Bioreactor with a mounting device

Abstract

Bioreactor (1) with a fastening device (4, 4', 4'') for the correct orientation of a shaft (3) penetrating a wall (5, 5', 5'') orthogonally to a reactor interior (2), with a shaft-side first connection part (9, 9', 9'') which has a shaped body (14, 14', 14'') with which it is connected by positive locking in a rotationally secure manner to a shaped body receptacle (15, 15', 15'') of a wall-side second connection part (10, 10', 10''), characterized in that the second connection part (10, 10', 10'') is fixedly connected to the wall (5, 5', 5'') or that the second connection part (10'') is part of the wall (5''), and that the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') of the first connection part (9, 9', 9'') and the shaped body receptacle (15, 15', 15'') corresponding to the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') of the second connecting part (10, 10', 10'') are formed asymmetrically in a transverse plane arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3).

Description

Field of invention The invention relates to a bioreactor with a fastening device for the correct positioning of a shaft penetrating a wall orthogonally to a reactor interior, with a shaft-side first connection part which has a shaped body with which it is connected by positive locking in a rotationally secure manner to a shaped body receptacle of a wall-side second connection part. State of the art For the cultivation of most organisms, it is essential to introduce oxygen in order to achieve the desired yield and ensure a successful process. In many bioreactors, oxygen is introduced via a gassing device. This distributes air or pure oxygen within the reactor chamber through outlet openings of a gassing element. This form of aeration is primarily found in conventional bioreactors. These glass or stainless steel bioreactors require cleaning after cultivation. This involves disassembling the internal components of the reactor, such as stirrers, baffles, and aeration elements, including their associated shafts. After cleaning, these components must be reinstalled, ensuring they are in the correct position. The orientation of the aeration element is particularly crucial. Even the slightest deviations can significantly impact oxygen input into the bioreactor, potentially leading to reduced yields and inconsistent processes. From DE 10 2006 021 984 B4, a bioreactor with a fastening device for the correct orientation of a shaft penetrating a wall orthogonally to the reactor interior is known. The fastening device has a shaft-side first connection part with a molded body, with which it is connected by positive locking to a molded body receptacle of a wall-side second connection part in a rotationally secure manner. A disadvantage of the bioreactor, which has proven particularly effective as a single-use reactor, is that the shaft for penetrating the wall is split, and the two shaft ends associated with the wall must be connected on each side of the wall to connecting parts of a partial mounting device that is permanently attached to the wall. This does not solve the problem of ensuring the partial mounting device is correctly aligned with the wall, particularly with regard to rotation in a plane of rotation. A further disadvantage is that, with the known shaped components, two mounting positions are possible by rotating them by 180°. US Patent 2006 / 0185448 A1 discloses a sample container with a lid or cap for receiving a biological sample, which is to be added to the sample container without removing the lid. For this purpose, the cap has an opening that can be closed under preload by a hatch cover or door facing the sample container. The position of the hatch cover is determined during assembly by a provided hinge. US Patent 2006 / 0185448 A1 provides no information on a fastening device for the correct orientation of a shaft that penetrates a wall perpendicular to the interior of a reactor. US Patent 2011 / 0188928 A1 discloses devices or couplings for connecting parts of a shaft to form a complete shaft. The connections or couplings must be designed for a frictional connection that guarantees smooth and stable rotation. The complete shaft, even when connected to a housing or container, is rotatably mounted in a fastening device. From DE 10 2004 059 146 A1, a reactor vessel with a quickly opening and closing device is known, consisting of a base arranged in a lid opening and a plug that can be locked into the base. DE 10 2004 059 146 A1 also provides no information on a fastening device for the correct orientation of a shaft that penetrates a wall orthogonally to the reactor interior. German patent DE 10 2006 020 706 A1 discloses a baffle arrangement for bioreactors in which, in a rest position, a fixed baffle and a hinged baffle are arranged in one plane, and in a functional position, the hinged baffle can be folded out of the plane into a spatially arranged functional position. However, DE 10 2006 020 706 A1 also provides no information on a fastening device for the correct orientation of a shaft that penetrates a wall orthogonally to the reactor interior and is also designed to be rotationally secure. Task The object of the present invention is to improve the known bioreactor with a fastening device in such a way that the shaft penetrating a wall can be mounted in a single predetermined position and that the assembly is not only safer, but also simpler and more cost-effective, even with conventional bioreactors. Description of the invention This problem is solved in conjunction with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the fact that the second connecting part is firmly connected to the wall or that the second connecting part is part of the wall, and that the shaped body of the first connecting part and the shaped body receptacle of the second connecting part corresponding to the shaped body are asymmetrically formed in a transverse plane arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Because the second connection part is permanently attached to the wall, or because it is part of the wall itself, it does not need to be disassembled and reassembled, even in conventional bioreactors. This ensures the correct orientation of the shaft solely through the position of the first connection part's molded body relative to the corresponding recess of the second connection part. The asymmetrical design of the first connection part's molded body with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the shaft's longitudinal axis ensures that there is only one possible orientation for the shaft's correct installation. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connecting part has a stop with a first stop surface that abuts an inner stop surface of the second connecting part inside the reactor. The first shaped body adjacent to the stop of the first connecting part is penetrated by the shaft. The first shaped body has a threaded projection extending away from the reactor interior, and a retaining ring with a second stop surface is screwed onto this threaded projection. This retaining ring abuts an outer stop surface of the second connecting part. The first shaped body, which is firmly attached to the shaft, allows the shaft with its first connecting part to be easily and securely positioned correctly on the wall via the shaped body receptacle of the second connecting part and securely fixed via the fixing ring. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first shaped body has two outer surfaces running parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The outer surfaces are connected at a first end by a curved first side surface running parallel to the longitudinal axis and at a second end facing away from the first end by a flat second side surface running parallel to the longitudinal axis. This asymmetrical design of the first shaped body in the transverse plane to the longitudinal axis of the shaft ensures that there is only one possible positioning of the shaft relative to the wall. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first forming body has a central projection adjacent to the stop, which engages in the forming body receptacle, as a first partial forming body. A second partial forming body adjoins this, positioned off-center with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. By designing the first partial mold body as a centric projection and by arranging a second partial mold body, which also engages in the mold body recess, off-center relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the necessary asymmetry is already achieved, resulting in a single possible positioning. The second partial mold body can, for example, have a rectangular cross-section in the transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. However, it is also possible for the second partial mold body to have a cylindrical cross-section. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first forming body has a central projection adjacent to the stop that engages in a first partial forming body receptacle. This projection, forming a first partial forming body, includes the threaded projection protruding from the forming body receptacle of the second connecting part. A second partial forming body, running parallel to the first partial forming body, is arranged eccentrically at the stop relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The second partial forming body engages in a corresponding second partial forming body receptacle of the forming body receptacle. Here, too, the necessary asymmetrical design of the forming body is achieved relatively simply and cost-effectively by the eccentric offset of the second partial forming body. The second partial forming body can be designed as a pin attached to the stop, which engages in a second partial forming body receptacle designed as a bore.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner end of the shaft has a radially directed functional element. For such radially directed functional elements, which are firmly connected to the shaft, the described fastening device is of particular importance and advantageous for correct dimensional mounting, especially also in a transverse or rotational plane of the shaft. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the shaft is designed as a shaft tube of a gassing device, while the radially directed functional element is designed as a gassing element having outlet openings through which gas flowing in through the shaft flows out. For improved flow distribution, the gassing element can be designed in a circular arc or ring shape and arranged in a predetermined position, for example, relative to a stirring element also located in the reactor interior. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall to which the shaft is mounted via the fastening device is formed by a ceiling section. However, it is also possible for the wall to which the shaft is mounted via the fastening device to be formed by a bottom section of the bioreactor. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the bioreactor is designed as a disposable bioreactor. Even though the mounting device and shaft are not disassembled for cleaning purposes in single-use bioreactors, the described mounting device is nevertheless advantageous for simple and safe correct positioning of a shaft. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. Brief description of the drawings The figures show: Fig. 1: a side view, partially in section, of a bioreactor with a mounting device (uncut) for the correct orientation of a shaft; Fig. 2: an enlarged view of detail II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3: a top view of the bioreactor of Fig. 2, cut along line III-III; Fig. 4: a detail corresponding to Fig. 2 of another bioreactor; Fig. 5: a top view of the detail of Fig. 4, cut along line VV; Fig. 6: a detail corresponding to Fig. 2 of another bioreactor; Fig. 7: a top view of the detail of Fig. 6, cut along line VII-VII; Fig. 8: a side view of the aeration element of Fig. 1; and Fig. 9: a top view of the aeration element of Fig. 8. Description of preferred embodiments A bioreactor 1 essentially consists of a reactor interior 2, a shaft 3 and a mounting device 4. The bioreactor 1 encloses the reactor interior 2 with a wall 5, which is formed vertically at the top by a ceiling section 6 and vertically at the bottom by a base section 7. Laterally, the reactor interior 2 is bounded by a side wall 8, which is located between the ceiling section 6 and the base section 7. The shaft 3, which penetrates the wall 5 orthogonally to the reactor interior 2, is correctly mounted in its intended position using the fastening device 4. In particular, the shaft 3 can be disassembled and reassembled in its intended position using the fastening device 4, for example after cleaning. The fastening device 4 according to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 consists of a shaft-side first connection part 9, which is fixedly and fluid-tightly arranged on the shaft 3. In particular, the first connection part 9 can also be integrally formed on the shaft 3. The fastening device 4 also has a second connection part 10 on the wall side, which is firmly and fluid-tight connected to the wall 5. The first connecting part 9 has a stop 11 with a first stop surface 12, which abuts an inner stop surface 13 of the second connecting part 10 in the reactor interior 2. The first connecting part 9 has a shaped body 14 towards the second connecting part 10, which is positively engaged with a corresponding shaped body receptacle 15 of the second connecting part 10, preventing rotation. The shaped body 14 of the first connecting part 9 and the shaped body receptacle 15 of the second connecting part 10 corresponding to the shaped body 14 are asymmetrically formed transversely to the longitudinal axis 16 of the shaft 3. The first shaped body 14 has a threaded projection 17 extending away from the reactor interior 2 and protruding from the shaped body receptacle 15 of the second connecting part 10. A fixing ring 18 with a second stop surface 19 is screwed onto the threaded end 17, which abuts an outer stop surface 20 of the second connecting part 10. According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the first shaped body 14 has two outer surfaces 21, 22 running parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis 16 of the shaft 3. At a first end 23 of the shaped body 14, the outer surfaces 21, 22 are connected to each other via a curved first side surface 24 running parallel to the longitudinal axis 16, and at a second end 25 facing away from the first end 23, they are connected to each other via a flat second side surface 26 running parallel to the longitudinal axis 16. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first forming body 14' of the first connecting part 9' has a central projection 27 adjacent to the stop 11', which engages in the forming body receptacle 15', forming a first partial forming body 28. A second partial forming body 29 adjoins the forming body receptacle 15' and is arranged eccentrically, i.e., laterally offset, relative to the longitudinal axis 16 of the shaft 3. The second partial forming body 29 has a rectangular cross-section 30 transverse to the longitudinal axis 16 and is thus cuboid in shape. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the second connecting part 10'' of the fastening device 4'' is formed as part of the wall 5''. The first forming body 14'' of the first connecting part 9'' has a central projection 27'' adjacent to the stop 11'' of the first connecting part 9'', which engages in a first partial body receptacle 31 of a split forming body receptacle 15''. This projection, forming a first partial forming body 28'', has a threaded projection 17'' protruding from the second partial forming body receptacle 32 of the forming body receptacle 15'' of the second connecting part 10''. Towards the forming body receptacle 15'', a second partial forming body 29'', running parallel to the first partial forming body 28'', is arranged at the stop 11'' and engages in the corresponding second partial forming body receptacle 32 of the forming body receptacle 15''.While the central projection 27'' formed as the first partial mold body 28'' is formed centrally to the longitudinal axis 16 of the shaft 3, the second partial mold body 29'' is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis 16, i.e. arranged off-center. The second partial body 29'' is designed as a pin attached to the stop 11'', which engages in a second partial body receptacle 32 designed as a bore. The inner end of the shaft 3 has a radially directed functional element 34. According to the exemplary embodiments (see in particular Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9), the shaft 3 is designed as a shaft tube 36 of a gassing device 35. The functional element 34 is designed as a gassing element 37 and has corresponding outlet openings 38 through which fluid supplied via the shaft tube 36 flows into the reactor interior 2. According to the embodiments shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the gassing element is circular and, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged below a mixer 39 approximately concentric to its mixer axis 40. Of course, the embodiments discussed in the detailed description and shown in the figures represent only illustrative examples of the present invention. In light of this disclosure, a wide range of variations is available to those skilled in the art. In particular, the arrangement of the fastening device 4, shaft 3, and functional element 34 can also be used to arrange directed flow baffles 41 in the reactor interior 2. It is also fundamentally possible to arrange the fastening device 4 on a side wall 8 of the bioreactor 1. Reference symbol list 1 Bioreactor 2 Reactor interior 3 Shaft 4, 4', 4'' Mounting device 5, 5', 5'' Wall of 1 6 Top section of 5 7 Bottom section of 5 8 Side wall of 5 9, 9', 9'' First connection section of 4 10, 10', 10'' Second connection section of 4 11, 11', 11'' Stop of 9 12 First stop surface of 11 13 Inner stop surface of 10 14, 14', 14'' Molded body of 9 15, 15', 15'' Molded body receptacle of 10 16 Longitudinal axis of 3 17, 17', 17'' Threaded shoulder of 14 18 Fixing ring 19 Second stop surface of 18 20 Outer stop surface of 10 21 Outer surface of 14 22 Outer surface of 14 23 first end of 14 24 first side face of 14 25 second end of 14 26 second side face 27, 27'' central approach of 14' 28, 28'' first partial body of 14' 29,29'' second partial mold body of 14' 30 rectangular cross-section of 28 31 first partial mold body receptacle of 15'' 32 second partial mold body receptacle of 15'' 33 interior end of 3 34 functional element of 3 35 gassing device 36 shaft tube 37 gassing element of 35 38 outlet openings 39 mixer 40 mixer shaft 41 flow baffle,

Claims

Bioreactor (1) with a fastening device (4, 4', 4'') for the correct orientation of a shaft (3) penetrating a wall (5, 5', 5'') orthogonally to a reactor interior (2), with a shaft-side first connection part (9, 9', 9'') which has a shaped body (14, 14', 14'') with which it is connected by positive locking in a rotationally secure manner to a shaped body receptacle (15, 15', 15'') of a wall-side second connection part (10, 10', 10''), characterized in that the second connection part (10, 10', 10'') is fixedly connected to the wall (5, 5', 5'') or that the second connection part (10'') is part of the wall (5''), and that the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') of the first connection part (9, 9', 9'') and the shaped body receptacle (15, 15', 15'') corresponding to the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') of the second connecting part (10, 10', 10'') are formed asymmetrically in a transverse plane arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3). Bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting part (9, 9', 9'') has a stop (11, 11', 11'') with a first stop surface (12) which abuts an inner stop surface (13) of the second connecting part (10, 10', 10'') in the reactor interior (2), that the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') adjacent to the stop (11, 11', 11'') of the first connecting part (9, 9', 9'') is penetrated by the shaft (3), that the shaped body (14, 14', 14'') extends away from the reactor interior (2) and has a threaded projection (17, 17') protruding from the shaped body receptacle (15, 15', 15'') of the second connecting part (10, 10', 10''). 17'') and that a fixing ring (18) with a second stop surface (19) is screwed onto the threaded extension (17, 17', 17''), which abuts an outer stop surface (20) of the second connecting part (10). Bioreactor according to claim 2, characterized in that the first shaped body (14) has two outer surfaces (21, 22) extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3), and that the outer surfaces (21, 22) are connected to each other at a first end (23) via a curved first side surface (24) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (16) and at a second end (25) facing away from the first end (23) via a flat second side surface (26) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (16). Bioreactor according to claim 2, characterized in that the first shaped body (14') adjacent to the stop (11') has a central projection (27) engaging in the shaped body receptacle (15') as a first partial shaped body (28), and that a second partial shaped body (29) adjoins the shaped body receptacle (15'), which is arranged off-center with respect to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3). Bioreactor according to claim 4, characterized in that the second partial body (29) has a rectangular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3). Bioreactor according to claim 2, characterized in that the first forming body (15'') has a central projection (27'') adjacent to the stop (11'') engaging in a first partial forming body receptacle (31), which as a first partial forming body (28'') has the threaded projection (17'') protruding from the forming body receptacle (15'') of the second connecting part (10''), that a second partial forming body (29'') extending parallel to the first partial forming body (31) is arranged off-center at the stop (11'') relative to the longitudinal axis (16) of the shaft (3) towards the forming body receptacle (15''), and that the second partial forming body (29'') engages in a corresponding second partial forming body receptacle (32) of the forming body receptacle (15''). Bioreactor according to claim 6, characterized in that the second partial body (29'') is designed as a pin attached to the stop (11'') which engages in a second partial body receptacle (32) designed as a bore. Bioreactor according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the interior end of the shaft (3) has a radially directed functional element (34). Bioreactor according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the shaft (3) is designed as a shaft tube (36) of a gassing device (35). Bioreactor according to claim 9, characterized in that the functional element (34) is designed as a gassing element (37) having outflow openings (38). Bioreactor according to claim 10, characterized in that the gassing element (37) is shaped in a circular arc. Bioreactor according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the wall (5, 5', 5'') on which the shaft (3) is mounted is formed by a ceiling part (6). Bioreactor according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the wall (5, 5', 5'') on which the shaft (3) is mounted is formed by a bottom part (7). Bioreactor according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the bioreactor (1) is designed as a disposable bioreactor.

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