Cleaning unit, valve assembly and cleaning assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning unit (1) for cleaning a valve (3) arranged in a line (2), with a cleaning liquid, having an annular nozzle (10) with a nozzle body (11), in which a line opening (12) penetrating the nozzle body (11) and at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) are formed, wherein the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) is arranged around the line opening (12), and wherein a plurality of nozzle openings (14) are formed in the nozzle body (11), which are distributed along the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13), each extend from the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) and are oriented obliquely to an axial direction of the line opening (12). The invention also relates to a valve assembly (4) and a cleaning assembly (5).

Description

[0001] Cleaning unit valve arrangement and cleaning arrangement

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a cleaning unit for cleaning a valve arranged in a line, a valve arrangement and a cleaning arrangement.

[0004] From the prior art, as described in EP 3 517 226 A2, a cleaning device for cleaning hollow bodies with a cleaning fluid is known. The cleaning device comprises a tubular section, a cleaning head rotatable about a first rotational axis at a cleaning head end region of the tubular section, a spray arm rotatable about a second rotational axis oriented perpendicular to the first rotational axis at the cleaning head, a drive device for driving the cleaning head and the spray arm at a drive end region of the tubular section opposite the cleaning head end region, and a cleaning fluid line for the cleaning fluid, which runs through the tubular section. The cleaning fluid line also runs through the cleaning head and the spray arm and opens into an outlet opening.The cleaning fluid line is designed to be fluid-tight with respect to the interior of the cleaning device. All cleaning device components are located outside the cleaning fluid line.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a cleaning unit for cleaning a valve arranged in a line, which is improved compared to the prior art, a valve assembly which is improved compared to the prior art, and a cleaning assembly which is improved compared to the prior art. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cleaning unit for cleaning a valve arranged in a line, having the features of claim 1, a valve assembly having the features of claim 5, and a cleaning assembly having the features of claim 6.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] A cleaning unit according to the invention for cleaning a valve arranged in a line with a cleaning fluid comprises an annular nozzle with a nozzle body in which a line opening penetrating the nozzle body and at least one cleaning fluid supply line are formed. The at least one cleaning fluid supply line is arranged around the line opening, wherein a plurality of nozzle openings are formed in the nozzle body, which are distributed along the at least one cleaning fluid supply line, each emanating from the at least one cleaning fluid supply line and oriented obliquely to an axial direction of the line opening. In particular, they are oriented at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° to the axial direction and at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° to the radial direction of the line opening.The number of nozzle openings is in particular greater than two, in particular greater than three.

[0008] The at least one cleaning fluid supply line is in particular a ring line, which is in particular ring-shaped in the nozzle body. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid supply line can, for example, also form only one ring segment, i.e., one ring section, i.e., be interrupted at at least one point in the nozzle body and thus have two end regions in the nozzle body. Alternatively, for example, a plurality of cleaning fluid supply lines can be formed in the nozzle body, each of which extends, for example, over a partial region of a circumference of the nozzle body and thus each forms a ring segment, i.e., a ring section, wherein the respective cleaning fluid supply line is then, for example, closed off from adjacent cleaning fluid supply lines formed in the nozzle body, i.e., the ring segments or ring sections are then not connected to one another.

[0009] The cleaning unit according to the invention can be installed in the line upstream or downstream of the valve to be cleaned, depending on which side of the valve is to be cleaned. If both sides of the valve are to be cleaned, one of the cleaning units can also be installed on each side of the valve.

[0010] A valve arrangement according to the invention thus comprises the valve arranged or arrangeable in the line and the cleaning unit or such a cleaning unit on each side of the valve. The cleaning unit or the respective cleaning unit is thus arranged in the axial direction of a valve opening of the valve on one of the two sides of the valve. The nozzle openings of the cleaning unit are each aligned in the direction of the valve, in particular in the direction of a closure element of the valve when the latter is arranged in a closed position, i.e. in a closed valve state. For example, the nozzle openings are aligned such that they jointly spray, at least substantially, the entire side, in particular the surface, of the closure element facing them with cleaning fluid.In this way, it is possible to clean the valve, or more precisely the closure element which closes the valve opening in the closed valve state, by supplying cleaning liquid to the nozzle openings via the at least one cleaning liquid supply line, in particular a ring line, and spraying it through the nozzle openings in the direction of the valve, or more precisely in the direction of the closure element of the valve to be cleaned, whereby the latter is sprayed with the cleaning liquid and thus cleaned. When installed in the line, the valve arrangement and thus the valve, in particular its valve opening, and the cleaning unit, in particular its line opening, are part of the line. When the valve is open, the line, or more precisely an interior space of the line, thus runs through the valve and the cleaning unit.

[0011] The cleaning unit according to the invention and the valve arrangement according to the invention are particularly advantageous for use in conjunction with a cleaning device for cleaning the interior of a hollow body with cleaning fluid. Such cleaning devices have a cleaning head that can be moved into the interior of the hollow body to clean the interior of the hollow body and spray the cleaning fluid therein. For this purpose, the cleaning device is usually attached to a line connected to an opening in the hollow body. This line is, for example, a connecting piece of the hollow body or an extension of such a connecting piece. The cleaning head is thus moved through this line into the interior of the hollow body and, once cleaning is complete, moved out again.To avoid having to constantly remove and install the cleaning device, it remains attached to this line on the hollow body. To protect the cleaning device outside the interior of the hollow body when no cleaning is taking place, the valve is provided in the line. This prevents the cleaning device from becoming contaminated, for example during a production process taking place in the hollow body, and from coming into contact with the conditions prevailing there, which could, for example, lead to a significant reduction in the service life of the cleaning device or to its failure. Contamination of the cleaning device with a product during a production process taking place in the hollow body can, for example, lead to the blockage of mechanical components of the cleaning device. In addition, the cleaning device itself would then also pose a contamination risk.Furthermore, as already mentioned, the conditions during the production process could also damage the cleaning device. For example, the hollow body is part of a roasting system, and very high temperatures prevail during production, which could damage the cleaning device, especially the sliding and sealing components. This is prevented by the valve that separates the cleaning device from the interior of the hollow body when the interior of the hollow body is not being cleaned.

[0012] In order to insert the cleaning head into the hollow body, the valve is opened. However, the problem is that the side of the closure element facing the hollow body is in contact with the contents of the hollow body when the valve is closed and is therefore contaminated. However, it cannot be cleaned using the cleaning device because the closure element is not accessible to the cleaning head and the cleaning fluid sprayed by it during cleaning and therefore when the valve is open. This still contaminated side of the closure element therefore represents a contamination risk for the already cleaned interior of the hollow body. In addition, adhesions on this side of the closure element can severely damage the valve, for example a wiper, i.e. a sealing element in the valve, and considerably reduce its service life.

[0013] Therefore, a cleaning arrangement according to the invention is provided which has the cleaning device for cleaning the interior of the hollow body with cleaning fluid. This cleaning device is arranged on the line that can be connected or is connected to the hollow body and has the cleaning head that can be moved through this line into the interior of the hollow body to clean the interior of the hollow body. The cleaning arrangement according to the invention further comprises the valve arrangement. This valve arrangement is arranged in the line such that the cleaning unit is arranged on the side of the valve facing away from the cleaning device. This makes it possible, when the valve is closed, to clean the side of the closure element of the valve facing the interior of the hollow body, in particular the contaminated side, by means of the cleaning unit.This can be done, for example, before the valve is opened to insert the cleaning head of the cleaning device into the interior of the hollow body, and / or after the cleaning head has been withdrawn from the interior of the hollow body after the interior of the hollow body has been cleaned and the valve has been closed again.

[0014] The cleaning device, in particular its cleaning head, is, for example, a spray ball cleaner, surge cleaner, or orbital cleaner, or a, in particular fully motor-driven, jet cleaner, for example in the form of the cleaning device described in EP 3 517 226 A2. In the respective embodiment, it is particularly provided that the cleaning head is movable by means of a lifting unit and can thus be retracted into the interior of the hollow body in order to clean it, and can then be extended out of the interior of the hollow body again. The hollow body is, for example, a transport container for transporting a product, a storage container for storing a product, or a production container for manufacturing a product. The product is, for example, a food product or another product.The cleaning of such hollow bodies is particularly necessary if the hollow body is to be used subsequently for another product in order to avoid contaminating it with the previous product, or if a product has been finished and another product is to be produced which is not to be contaminated with residues of the old product.

[0015] In one possible embodiment of the cleaning unit, the nozzle body has a connecting geometry for connection to the valve in the region of one opening end of the line opening and / or assigned thereto, and a connecting geometry for connection to the line, in particular to a line part of the line arranged on the hollow body, in the region of the other opening end of the line opening and / or assigned thereto. The cleaning unit can therefore be installed between the line, in particular between a line part arranged on the hollow body, and the valve, and can be connected to both. The cleaning unit can be used in particular with different valves, i.e. can be connected to different valves, for example to a slide valve or to a ball valve or to another valve.

[0016] In particular, it is provided that the nozzle openings are oriented obliquely toward the side of the nozzle body that has the connection geometry for connection to the valve. This means that the nozzle openings are always oriented toward the valve, in particular toward its closure element when in the closed position.

[0017] To supply the cleaning fluid, it is provided, in particular, that the nozzle body of the cleaning unit has at least one cleaning line connection connected to the at least one cleaning fluid supply line, in particular a ring line. Several, for example, two, such cleaning line connections can also be provided, for example, for connecting a return line.

[0018] The cleaning unit, in particular its nozzle body with the at least one cleaning liquid supply line, in particular a ring line, and the nozzle openings, is designed in particular such that it, in particular its at least one cleaning liquid supply line, in particular a ring line, and nozzle openings, is completely rinseable and sterilizable.

[0019] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 schematically shows a cleaning arrangement with a cleaning device attached to a pipeline for cleaning hollow bodies with a cleaning liquid,

[0021] Figure 2 shows schematically the representation according to Figure 1, with the pipeline shown transparently,

[0022] Figure 3 schematically shows the cleaning arrangement with the cleaning device attached to the pipeline for cleaning hollow bodies with a cleaning liquid, wherein a cleaning head of the cleaning device is moved through an open valve in the pipeline into a not shown interior of a hollow body to be cleaned,

[0023] Figure 4 shows schematically the pipeline section from Figure 1,

[0024] Figure 5 shows schematically the pipeline section from Figure 2,

[0025] Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the pipeline section with the valve closed and a cleaning unit cleaning the valve,

[0026] Figure 7 shows schematically a plan view from below of the valve cleaning unit, and

[0027] Figure 8 schematically shows another sectional view of the pipeline section with the valve closed and a cleaning unit cleaning the valve. Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0028] With reference to Figures 1 to 8, a cleaning unit 1 for cleaning a valve 3 arranged in a line 2 with a cleaning fluid, a valve assembly 4 comprising the cleaning unit 1 and the valve 3, and a cleaning assembly 5 comprising the valve assembly 4 and additionally comprising a cleaning device 6 are described below. Figures 1 to 8 each show an embodiment of the complete cleaning assembly 5 or sections thereof. However, the cleaning unit 1 can also be combined with other valves 3 and / or with other cleaning devices 6.

[0029] The cleaning assembly 5 shown here comprises the cleaning device 6 for cleaning the interior of a hollow body (not shown here) with cleaning fluid. This cleaning device 6 has a cleaning head 7, which can be moved into the interior of the hollow body to clean the interior of the hollow body and spray the cleaning fluid therein.

[0030] In Figures 1 and 2, as well as 4 to 8, the cleaning head 7 is positioned in a raised basic position outside the interior of the hollow body. To clean the interior of the hollow body, the cleaning head 7 is lowered, as shown in Figure 3, and thereby moved into the interior of the hollow body to spray the cleaning fluid therein. After cleaning is complete, the cleaning head 7 is moved back out of the interior of the hollow body, i.e., back into the raised basic position.

[0031] To enable this, the cleaning device 6 is attached to the line 2 connected to an opening in the hollow body. This line 2 is, for example, a connecting piece of the hollow body or, as shown here, at least partially an extension of such a connecting piece. The cleaning head 7 is thus moved through this line 2 into the interior of the hollow body and, after cleaning is complete, moved out again.

[0032] In order to avoid having to constantly remove and install the cleaning device 6, it remains on this line 2 on the hollow body. In order to protect the cleaning device 6 outside the interior of the hollow body from conditions prevailing in the interior of the hollow body and from contamination with substances located in the interior of the hollow body when no cleaning is taking place, the valve 3 is provided in the line 2 as a further component of the cleaning arrangement 5. In the example shown, this valve 3 is designed as a slide valve which can be actuated pneumatically, for example, i.e. as a so-called pneumatic slide valve. In other embodiments, however, a ball valve or another valve 3 can also be provided.

[0033] Once the cleaning device 6 has been moved out of the interior of the hollow body and is in its home position, the valve 3 is closed, so that the cleaning device 6 is shielded from the interior of the hollow body by the valve 3. Figures 6 to 8 show the closed valve 3. A closure element 8, designed here as a slide, is arranged in a closed position, in which it closes the line 2.

[0034] In order to be able to insert the cleaning head 7 into the hollow body, the valve 3 is opened. However, this poses a problem in that a side 9 of the closure element 8 facing the hollow body, in particular its interior, is in contact with the contents of the hollow body when the valve 3 is closed and is thus contaminated, but cannot be cleaned by means of the cleaning device 6, since the closure element 8 is inaccessible to the cleaning head 7 and the cleaning fluid sprayed by it during cleaning and thus when the valve 3 is open.

[0035] Therefore, the cleaning arrangement 5 comprises, as a further component, the cleaning unit 1 for cleaning the valve 3 arranged in the line 2, in particular for cleaning its closure element 8, in particular its side 9 facing the hollow body, in particular its interior, with cleaning fluid. In particular, it is provided that the cleaning unit 1 and the valve 3 are components of the valve arrangement 4, and the valve arrangement 4 is thus a component of the cleaning arrangement 5.

[0036] The cleaning unit 1 has an annular nozzle 10 with a nozzle body 11, in which a line opening 12 penetrating the nozzle body 11 and a cleaning fluid supply line 13 are formed. In the example shown, the cleaning fluid supply line 13 is designed as a ring line and is therefore also referred to below as a ring line 13. The ring line 13 is arranged around the line opening 12, with a plurality of nozzle openings 14 being formed in the nozzle body 11, which are distributed along the ring line 13, each emanating from the ring line 13 and oriented obliquely to an axial direction of the line opening 12. The axial direction of the line opening 12 corresponds in particular to the direction of movement of the cleaning head 7 into the interior of the hollow body and back out again into the basic position.

[0037] The valve arrangement 4 thus has the valve 3 arranged in the line 2 and the cleaning unit 1. The cleaning unit 1 is arranged in the axial direction of a valve opening 15 of the valve 3 on one of the two sides of the valve 3. In the embodiment shown here, in which the valve arrangement 4 is a component of the cleaning arrangement 5 and the cleaning unit 1 is thus provided for cleaning the side 9 of the closure element 8 of the valve 3 facing the interior of the hollow body, the valve arrangement 4 is arranged in the line 2 such that the cleaning unit 1 is arranged on the side of the valve 3 facing away from the cleaning device 6. Here, the cleaning device 6 is meant in the basic position of the cleaning head 7, i.e. in the position in which the cleaning head 7 is not pushed through the valve 3.

[0038] The nozzle openings 14 of the cleaning unit 1 are each oriented in the direction of the valve 3, in particular in the direction of the closure element 8 of the valve 3 positioned in the closed position. This makes it possible, when the valve 3 is closed, to clean the particularly contaminated side 9 of the closure element 8 of the valve 3 facing the interior of the hollow body by means of the cleaning unit 1. Cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle openings 14 via the ring line 13 and sprayed through the nozzle openings 14 in the direction of the valve 3, more precisely in the direction of the closure element 8 of the valve 3 to be cleaned, whereby the latter is sprayed with the cleaning fluid and thus cleaned.

[0039] In order to illustrate this mode of operation, liquid spray jets F of the cleaning liquid sprayed from the nozzle openings 14 are shown schematically in Figures 6 to 8, in particular also to illustrate the orientation of these liquid spray jets F and thereby also the orientation of the nozzle openings 14 generating them in the direction of the closure element 8 of the valve 3 positioned in the closed position.

[0040] This cleaning of the closure element 8 of the valve 3, in particular of its side 9 facing the interior of the hollow body, by means of the cleaning unit 1 can take place, for example, before the valve 3 is opened to introduce the cleaning head 7 of the cleaning device 6 into the interior of the hollow body and / or after the cleaning head 7 has been withdrawn from the interior of the hollow body after the interior of the hollow body has been cleaned and the valve 3 has been closed again. When installed in the line 2, the valve arrangement 4 and thus the valve 3, in particular its valve opening 15, and the cleaning unit 1, in particular its line opening 12, are a component of the line 2. When the valve 3 is open, the line 2, or more precisely, an interior of the line 2, thus runs through the valve 3 and the cleaning unit 1.To clean the interior of the hollow body, the cleaning head 7 of the cleaning device 6 can thus be pushed through the open valve 3, i.e. through its valve opening 15, and then through the line opening 12 in the cleaning unit 1. It is therefore provided in particular that a diameter of the line 2, in particular also of the valve opening 15 and the line opening 12 in the cleaning unit 1, is sufficiently large to enable this. I.e. this diameter is at least as large as or advantageously larger than all components of the cleaning device 6 that have to be passed through to clean the interior of the hollow body, thus in particular at least as large as or advantageously larger than a diameter of the cleaning head 7 including all components arranged thereon.

[0041] In particular, it is provided that the nozzle body 11 has a connecting geometry 17 for connecting to the valve 3 in the region of one opening end of the line opening 12, and a connecting geometry 18 for connecting to the line 2, in particular to a line section of the line 2 arranged on the hollow body, in the region of the other opening end of the line opening 12. This enables the installation of the cleaning unit 1 between the line 2, in particular between a line section arranged on the hollow body, and the valve 3.

[0042] As described, the nozzle openings 14 are oriented obliquely toward the valve 3, in particular the closure element 8 in the closed position. They are thus oriented toward the side of the nozzle body 11, which has the connection geometry 17 for connection to the valve 3. For supplying the cleaning fluid, the nozzle body 11 of the cleaning unit 1 has at least one cleaning line connection 16 connected to the ring line 13.

[0043] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 cleaning unit

[0045] 2 lines

[0046] 3 valve

[0047] 4 Valve arrangement

[0048] 5 Cleaning arrangement

[0049] 6 Cleaning device

[0050] 7 Cleaning head

[0051] 8 locking element

[0052] 9 side facing the hollow body

[0053] 10 ring nozzle

[0054] 11 Nozzle body

[0055] 12 Cable opening

[0056] 13 Cleaning fluid supply line, ring line

[0057] 14 Nozzle opening

[0058] 15 Valve opening

[0059] 16 Cleaning line connection

[0060] 17 Connection geometry for connection to the valve

[0061] 18 Connection geometry for connecting to the cable

[0062] F Liquid spray jet

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Cleaning unit (1) for cleaning a valve (3) arranged in a line (2) with a cleaning liquid, comprising an annular nozzle (10) with a nozzle body (11) in which a line opening (12) penetrating the nozzle body (11) and at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) are formed, wherein the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) is arranged around the line opening (12), and wherein a plurality of nozzle openings (14) are formed in the nozzle body (11), which are distributed along the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13), each emanating from the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13) and are aligned obliquely to an axial direction of the line opening (12).

2. Cleaning unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body (11) has a connecting geometry (17) for connection to the valve (3) in the region of one opening end of the line opening (12) and a connecting geometry (18) for connection to the line (2) in the region of the other opening end of the line opening (12).

3. Cleaning unit (1) according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle openings (14) are oriented obliquely towards the side of the nozzle body (11) which has the connection geometry (17) for connection to the valve (3).

4. Cleaning unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle body (11) has at least one cleaning line connection (16) connected to the at least one cleaning liquid supply line (13).

5. Valve arrangement (4), comprising a valve (3) arranged or arrangeable in a line (2) and a cleaning unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning unit (1) is arranged in the axial direction of a valve opening (15) of the valve (3) on one side of the valve (3) and the nozzle openings (14) of the cleaning unit (1) are each aligned in the direction of the valve (3).

6. Cleaning arrangement (5), comprising a cleaning device (6) for cleaning an interior of a hollow body with a cleaning liquid, which is arranged on a line (2) that can be connected or is connected to the hollow body and has a cleaning head (7) that can be moved through this line (2) into the interior of the hollow body in order to clean the interior of the hollow body, and comprising the valve arrangement (4) according to claim 5, which is arranged in the line (2) in such a way that the cleaning unit (1) is arranged on the side of the valve (3) facing away from the cleaning device (6).

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