Magnetically Coupled Process Component for Hygienic Axial Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process components used in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology plants face challenges in scalability, hygiene, and aseptic design, particularly with pipe diameters of ten centimeters or more, due to rigid mechanical connections and screw threads that complicate cleaning and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A process component with a flexible magnetic coupling between magnet arrangements, allowing for scalable designs and eliminating mechanical connections, featuring a plunger with a spiral magnet arrangement and a guide system of spherical domes for easy cleaning and aseptic operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid mechanical connections and screw threads are used in process components, then structural stability and mechanical strength are improved, but ease of cleaning and hygienic properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid mechanical connections and screw threads with magnetic coupling between magnet arrangements. The first magnet arrangement on the plunger and second magnet arrangement on the housing create a magnetically coupled connection that eliminates the need for mechanical fasteners, thereby improving ease of cleaning and hygienic properties while maintaining structural stability through magnetic attraction forces.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical connections are used between plunger and adjustment device, then mechanical strength and positioning accuracy are improved, but device complexity and potential contamination points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical connections between the plunger and adjustment device by using magnetic coupling. The magnet arrangements transmit rotational movement and maintain positioning accuracy without requiring physical contact, seals, or mechanical fasteners, thereby reducing device complexity and eliminating potential contamination points while preserving positioning precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If process components are designed for large pipe diameters (ten centimeters and more), then scalability and application range are improved, but maintaining hygienic properties and aseptic design becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies magnetic coupling throughout the process component, eliminating mechanical connections that would compromise hygiene in large-scale applications. This allows the component to be scaled to large pipe diameters while maintaining aseptic design, as the magnetic field transmission requires no physical penetrations or seals that could create contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the magnet arrangement into separate first and second magnet arrangements located on different components (plunger and housing respectively). This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed for optimal hygiene and cleaning, while the magnetic coupling maintains functional integration, facilitating scalability to large dimensions without compromising hygienic properties.
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 enables cost-effective scalability, enhanced hygiene, and aseptic performance by minimizing mechanical connections and reducing potential contamination points, while allowing for precise control of fluid flow through magnetic interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet arrangement mounted on the plunger, and a second magnet arrangement magnetically coupled to the first magnet arrangement
Implementation Method 2
The plunger interacts with a guide provided in the interior space, converting a rotational movement of the second magnet arrangement into an axial movement of the plunger by displacing the first magnet arrangement relative to the second magnet arrangement
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a process component having a longitudinal axis (A), and comprising: a housing (1) which surrounds an interior space (2) and comprises a first connector (3) and a second connector (4); a tappet (5) located in the interior space (2); a first magnet arrangement (6; 106; 206) located on the tappet; and a second magnet arrangement (7; 107; 207) which is magnetically coupled to the first magnet arrangement and is rotatable on the housing (1) about the longitudinal axis (A). In order to create a process component which is easily scalable in size and can be easily cleaned, according to the invention the tappet (5) cooperates with a guide (13) provided in the interior space (2), displacing the first magnet arrangement (6; 106; 206) towards the second magnet arrangement (7; 107; 207) to convert a rotary movement of the second magnet arrangement (7; 107; 207) into an axial movement (H) of the tappet (5).