SEALING ARRANGEMENT; SEALING CONCEPT

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention is based on a sealing arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and a sealing concept according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] Sealing elements or gaskets for sealing contact surfaces between individual components are well known. These are usually mounted in a recess or sealing groove of a component, from which they partially protrude to seal the contact surface or sealing surface in conjunction with the second component.

[0003] Sealing elements are of great importance in systems that convey or process media or materials, as they prevent the escape of conveyed material and also prevent contamination of the same by external material. The latter is particularly important in the food industry with its high hygiene standards. For example, various sealing elements can be found in cutters used for chopping and mixing food, particularly meat. Cutters typically consist of a bowl that can be rotated horizontally about a vertical axis and is mounted on a machine stand, a lid that closes off the bowl at the top, and a tool, in particular a knife tool or a stirring tool, mounted in the interior thus formed.The interior can be further kept free of contaminants by at least partial evacuation, which requires sufficiently good sealing. DE 21 55 647 C3 and DE 38 19 590 A1 already disclose a static sealing edge that seals the bowl closed with a lid. During operation, the bowl moves relative to the lid and machine base. The disadvantage, therefore, is that the rotation of the bowl leads to increased abrasion of the static seals, thus quickly deteriorating the sealing effect.

[0004] In addition to static seals, rotary seals are also used, as disclosed, for example, in AT 410 060 B according to the preamble of claim 1, which allow the sealing of components that move relative to one another. DE 10 2019 111 126 B3 also discloses such a seal, which describes a spring-loaded sliding seal for cutters with two types of arm elements that enable elastic support and re-tensioning of the sealing elements in the sealing groove. Similar spring-loaded sliding seals are also already known from DE 102 37 414 A1, which discloses them for sealing an impeller of a swivel motor and the component surrounding it, whereby in this case, they additionally operate with the application of a pressure medium.The sealing elements described in DE 10 2019 111 126 B3, as well as the sealing element known from DE 102 37 414 A1, have the disadvantage that they are made of a single material and thus the inevitable abrasion occurs mainly in the area of the spring elements or arm elements.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a sealing arrangement and a sealing concept that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention and its advantages

[0006] The sealing arrangement according to the invention, with the features of claim 1, and the sealing concept according to the invention, with the features of claim 9, have the advantage that the sealing arrangement consists of at least one sealing element having a sealing body, wherein the sealing body has at least one top side, at least one bottom side and at least one longitudinal side, and at least one sealing groove, wherein the sealing groove has a groove bottom and at least one groove wall, wherein at least one sealing element is slidably mounted in the sealing groove, and at least one spring element is a leaf spring and the sealing body of at least one sealing element rests with at least one longitudinal side firmly against at least one groove wall and at least one spring element is arranged between the groove bottom and the sealing body,wherein at least one spring element consists of at least one different material than the sealing body and at least one spring element consists of a harder material than the sealing body, or the sealing body of at least one sealing element rests tightly against the groove bottom with at least one upper and / or lower side and at least one spring element is arranged between at least one groove wall and the sealing body, wherein at least one spring element consists of at least one different material than the sealing body and at least one spring element consists of a harder material than the sealing body, thereby enabling better sealing and / or easier cleaning,because the sealing arrangement adjusts itself and thus compensates for wear, and the sealing element is preferably replaceable without tools and easy to remove for cleaning the sealing element and the sealing groove. Due to the sliding bearing, the sealing element can fulfill its function even when components are sliding against each other. The spring elements thus allow the sealing element to slide in the area of the sealing groove. In addition, the material of the spring elements and the seal can be individually adapted. Preferably, the long side of the sealing body lies tightly against a groove wall; in particular, if the seal is guided at least partially in a circle, the long side of the sealing body lies tightly against the inner wall, relative to the circular path. This has the advantage, with an enclosing seal,that no material or medium can escape from the interior, and in particular, no material or medium can penetrate the sealing area. Preferably, the spring elements are completely recessed into the sealing groove and do not protrude from it.

[0007] Because at least one sealing element is slidably mounted in the sealing groove, the sealing element can fulfill its function even when components are sliding against each other. The spring elements thus allow the sealing element to slide within the sealing groove.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, at least one spring element is attached to the top and / or bottom of the sealing element or at least one spring element is attached to the groove bottom and / or the groove wall.

[0009] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, at least one sealing element is positioned between two groove walls, so that each of its longitudinal sides rests against a respective groove wall. This enables the use of a non-tensioned sealing element. It would also be conceivable for a retaining element to press against one longitudinal side of the sealing element instead of the second groove wall, so that the sealing element is pressed against one groove wall. Furthermore, it would be conceivable for the groove walls to be of different heights. In this context, it would also be conceivable for two groove walls to be present and for at least one retaining element to additionally press against one longitudinal side of the sealing element.

[0010] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, at least one spring element is detachably attached to the sealing body, to a groove wall, and / or to the groove floor. This has the advantage that defective spring elements can be easily replaced, or dirty spring elements can be easily removed for cleaning.

[0011] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, the sealing body is one-piece and / or at least partially flexibly bendable. Multi-piece sealing bodies would of course also be conceivable, but these have the disadvantage that additional edges occur which can, in particular, accumulate contaminants. It would be conceivable for a one-piece sealing body to be manufactured from a single piece, which increases its internal integrity and stability. If the sealing body is not at least partially flexibly bendable, it would be conceivable for several shape-adapted sealing elements to be used according to the respective application. It would also be conceivable for composite or multi-piece sealing bodies to be used, depending on the area of application, which are used, for example, at different temperatures or combine, for example, high material resistance with good sealing functionality.

[0012] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, at least one spring element is made of a harder material than the sealing body. Thus, the sealing body could be made of an elastic, flexible material, and the spring elements of a harder material, so that wear occurs primarily on the sealing element side and the spring elements are not as severely affected by abrasion. A softer material for the sealing body can achieve greater deformability and a better seal.

[0013] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, at least one spring element is a helical spring or a wire spring.

[0014] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, the sealing body has at least two end faces.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, one end face is shaped such that it can be connected in a form-fitting manner to another end face of the same sealing element or to a second sealing element. It would be conceivable for the end faces to be designed in the form of male-female connecting elements.

[0016] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing arrangement according to the invention, the sealing body consists of brass, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), fluorocarbon rubber (FKM), highly fluorinated FKM, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and / or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It would also be conceivable to use at least two different materials, in particular at least two of the aforementioned materials.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the sealing concept according to the invention for sealing a cutter, wherein the cutter has a rotatable bowl, a lid and a machine stand and an opening is formed between the lid and the bowl, wherein a sealing groove is formed at the opening on the bowl and / or lid side, wherein the sealing groove has a groove bottom and at least one groove wall, wherein at least one sealing element is slidably mounted in the sealing groove, and at least one spring element is a leaf spring and at least one sealing element which has a sealing body, wherein the sealing body has at least one top side, at least one bottom side and at least one long side, is used, and the sealing body of at least one sealing element rests with at least one long side tightly against at least one groove wall and at least one spring element is arranged between the groove bottom and the sealing body,wherein at least one spring element is made of at least one different material than the sealing body and at least one spring element is made of a harder material than the sealing body, or the sealing body of at least one sealing element rests tightly against the groove bottom with at least one upper and / or lower side, and at least one spring element is arranged between at least one groove wall and the sealing body, wherein at least one spring element is made of at least one different material than the sealing body and at least one spring element is made of a harder material than the sealing body, at least one further sealing element is arranged between the machine stand and the bowl and / or between the lid and the machine stand. This ensures an overall sealing concept in which contamination of both the product space and the machine space is prevented,which enables long-lasting operation and food-safe production.

[0018] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the sealing concept according to the invention, at least one sealing element between the machine frame and the bowl has at least one sealing lip. This prevents a foreign medium, such as steam, from penetrating the product chamber from the area below the bowl.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the sealing concept according to the invention, the sealing lip is bent away from the bowl. This ensures that a gaseous medium, such as steam pressure from the area below the bowl, presses the sealing lip against it, thus additionally closing an opening between the bowl and the machine frame.

[0020] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following description, the claims and the drawings. Drawings

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a sealing element according to the invention with a recess for fastening a spring element, Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of an alternative sealing element according to the invention with a screwed-on spring element, Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a sealing arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of a sealing arrangement according to the invention with a spring element attached to the groove base, Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing of a cutter with a sealing concept according to the invention, Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a cutter with a sealing element according to the invention between the bowl and the lid and Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a cutter with a sealing element according to the invention between the bowl and the machine stand. Description of the embodiments

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a sealing element 1 according to the invention with a recess 2 for fastening a, for example, Fig. 6 illustrated spring element 3. The sealing element 1 has a sealing body 4, wherein the sealing body 4 has a top side 5 and a bottom side 6, as well as two long sides 7 and two end faces 8 and 9. Starting from the top side 5, the sealing body 4 has an L-shaped slot as a recess 2, into which a spring element 3 can be inserted. It goes without saying that this embodiment only represents a representation limited to the minimum features, since preferably a large number of spring elements 3 are fastened to the sealing body 4 and thus, in a given embodiment, several L-shaped or otherwise shaped slots are present in the sealing body 4.

[0023] Fig. 2shows a schematic drawing of an alternative sealing element 1 according to the invention with a screwed-on spring element 3. The spring element 3, which is designed as a leaf spring, is screwed to the upper side 5 of the sealing body 4 and thus fastened thereto.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a schematic drawing of a sealing arrangement according to the invention with a sealing element 1, according to the embodiment in Fig. 2. A sealing element 1 is inserted into a sealing groove 10, which has two parallel, opposite groove walls 11 and 12 and a groove base 13, such that the groove walls 11 and 12 are each in tight contact with the long sides 7 of the sealing element 1. The spring element 3 fastened to the sealing element 1 is countersunk in the sealing groove 10 so that it is located between the top side 5 of the sealing body 4 and the groove base 13. The sealing body 4 projects beyond the sealing groove 10 or the groove walls 11 and 12 so that the bottom side 6 of the sealing element 1 can be brought into contact with a component 14 in order to seal an opening 15 between the sealing arrangement, comprising the sealing groove 10 and the sealing element 1, and the further component 14.If the further component 14 is moved relative to the component having the sealing groove 10, the sealing element 1 can slide over the spring elements 3 in the sealing groove 10 and is thus neither deformed nor loses its sealing effect, since it can remain non-positively connected to the component 14 even during the relative movement.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows a schematic drawing of a sealing arrangement according to the invention with a spring element 3 attached to the groove bottom 13. In this embodiment, a plurality of spring elements 3 are fastened to the groove bottom 13 and the sealing element 1 or sealing body 4 is inserted into the sealing groove 10 in such a way that the upper side 5 of the sealing body 4 comes into contact with the spring elements 3 and, in the event of a relative movement between the component having the sealing groove 10 and a component 14 in contact with the underside 6 of the sealing body 4, slides over them.

[0026] Fig. 5shows a schematic drawing of a cutter 16 with a sealing concept according to the invention. The cutter 16, which has a machine stand 17, a cover 18 and a bowl 19, has a sealing arrangement between the bowl 19 and the cover 18, according to Fig. 3 , with a sealing element 1, according to Fig. 2, wherein the component 14, in this case, belongs to the bowl 19 and represents a sealing surface arranged thereon. The sealing element 1 according to the invention prevents material from the bowl 19 from getting into the area of the machine base 17, among other things, when the bowl 19 rotates. In addition, the penetration of foreign material into the product chamber 20 is also prevented. Between the machine base 17 and the bowl 19 there is a further sealing element 21 which is formed with a sealing lip 22. The sealing lip 22 is bent away from the bowl 19 so that steam which arises below the bowl 19, particularly in cooking machines, presses the sealing lip 22 against the side facing away from the bowl 19 and thus additionally closes the opening between the bowl 19 and the machine base 17.

[0027] Fig. 6shows a detailed view of a cutter 16 with a sealing element 1 according to the invention between the bowl 19 and the lid 18 and Fig. 7 A detailed view of a cutter 16 with a sealing element 21 according to the invention between the bowl 19 and the machine base 17. A tool 24, which can be used for stirring and grinding, is positioned in the bowl 19. The sealing elements 1 and 21 can be easily removed from the respective sealing grooves 10 and 23, making them easy to clean.

[0028] All features presented in the description, the following drawings and the following patent claims can be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another. Reference number list

[0029] 1 Sealing element 2 Recess 3 Spring element 4 Sealing body 5 Top side 6 Bottom side 7 Longitudinal side 8 End side 9 End side 10 Sealing groove 11 Groove wall 12 Groove wall 13 Groove base 14 Component 15 Opening 16 Cutter 17 Machine stand 18 Cover 19 Bowl 20 Product chamber 21 Sealing element 22 Sealing lip 23 Sealing groove 24 Tool

Claims

1. A sealing arrangement consisting of - at least one sealing element (1) which has a sealing body (4), the sealing body (4) having at least one top face (5), at least one bottom face (6), and at least one longitudinal face (7), and - at least one sealing groove (10), the sealing groove (10) having a groove bottom (13) and at least one groove wall (11, 12), said at least one sealing element (1) being slidingly supported within the sealing groove (10), characterised in that the sealing body (4) of the at least one sealing element (1) has at least one longitudinal face (7) tightly applied to at least one groove wall (11, 12) and that at least one spring element (3) is arranged between the groove bottom (13) and the sealing body (4), said at least one spring element (3) consisting of at least one material other than the sealing body (4) and said at least one spring element (3) consisting of a harder material than the sealing body (4), and in that said at least one spring element (3) is a leaf spring, or in that the sealing body (4) of the at least one sealing element (1) has at least one top face (5) and / or at least one bottom face (6) tightly applied to the groove bottom (13) and at least one spring element (3) is arranged between at least one groove wall (11, 12) and the sealing body (4), with the at least one spring element (3) consisting of at least one material other than the sealing body (4) and the at least one spring element (3) consisting of a harder material than the sealing body (4), and in that said at least one spring element (3) is a leaf spring.

2. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the at least one spring element (3) is arranged on the top face (5) and / or on the bottom face (6) of the sealing element (1) or the at least one spring element (3) is arranged on the groove bottom (13) and / or on the groove wall (11, 12).

3. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the at least one sealing element (1) is positioned between two groove walls (11, 12) in such a manner that either longitudinal face (7) thereof is applied to a corresponding groove wall (11, 12).

4. The sealing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one spring element (3) is releasably arranged on the sealing body (4), on a groove wall (11, 12), and / or on the groove bottom (13).

5. The sealing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing body (4) is made in one piece and / or is at least in part flexibly bendable.

6. The sealing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing body (4) has at least two end faces (8, 9).

7. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that one end face (8) is shaped in such a manner that it may be brought into positive connection with another end face (9) of the same sealing element (1) or of a second sealing element (1).

8. The sealing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing body (4) consists of brass, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), fluorine rubber (FKM), highly fluorinated FKM, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and / or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

9. A sealing concept for sealing a cutter (16) comprising a sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, the cutter (16) having a rotatable bowl (19), a cover (18), and a machine stand (17), with an opening (15) being formed between the cover (18) and the bowl (19), said opening (15) having a sealing groove (10) formed on the side of the bowl and / or on the side of the cover, said sealing groove (10) having a groove bottom (13) and at least one groove wall (11, 12), at least one sealing element (1) being slidingly supported within the sealing groove (10), characterised in that at least one sealing element (1) is used which has a sealing body (4), said sealing body (4) having at least one top face (5), at least one bottom face (6) and at least one longitudinal face (7), and in that the sealing body (4) of the at least one sealing element (1) has at least one longitudinal face (7) tightly applied to at least one groove wall (11, 12) and that at least one spring element (3) is arranged between the groove bottom (13) and the sealing body (4), with the at least one spring element (3) consisting of at least one material other than the sealing body (4) and the at least one spring element (3) consisting of a harder material than the sealing body (4), and in that said at least one spring element (3) is a leaf spring, or in that the sealing body (4) of the at least one sealing element (1) has at least one top face (5) and / or at least one bottom face (6) tightly applied to the groove bottom (13) and at least one spring element (3) is arranged between at least one groove wall (11, 12) and the sealing body (4), with the at least one spring element (3) consisting of at least one material other than the sealing body (4) and the at least one spring element (3) consisting of a harder material than the sealing body (4), and in that said at least one spring element (3) is a leaf spring.

10. The sealing concept as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that at least one further sealing element (21) is arranged between the machine stand (17) and the bowl (19) and / or between the cover (18) and the machine stand (17).

11. The sealing concept as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the at least one sealing element (21) arranged between the machine stand (17) and the bowl (19) has at least one sealing lip (22).

12. The sealing concept as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the sealing lip (22) is bent so as to face away from the bowl (19).