Variable Cross-Section Valve for Hygienic Beverage Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage bottling technologies face challenges in smoothly varying the volume flow of filling products during the filling process, particularly in preventing foaming at the beginning and ensuring a controlled end, due to limitations in adjusting flow rates and maintaining hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control chamber and a control element that can be displaced by an external drive, allowing for continuous variation of the flow cross section between the inlet and outlet, enabling stepless adjustment of the flow rate and eliminating the need for bellows for a hygienic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bellows are used to adjust flow cross section, then volume flow can be varied, but hygienic design is compromised and pressure peaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the bellows component from the flow control system. Instead of using bellows to adjust the flow cross-section, the invention employs a valve body with a variable flow cross-section design that eliminates bellows entirely, thereby achieving hygienic design without compromising volume flow adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic flow cross-section design where the flow cross-section can be continuously varied during operation. The valve body incorporates a movable element that changes the effective flow area dynamically, allowing volume flow adjustment without requiring bellows for sealing or actuation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bellows are used for flow control, then volume flow can be adjusted, but pressure peaks are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bellows component that causes pressure peaks. The alternative design uses a valve body with a smoothly variable flow cross-section that avoids the sudden volume changes and elastic rebound characteristics of bellows, thereby eliminating pressure peak generation during flow adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the flow control mechanism by replacing elastic bellows with a rigid valve body structure. The flow cross-section is varied through controlled movement of valve elements rather than elastic expansion/contraction of bellows, fundamentally changing how flow adjustment is achieved and eliminating pressure peaks.
3Device complexity
If fixed flow rates are used, then device complexity is reduced, but filling process cannot be adapted to product properties and container geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically adjustable flow control system within the valve body. The flow cross-section can be continuously varied during the filling process to adapt to different product properties and container geometries. This dynamic capability is achieved through movable valve elements that change the effective flow area without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body design incorporates multiple functions: it serves as both the structural housing and the active flow control element. The same valve body structure enables adaptation to various filling requirements through internal element movement, eliminating the need for separate complex flow control mechanisms and maintaining device simplicity while achieving versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for varying the flow rate of a filling product in a filling plant, comprising a control chamber (2) connected to an inlet (10) and an outlet (12) and a control element (3) received in the control chamber (2), which is displaceable in the control chamber (2) by interaction with a drive (4) arranged outside the control chamber (2), wherein the cross-section of the control chamber (2) varies continuously between an end of the control chamber (2) facing the inlet (10) and an end of the control chamber (2) facing the outlet (12).