Decentralized Filling Valve Electronics Housing with Welded Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage bottling plants face complexity and increased operating costs due to central control cabinets requiring complex electrical connections and constant compressed air pressurization to prevent fluid ingress and damage to electronic modules.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing containing an electromechanical actuator and an electronics module, where a plug-in device welded to the housing provides a fluid-tight seal for electrical contacting, eliminating the need for compressed air pressurization and allowing decentralized module arrangement, simplifying maintenance and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central control cabinet with cable bushings is used to control electromechanical actuators, then electrical contacting can be achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase due to complex cable routing and sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into decentralized control units, each housing an electronics module and electromechanical actuator together. This segmentation eliminates the need for a central control cabinet and complex cable routing, as each unit is self-contained and requires minimal external connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electronics module from the central control cabinet and places it directly into the housing with the electromechanical actuator. This extraction eliminates the intermediary cable connections and sealing bushings, simplifying both the control cabinet and the actuator housing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed air pressurization is applied to the central control cabinet, then fluid ingress is prevented, but operating costs increase due to continuous energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The welded sealing connection provides passive, permanent protection against fluid ingress without requiring active systems like compressed air pressurization. The weld creates a self-sustaining seal that requires no energy input to maintain its protective function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cable bushings are sealed in central control cabinets, then fluid-tight sealing is achieved, but maintenance and replacement complexity increase due to time-consuming disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a self-contained control unit with the electronics module housed directly with the actuator, the system enables independent replacement of faulty units without affecting other components. This modular segmentation simplifies maintenance by allowing quick swap-out of individual units rather than working within a complex centralized system.
4Reliability
If additional grounding measures are implemented for the housing, then electrical safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and the grounding function into a single welded connection between the housing and the electronics module housing. The weld seam simultaneously provides fluid-tight sealing and electrical continuity for grounding, eliminating the need for separate grounding components or measures.
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 achieves a secure, fluid-tight seal and grounding without additional fastening, reducing operational costs and simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for central control cabinets and complex cabling, enabling easy replacement of faulty modules.
Implementation Method 1
the opening is sealed in a fluid-tight manner by a plug-in device welded to the housing
Implementation Method 2
a weld seam that was produced by a laser welding process, preferably using a low-power pulsed laser
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant, comprising a housing (2) for receiving an electronic module (3) for controlling an electromechanical actuator (6) of a filling valve, an electronic module (3) received in the housing (2) and at least one opening (20) provided in the housing (2) for carrying out electrical contact with the electronic module (3) from outside the housing (2), wherein the opening (20) is closed fluid-tight by a plug device (4) welded to the housing (2) for carrying out the electrical contact.