阅读说明：本技术 卫生联接系统 (Sanitary coupling system ) 是由 M·布克 A·弗兰科斯 H·S·查哈尔 L·乌里奥尔 于 2021-05-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及卫生联接系统,具体而言涉及一种导管夹紧和密封系统,其包括作为主体的轴承元件,该轴承元件包括：后段,其具有外部后螺纹,该外部后螺纹用于附连到装置或紧固到箱或外壳上；中间段,用于接纳和密封到导管或管上,并引导和/或对准卫生套筒系统；以及前段,用于接纳密封件和前螺母,以密封导管与轴承元件之间的连接,并紧固卫生套筒系统。本发明还涉及一种卫生套筒系统,其包括后垫圈、前垫圈和用于覆盖轴承元件表面的卫生帽,其中后垫圈、卫生帽和前垫圈形成具有无缝过渡部和预定垫圈压缩的套筒单元,且本发明涉及一种包括这种导管夹紧和密封系统和卫生套筒系统的卫生联接系统。(The present invention relates to a sanitary coupling system, in particular to a conduit clamping and sealing system comprising as a main body a bearing element comprising: a rear section having external rear threads for attachment to a device or fastening to a tank or housing; an intermediate section for receiving and sealing onto a conduit or tube and guiding and/or aligning the sanitary sleeve system; and a front section for receiving the seal and the front nut to seal the connection between the conduit and the bearing element and to secure the sanitary sleeve system. The invention also relates to a sanitary sleeve system comprising a rear gasket, a front gasket and a sanitary cap for covering the surface of a bearing element, wherein the rear gasket, the sanitary cap and the front gasket form a sleeve unit with a seamless transition and a predetermined gasket compression, and to a sanitary coupling system comprising such a conduit clamping and sealing system and a sanitary sleeve system.)

1. A conduit clamping and sealing system (100), comprising:

a bearing element (102) comprising

A rear section (104) having external rear threads (402) for attachment to a device or fastening to a tank or housing;

an intermediate segment (106) for receiving the conduit (424) and guiding and/or aligning the sanitary sleeve system; and

a front section (108) for receiving a seal (418) and a front nut (420) to seal the connection between the conduit (424) and the bearing element (102) and to secure a sanitary sleeve system.

2. The conduit clamping and sealing system (100) of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an insert (414) component, said insert (414) component being designed such that it extends along the interior of the conduit (424) and has a U-shaped rear end closing a circumferential corner at the opening of the conduit (424), and wherein the U-shaped rear end of the insert (414) component abuts against a vertical portion (436) of the middle section (106).

3. The conduit clamping and sealing system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system further comprises a seal, wherein the seal (418) has a flat portion protruding into an inner horizontal portion of the middle section (106), wherein horizontal is a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bearing element (102), and a shoulder abutting at an inclined edge at the transition from the horizontal portion to the front section (108).

4. The conduit clamping and sealing system (100) of any one of the preceding claims,

wherein the front section (108) further comprises an internal thread, the front nut (420) comprises a corresponding external thread, and wherein the externally threaded front nut (420) (420) is configured to press the insert (414) component against a vertical portion (436) of the middle section (106) when the seal (418) is screwed into the internal thread of the front section (108), wherein vertical is a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and to press the seal (418) against the beveled edge at the transition from the horizontal portion to the front section (108).

5. The conduit clamping and sealing system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nut (420) further comprises a flat surface nose portion.

6. The conduit clamping and sealing system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface of the horizontal portion of the middle section (106) of the bearing element (102) is flat.

7. A sanitary sleeve system (200) comprising

A rear gasket (202);

a front gasket (204); and

a sanitary cap (206) for covering a surface of the bearing element (102), wherein

The rear gasket (202), the sanitary cap (206) and the front gasket (204) form a sleeve unit with a seamless transition and a predetermined gasket compression.

8. The sanitary sleeve system (200) according to claim 7, wherein the sanitary cap (206) comprises an internal thread in a front portion of the sanitary cap (206) and the front gasket (204) comprises a corresponding external thread.

9. The sanitary sleeve system (200) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the rear gasket (202) and the front gasket (204) comprise involute compression surfaces (702).

10. Sanitary coupling system (300) comprising a conduit clamping and sealing system (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6 and a sanitary sleeve system (200) according to any of claims 7 to 9.

11. Sanitary coupling system (300) according to claim 10, wherein

The middle section (106) of the conduit gripping and sealing system (100) includes a vertical portion (436) configured such that

The rear gasket (202) portion may externally abut at a rear side; and

the conduits may abut internally at the front side.

12. Sanitary coupling system (300) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the front section (108) comprises an external thread and the sanitary cap (206) comprises a corresponding internal thread in a middle portion of the sanitary cap (206).

13. Sanitary coupling system (300) according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the horizontal portion of the middle section (106) comprises a recess (404, 408) for receiving the rear gasket (202) from the outside.

14. Sanitary coupling system (300) according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the bearing element (102) comprises a friction lip (706) and the bearing element (102) comprises a corresponding friction lip (706).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a conduit clamping and sealing system, a sanitary sleeve system and a sanitary coupling system comprising such a sealing and sanitary sleeve system.

Background

Sanitary couplings are designed for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well as for biotechnology. In sanitary applications, there are several very high requirements on such couplings. In particular, the coupling must be reliable, tight, achieve controlled and predetermined compression on the exposed gasket, and must be designed to resist the accumulation of dust, dirt, or other materials. Furthermore, the installation should be easy without much effort. Furthermore, the requirements for the definition of fittings in the guidelines issued by the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) should be met.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore desirable to provide a coupling system that meets the above requirements.

This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims, the following description and the drawings provide embodiments.

The described embodiments similarly relate to conduit clamping and sealing systems, sanitary sleeve systems and sanitary coupling systems. Synergistic effects may arise from different combinations of embodiments, although they may not be described in detail.

Technical terms are used in accordance with their common sense. If a specific meaning is expressed for some of the terms, the definition of the terms will be given in the context of the use of the terms below.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a conduit clamping and sealing system comprising a bearing element as a body, the bearing element comprising: a rear section having external rear threads for attachment to a device or fastening to a tank or housing; an intermediate section for receiving and sealing onto a conduit or tube and guiding and/or aligning the sanitary sleeve system; and a front section for receiving the seal and the front nut to seal the connection between the conduit and the bearing element and to secure the sanitary sleeve system.

Hereinafter, the device, the tank or the housing, or a second conduit or tube which may be attached or fastened to the rear section as such, is simply referred to as "device".

Thus, the bearing element or fitting represents the body of the conduit clamping and sealing system. The bearing element is a one-piece element that can be subdivided into three sections in terms of function and design. The outer sections are referred to as the rear section and the front section, respectively. The rear section comprises a thread, i.e. an external rear thread, where the fitting can be attached to the device or fastened to the tank/casing. It is also possible to attach another conduit to the fitting at the rear section. The diameter of the middle section is larger than the diameter of the rear section so that it can receive a catheter which is slid through the front section to the middle section where it abuts against the wall due to the larger diameter. As explained in more detail below, the conduit is held in place using a nut that clamps the conduit. The diameter of the front section is greater than the diameter of the middle section.

Several additional components, such as nuts, insert elements and seals, may be removably attached to the bearing elements to obtain a flexible and sealed connection between the conduit and the device or the tank/housing. The bearing element is further designed such that it can receive a sanitary cap and a gasket, which are part of the sanitary sleeve system, so that a sealed coupling system with a seamless sanitary sleeve and a predetermined compression of the exposed gasket is obtained. Embodiments of the bearing element, the removable component and further designs with respect to the sleeve are described below.

According to the European Health Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) guidelines, the exposed gasket requires a predetermined compression. The design of the exposed gasket without the predetermined compression does not comply with EHEDG certification guidelines.

According to one embodiment, the conduit clamping and sealing system further comprises an insert member designed such that it extends along the interior of the conduit and has a U-shaped rear end closing a circumferential corner at the opening of the conduit. The U-shaped rear end of the insert member abuts against the upright portion of the intermediate section.

It can be seen that the insert member is U-shaped, the edges of which may be slightly rounded, rather than a rounded "U". When attached to a catheter, the insert member has a short portion that lies against and rides along the outer surface of the catheter, a radial portion that closes the edge of the opening, and a longer portion that is parallel to and slightly distal from the catheter inside the catheter. When the nut is screwed in and presses the seal against the conduit, the nose at the end of the longer portion hinders the conduit from curling and provides a reaction force so that the conduit is clamped. The radial portion further impedes direct metal-to-metal contact between the conduit and the bearing element.

According to the EHEDG guidelines, metal-to-metal contact needs to be avoided, as this may harbor soil and harbor microorganisms. Designs with exposed metal-to-metal contacts do not comply with EHEDG certification guidelines.

According to one embodiment, the conduit clamping and sealing system further comprises a seal, wherein the seal has a flat portion protruding into an inner horizontal portion of the middle section, wherein "horizontal" is a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical portion of the bearing element, and a shoulder abutting at an inclined edge at the transition from the horizontal portion to the front section. In the assembled state, the flat portion thus projects below the middle section in the direction of the rear end and has a first oblique transition to a shoulder portion having a second oblique transition to the outer end (i.e. the end in the direction of the front end). The first transition abuts against an inclined transition from the intermediate section to the front section of the bearing element. The second transition receives a nut having a corresponding transition and pressing the seal against the conduit when screwed in. In the present disclosure, the nut is also referred to as an "externally threaded front nut".

Thus, according to another embodiment, the front section of the conduit clamping and sealing system further comprises an internal thread and the front nut comprises a corresponding external thread. The externally threaded front nut is configured to press the insert member against a vertical portion of the middle section when it is screwed into the internal thread of the front section, where vertical is a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and to press the seal against a beveled edge at the transition from the horizontal portion to the front section. The axis of rotation is the axis of rotation of the bearing element, conduit or nut, which axes of rotation are the same. Thus, horizontal is defined herein as the attitude when the catheter, i.e. the rotational axis of the catheter, has a horizontal attitude.

According to another embodiment, the nut of the conduit clamping and sealing system further comprises a flat-surface nose portion. "flat surface portion" refers to a portion of a nut having a flat surface in a section where a wrench or tool can be placed. This portion is located on the front end side of the nut.

According to another embodiment, the surface of the horizontal part of the middle section of the bearing element has a flat part. A wrench or tool can be placed on this part, similar to a nut.

According to a second aspect, a sanitary sleeve system is provided. The sanitary sleeve system comprises a rear gasket, a front gasket and a sanitary cap for covering the surface of the bearing element. The rear gasket, the sanitary cap and the front gasket form a sleeve unit with a seamless transition and a predetermined compression on the gasket. That is, the sanitary sleeve system basically comprises three components: a gasket on the rear side, i.e. sealing the transition from the device or the tank/housing to the bearing element; a smooth sanitary cap as a central element covering a major part of the bearing element; and a gasket at the front side sealing the transition from the bearing element to the duct. The three sanitary elements seamlessly abut against each other such that the sleeve unit forms a quasi-single surface, wherein the compression of the gasket is predetermined. The conduit clamping and sealing system is covered by these three elements such that when the entire system is assembled, the bearing element and all other components are covered by the sanitary sleeve system except for the rear section of the bearing element.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect, the sanitary cap of the sanitary sleeve system comprises an internal thread in the front part of the sanitary cap and the front gasket comprises a corresponding external thread. That is, the front gasket can be screwed into the sanitary cap. The front gasket comprises a shoulder centred with respect to the horizontal direction of the gasket and the sanitary cap has a corresponding space which, when the gasket is screwed in, acts as a plug which allows a predetermined compression of the front gasket.

According to another embodiment of the second aspect, the rear gasket and the front gasket of the sanitary sleeve system comprise involute compression surfaces. When screwing the device or the tank/housing into the bearing element, the device or the tank/housing is pressed against the vertical portion of the rear gasket, which is then pressed against the vertical portion of the middle section of the bearing element. The vertical part has a recess, seen vertically, into which the guide tube is slid and against which the washer is pressed. Since the friction between stainless steel and elastomer is extremely difficult to predict. To mitigate these friction effects, involute rather than uniform compression would be used.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a coupling system comprising a conduit gripping and sealing system as described above and a sanitary sleeve system. The coupling system is thus a complete system comprising both systems described above.

According to an embodiment of the third aspect, the middle section of the conduit clamping and sealing system of the sanitary coupling system comprises a vertical portion configured such that the rear gasket part can externally abut against the rear side and the conduit can internally abut against the front side. The rear gasket has an involute compression surface that is pressed by the device or case/housing against a vertical recess in the middle portion of the bearing element, thereby hygienically sealing the middle section of the bearing element.

According to another embodiment of the third aspect, the front section of the conduit clamping and sealing system of the sanitary coupling system comprises an external thread and the sanitary cap sleeve system comprises a corresponding internal thread in the middle part of the sanitary cap. In this way, the sanitary cap can be screwed together with the bearing element, so that a tight connection is obtained.

According to another embodiment of the third aspect, the horizontal portion of the middle section comprises a recess for receiving the rear gasket from the outside. That is, the rear gasket is secured to the vertical portion of the intermediate portion of the bearing element by pressure of the conduit against the involute compression surface and by the cooperation of the gasket with the horizontal recess. The washer projects above the horizontal part of the middle section on the front end side so that the sanitary cap can be placed against it seamlessly.

According to another embodiment of the third aspect, the bearing element of the conduit clamping and sealing system of the coupling system comprises a friction lip and the bearing element comprises a corresponding friction lip. The friction lip is a locking mechanism for locking the sanitary sleeve system and the conduit clamping and sealing system together, wherein the friction created by the two flat vertically meeting surfaces hinders the loosening of the two systems.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the drawings and following description.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a conduit clamping and sealing system in top and cross-sectional views,

figure 2 shows a schematic view of a sanitary sleeve system in top view and in cross-section,

figure 3 shows a schematic view of the coupling system in a top view and a cross-sectional view,

figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a conduit clamping and sealing system,

figure 5 shows a schematic 3D view of a detailed cross-sectional view of a catheter clamping and sealing system,

figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a conduit clamping and sealing system in an assembled state,

figure 7 shows a schematic view of a detailed cross-sectional view of a sanitary sleeve system,

figure 8 shows a schematic 3D diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a sanitary sleeve system,

fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a detailed cross-sectional view of the sanitary sleeve system and the conduit clamping and sealing system in an assembled state.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conduit clamping and sealing system 100 in a top view 120 and a cross-sectional view 130, the conduit clamping and sealing system 100 having a bearing element 102, the bearing element 102 comprising: a rear section 104 having external rear threads for receiving a device or case/housing; an intermediate section 106 for receiving a catheter; a forward section 108 for receiving a seal and a forward nut to seal the connection between the conduit and the bearing element 102.

Fig. 2 shows in a top view 220 and a cross-sectional view 230 a sanitary sleeve system comprising a rear washer 202, a front washer 204, a sanitary cap 206 for covering a surface of the bearing element 102, wherein the rear washer, the sanitary cap and the front washer form a sleeve unit with a seamless transition.

Fig. 3 shows in top view 320 and cross-sectional view 330 a sanitary coupling system 300 comprising a conduit gripping and sealing system 100 and a sanitary sleeve system 200. The figure shows an assembled system. Top view 320 shows the visible components of the system, which are essentially part of components 202, 204, 206 and bearing element 102 of sanitary sleeve system 200, and the protruding conduit, which is not part of system 300.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a conduit clamping and sealing system. The rear section 104 has external threads 402 for connecting a rear conduit (not shown in FIG. 4). Note that the subdivision of the bearing element into a rear section, a middle section and a front section is provided here only for reasons of clearer description, and there is no strict definition of these sections. The rear end side is the left side in fig. 4 to 9, and the front end side is the right side in fig. 4 to 9. Thus, "vertical" is defined as the radial direction, and "horizontal" is defined as the direction parallel to the axis of rotation 432. The middle section 106 includes a vertical portion forming a first notch and a horizontal portion forming another notch 408. The purpose of the recess is to support the seal by the gasket and to secure the gasket. The diameter of the middle section is larger than the diameter of the rear section such that a vertical wall 436 is formed at the transition between these sections 104, 106. When the conduit is inserted from the right in fig. 4, the conduit 424 with the insert 414 abuts the vertical wall 436. The front section 108 comprises an external thread 412 and an internal thread 434 for connecting a sanitary cap. The nut 420 has external threads 422 corresponding to the internal threads 434 for attaching the nut 420 to the bearing element 102 and the stationary seal 418. The nut 420 has a flat surface portion 438, the shape of which is more clearly visible in fig. 5. The seal 418 has a flat portion that moves below the horizontal wall of the middle section 106, an angled transition to a shoulder portion. The angled transition fits into the interior of bearing element 102 from the middle section to the front section and the angled section on the right side so that nut 420, when threaded together, presses the seal against conduit 424. The insert 414 extends along the interior of the conduit 424 and has a U-shaped rear end that closes off the circumferential corners at the opening of the conduit 424. The U-shaped rear end of the insert member 414 abuts the upright portion 436 of the intermediate segment. The insert 414 also includes a nose 416 at the end of the longer portion, the nose 416 resisting crimping of the conduit 424 as the nut 420 is threaded and presses the seal against the conduit 424. In addition, the nose 416 provides a reaction force such that the conduit 424 is clamped.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic 3D diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a conduit clamping and sealing system with its main components bearing element 102, insert 414, seal 418 and nut 420. As explained above, the nut 420 and bearing element include portions having flat surfaces 438 and 502, respectively, to receive a tool for holding the connection device or case/housing and nut 420 to connect the conduit to the bearing element 102.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of the conduit clamping and sealing system in an assembled state. The reference numerals correspond to those in fig. 4 and 5, respectively.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a detailed cross-sectional view of the sanitary sleeve system 200. The components of the sanitary sleeve system 200 are a rear gasket 202, a sanitary cap 204, and a front gasket 206. The rear gasket 202 includes an involute compression surface 702, which involute compression surface 702 presses against the vertical wall 436 as the device or case/housing is screwed in. The upper part is designed such that it fits onto the bearing element 102. The sanitary cap 204 comprises a recess or friction lip 706 corresponding to the friction lip 704 of the sanitary cap. Further, the sanitary cap 204 comprises a first internal thread 708 corresponding to the external thread 412 of the bearing element. The second internal threads 710 correspond to the external threads 712 of the front washer 206. Thus, the front gasket 206 includes a threaded portion so that it can be screwed into a corresponding thread 710 of the sanitary cap 204.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic 3D diagram of a detailed cross-sectional view of a sanitary sleeve system 200 with a rear gasket 202, a sanitary cap 204 and a front gasket 206.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a detailed cross-sectional view of a sanitary sleeve system and a conduit clamping and sealing system in an assembled state, which constitute a sanitary coupling system 300. The visible surface is represented by reference numeral 902.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.