Self-Draining Bellows Pipe Compensator for Aseptic Beverage Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing line compensators, such as bellows-shaped and loop-shaped designs, face issues with high force transmission to the pipeline system, difficulty in cleaning and sterilization, especially in aseptic beverage filling, and aroma entrainment due to liquid residues and material diffusion.
Innovation Solution
A line compensator with an idling bellows design featuring material reinforcements in the folds to create a level base and flat roof, reducing sagging and allowing complete drainage, combined with an oval cross-section for increased rigidity in the vertical plane and reduced stiffness in the horizontal plane, facilitating easier cleaning and minimizing aroma carryover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bellows-shaped line compensators are used to compensate for linear expansion and connect line ends, then flexible compensation for changes in length, offsets or angle errors can be achieved, but liquid residues remain in the folds after draining, making cleaning and sterilization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed with different properties in different areas: the upper area maintains flexibility for compensation, while the lower area is designed to be self-draining with a level base to prevent liquid accumulation. This local differentiation allows the same component to satisfy both flexible compensation and easy cleaning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a bellows that expands uniformly in all directions, the invention inverts the traditional design by creating an asymmetric bellows where the lower area is constrained to drain completely while the upper area provides the compensation flexibility. This inversion of the traditional symmetric bellows design solves the liquid retention problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If loop-shaped or bellows-shaped line compensators are used to compensate for linear expansion, then length changes can be accommodated, but high forces are transmitted to the entire pipeline system, which can result in damage to the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows design concentrates the compensation function in the upper flexible area while the lower area provides structural support with material reinforcements. This local differentiation allows the compensator to absorb length changes without transmitting high forces to the pipeline system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bellows design is used, then flexibility for compensation is achieved, but aroma can diffuse into the material of the flexible areas, leading to aroma entrainment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the source of the problem by designing the bellows to be self-draining, completely eliminating liquid residues from the compensator. Without liquid residues remaining in the folds, aroma entrainment is prevented while maintaining compensation flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If material reinforcements are added to the bellows folds to create a level base, then complete drainage is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Material reinforcements are applied locally only to the lower area of the bellows where they are needed to create the level base for drainage, while the upper area remains flexible and unreinforced to maintain compensation capability. This localized application minimizes the increase in device complexity.
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 idling bellows design reduces force transmission, ensures complete drainage, and minimizes aroma carryover, while maintaining flexibility for length and angular compensation, enhancing the cleaning and sterilization process in beverage bottling plants.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows lying between the first connection section and the second connection section... flexible compensation for changes in length
Implementation Method 2
the line compensator is designed to run empty as a result of the filling of the depressions in the bottom area with the material reinforcements... no fluids remain in the line compensator when the remainder of the tubing is drained
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a line compensator (1) for connecting two line ends, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, comprising a first connection section (20), a second connection section (22) and a bellows (30) located between the first connection section (20) and the second connection section (22), wherein the bellows (30) is designed to run freely.