Fully-Draining Diaphragm Pump and Check Valve Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diaphragm pump and check valve systems face challenges in thorough cleaning, leading to potential product mixing and bacterial growth due to trapped fluids, which are time- and labor-intensive and require skilled personnel.

Innovation Solution

A fully-draining diaphragm pump and check valve system with tapered valve discs and drain lines connected to the lowest points, along with a method using a centrifugal pump for sequential suction of water, wash solution, and sanitizer, and venting to atmosphere for drying, automated by a programmed processor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning of diaphragm pump and check valves is performed, then cleaning can be done, but it is time- and labor-intensive and requires skilled personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning thoroughnessVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-cleaning through automated operation where the pump circulates cleaning solutions through itself without requiring manual disassembly or intervention. The check valves and pump chambers clean themselves by flowing the cleaning solution through their internal passages during automated cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated fluid-based cleaning system. Instead of personnel physically disassembling and cleaning components, a centrifugal pump circulates cleaning solutions through the system, and automated ball valves control the cleaning process without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If water is used to clean the pump and system, then fluid products are removed, but water becomes trapped in low points creating environments for bacterial growth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidbacterial growth risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts trapped water from low points in the system using drain lines with ball valves. These drain lines are positioned at the lowest points of pump chambers and check valve bodies, allowing trapped cleaning water to be completely removed from the system after the cleaning cycle, eliminating the environment needed for bacterial growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary draining of water from low points before the cleaning process is complete. By positioning drain lines at the lowest points and using ball valves to control drainage, water is removed in advance before it could create conditions for bacterial growth during storage or subsequent operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If cleaning is performed to prevent product mixing, then product contamination is prevented, but the process requires skilled personnel and is labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct contamination preventionVSAvoidcleaning operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-cleaning by automatically circulating cleaning solutions through all product contact surfaces, including pump chambers and check valves. The automated ball valves open and close sequences to ensure thorough cleaning of all components without requiring skilled personnel to manually disassemble or clean each part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning process continues uninterrupted through automated sequences where the centrifugal pump continuously circulates cleaning solutions through the system. Multiple ball valves coordinate to maintain continuous flow through all chambers and valves, ensuring complete coverage without manual intervention or breaks in the cleaning action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Ensures complete fluid drainage, preventing mixing and bacterial growth, reducing the need for manual labor and ensuring thorough cleaning of the diaphragm pump and check valve assembly.

Implementation Method 1

with the lower rim of the drain line below the tapered back edge of the valve disc

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a method using a centrifugal pump for sequential suction of water, wash solution, and sanitizer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

venting to atmosphere for drying

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtmospheric pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11028846B2Fully-draining diaphragm pump and check valve assembly

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 MURZAN

AI summary

A fully-draining check valve with a mushroom assembly having a tapered back edge and a drain line disposed with the lower rim of the drain line below the tapered back edge to ensure no fluid becomes trapped in the check valve when not in use. Additionally, a fully-draining diaphragm pump is disclosed having a drain line configured to drain the lowest point of a product chamber to ensure no fluid becomes trapped in the diaphragm pump when not in use. A method of cleaning a fully-draining diaphragm pump and fully-draining check valve assembly is further disclosed comprising inducing turbulent flow of water, wash solution, and/or sanitizer through the assembly and opening ball valves the drain lines of the fully-draining check valves to vent the assembly.