor. Then, fit the seal (mechanical seal or packing seal box) onto the agitator shaft. 2. Connect the agitator and the output shaft of the reducer and tighten the anti-loosening device. 3. Adjust the coaxiality and perpendicularity of the agitator and the seal. After meeting the technical requirements, allow the agitator shaft to rotate slowly. Observe the agitation during the rotation period to check if it operates flexibly. Only press the engine button after ensuring that there are no abnormalities in the operation of the agitator in the enamel-lined reactor. 4. Adjust the base nut to make the agitator shaft perpendicular to the concentric plane of the top cover. Then, adjust the coaxiality and perpendicularity of the seal and the agitator shaft to meet the technical requirements. Allow the agitator shaft to rotate slowly. Continue to observe the operation during this period. The observation time needs to be reasonably controlled and should not be too long. If any abnormalities are found in the agitator of the enamel-lined reactor during the observation process, it needs to be checked and adjusted in time.

[0005] However, in the current traditional reactor connection method, the stirring shaft is rotatably connected to the bottom of the reactor body through a lip seal and bearing. The sealing of the connection between the stirring shaft and the reactor body is extremely important.

[0006] Patent No. CN114857268A discloses a sealing device based on a bioreactor stirring shaft, relating to the field of bioreactor technology. The device includes: a reactor vessel; an inner sealing cover fixedly connected to the bottom center of the reactor vessel; and a lower sealing cover positioned below the inner sealing cover, with its upper surface adhering to the lower surface of the inner sealing cover. It provides multiple sealing functions for the sealing components and, in addition to multiple sealing, adds a temporary storage function for leaked substances. The storage space can be easily and quickly disassembled, allowing for timely cleaning of internal contaminated components, which is beneficial for equipment maintenance and repair. It reduces the likelihood of leakage from the stirring shaft area causing pollution to the production environment. This solves the problem that, with the current traditional connection method between the stirring shaft and the vessel body in a reactor, small leaks are prone to occur when the vessel body is used in a high-pressure production environment, requiring timely handling by personnel; otherwise, it can easily cause pollution to the production site.

[0007] However, while the device temporarily stores leaked material in a designated storage area, leakage is unacceptable during the mixing process of a bioreactor. Sealing the bioreactor requires a fundamental solution, namely, preventing leakage altogether. Furthermore, the accumulation of temporarily stored leaked material over time can lead to corrosion of the mixing shaft. In this case, the sealing function is achieved by placing a lower sealing cover below the inner sealing cover, using a multi-layered covering method. However, the rotation of the drive shaft is not considered. During rotation, the lower sealing cover and the inner sealing cover remain fixed, causing the seal to fail. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a sealing device for a bioreactor stirring shaft. This addresses the problem that existing devices temporarily store leaked material at the connection point of the stirring shaft. However, leakage is unacceptable in bioreactor stirring processes. Sealing the bioreactor stirring requires a fundamental solution: preventing leakage altogether. Furthermore, the accumulation of temporarily stored leaked material over time can lead to corrosion of the stirring shaft. In this invention, the sealing function is achieved by placing a lower sealing cover below the inner sealing cover, using a multiple-layer covering method. However, this does not consider the need for the drive shaft to rotate. During rotation, the lower sealing cover and the inner sealing cover remain fixed, leading to sealing failure.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention provides a sealing device for a bioreactor stirring shaft, comprising a bottom ring and an upper ring;

[0010] Both the bottom ring and the upper ring have through holes at their axial centers for connecting the stirring shaft.

[0011] A partition seat is installed inside the bottom ring on the outside of the shaft hole, and an inner ring is connected inside the partition seat for positioning the stirring shaft;

[0012] An inner diameter ring is installed inside the lower end face of the upper ring, located outside the shaft hole, and the inner diameter ring is inserted into the inner ring. The outermost ring surface of the bottom ring has a threaded part, and the inner side of the lower end face of the upper ring has a threaded connection part. The two are threadedly connected, which makes the threaded connection convenient to operate and easy to disassemble, and is highly practical.

[0013] Preferably, a primary sealing groove is formed inside the bottom ring on the outside of the separator seat, a sealing ring is inserted into the primary sealing groove, and an upper sealing part is installed on the upper end face of the sealing ring. The upper sealing part is inserted into the end face of the upper ring on the outside of the inner diameter ring. The upper sealing part works with the inner diameter ring to expand the sealing area and improve the sealing area between the bottom ring and the upper ring.

[0014] Preferably, the sealing groove has positioning grooves on both sides, and positioning blocks are installed on both sides of the sealing ring. The positioning blocks are inserted into the positioning grooves. The positioning blocks and positioning grooves have the same shape but different sizes, and they are interlocked for easy disassembly. This also makes it easier to connect the sealing ring and improves practicality.

[0015] Preferably, the number of positioning blocks and positioning grooves is several. Multiple positioning blocks and positioning grooves provide better stability and multiple angle positioning and fixing, so that the sealing ring will not loosen and the sealing effect is better.

[0016] Preferably, an inner diameter groove is formed on the inner side of the upper end face of the inner ring, and the inner diameter ring is inserted into the inner diameter groove.

[0017] Preferably, an inner secondary sealing ring is installed on the outer ring side of the inner ring, and multiple balls are installed on the outer ring side of the inner secondary sealing ring. The balls can rotate to ensure that the inner ring can rotate with the subsequent rotation of the stirring shaft, ensuring that the seal will not fail and the sealing effect is better.

[0018] Preferably, the inner secondary sealing ring has inner tertiary sealing rings installed on both its upper and lower end faces. The partition seat has a partition cavity, and the inner ring is inserted into the partition cavity. The partition cavity has an inner secondary sealing groove, and the inner secondary sealing groove has inner tertiary sealing grooves on its upper and lower sides. The inner secondary sealing ring and the inner tertiary sealing ring are respectively connected to the inner secondary sealing groove and the inner tertiary sealing groove. At the same time, there are two seals between the inner ring and the bottom ring, namely, the inner secondary sealing ring and the inner tertiary sealing ring are connected by the inner secondary sealing groove and the inner tertiary sealing groove to achieve the seal between the inner ring and the bottom ring.

[0019] Preferably, the outer side of the ball is attached to the inside of the inner secondary sealing groove, which can ensure that the ball can rotate stably and reduce the damping force between the inner secondary sealing ring and the inner tertiary sealing ring and the inner secondary sealing groove.

[0020] Preferably, the upper ring has a fixing cover installed on its upper end face, and the fixing cover has fixing holes around its perimeter. The fixing holes facilitate the connection between the fixing cover and the stirring shaft, and the upper ring is easy to connect and disassemble.

[0021] Preferably, an external sealing ring is installed inside the shaft hole of the upper ring. The external sealing ring seals the connection between the upper ring and the stirring shaft, reducing the possibility of leaked substances entering the upper ring.

[0022] The advantages of this invention are:

[0023] This invention utilizes a bottom ring, an upper ring, a sealing ring, and an inner ring in a coordinated manner. First, the upper ring is connected and fixed to the stirring shaft via a fixing cap. Bolts can be inserted into the fixing hole for secure installation, making disassembly and reassembly convenient and efficient. The upper ring connects to the lower ring via a threaded connection, facilitating easy connection and operation. The outer shaft sealing ring inside the upper ring's inner shaft hole provides an initial seal at the connection point. Next, the bottom ring and the sealing ring work together to seal the connection between the bottom ring and the upper ring. The inner ring within the bottom ring provides a secondary seal to the stirring shaft. Simultaneously, the inner diameter ring on the lower end face of the upper ring connects to the upper end face of the inner ring, achieving a secondary seal. There are two seals between the inner ring and the bottom ring: an inner secondary sealing ring and an inner tertiary sealing ring connect with an inner secondary sealing groove and an inner tertiary sealing groove to achieve a seal between the inner ring and the bottom ring. The ball bearings on the outer side of the inner secondary sealing ring ensure that the inner ring can rotate with the stirring shaft, ensuring that the seal does not fail during rotation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the inner ring structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lower end face of the upper ring of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the bottom ring of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of the partition cavity of the present invention.

[0029] In the picture:

[0030] 1. Bottom ring; 2. Upper ring; 3. Fixing cover; 4. Fixing hole; 5. Shaft hole; 6. Inner ring; 7. Separator seat; 8. Positioning groove; 9. Primary sealing groove; 10. Threaded part; 11. Sealing ring; 12. Positioning block; 13. Upper sealing part; 14. External shaft sealing ring; 15. Inner tertiary sealing ring; 16. Ball bearing; 17. Inner secondary sealing ring; 18. Threaded connection part; 19. Inner diameter ring; 20. Inner diameter groove; 21. Separator cavity; 211. Inner tertiary sealing groove; 212. Inner secondary sealing groove. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] Please see Figure 1-5 The figure shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, based on a bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device, including a bottom ring 1 and an upper ring 2;

[0035] Both the bottom ring 1 and the upper ring 2 have through holes 5 for connecting the stirring shaft at their axial centers.

[0036] A partition seat 7 is installed inside the bottom ring 1 outside the shaft hole 5, and an inner ring 6 is connected inside the partition seat 7 for positioning the stirring shaft.

[0037] An inner diameter ring 19 is installed inside the lower end face of the upper ring 2, located outside the shaft hole 5, and the inner diameter ring 19 is inserted into the inner ring 6. The outermost ring surface of the bottom ring 1 has a threaded portion 10, and the inner side of the lower end face of the upper ring 2 has a threaded connection portion 18, and the two are threadedly connected.

[0038] It should be noted that in this solution, the bottom ring 1, upper ring 2, sealing ring 11, and inner ring 6 work together. First, the upper ring 2 is connected and fixed to the stirring shaft through the fixing cover 3. Bolts can be inserted into the fixing hole 4 to achieve fixation, making installation and disassembly convenient, and subsequent use convenient and efficient. The upper ring 2 is connected to the lower ring through the threaded connection part 18 and the threaded part 10. The connection between the two is convenient and easy to operate. The shaft seal ring 14 inside the inner shaft hole 5 of the upper ring 2 seals the connection for the first time. Then, the bottom ring 1 and the sealing ring 11 work together to connect the bottom ring 1 and the upper ring. The connection between the two rings is sealed, while the inner ring 6 inside the bottom ring 1 provides a secondary seal for the stirring shaft. At the same time, the inner diameter ring 19 on the lower end face of the upper ring 2 is connected to the upper end face of the inner ring 6 to achieve a secondary seal. There are two seals between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1, namely the inner secondary sealing ring 17 and the inner tertiary sealing ring 15, which are connected with the inner secondary sealing groove 212 and the inner tertiary sealing groove 211 to achieve a seal between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1. The ball bearing 16 on the outside of the inner secondary sealing ring 17 ensures that the inner ring 6 can rotate with the stirring shaft, ensuring that the seal will not fail during rotation.

[0039] The bottom ring 1 has a primary sealing groove 9 formed inside the outer side of the partition seat 7. A sealing ring 11 is inserted into the primary sealing groove 9. An upper sealing part 13 is installed on the upper end face of the sealing ring 11. The upper sealing part 13 is inserted into the end face of the upper ring 2 outside the inner diameter ring 19.

[0040] It should be noted that: in this scheme, the bottom ring 1 and the sealing ring 11 are connected to each other to seal the connection between the bottom ring 1 and the upper ring 2, while the inner ring 6 inside the bottom ring 1 provides a secondary seal for the stirring shaft to reduce the possibility of leakage.

[0041] The sealing groove has positioning grooves 8 on both sides, and the sealing ring 11 has positioning blocks 12 installed on both sides. The positioning blocks 12 are inserted into the positioning grooves 8. The number of positioning blocks 12 and positioning grooves 8 is several.

[0042] It should be noted that: in this solution, the positioning block 12 is inserted into the positioning groove 8, which makes it easy for the sealing ring 11 to be quickly connected and fixed with the primary sealing groove 9 without shifting, and the sealing effect is stable. At the same time, multiple positioning blocks 12 and positioning grooves 8 cooperate with each other, resulting in better and more stable positioning effect.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] Please see Figure 1 and 2In this embodiment: an inner diameter groove 20 is formed on the inner side of the upper end face of the inner ring 6, and the inner diameter ring 19 is inserted into the inner diameter groove 20. An inner secondary sealing ring 17 is installed on the outer ring side of the inner ring 6. A plurality of balls 16 are installed on the outer ring side of the inner secondary sealing ring 17. An inner tertiary sealing ring 15 is installed on both the upper and lower end faces of the inner secondary sealing ring 17. A partition cavity 21 is formed inside the partition seat 7, and the inner ring 6 is inserted into the partition cavity 21. An inner secondary sealing groove 212 is opened inside the partition cavity 21. An inner tertiary sealing groove 211 is opened on the upper and lower sides inside the inner secondary sealing groove 212. The inner secondary sealing ring 17 and the inner tertiary sealing ring 15 are respectively connected inside the inner secondary sealing groove 212 and the inner tertiary sealing groove 211.

[0045] It should be noted that: the interconnection of the inner diameter ring 19 and the inner diameter groove 20 in this design ensures that when the upper ring 2 and the bottom ring 1 are connected, the interior is simultaneously in a connected state, achieving a seal and reducing leakage. The inner diameter ring 19 on the lower end face of the upper ring 2 is connected to the upper end face of the inner ring 6, achieving a secondary seal. At the same time, there are two seals between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1, namely the inner secondary sealing ring 17 and the inner tertiary sealing ring 15, which are connected with the inner secondary sealing groove 212 and the inner tertiary sealing groove 211 to achieve a seal between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1. The ball bearings 16 on the outer side of the inner secondary sealing ring 17 ensure that the inner ring 6 can rotate with the stirring shaft, ensuring that the seal will not fail during rotation. Multiple ball bearings 16 make the rotation smoother and reduce jamming.

[0046] The outer side of the ball 16 is attached to the inside of the inner secondary sealing groove 212.

[0047] It should be noted that this solution can ensure that the ball 16 can rotate stably, and reduce the damping force between the inner secondary seal ring 17 and the inner tertiary seal ring 15 and the inner secondary seal groove 212 and the inner tertiary seal groove 211.

[0048] The upper ring 2 is equipped with a fixing cover 3, and the fixing cover 3 has fixing holes 4 around its perimeter.

[0049] It should be noted that this solution makes it easy to fix the upper ring 2 with the fixed cover 3, and facilitates the connection between the upper ring 2 and the stirring shaft, thus improving the installation efficiency.

[0050] An external shaft sealing ring 14 is installed inside the shaft hole 5 inside the upper ring 2.

[0051] It should be noted that: in this solution, the external shaft seal 14 inside the inner shaft hole 5 of the upper ring 2 seals the connection for the first time, and the external shaft seal 14 can be installed on both the upper and lower end faces of the inner shaft hole 5 of the upper ring 2, resulting in a better sealing effect.

[0052] Example 3

[0053] The working process and principle of this invention: The bottom ring 1, upper ring 2, sealing ring 11, and inner ring 6 work together. First, the upper ring 2 is connected and fixed to the stirring shaft via the fixing cover 3. Bolts can be inserted into the fixing hole 4 for fixation, making installation and disassembly convenient and subsequent use efficient. Then, the upper ring 2 is connected to the bottom ring 1, with the threaded connection part 18 and the threaded part 10 connected for rotation. The threaded connection is tightened, making the connection convenient and operation easy. Simultaneously, the outer shaft sealing ring 14 inside the inner shaft hole 5 of the upper ring 2 seals the connection between the stirring shaft and the upper ring 2 for the first time. At the same time, the bottom ring 1 and the sealing ring 11 work together, with the sealing ring 11 inserted into the primary sealing groove 9, and the positioning block 12 extending into the positioning groove 8. The sealing ring 11 is positioned and fixed to prevent it from loosening. The sealing ring 11 seals the connection between the bottom ring 1 and the upper ring 2. Then, the inner ring 6 is inserted into the partition cavity 21. The inner ring 6 inside the bottom ring 1 provides a secondary seal for the stirring shaft. During connection, the inner diameter ring 19 on the lower end face of the upper ring 2 is connected to the upper end face of the inner ring 6 to achieve a secondary seal. There are two seals between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1, namely the inner secondary sealing ring 17 and the inner tertiary sealing ring 15, which are connected with the inner secondary sealing groove 212 and the inner tertiary sealing groove 211 to achieve a seal between the inner ring 6 and the bottom ring 1. The ball bearing 16 on the outside of the inner secondary sealing ring 17 ensures that the inner ring 6 can rotate with the stirring shaft, ensuring that the seal will not fail during rotation.

[0054] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0055] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0056] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments do not limit the present invention in any way, and all technical solutions obtained by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device, characterized in that: Includes a bottom ring (1) and an upper ring (2); Both the bottom ring (1) and the upper ring (2) have through holes (5) for connecting the stirring shaft. A partition seat (7) is installed inside the bottom ring (1) outside the shaft hole (5), and an inner ring (6) is connected inside the partition seat (7) for positioning the stirring shaft. An inner diameter ring (19) is installed inside the lower end face of the upper ring (2) outside the shaft hole (5), and the inner diameter ring (19) is inserted into the inner ring (6). The outermost ring surface of the bottom ring (1) is provided with a threaded part (10), and the inner side of the lower end face of the upper ring (2) is provided with a threaded connection part (18), and the two are threadedly connected. A primary sealing groove (9) is formed inside the bottom ring (1) outside the partition seat (7), and a sealing ring (11) is inserted inside the primary sealing groove (9). An upper sealing part (13) is installed on the upper end face of the sealing ring (11), and the upper sealing part (13) is inserted into the end face of the upper ring (2) outside the inner diameter ring (19). An inner diameter groove (20) is formed on the inner side of the upper end face of the inner ring (6), and the inner diameter ring is inserted into the inner diameter ring. Inside the inner diameter groove (20), an inner secondary sealing ring (17) is installed on the outer ring side of the inner ring (6), and multiple balls (16) are installed on the outer ring side of the inner secondary sealing ring (17); an inner tertiary sealing ring (15) is installed on both the upper and lower end faces of the inner secondary sealing ring (17); a partition cavity (21) is formed inside the partition seat (7), and the inner ring (6) is inserted into the partition cavity (21); an inner secondary sealing groove (212) is opened inside the partition cavity (21); an inner tertiary sealing groove (211) is opened on the upper and lower sides inside the inner secondary sealing groove (212); and the inner secondary sealing ring (17) and the inner tertiary sealing ring (15) are respectively connected inside the inner secondary sealing groove (212) and the inner tertiary sealing groove (211).

2. The bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing groove has positioning grooves (8) on both sides, and positioning blocks (12) are installed on both sides of the sealing ring (11), and the positioning blocks (12) are inserted into the positioning grooves (8).

3. The bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of positioning blocks (12) and positioning slots (8) is several.

4. The bioreactor stirring shaft sealing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer side of the ball (16) is attached to the inside of the inner secondary sealing groove (212).

5. The bioreactor agitator shaft sealing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A fixing cover (3) is installed on the upper end face of the upper ring (2), and fixing holes (4) are provided around the fixing cover (3).

6. The bioreactor agitator shaft sealing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: An external sealing ring (14) is installed inside the shaft hole (5) inside the upper ring (2).

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