Hygienic Compensating Joint for Misalignment and Cleanability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the food and beverage industry, compensating joints used in plant technology face challenges in achieving hygienic design and easy cleanability, particularly in narrow gaps, which can lead to contamination and inadequate cleaning of annular gaps.
Innovation Solution
A compensating joint design featuring a receiving element, sliding element, and securing element with a sealing element, which allows for radial and angular offset compensation while ensuring easy external cleaning and resistance to cleaning agents, acids, bases, and hot water, thereby avoiding narrow gaps and enhancing hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a compensating joint is used in plant technology for the food and beverage industry, then radial and angular misalignments can be compensated, but narrow gaps and annular gaps are created that are difficult to clean and can lead to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating joint is divided into separate functional elements: a receiving element, a sliding element, and a securing element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall hygiene. The sliding element can be removed and cleaned separately, eliminating the cleaning problems associated with traditional integrated designs that create narrow gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element is extracted as a separate, removable component from the receiving element. This extraction allows the sliding element to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement, eliminating the persistent narrow gaps and annular gaps in traditional designs where cleaning agents cannot effectively reach. The securing element with its axially open design further enables complete removal of internal components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional compensating joint designs are used, then misalignment compensation is achieved, but cleaning agents cannot penetrate into narrow gaps and annular gaps, making thorough cleaning impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating joint is divided into separate functional elements: a receiving element, a sliding element, and a securing element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall hygiene. The sliding element can be removed and cleaned separately, eliminating the cleaning problems associated with traditional integrated designs that create narrow gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The axially open securing element acts as an intermediary that enables complete access to the interior of the receiving element. By having axial openings at both ends, the securing element allows cleaning agents to flow through the entire internal volume and allows for complete disassembly, making previously inaccessible areas cleanable.
3Reliability
If the sealing element is placed in an internally accessible shoulder, then sealing is achieved, but the design becomes difficult to clean and maintain hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the sealing element in an internally accessible shoulder as in traditional designs, the sealing element is inverted to an externally accessible position on the receiving element. This inversion allows the sealing surface to be easily accessed for cleaning and inspection, while the sealing function remains intact. The sealing element can now be cleaned from the outside without requiring disassembly.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the compensating joint design includes internal components, then misalignment compensation is achieved, but transverse forces are not adequately reduced on the driven component
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding element is designed to dynamically adapt to radial and angular misalignments through sliding contact surfaces. The sliding element can move freely in radial and angular directions while maintaining axial force transmission, thereby dynamically compensating for misalignments and reducing transverse forces on the driven component. This dynamic compensation is more effective than rigid internal component designs.
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 significantly reduces transverse forces on components, facilitates easy cleaning, and ensures secure sealing even during offset compensation, making it suitable for container treatment devices like closing devices, where hygiene and cleanability are critical.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding element can be brought into sliding contact with both the first end and the receiving element. This advantageously enables the sliding element to compensate for both radial and angular misalignment.
Implementation Method 2
The compensating joint further has a sealing element (e.g., a sealing ring) (e.g., resistant to acids, bases, cleaning foam, and/or hot water) which can be used for (e.g., aseptic) sealing between the receiving element and the first end
Implementation Method 3
The compensating joint further has a securing element that can be fastened to the first end and with which the first end can be axially secured to the receiving element.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a compensating joint (16) that can connect a first end (18) of a first component (12) and a second end (20) of a second component (14) to compensate for a radial misalignment and/or an angular misalignment between the first end (18) and the second end (20). The compensating joint (16) comprises a receiving element (22), a sliding element (24), a locking element (26), and a sealing element (28). Advantageously, the compensating joint (16) has a particularly hygienic design.