Modular Hygienic Valve Chassis with Sealed Interfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monitoring, control, and regulation systems for process valves, especially in sterile applications like pharmacy, biotechnology, and food and beverage industries, fail to meet high hygienic requirements and are not easily adaptable to different conditions.
Innovation Solution
A modularly structured housing configuration with a rotationally symmetrical cover part and interchangeable components, including housing attachments and hoods, that can be easily connected and adapted to various valve sizes and types, incorporating a position indicator and control electronics for precise position monitoring and feedback, while ensuring high hygiene standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control heads are arranged on the drive side facing away from the valve housing, then the monitoring and control systems can be separated from the valve, but the hygiene requirements for sterile applications are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The control head is integrated within the valve housing structure, with the position indicator nested inside the housing assembly. The drive rod passes through a sealed connection point in the housing, allowing the control system to be contained within the sterile boundary while maintaining functional separability through the sealed interface.
Solution Approach 2:
A membrane seal is used at the connection point between the drive rod and housing assembly, creating a flexible barrier that maintains hygiene isolation while allowing mechanical signal transmission. The membrane enables the drive rod to move while preventing contamination between the sterile valve interior and the external control system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized housing configurations are designed for each valve type, then the monitoring systems can be adapted to specific valve requirements, but the device complexity and number of individual solutions increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single, unified housing assembly design is created that can accommodate different valve types and drive configurations. The housing assembly includes standardized connection points and a universal position indicator mechanism that can detect various drive rod movements (linear, rotary, oscillating) through a common sealed interface, eliminating the need for specialized housing designs for each valve type.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing assembly is divided into modular components including a detachable cover, separate position indicator unit, and standardized connection interfaces. This segmentation allows the same basic housing design to be adapted to different applications by configuring or removing specific modules rather than designing entirely different housings for each valve type.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a position indicator is integrated into the housing assembly with sealed connection points, then hygiene requirements are met, but the ease of assembly and maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The position indicator and its connection to the drive rod are pre-assembled and pre-sealed as a complete module before installation in the housing. The membrane seal and connection point are pre-configured and tested, allowing the entire sealed assembly to be installed as a single unit, thereby reducing on-site assembly complexity while maintaining hygiene integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The position indicator is designed as a detachable module that can be removed from the housing assembly through a standardized interface. This extraction capability allows the sealed connection points and membrane seals to be replaced or serviced without disassembling the entire housing, reducing maintenance complexity while preserving hygiene protection during normal operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2i
Figure 3a~3h
AI summary
The invention relates to a chassis aggregation for monitoring-, control- and regulation systems for a process valve (1), which features at least one valve rod with a closing member and one pressure medium loaded drive (1b) for the valve rod(s). The invention assures that a chassis configuration of modular structure of the type initially described satisfies high hygienic demands and that it can be adapted in manifold ways and easily to the various demands and conditions of the process. This is achieved by the fact that the respective chassis aggregation (I, II, III, IV) is mounted on the respective drive (1b) with a positive friction fit by means of a rotation symmetrical cover part (6), by the fact that the chassis aggregation (I, II, III, IV) can also be optionally assembled from a first chassis upper part (2), a second chassis upper part of first, second, third type (3, 3*, 3**), and a first or second cover (4, 4.1), by the fact that the chassis upper part (2, 3, 3*, 3**) and the cover (4, 4.1) are each developed as rotation symmetrical bodies with cylinder-shaped exterior contours, by the fact that joining points (6/2, 2/4; 6/3, 3/4; 6/3, 3/3*. 3*/4; 6/3, 3/3**, 3**/4.1) are designed between the cover part (6), the chassis upper part (2, 3, 3*, 3**), and the cover (4, 4.1) of the respective chassis aggregation (I, II, III, IV), at which, when seen in meridian section, the surface line of the cover part (6), the body of the chassis upper part (2, 3, 3*, 3**), and the cover (4, 4.1) are arranged next to each other with the same diameter, flush, without gaps or breaks, by the fact that all of the joining points are sealed against each other, and by the fact that the respective joining partners are centered and connected to each other with a positive friction fit at all of the joining points (see figure 1).