Conical Diverter Valve With Axial Gap for CIP Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diverter valves for conveying goods face challenges in ensuring stable material conveyance and reliable cleaning-in-place (CIP) due to issues with sealing and flushing gaps, leading to potential contamination and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A diverter design featuring a rotating part with a conical shape that can be axially displaced to create a defined flushing gap between the rotating part and the housing, ensuring all areas are cleaned effectively, combined with a drain opening for automatic liquid drainage, and separate drives for precise movement and sealing, enhancing the reliability of CIP cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the rotating part is designed with a small cone angle to enable CIP cleaning, then cleaning accessibility is improved, but the plug length increases and sealing becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating part is designed to be axially displaceable along its rotation axis, transitioning between a conveying position (with minimal radial gap for stable material conveyance) and a cleaning position (with enlarged radial gap for effective CIP cleaning). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for sealing during conveyance and for cleaning accessibility during cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces axial displacement as an additional degree of freedom beyond simple rotation. By moving the rotating part axially along its rotation axis, the radial gap between the rotating part and housing can be dynamically adjusted, enabling both tight sealing during conveyance and adequate cleaning gap during CIP operations without compromising either function.
2Device complexity
If the axis of rotation is arranged in the conveying plane, then the structure is simplified, but the cone angle becomes small requiring a long plug
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging the rotation axis in the conveying plane (which simplifies structure but requires long plug), the invention inverts the arrangement by positioning the rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying plane. This allows for a larger cone angle and shorter plug length while maintaining structural efficiency through the axial displacement mechanism for cleaning operations.
3Reliability
If a complex design of rotary plug and housing is used to ensure rinsing gap for CIP cleaning, then cleaning capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than designing a complex stationary structure with built-in rinsing gaps, the invention uses a simple conical rotating part that can be axially displaced. The rinsing gap is created dynamically by the axial displacement itself, eliminating the need for complex housing designs with integrated cleaning channels while ensuring reliable CIP cleaning capability.
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 ensures stable and reliable conveyance of materials while guaranteeing thorough and efficient CIP cleaning, reducing the risk of contamination and operational errors by creating a controlled flushing gap and facilitating automatic drainage.
Implementation Method 1
a defined flushing gap can be created between the rotating part and the housing by axially displacing the rotating part along its axis of rotation in a housing
Implementation Method 2
In comparison to a transfer tube according to DE 10 2005 061 432 A1, in which the drive axis of the chick lies in the conveying plane, a larger cone angle is possible for the design of the rotating part
Implementation Method 3
the diverter has a drain opening in the housing, so that the cleaning liquid can drain out of the housing automatically, in particular as a result of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A diverter for conveying material comprises a housing (2) with at least three through-openings (3, 4, 5) for feeding or discharging the conveyed material, wherein the through-openings (3, 4, 5) define a conveying level.The diverter (1) further comprises a rotating part (6) having a rotational axis (7) and an outer contour (9) that is at least partially conical with respect to the rotational axis (7), wherein the rotating part (6) can be arranged in a sealed manner in the housing (2), wherein the rotating part (6) can be axially displaced along the rotational axis (7) and is arranged to be rotatable about the rotational axis (7), wherein the rotational axis (7) is oriented perpendicular to the conveying plane, a through-channel (8) arranged in the rotating part (6) which, depending on a rotational position of the rotating part (6), connects two through-openings (3, 4, 5) for conveying the material along the through-channel (8) through the diverter (1), and a drain opening (25) in the housing (2) for the automatic draining of a liquid from the housing (2). A cleaning method for such a diverter is also described.