Pivoting Condensate Drain Valve for Space-Saving Sterile Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sterile container valve devices fail to efficiently discharge condensate without interfering with usable space, require complex maintenance, and cannot be checked externally, with condensate often dripping onto adjacent containers.

Innovation Solution

A condensate drain valve with a valve housing that includes a bypass for gas exchange, a pivotable design for easy installation and maintenance, and an actuator driven by temperature and pressure changes in a bypass gas volume to control the valve body, ensuring condensate discharge during sterilization without external interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a valve device is installed in the sterile container to discharge condensate, then condensate can be discharged during sterilization, but the usable space of the sterile container is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondensate discharge functionVSAvoidusable space of sterile container

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The valve device is nested within the sterile container structure, with the valve housing integrated into the container wall and the bypass system utilizing existing gas volumes within the container. This nesting approach allows the valve device to occupy minimal additional space while maintaining full condensate discharge functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a complex valve mechanism is used to control condensate discharge, then reliable temperature and pressure control is achieved, but maintenance and assembly become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature and pressure controlVSAvoidmaintenance and assembly simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve device is segmented into distinct functional components: the valve housing, bypass system, actuator, and closure means. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained, simplifying repair procedures while maintaining reliable temperature and pressure control through the coordinated function of separate elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the valve housing is fixed in place for stable operation, then reliable sealing is achieved, but external inspection and maintenance require opening the sterile container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing stabilityVSAvoidexternal inspection accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The valve housing is designed with dynamic mounting capabilities, allowing it to be fixed securely during operation for reliable sealing, yet removable or accessible for external inspection and maintenance. The closure means can engage or disengage from the valve receptacle, providing stable operation during sterilization while enabling external access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the condensate outlet is positioned to discharge condensate away from adjacent containers, then contamination of other containers is prevented, but the valve device occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondensate contamination of adjacent containersVSAvoidvalve device space occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass system acts as an intermediary, routing condensate through a controlled path that directs it away from adjacent containers. The bypass gas volume and bypass channel create a dedicated discharge pathway that prevents condensate from reaching other containers while maintaining a compact overall valve device footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 allows for efficient condensate discharge during sterilization, minimizes space usage, enables external inspection and maintenance, and prevents condensate from reaching adjacent containers, ensuring reliable sterilization and easy operation.

Implementation Method 1

via which the valve body can be/is displaced between the blocking position and the passing position as a function of a temperature and/or a pressure of the bypass gas volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature and pressure changes: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11480256B2Condensate drain valve

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 AESCULAP AG

AI summary

A drain valve for a sterile container includes: a valve housing; a bypass that connects a container gas volume with an external gas volume; a valve body that blocks the bypass; and an actuator that displaces the valve body between a passage position and a blocking position. The valve body is displaceable according to a temperature and/or a pressure of the bypass gas volume. The valve housing has: at least one holding web, at least part of which can be located in a holding bracket of the valve receptacle; and a closure. The valve housing is pivotable from an open position into an installation position in which the closure can be fixed to a closure receptacle. When the valve housing is transferred into the installation position, the valve body is transferred into the blocking position and subjected to a closure force.