FOLDED SEALING RING AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING COMPONENTS OF A FOLDED SEALING RING

Abstract

A flanged sealing ring which is used to seal a pipe connection is produced from a material having a metal fraction distributed substantially homogeneously in the flanged sealing ring. The flanged sealing ring can be used in a device for detecting components of a flanged sealing ring in a pipeline system that includes a plurality of pipes, at least two of which are held against each other at a flange in such a way that sealing is effected by a flanged sealing ring. Using a metal detector and a gate for removing a metal-containing substance from the pipeline, which gate is arranged behind the metal detector in the conveying direction, the flanged sealing ring can then be detected, and therefore, when components of the flanged sealing ring detach, detection can be performed at the metal detector and discharging can be performed at the gate.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A flanged sealing ring for sealing a pipe connection, the flanged sealing ring comprising: a metallic fraction substantially homogeneously in the flanged sealing ring.

15. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the metallic fraction is between 0.5% by weight and 10% by weight.

16. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein metallic particles of the metallic fraction have a maximum size of less than 100μ.

17. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring has an organic material fraction with polydimethylsiloxane.

18. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring consists of a material approved for a food sector according to EC Regulations No. 1935/2004 and/or FDA 21 CFR Ch. I, §177.2600.

19. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring is made from an extruded continuous strand, which is fixed at a seam location by vulcanization.

20. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the metallic fraction is iron oxide particles.

21. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring has a Shore hardness of 50 to 65 KME according to DIN 53505-A at 23° C. and d=6 mm.

22. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring has a tear strength according to DIN 53504-S1 of 7 to 11 N/mm.sup.2 at 23° C. and d=2 mm.

23. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring has an elongation at tear according to DIN 53504-S1 of 300% at 23° C. and d=2 mm.

24. The flanged sealing ring of claim 14, wherein the flanged sealing ring has a rebound resilience according to DIN 53512 of between 40% to 60% at 23° C. and d=12 mm.

25. A pipeline system, comprising: several pipes forming a pipeline for conveying a flow of material, wherein at least two pipes are held in a sealed manner on each other at a flange via a flanged sealing ring; a metal detector arranged at the pipeline; and a gate arranged behind the metal detector in a conveying direction, wherein the gate is arranged to remove a metal-containing substance from the pipeline, wherein the flanged sealing ring is made from a material with a metallic fraction, so that during detachment of components of the flanged sealing ring the metal detector can detect the detached components, which are discharged at the gate.

26. The pipeline system of claim 25, wherein the flanged sealing ring comprises a web arranged between the flanges of the at least two pipes, and the flanges are held in a clamped manner by a clamping ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0013] The invention will be explained below in closer detail by reference to an embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a device for detecting components of a flanged sealing ring;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a connection of two adjoining pipes of the device of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a view of a flanged sealing ring for the pipe connection of FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a view during mounting of the flanged sealing ring, and

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a view in the final mounting of the flanged sealing ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] A schematically shown device 1 for detecting components of a flanged sealing ring in the pipeline system can be used for example in a production plant for foodstuff, a chemical or pharmaceutical installation, or a system in another area. The device 1 comprises a plurality of pipes 2, which are connected to each other in a sealing manner at connecting points 3 and form a pipeline system. Pipes 2 need not be cylindrical bodies but can also be pipe bends, pipe branches or other tubular bodies, which are designated as “pipes” in the present application.

[0020] A metal detector 4 is provided at at least one point of the pipeline system, which metal detector comprises a pipe 5 made from a non-metallic material, which is surrounded by a detector housing 6. The detector housing 6 can be mounted on a frame 7. A metallic component flowing through the pipe 5 made from a non-metallic material can be detected by the metal detector 4 and can be transmitted to a controller.

[0021] The controller is connected to a gate 8, which is arranged in the direction of flow of the product stream behind the metal detector 4. The gate 8 comprises a pivotable flap 9 to conduct the flow of material from the metal detector 4 in normal operation to an adjoining pipe 2. If a metallic component is detected on the metal detector 4, the pivotable flap 9 is switched over via the controller so that the product flow is guided into a branch 10 and can be collected there. This prevents a contaminated section of the flow of the material from reaching the normal production process to the pipe 2.

[0022] The metal detector 4 can detect all metallic particles, which can be contained in powder form, in liquid form or as metallic particles in other materials.

[0023] In the pipeline system, at least two adjoining pipes 2 are connected via a flanged sealing ring 13, as shown in FIG. 2. Each pipe 2 comprises a radially protruding annular folded edge or flange 12, to which the flanged sealing ring 13 is fixed. The flanged sealing ring 13 engages with a web between the two flanges 12 of the pipes, wherein the flanges 12 are compressed via an exterior clamping ring 14, as described in European patent document EP 1 245 890.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the flanged sealing ring in detail. The web 15, which engages between the flanges 12 or the folded edges, can be formed in a smooth or profiled manner. The flanged sealing ring 13 is formed in a U-shaped manner in the cross-section and comprises an outer retainer 16 in addition to the web 15, wherein a gap 17 is formed between the web 15 and the retainer 16.

[0025] To mount the flanged sealing ring 13, the flange 12 can thus be inserted into the gap 17 of the flanged sealing ring 13, as shown in FIG. 4. The pre-fixed flanged sealing ring 13 can then be used as a contact surface for a flange 12 of a further pipe 2 to subsequently fix the clamping ring 14.

[0026] The material of the flanged sealing ring 13 has a metallic fraction, which can be detected in the metal detector 4. The metallic fraction is homogeneously distributed in the material of the flanged sealing ring, so that a detection is possible on the metal detector 4 irrespective of the component that is released from the flanged sealing ring 13 or is crushed in the production process. The fraction of metallic material can be between 0.5% by weight and 10% by weight, especially 1% by weight to 3% by weight. The metallic particles preferably have a size of less than 40 μm, especially less than 30 μm, and are substantially homogeneously distributed in the flanged sealing ring 13.

[0027] In order to ensure that the flanged sealing ring, despite the addition of a metallic fraction, has adequate sealing properties, the Shore hardness A can be in the range of between 50 to 65 KME, especially 54 to 58 KME, according to DIN 53505-A at 23° C. and D=6 mm.

[0028] The flanged sealing ring is preferably produced based on a polydimethylsiloxane and provided with further fillers, dyeing agents and other components in addition to the metallic fraction.

[0029] The flanged sealing ring is preferably dyed with a color to enable better visual recognition in the production process. For example, the flanged sealing ring 13 can be dyed in blue, which is a coloring that occurs rarely especially in the production of foodstuffs. Dyeing with other colors can also be made.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described above by means of embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, it is understood that various changes and developments can be implemented without leaving the scope of the present invention, as it is defined in the enclosed claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 1 Device

[0032] 2 Pipe

[0033] 3 Connecting point

[0034] 4 Metal detector

[0035] 5 Pipe

[0036] 6 Detector housing

[0037] 7 Frame

[0038] 8 Gate

[0039] 9 Flap

[0040] 10 Branch

[0041] 12 Flange

[0042] 13 Flanged sealing ring

[0043] 14 Clamping ring

[0044] 15 Web

[0045] 16 Retainer

[0046] 17 Gap