Valve cartridge and homogenizing valve comprising said valve cartridge

Abstract

A valve cartridge (1) for a homogenizing valve (100), the valve cartridge (1) comprising: a deflector (2) having an elongate extension; a hollow housing (3), the hollow housing (3) having a cylindrical symmetry, the deflector (2) passing through the hollow housing (3) such that at least a portion (2a) of the deflector (2) is located inside the hollow housing (3); and an annular guide (4) fitted between the inner wall (3a) of the hollow housing (3) and the deflector (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a valve cartridge and a homogenizing valve comprising the valve cartridge. Background Art

[0002] The invention proposed here can be used in manufacturing fields where homogenization is a step in the production process.

[0003] Consider, for example, the production of carbon-based nanostructured materials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, or the cellular decomposition of yeast, algae or microorganisms to produce intracellular materials.

[0004] The invention can also be used in the food industry, in particular in the dairy sector, or in the chemical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry. Summary of the invention

[0005] As is well known, equipment for homogenizing a fluid comminutes particles, reduces their size to a minimum, and makes the size of the particles uniform, thereby reducing the variation in the distribution of the sizes of the particles.

[0006] In various embodiments known to date, the homogenizing device comprises a high-pressure pump and a homogenizing valve.

[0007] The homogenizing valve comprises a first chamber receiving the high energy fluid delivered from the pump and a second chamber capable of providing output back pressure. The homogenizing effect is achieved by forcing the fluid to pass through a reduced size gap or clearance between the first and second chambers.

[0008] The gap is defined by a radial striker integrally engaged with the valve body and a deflector movable in the axial direction relative to the radial striker.

[0009] A thruster capable of opposing the fluid pressure in the axial direction is applied to the deflector. The size of the gap is controlled by acting directly on the thruster, depending on the valve flow and pressure operating values.

[0010] According to Bernoulli's principle, the energy of the fluid is reduced by passing through the gap.

[0011] The main disadvantage of the solution just described is the shortened service life of the components, in particular those subjected to high pressures, namely the deflectors.

[0012] In applications using fiber-fluids, component life is further reduced by the abrasive nature of the fluid itself, meaning that parts exposed to fluid transfer wear faster and must be replaced more frequently.

[0013] Replacing the deflector requires special tools. In addition, other parts need to be removed to access the deflector. These operations can be long and complicated.

[0014] Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide a valve cartridge and a homogenizing valve that overcome the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0015] The object of the present invention is to propose a valve cartridge having a longer life than known solutions.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve cartridge which can be easily replaced in a homogenizing valve.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to propose a homogenizing valve that is easier to maintain than known solutions.

[0018] The technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a valve cartridge for a homogenizing valve, the valve cartridge comprising:

[0019] a deflector having an elongated extension;

[0020] a hollow housing having cylindrical symmetry, the deflector passing through the hollow housing such that at least a portion of the deflector is within the hollow housing;

[0021] An annular guide is fitted between the inner wall of the hollow housing and the deflector.

[0022] Preferably, the annular guide is made of plastic material.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the hollow housing is coaxial with the deflector.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hollow housing comprises a tubular body and a hollow plug cap applied at a first end of the tubular body.

[0025] In particular, the hollow plug cover has a plurality of first holes.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubular body has a second end portion which is bent inwardly so as to define an annular seat through which the deflector is received.

[0027] In particular, the annular base has a plurality of second holes.

[0028] Preferably, the diameter of the first hole is larger than the diameter of the second hole.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the valve cartridge further comprises a first ring and a second ring which are arranged in the hollow housing and around the deflector. The annular guide is interposed between the first ring and the second ring.

[0030] For example, the first ring and the second ring are made of PEEK.

[0031] Preferably, the hollow housing is made of wear-resistant steel.

[0032] The technical task and the specified objectives are basically achieved by a homogenizing valve, which comprises:

[0033] an inlet for a high energy fluid;

[0034] an outlet for a low energy homogeneous fluid;

[0035] Radial collider;

[0036] According to the valve cartridge of the present invention, the deflector is movable relative to the radial impactor so as to define a gap between the deflector and the radial impactor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a valve cartridge and a homogenizing valve, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 A front view of a valve cartridge for a homogenizing valve according to the present invention is shown;

[0039] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A perspective view of a valve cartridge;

[0040] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a valve cylinder;

[0041] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a homogenizing valve according to the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a valve cartridge for a homogenizing valve 100 .

[0043] The valve cartridge 1 comprises a deflector 2 having an elongated extension. In particular, the deflector 2 has a cylindrical symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis AA.

[0044] The valve cartridge 1 further comprises a hollow housing 3 having cylindrical symmetry in order to receive the deflector 2 .

[0045] In particular, the hollow housing 3 is coaxial with the deflector 2 .

[0046] Furthermore, the hollow housing 3 is coaxial with the radial impactor 20 , as will be explained in better detail below.

[0047] The deflector 2 is arranged in the hollow housing 3 so as to pass through the hollow housing 3. At least a portion 2a of the deflector 2 is located inside the hollow housing 3. This portion denoted by 2a is referred to as an "inner portion" of the deflector 2.

[0048] The rest of the deflector 2 is outside the hollow housing 3 .

[0049] In particular, the first end portion 2 b of the deflector 2 and the second end portion 2 c of the deflector 2 protrude to the outside of the hollow housing 3 .

[0050] The annular guide 4 is fitted between the inner wall 3 a of the hollow housing 3 and the deflector 2 .

[0051] In particular, the annular guide 4 is interposed between the inner wall 3 a of the hollow housing 3 and the inner portion 2 a of the deflector 2 .

[0052] According to one aspect of the present invention, the annular guide 4 is made of plastic and elastic material. For example, the annular guide 4 is made of PTFE.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hollow housing 3 comprises a tubular body 5 and a hollow plug cover 6 applied at a first end 5 a of the tubular body 5 .

[0054] The hollow plug cover 6 is composed of a hollow disk.

[0055] The second end 5 b of the tubular body 5 is bent inwardly to define an annular seat 7 through which the deflector 2 is arranged.

[0056] The annular base 7 and the hollow plug cover 6 constitute two hollow disc-shaped bases of the hollow housing 3 .

[0057] The tubular body 5 is made from a single piece.

[0058] Preferably, the tubular body 5 is made of wear-resistant steel.

[0059] In particular, the deflector 2 is coaxial with the tubular body 5 .

[0060] The hollow plug cover 6 is made of the same material as the tubular body 5, preferably wear-resistant steel.

[0061] Wear-resistant steel or another wear-resistant metal may be used to avoid sticking to other steel components of the homogenizing valve 100 .

[0062] The valve cartridge 1 further comprises at least two rings 8 , 9 which are arranged inside the hollow housing 3 and around the inner portion 2 a of the deflector 2 .

[0063] In particular, the first ring 8 is arranged inside the hollow housing 3 and contacts the inner surface of the hollow plug cover 6 .

[0064] The second ring 9 is arranged inside the hollow housing 3 and contacts the inner surface of the annular base 7 .

[0065] The annular guide 4 is interposed between the first ring 8 and the second ring 9 .

[0066] In particular, the two rings 8 , 9 are made of a wear-resistant material.

[0067] Preferably, the two rings 8 , 9 are made of PEEK.

[0068] The rings 8, 9 are dimensioned to hold the annular guide 4 in place within the tubular body 5 to prevent it from sliding inside the tubular body 4. In particular, the rings 8, 9 are made of a material that is more rigid than the material constituting the annular guide 4, preferably a viscoelastic material.

[0069] Thereby, the deflector 2 is held coaxially with the tubular body 5 .

[0070] According to one aspect of the present invention, the hollow plug cover 6 has a plurality of first holes 10 .

[0071] In particular, all first holes 10 are identical.

[0072] For example, the first hole 10 is a blind hole.

[0073] In the embodiment shown, there are four blind holes 4 arranged equidistantly along the circumferential development of the hollow plug cover 6 .

[0074] According to one aspect of the present invention, the annular base 7 has a plurality of second holes 11 .

[0075] In particular, all second holes 11 are identical.

[0076] For example, the second hole 11 is a blind hole.

[0077] In the embodiment shown, there are four blind holes 11 arranged equidistantly along the circumferential development of the annular base 7 .

[0078] Preferably, the diameter of the first hole 10 is greater than the diameter of the second hole 11 .

[0079] According to the present invention, the homogenizing valve 100 comprises:

[0080] An inlet 101, the inlet 101 is for high energy fluid;

[0081] An outlet 102, the outlet 102 is for a low energy homogenous fluid;

[0082] Radial impactor 20;

[0083] A valve cartridge 1 according to the invention.

[0084] A clearance is obtained between the radial impactor 20 and the deflector 2 of the valve cartridge 1 .

[0085] The deflector 2 is movable relative to the radial impactor 20 , for example by means of a pneumatic cylinder or the like.

[0086] As mentioned above, the deflector 2 is partially arranged in the hollow housing 3, which is designed as a reversible component.

[0087] In fact, the axial symmetry of the valve cartridge 1 allows it to be reversed within the homogenizing valve 100. In fact, the valve cartridge 1 can be inverted so that different end portions of the deflector 2 can be used to create the gap.

[0088] For example, when the first end 2 a of the deflector 2 is worn, the valve cartridge 1 is removed from the injection chamber, the valve cartridge 1 is turned upside down, and the second end 2 b of the deflector 2 can be used to form the gap with the radial impactor 20 .

[0089] The valve cartridge 1 can be easily removed by means of the holes 10, 11 (of the hollow plug cover 6 or the annular base 7) which allow the insertion of screws or other removal tools.

[0090] The features of the valve cartridge and the homogenizing valve according to the invention are clear, as are the advantages.

[0091] In particular, when the deflector reaches a certain degree of wear, the valve cartridge is removed, inverted and repositioned in the homogenizing valve. In addition, when the deflector is completely worn (worn in both directions), the valve cartridge can be easily replaced.

[0092] Furthermore, the valve cartridge is assembled to ensure that the elastoplastic (viscoelastic) material constituting the annular guide is sufficiently pre-compressed.

Claims

1. A valve cartridge (1) for a homogenizing valve (100), the valve cartridge (1) comprising: A deflector (2), the deflector (2) having an elongated extension; a hollow housing (3) having cylindrical symmetry, wherein the deflector (2) passes through the hollow housing (3) so that at least a portion (2a) of the deflector (2) is located inside the hollow housing (3); An annular guide (4) is fitted between the inner wall (3a) of the hollow housing (3) and the deflector (2).

2. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The hollow housing (3) is coaxial with the deflector (2).

3. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The hollow housing (3) comprises a tubular body (5) and a hollow plug cover (6) applied at a first end (5a) of the tubular body (5).

4. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 3, wherein: The hollow plug cover (6) has a plurality of first holes (10).

5. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The tubular body (5) has a second end (5b) which is bent inwardly to define an annular seat (7) through which the deflector (2) is received.

6. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 5, wherein: The annular base (7) has a plurality of second holes (11).

7. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 6, wherein: The diameter of the first hole (10) is greater than the diameter of the second hole (11).

8. Valve cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The annular guide (4) is made of plastic material.

9. The valve cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first ring member (8) and a second ring member (9), wherein the first ring member (8) and the second ring member (9) are arranged inside the hollow shell (3) and around the deflector (2), and the annular guide member (4) is inserted between the first ring member (8) and the second ring member (9).

10. The valve cartridge (1) according to claim 9, wherein: The first ring (8) and the second ring (9) are made of PEEK.

11. The valve cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hollow shell (3) is made of wear-resistant steel.

12. A homogenizing valve (100), comprising: an inlet (101), the inlet (101) being for high energy fluid; an outlet (102), the outlet (102) being for a low energy homogenous fluid; Radial impactor (20); The valve cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflector (2) is movable relative to the radial impactor (20) so as to define a gap between the deflector (2) and the radial impactor (20).

Images