Multipurpose heat sterilization valve

Abstract

The invention provides a multipurpose heat sterilization valve. The multipurpose heat sterilization valve comprises a valve seat, a valve body shell installed on the upper side of the valve seat, a valve element installed in the valve body shell, and a sensor box installed on the upper side of the valve body shell. A valve cavity is formed in the valve body shell, the valve element is installed in the valve cavity, the upper side of the valve element is connected with the handle, and the handle penetrates through a handle opening in the upper side of the valve body shell to be connected with the valve element. All the parts are of a detachable structure so as to be conveniently treated and subjected to multiple sterilization processes without causing related performance degradation. When steam sterilization is needed, the valve is closed, then the handle is detached, the steam pipeline is directly inserted into the opening of the handle, and steam can enter the valve through the connecting hole for steam sterilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of valves, and in particular to a multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, it is known to use valves to dispense flowing materials from flexible packages. With the increasing performance requirements, the need for improved hygienic conditions, environmentally friendly solutions, and recording the processing conditions of dispensing or filling valves requires a more robust valve structure. For example, high-pressure steam is one of the main means of sterilizing such valves. However, the problem is that such sterilization techniques expose the valves to harsh environments and demanding procedures. In addition, the intensity of gamma-ray sterilization greatly affects the correct behavior of the valves over time.

[0003] Due to the increase in pressure and temperature, many existing valves have a high failure rate. That is, pressure and / or temperature can damage the components of the valves, making them unable to work as required. In addition, all currently available valves made of polymer materials are for single use because of the high risk of contamination.

[0004] Other solutions require the use of metal components and other heavy structures, thus increasing the complexity and cost of such valves.

[0005] Currently available valve disinfection chambers all require the valves to be disassembled, which is complicated in operation and affects the use of the valves. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to the above technical problems, the present invention provides a multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve, which is characterized by including a valve seat, a valve body housing installed on the upper side of the valve seat, a valve core installed inside the valve body housing, and a sensor box installed on the upper side of the valve body housing.

[0007] A valve cavity is provided inside the valve body housing, the valve core is installed inside the valve cavity, the upper side of the valve core is connected to a handle, and the handle passes through a handle opening on the upper side of the valve body housing and is connected to the valve core.

[0008] Two water outlet holes are provided on the upper side of the valve core, the two water outlet holes are arranged correspondingly, and a fixing part is provided at the top of the valve.

[0009] An upper cover is installed on the upper side of the valve seat by means of threads.

[0010] The fixing part is provided on the upper side of the outer edge, a connection hole is provided inside the fixing part, and the handle is fixed to the valve core through the connection hole.

[0011] The fixing part is a protruding structure or a concave structure.

[0012] The top end of the handle is a small protrusion. When the handle is installed, the small protrusion is inserted into the connection hole and used in conjunction with the connection hole to prevent the leakage of liquid inside the valve body.

[0013] A one-way baffle is provided at the connection hole. This baffle is used for steam sterilization, facilitating the entry of steam into the valve body. When the valve body is in use, the one-way baffle blocks the outflow of liquid from the connection hole.

[0014] The handle and the fixing part are fixed together by a fixing bolt.

[0015] Inside the fixing part, there is a retaining strip with a notch and a clamping groove on the lower side. A sealing ring is provided in the clamping groove. Blocks are respectively provided at the top end of the handle. When the handle is inserted into the inside of the fixing part, the blocks slide down along the notch. When the handle enters the inside of the fixing part, the handle is rotated, and the blocks of the handle are engaged with the clamping groove. At this time, the small protrusion at the top end of the handle is inserted into the connection hole, and the handle drives the valve core to rotate. When steam sterilization is required, the handle is pressed down forcefully to press the blocks of the handle out of the clamping groove, and the handle is rotated to move the blocks out of the outside through the notch.

[0016] A sealing strip is provided on the outer edge. The sealing strip extends along the outer edge and is configured to be in sealing contact with the valve seat. In the first closed position, the sealing strip biases the valve core towards the upper end of the valve body housing.

[0017] The outer edge includes at least two spaced-apart outwardly directed annular flanges. At least one channel is defined between these flanges, and a seal is provided in at least one channel. The outer edge slopes outward to correspond to the seat surface. The valve core has a rotational axis that transversely passes through the valve core and is spaced apart from the annular flanges. Each channel has a different inclined surface.

[0018] A base groove is provided at the lower end of the valve body housing. The base groove has an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of interlocking teeth are provided on the outer surface.

[0019] A multi-purpose heat sterilization valve further includes a valve base, a base flange that can be attached to a flexible bag, and an upwardly extending upright portion that defines an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of sealing beads are provided around the inner surface, and a plurality of teeth are provided on the outer surface. The upright portion can be inserted into the base receiving groove of the valve body housing. After insertion, the plurality of sealing beads are in sealing contact with the inner surface of the base groove, and the interlocking teeth of the base groove are interlocked with the teeth on the outer surface of the upright portion, thereby connecting the valve base to the valve body housing.

[0020] The base flange includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The thickness of the base flange is substantially uniform and is generally a planar structure. The thickness and overall structure of the base flange can vary. The valve seat is made of a polymer material, including but not limited to polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon, etc.

[0021] The second side of the valve needs to be sterilized. To achieve this, the upper end of the valve body housing can be connected to a steam sterilization device, which applies high-pressure steam to the second side of the valve to sterilize the second side of the valve.

[0022] The handle has a lever arm on the outside of the valve body housing, and its shaft passes through the valve body housing. The shaft defines a shaft member at the second end and defines the rotation axis of the valve element relative to the valve body housing.

[0023] The valve body housing is provided with an observation window, and the observation window is a transparent structure.

[0024] The transparent part of the valve body housing is made of a transparent polyamide material to ensure the visibility of fluid flow and facilitate automated inspection or manual inspection of the fluid flow for any flaws.

[0025] The upper side of the valve body housing is provided with an upper flange assembly, and the lower side of the valve body housing is provided with a lower flange assembly. The upper flange assembly, the lower flange assembly are fixed to the external pipeline so that external liquid can flow through the valve.

[0026] These valves are mainly applied in the food and medical industries. The valve body housing and the valve element are made of high molecular materials that are heat-resistant and resistant to disinfectants, mainly polyamide and polyphthalamide, i.e., semi-crystalline aromatic polyamide materials.

[0027] An integrated sensor is provided inside the sensor box, and the sensor box is a structure that can be opened and closed.

[0028] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The components such as the upper cover, valve seat, valve element, and handle of this application are all detachable structures, so as to facilitate handling and withstand multiple sterilization processes without causing degradation of relevant performance.

[0029] The valve element components are tightly connected through additional circular seals and interference fit during the assembled state. An integrated sensor is provided inside the sensor box of the present invention for recording temperature, the number of sterilization cycles, and any relevant sterilization parameters.

[0030] When steam sterilization is required for the present invention, this application can be disassembled from the pipeline and completely disassembled, and then all the components can be put into a disinfection container for disinfection; it is also possible that when the pipeline is not in use, this application can be not disassembled, the valve is closed, and then the handle is disassembled, and the steam pipeline is directly inserted into the handle opening, and the steam can enter the valve interior through the connection hole for steam disinfection. Description of the Drawings

[0031] Figure 1 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve body housing of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve element of the present invention; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the valve seat structure of the present invention; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0032] As shown in the figure, 2: Lower flange assembly, 3: Upper flange assembly, 4: Sensor box, 11: Valve body shell, 12: Valve seat, 13: Valve core, 14: Handle, 15: Valve seat flange, 16: Upright part of valve seat, 17: Upper surface of valve seat, 18: Inner surface of valve seat, 19: Outer surface of valve seat, 20: Inner sealing beads of valve seat, 22: Teeth on outer surface of valve seat, 23: Lateral handle opening. Detailed implementation mode

[0033] Embodiment 1 The multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve is composed of four major elements: valve seat, valve shell, valve core and handle, and it complements the flexible packaging well. This assembly is particularly suitable for applications in sterile environments, such as in the coordination with dispensed flowing materials such as liquids, pastes and syrups, not limited to the food industry. In such an environment, the valve assembly often needs to undergo a steam sterilization process to maintain its integrity.

[0034] The valve seat consists of a base flange and an upright part, and is closely connected to the flexible bag. The upper and lower surfaces of the base flange are flat and have a uniform thickness, but the structure can be adjusted according to requirements. The valve seat is mainly made of polymer materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene and nylon, etc., ensuring its durability and reliability.

[0035] The upright part extends from the base flange and is divided into inner and outer two surfaces. The inner surface is provided with first and second sealing beads, which are semicircular protrusions and usually extend inwards. The outer surface has an interlocking tooth design.

[0036] The valve core is composed of a lower flange assembly, an upper flange assembly and a lateral handle opening. This part is also made of polymer materials, preferably nylon-based or polyphthalamide-based materials. The lateral handle opening determines the rotation axis of the valve core, and this axis passes through the center of the circular cross-section configuration of the inner hole of the valve body shell, so as to realize the opening and closing of the valve core.

[0037] The lever arm is designed as an arc that rotates about 90°, so as to switch between the open and closed positions. The shape and protrusions of the lever arm limit its rotation in the shell.

[0038] The user can easily assemble the valve body shell on the valve seat. When the valve body shell is connected to the base, the upright part is guided into the base receiving channel of the valve body shell to form a seal.

[0039] Embodiment 2 The present application proposes a multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve with a delicate structure, integrating a valve seat, a valve body shell, a valve core and a sensor box. The valve cavity inside the valve body shell accommodates the valve core. The top of the valve core is connected to a handle, and the handle is docked with the valve core through an opening above the valve body shell.

[0040] The outer edge of the valve core is equipped with a sealing strip that extends along the outer edge to ensure sealed contact with the valve seat. In the first closed position, the sealing strip applies pressure to the upper end of the valve core against the valve body shell. The annular flanges on the outer edge are spaced apart to form channels, and each channel is provided with a seal. The outer edge is inclined outward to match the seat surface, and the rotation axis of the valve core passes horizontally through and is spaced apart from the flanges, and the inclined surfaces of the channels are different.

[0041] The lower end of the valve body shell is provided with a base groove with a smooth inner surface and a plurality of interlocking teeth on the outer surface. The valve base, the base flange and the raised part work together. The raised part can be inserted into the base receiving groove of the valve body shell, the sealing bead contacts the inner surface of the base groove, and the interlocking teeth bite each other to achieve a firm connection between the valve base and the valve body shell.

[0042] The upper and lower surfaces of the base flange are flat and have a uniform thickness, but can be adjusted according to requirements. The valve seat is made of polymer materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene and nylon, which are durable and environmentally friendly.

[0043] To ensure effective sterilization treatment on the second side of the valve, the upper end of the valve body shell can be connected to a steam sterilization device to thoroughly sterilize the second side of the valve with high-pressure steam.

[0044] The lever arm on the outside of the handle is ingeniously designed. Its shaft passes through the valve body shell, and the other end of the shaft defines the rotation axis of the valve core relative to the valve body shell.

[0045] The valve body shell adopts a transparent structure. The use of transparent polyamide material not only ensures clear visibility of fluid flow, facilitating automated or manual inspection, but also adds aesthetic appeal.

[0046] An upper flange assembly is provided on the upper side of the valve body shell, and a lower flange assembly is provided on the lower side, which is fixed to the external pipeline to achieve liquid circulation.

[0047] This valve is mainly applied to the food and medical industries. The valve body shell and the valve core are made of high-molecular materials that are heat-resistant and resistant to disinfectants, such as polyamide and polyphthalamide, that is, semi-crystalline aromatic polyamide materials, ensuring the safety and reliability of the product.

[0048] The sensor box integrates an integrated sensor, providing intelligent support for the use of the valve and further enhancing the functionality and convenience of the product.

[0049] Example 3 Before distribution or filling, the valve may need to undergo secondary sterilization. By connecting the handle opening at the upper end of the valve body housing to a steam sterilization device, high-pressure steam can be applied to the interior of the valve to achieve sterilization.

[0050] When the valve needs steam sterilization, disassemble the present invention and separate each component. The structure of the present invention is simple and there are no tiny components, which facilitates steam sterilization after disassembly. Then reassemble it for use after sterilization.

[0051] Although there are various steam exposure scenarios, the application of steam generally follows certain specifications. For example, at a temperature of 121 °C, steam is applied for 15 minutes; at 130 °C, it is applied for 2.5 minutes; at 140 °C, only 0.9 seconds is required. These parameters are for reference only. In actual operation, users can adjust according to specific circumstances.

[0052] The valve is equipped with a sensor box, and an electronic sensor is provided inside the sensor box to ensure its safe reuse multiple times. Figure 2 The sensor box in [description] can accommodate multiple micro-devices and can be manually opened. The electronic chip is protected by heat-resistant polyphthalamide (semi-crystalline aromatic polyamide). The sensors can record temperature, the number of sterilization cycles, filling and discharge times, and rely on radio frequency identification technology. They can be automatically triggered according to user needs without manual intervention, such as when the temperature changes beyond a threshold or at the start and end of liquid flow.

[0053] The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. Each component mentioned in the present invention is common technology in the existing field. Those skilled in the art of this industry should understand that the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments. What is described in the above embodiments and the specification only illustrates the principle of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the present invention will have various changes and improvements, and these changes and improvements all fall within the scope of the present invention claimed. The scope of protection claimed by the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve, characterized in that It includes a valve seat, a valve body housing installed on the upper side of the valve seat, a valve core installed inside the valve body housing, and a sensor box installed on the upper side of the valve body housing.

2. The multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 1, characterized in that A valve cavity is provided inside the valve body housing. The valve core is installed inside the valve cavity. The upper side of the valve core is connected to a handle, and the handle passes through a handle opening on the upper side of the valve body housing and is connected to the valve core.

3. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 1, characterized in that The valve core includes an outer edge with an outer surface, a central web, and a fixing portion that extends upward beyond the central web. There is a central peak extending upward on the central web and an annular groove located between the central peak and the outer edge. Fixing protrusions are provided inside the outer edge, and the groove and the fixing protrusions cooperate to fix the outer edge and the central web together.

4. The multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 3, characterized in that The fixing portion is provided on the upper side of the outer edge. A connection hole is provided inside the fixing portion. The handle is fixed to the valve core through the connection hole, and the handle and the fixing portion are fixed together by a fixing bolt.

5. The multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 3, characterized in that A sealing strip is provided on the outer edge. The sealing strip extends along the outer edge and is configured to contact the valve seat in a sealing manner. In the first closed position, the sealing strip biases the valve core toward the upper end of the valve body housing.

6. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 5, characterized in that The outer edge includes at least two spaced-apart outwardly directed annular flanges. At least one channel is defined between these flanges, and a seal is provided in at least one channel. The outer edge is inclined outward to correspond to the seat surface. The valve core has a rotation axis that transversely passes through the valve core and is spaced apart from the annular flanges.

7. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 1, characterized in that A base groove is provided at the lower end of the valve body housing. The base groove has an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of interlocking teeth are provided on the outer surface.

8. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 1, characterized in that It further includes a valve base, a base flange that can be attached to a flexible bag, and an upwardly extending upright portion that defines an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of sealing beads are provided around the inner surface, and a plurality of teeth are provided on the outer surface. The upright portion can be inserted into the base receiving groove of the valve body housing. After insertion, the plurality of sealing beads are in sealing contact with the inner surface of the base groove, and the interlocking teeth of the base groove are interlocked with the teeth on the outer surface of the upright portion, thereby connecting the valve base to the valve body housing.

9. A multi-purpose thermal sterilization valve according to claim 1, characterized in that The valve body housing is provided with an observation window, and the observation window is a transparent structure.

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