V. Q. Corp.

Other

Superior Stainless, Inc.

Ashear, Ltd.

Sani-matic, a Division of Dec International, Inc.

Elmer S Welch

Douglas B Edwards

A sanitary fluid pressure control valve, including a valve body having an input side and a discharge side with a restricted chamber therebetween, and a reciprocable plug extending through the restricted chamber with one plug end on the input side and the other plug end on the discharge side. A diaphragm is secured to the one plug end, and defines a pressure chamber adjacent the discharge side. A fluid passage in the plug extends through the restricted chamber, and has an outlet adjacent the diaphragm and an inlet spaced from the plug other end. The pressure in the pressure chamber relative to the pressure in the discharge side substantially controls the position of the plug. In a first plug position, the fluid passage inlet is substantially blocked in the restricted chamber. The plug is reciprocable from the first position to fluid flow positions in which the fluid passage inlet is variously exposed on the input side.

Sanitary fluid pressure control valve

In a fluid-pumping system comprising a pump and a pulsation dampener, which is arranged to dampen pressure pulsations, the pump is driven by a piston and motor. The pulsation dampener is arranged to be charged via an associated regulator, which is arranged to regulate the charging air pressure by reference to the average pressure of the fluid exiting the pump. Preferably, the pulsation dampener comprises two apertured walls, between which a diaphragm is mounted, one such wall being mounted so as to limit displacement of the diaphragm toward the air-side chamber and the other wall mounted so as to limit displacement of the diaphragm toward the fluid-side chamber. Two similar dampeners may be employed, one to dampen pressure surges and the other to dampen pressure drops.

Fluid-pumping system employing piston-driven pump and employing at least one pulsation dampener

In a fluid-pumping system comprising a pump and a pulsation dampener, which is arranged to dampen pressure pulsations, the pump is driven by air delivered at a regulated pressure. The pulsation dampener is arranged to be charged via an associated regulator, which is arranged to regulate the charging air pressure by reference to the air pressure in an averaging tank. Preferably, the pulsation dampener comprises two apertured walls, between which a diaphragm is mounted, one such wall being mounted so as to limit displacement of the diaphragm toward the air-side chamber and the other wall mounted so as to limit displacement of the diaphragm toward the fluid-side chamber. Two similar dampeners may be employed, one to dampen pressure surges and the other to dampen pressure drops.

Fluid-pumping system employing air-driven pump and employing at least one pulsation dampener

A gas/liquid separator for separating an inlet stream of a mixture of a gas and a liquid into a substantially liquid stream and a substantially gaseous stream, the separator having a controllable, variable liquid level, includes an elongate cylindrical body portion having first and second closed ends which define a separation chamber, tangentially oriented inlet and outlet nozzles positioned near the ends of the vessel, and an overflow-discharge nozzle extending from inside of the separation chamber and longitudinally exiting from the separator through the inlet end, proximate to the inlet nozzle. The separator further includes a vent subassembly positioned proximate to the overflow-discharge nozzle. The subassembly includes a nozzle in flow communication with the separation chamber, and a flow-stop device operable between an open condition and a closed condition. The flow-stop device is positioned on the nozzle. The inlet mixture is separated in the separation chamber with at least a portion of the substantially gaseous stream discharging through the vent assembly when the flow-stop device is in the open condition, and with the substantially gaseous stream remaining in the separation chamber increasing an internal pressure thereof and decreasing the liquid level therein, when the flow-stop device is in the closed condition.

Gas/liquid separator with controllable variable liquid level

A self-cleaning return pump system for use with a clean-in-place system for cleaning vessels includes a recirculation loop for providing flow communication including a return pump, an eductor, and a separator. The return pump is arranged to discharge a liquid through the eductor into the separator and is supplied with a substantially continuous flow of liquid from the separator. A return line provides flow communication between the vessel to be cleaned and a suction port of the eductor. The separator has a top discharge port and a bottom discharge port. The top discharge port is configured to discharge a liquid or a liquid-air mixture therefrom to the clean-in-place system. The return pump causes liquid flowing through the recirculation loop at the eductor to have sufficient dynamic head to draw liquid or a mixture of liquid and air from the vessel through the return line, into the eductor. The liquid or liquid air mixture is discharged into the separator. The bottom discharge port of the separator provides the substantially continuous flow of liquid to the return pump and substantially all of the air and a portion of the liquid is discharged from the separator top discharge port at a flow rate sufficiently high to maintain a flow of liquid across the bottom of the vessel to maintain the liquid therein in a state of substantially continuous flow. The liquid is discharged from the separator top discharge port at a rate of flow about equal to the rate of flow of liquid supplied to the vessel through the supply line.

Return pump system for use with clean-in-place system for use with

A readily cleaned liquid transfer system is designed for use with an associated vessel or container, such as a barrel, having therein a liquid to be removed. The system comprises a recirculation loop, a transfer manifold, and a transfer hose for providing flow communication between the transfer manifold and the recirculation loop. The transfer manifold has an inlet port which is located at about the bottom of the barrel, and an outlet port. The recirculation loop which has water flowing therethrough which is used as a diluent, also includes an eductor pump. The eductor pump hydrodynamically drives or draws the liquid in the barrel, through the transfer manifold and the transfer hose, into the recirculation loop. The recirculation loop discharges a blended product to a product tank.

Readily cleaned liquid transfer system

A single motive pump, clean-in-place system is disclosed for use with an associated piping system and with a vessel to be cleaned of contaminating material. The system comprises a recirculation loop, a return line from the vessel to the recirculation loop, and a feed line from the recirculation loop to the vessel. During a wash recirculation cycle, the system uses a single motive pump to provide recirculation flow, feed flow, and, via an eductor pump, return suction from the vessel. An alternate embodiment of the clean-in-place system uses a water storage tank when adequate water flow rate or supply pressure are unavailable.

Single motive pump, clean-in-place system, for use with piping systems

Improvements are disclosed in a rotary, lobar, positive-displacement pump and in a rotary, centrifugal pump, whereby all product-contacting areas of the pumps can be effectively cleaned without disassembly, i.e., cleaned in place. Non-rotating seals seal the impellers and isolate the pump shafts from the product zone. Each seal has an elastomeric member molded integrally thereto. The seal is biased by the elastomeric member so as to be slidably pressed against an impeller. In the lobar pump, certain passageways can be selectively closed and opened, so as to adapt the pump for being used to pump a pumpable material when closed and for being cleaned by a cleaning solution flowing therethrough when opened. Valves may be alternatively provided for analogous purposes.

Rotary apparatus having passageways to clean seal chambers

In a flow controller, a housing structure connectable in a process line is adapted to receive a process fluid from an upstream pump and to discharge the process fluid to a downstream device. A flow restrictor mounted in the housing structure is movable between an operative position wherein the flow restrictor coacts with the housing structure to define a restricted orifice and an inoperative position. A piston movable within a hydraulic cylinder is connected, via a shaft, to the flow restrictor. A valve controlled by a timer admits a hydraulic fluid, preferably water, into the hydraulic cylinder to move the piston, so as to move the flow restrictor to the operative position and hold it, and permits the hydraulic fluid to drain after a timed interval sufficient to permit the process fluid to fill the process line between the flow controller and the downstream device.

Flow controller

A pulsation dampener useful to dampen pressure pulsations in milk flowing between a reciprocating-piston pump and a homogenizer. A rigid tube having a perforated portion is surrounded by an elastomeric sleeve. A rigid sleeve surrounds the elastomeric sleeve. Mounting ferrules are welded to opposite ends of the rigid sleeve. Annular beads at opposite ends of the elastomeric sleeve fit into annular grooves in the mounting ferrules. When matching ferrules are clamped tightly to the mounting ferrules, parts of the elastomeric sleeve are displaced, so as to form seals around the rigid tube. The rigid tube, the mounting ferrules and the elastomeric sleeve respectively are configured so as to permit the rigid tube to be axially withdrawn from or inserted into the elastomeric sleeve, without substantial interference, when the matching ferrules are removed.

Pulsation dampener

A clean in place diaphragm valve is disclosed including a valve body portion having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with a valve chamber, the valve body portion including a dished interior, valve chamber surface in which the fluid outlet is disposed; an annular wall member surrounding the fluid inlet within the valve chamber, having a first diaphragm seating surface adapted to maintain the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet in fluid separation when a diaphragm is sealed against the first diaphragm seating surface to close the valve; a second diaphragm seating surface on the valve body portion surrounding the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; a flexible diaphragm disposed over the valve chamber to define the valve chamber between an inner surface of the diaphragm and an interior surface of the valve body portion; a bonnet disposed to compress the diaphragm against the second diaphragm seating surface; a clamp for maintaining the diaphragm in sealing engagement against the second diaphragm seating surface; and a valve stem for forcing a portion of the diaphragm into sealing engagement against the first diaphragm seating surface to achieve a valve closed position.

Clean in place diaphragm valve

A simple but effective valve assembly is disclosed wherein a valve stem retaining spring clip is mounted within a valve stem removal aperture in the valve handle to prevent inadvertent disassembly of the valve handle from the valve stem. The valve assembly of the present invention includes a valve body having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit; a valve plug longitudinally movable within the valve body and disposed, in a valve closed position, against a valve seat to prevent fluid from entering said valve body; a valve stem disposed longitudinally through the valve body connecting the valve plug to a valve handle assembly; a valve body neck portion for securing the valve handle assembly to the valve body and a valve handle assembly including a valve stem retaining notch and an adjoining valve stem receiving aperture larger than the diameter of a handle connecting portion of the valve stem. The valve handle assembly includes a retention spring disposed within the valve stem receiving aperture so that the handle connecting valve stem portion cannot fit through the aperture freely until sufficient force is applied to the retention spring to force the retention spring radially outwardly from the valve stem receiving aperture.

Growing community of inventors

Silver Lake, WI, United States of America

Elmer S Welch