Double-Seat Valve Flushing Structure for Hygienic Seal Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double seat valves in food, beverage, medicine, and biotechnology systems lack effective hygienic design, particularly in areas where closing body rods interact with products, leading to inadequate cleaning of seals and drive-side seals.
Innovation Solution
A double seat valve design featuring a housing with interconnected interiors, a rinsing chamber, and a hygiene structure that includes a washing compartment and spray nozzle body, allowing the closing body section to be withdrawn into the washing compartment for thorough cleaning, with a cylindrical sliding surface and funnel-like slope to direct cleaning fluid effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is designed to slide on the rod for adjusting the closing element, then the valve can maintain sealing contact, but the seal cannot be cleaned effectively in prior art designs
Solution Approach 1:
The closing body section is designed to be movable relative to the rod, transitioning between a working position (where sealing contact is maintained) and a cleaning position (where the seal is exposed for cleaning). This dynamic repositioning allows the same seal to serve both sealing and cleanability functions without compromise
2Reliability
If the closing body section remains in the second interior space during operation, then sealing contact is maintained, but the seal cannot be accessed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The closing body section is designed to be movable relative to the rod, transitioning between a working position (where sealing contact is maintained) and a cleaning position (where the seal is exposed for cleaning). This dynamic repositioning allows the same seal to serve both sealing and cleanability functions without compromise
3Device complexity
If a traditional valve design is used without a flushing chamber, then the structure is simpler, but hygienic conditions are insufficient for food, beverage, medicine, and biotechnology applications
Solution Approach 1:
The valve interior is segmented into a first interior space for product flow and a second interior space (flushing chamber) for cleaning operations. The closing body section can be retracted into the flushing chamber, separating the sealing function from the cleaning function and enabling effective hygienic maintenance while maintaining operational simplicity
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 design enhances hygienic conditions by ensuring thorough cleaning of the closing body section and seal, improving the valve's ability to maintain cleanliness and prevent contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a seal (15) which is in sliding and sealing contact with the closing body section (13)
Implementation Method 2
a seal (15) which is in sliding and sealing contact with the closing body section (13)
Implementation Method 3
a flow of a cleaning liquid can be formed, which cleans the walls of the rinse chamber and surfaces of objects in the rinse chamber
Implementation Method 4
a seal (15) which is in sliding and sealing contact with the closing body section (13)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a double seat valve with a housing (1), with a first interior (2) and a second interior (3), a passage (4) which connects the interiors (2, 3) and in which a first valve seat (5) and a second valve seat (6) are arranged, a first closing body (7), which has a cavity (9) and which is fastened to a rod (10), and with a second closing body (8), through which the rod passes, and which can be brought into sealing contact with the first closing body (7), in which contact the cavity (9) is sealed with respect to the second interior (3), and with a closing body portion (13), which is arranged on the second closing body (8) and cooperates with a seal (15) received in the housing (1). In order to improve the hygiene conditions, it is proposed that a flushing space (16) and a hygiene structure cooperating with the flushing space (16) are provided and the second closing body (8) can be brought into a position in which the closing body portion (13) is withdrawn from the second interior (3) in the flushing space (16) and the seal (15) is exposed.