Annular Nozzle Cyclone Flow for Pharmaceutical Container Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning systems for pharmaceutical containers face challenges in efficiently removing strongly adhering substances from outer surfaces while minimizing spray water exposure to sealing areas, which can lead to contamination and corrosion risks.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning apparatus featuring a cylindrically formed annular nozzle with outlet openings configured to discharge cleaning medium inwardly and downwardly, forming a cyclone around the container, minimizing upward spray and enhancing mechanical cleaning efficiency with reduced pressure and medium consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high water pressures are used to clean strongly adhering substances, then cleaning performance is improved, but spray water exposure to sealing areas increases causing contamination and corrosion risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidspray water exposure to sealing areas

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The annular nozzle is divided into multiple outlet openings arranged circumferentially, each discharging cleaning medium at specific angles to create a cyclone flow pattern. This segmentation allows the cleaning medium to be distributed in a controlled vortex that maintains high pressure for effective cleaning while directing the flow away from sealing areas through the cyclone's downward and outward motion pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet openings are oriented at specific angles relative to the radial direction and horizontal plane, creating a three-dimensional cyclone flow pattern. This angular orientation in multiple dimensions transforms the linear high-pressure jet into a rotational vortex that naturally directs spray away from upward sealing areas while maintaining cleaning effectiveness on the container surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If metallic closures are protected from spray water, then corrosion resistance is improved, but cleaning efficiency decreases due to restricted spray coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone flow pattern creates locally optimized cleaning zones where the rotational vortex concentrates cleaning action on the container body surfaces that require cleaning, while the natural outward and downward trajectory of the cyclone automatically excludes sealing areas from direct spray exposure. This local differentiation allows aggressive cleaning where needed and protective exclusion where corrosion resistance is critical

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If cleaning brushes are used for mechanical removal of strongly adhering substances, then cleaning performance is improved, but cleaning effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidcleaning effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical brushes with a fluid-based cyclone jet system. The rotational vortex of cleaning medium creates strong mechanical cleaning action through the combined effects of high-velocity impact, shear forces from the rotating flow, and cavitation, eliminating the need for physical contact with brushes while maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness for strongly adhering substances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces stress on sealing points, improves cleaning performance, and increases economic efficiency by minimizing spray and reducing the necessary cleaning medium, while maintaining a strong mechanical cleaning effect.

Implementation Method 1

each of which is configured and adapted to discharge a cleaning medium substantially identically inwardly and downwardly at an angle to the horizontal and at an angle to a radial direction, so as to form a cyclone of cleaning medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

the term 'cyclone' is to be understood to mean that the cleaning medium is directed downwards in a vortex to flow around the container to be cleaned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentUS20240189872A1Annular nozzle

Publication Date: 2024.06.13 BAUSCH STROBEL SE CO KG

AI summary

A cleaning apparatus for pharmaceutical containers, comprising means for feeding containers into and means for discharging containers from the cleaning apparatus, a transport apparatus for transporting containers within the cleaning apparatus, at least one holder for holding containers during a cleaning process, and one or more cleaning stations. Each holder holds a container such that a longitudinal axis of the container extends substantially in a vertical direction. Each cleaning station comprises at least one substantially cylindrically formed annular nozzle configured to completely surround a container during the cleaning process. Each cleaning station is provided on its inner side with a first row of outlet openings disposed circumferentially in a first vertical position, and is configured to discharge a cleaning medium substantially identically inwardly and downwardly at an angle to a horizontal axis and at an angle to a radial direction to form a cyclone of cleaning medium.