Sterile Sampling Valve with Detachable Adapter Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sampling valves for sterile fluid removal are complex, expensive to manufacture, and difficult to clean and sterilize, leading to potential contamination and high maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A sampling valve design featuring a detachable adapter body for the valve tappet, allowing for easy disassembly and cleaning, with a sealing mechanism and rotational connection options for improved hygiene and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sampling valve with integrated cooling device and steam rinsing is used to ensure sterility, then hygiene properties are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is divided into modular components: a valve body that remains fixed and a valve insert containing the tappet, seal, and actuating shaft that can be detached as a single unit. This segmentation maintains the sterile design while simplifying cleaning and maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sampling valve has many components to ensure functionality, then operational capability is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The valve insert containing multiple functional components (tappet, seal, actuating shaft) is designed as a removable unit that can be detached from the valve body, transforming a multi-component cleaning problem into a single-unit removal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve insert is extracted from the valve body as a complete assembly, allowing thorough cleaning of internal components without disassembling individual parts. The insert can be removed through the inlet opening without pipeline disconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the sampling valve is designed with multiple components for sterilization, then sterility is maintained, but maintenance effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidmaintenance effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve insert is designed as a self-contained module that can be removed and sterilized independently, reducing maintenance effort while maintaining sterility requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve insert can be completely removed, sterilized externally, and reinserted into the valve body, eliminating the need for complex internal sterilization procedures and reducing maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Stability of the object's composition

If the valve tappet is fixed in the valve housing, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidreusability in different systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The valve insert containing the tappet mechanism is made detachable from the valve body, enabling the tappet assembly to be transferred to different valve bodies or systems while maintaining its functional integrity and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1876230B1Sample extractor valve for sterile extraction of samples from a vessel or a piping system
Publication Date: 2008.09.17 VIEGA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1876230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1876230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1876230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The sampling valve for sterile extraction of samples from a container or a pipeline system, comprises valve housing (2) with a valve inlet (3), a valve outlet (4) and with flow channel (5) connecting these, and a valve tappet and an actuation shaft (8). The valve inlet is fluidically connected with a pipeline leading extractable medium and with a discharge pipe. The valve tappet is movable back and forth in the valve housing, locks the flow channel alternatively in a closing position and releases in an open position. The sampling valve for sterile extraction of samples from a container or a pipeline system, comprises valve housing (2) with a valve inlet (3), a valve outlet (4) and with flow channel (5) connecting these, and a valve tappet and an actuation shaft (8). The valve inlet is fluidically connected with a pipeline leading extractable medium and with a discharge pipe. The valve tappet is movable back and forth in the valve housing, locks the flow channel alternatively in a closing position and releases in an open position. The actuation shaft is led movably in the valve housing and is connected with the valve tappet. The movement of the actuation shaft to the valve tappet is transferable, in order to move these between the closing position and the open position. The valve tappet is movably stored in an adapter body solvably connected with the valve housing. The valve tappet has tappet section, which cooperates with a valve seat formed at the adapter body and/or a sealing surface formed sealably at the adapter body. The adapter body is connected with the valve housing by a resting-, screw-, clamping- and/or secured plug connection. The adapter body opposite to the valve housing is sealed by an O-ring element. The tappet section opposite to the adapter body, the sealing surface or the valve seat, is sealed by an O-ring element. The tappet section has a valve disk. The adapter body has a connection for connecting with the pipeline. The adapter body is provided with a discharge bore, which lies in direction of flow behind the valve seat or the sealing surface. The end of the actuation shaft connected with the valve tappet penetrates into open position in the interior of the adapter body. The adapter body, the valve tappet and/or the actuation shaft are arranged coaxial to each other. The movement of the actuation shaft and the valve tappet is translatory and/or rotational. The actuation shaft is designed as a spindle and is led into internal threads designed in the valve housing. The actuation shaft and the valve tappet are loosely connected with one another and are surface contacted with each other. The actuation shaft has an uptake for an end of the valve tappet. The valve tappet is subjected in the direction of the spring force. A coil spring is arranged inside of the adapter body, in order to transfer the spring action to the valve tappet. The valve housing is designed t-shaped. The flow channel at the valve outlet is arranged in an angle of 90[deg] to the flow channel at the valve inlet. The adapter body is arranged rotatably in the valve housing in an angle of 360[deg]. The discharge tube is arranged pivotably relative to the valve housing in an angle of 360[deg]. The discharge tube is connected with the valve housing by a locking ring and a pressure screw. The valve housing, the adapter body, the valve tappet and/or the actuation shaft are made up of red cast and/or high-grade steel.