Plastic Lined Filling Valve for Hygienic Liquid Product Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling devices for liquid products into containers face challenges with product deposits and contamination due to O-ring seal deformation and turbulence, leading to hygiene and cleaning issues, especially when filling liquid products with solid components.
Innovation Solution
A filling device with a plastic lining that forms part of the wall of the product space, extending on both sides of the sealing surface, preventing deformation and product accumulation, and featuring a profiled plastic sleeve that covers the valve housing and mandrel to reduce turbulence and contamination, with a fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon material for easy cleaning and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an O-ring seal is used in the filling valve, then sealing is achieved, but product deposits accumulate between the O-ring groove and O-ring seal due to deformation during opening and closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the O-ring seal from the filling valve design entirely. Instead of using a traditional O-ring seal that deforms and accumulates product deposits, the invention uses a plastic lining that extends into the product chamber to form the sealing surface, eliminating the source of product accumulation problems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a valve element with a plastic lining. The plastic lining material (such as polyetheretherketone, polyvinylidene fluoride, or polytetrafluoroethylene) provides both sealing functionality and smooth flow characteristics that prevent product deposit accumulation
2Ease of operation
If the flow channel is shaped for valve functionality, then filling control is achieved, but turbulence occurs leading to product deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different regions of the flow channel. The plastic lining is specifically designed with smooth transitions and optimized surface characteristics in areas where turbulence occurs, while maintaining the functional shaping of the flow channel for filling control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the flow channel by lining it with plastic material that has specific rheological characteristics. This changes the flow dynamics to reduce turbulence while maintaining the functional geometry of the flow channel for precise filling control
3Strength
If a metal valve element is used, then structural stability is achieved, but cleaning difficulty increases due to product adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction where a metal valve element provides structural stability and is coated or lined with plastic material. This combination maintains the mechanical strength of metal while providing the easy-clean, non-stick properties of plastic surfaces that resist product adhesion
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic lining is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced. This allows the expensive metal valve element to remain in place while the disposable plastic lining is replaced after a certain period or when contaminated, simplifying maintenance and cleaning
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filling device (10) for filling liquid-containing products into containers (38), said filling device comprising a product space (14), which opens into a filling valve (20), and comprising, in the region of the filling valve thereof, at least two valve elements (22, 29) movable in relation to each other by an actuator, wherein said valve elements in the region of a sealing surface rest against each other in the closed position and are spaced apart from each other in the opened position, wherein at least one of the two valve elements (22, 29) up to the product comprises a plastic lining (32; 33). Such a filling device is hygienic and easy to clean.