IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO VALVES

Abstract

A valve having an active 10 and passive 12 valve portion that are complementarily shaped such that the passive 12 valve portion can be received by and mated with the active 12 valve portion. Each valve portion has a generally cylindrical valve body 14, 16 complementarily shaped with respect to one another such that the passive 12 valve portion may be received by the active 10 valve portion. Each valve portion has a valve closure member 18, 20 in the form of a circular planar disc rotatably mounted in the housing via means of one or more spindles, 22, 24 and 22′, 24′. The valve portions have a number of configurations whereby they can be partially engaged such that the valve portions may be separated to form a channel or chamber between valve closure members or fully engaged such that chamber or channel is closed such that the valve closure members are proximally disposed to one another and the valve may be opened or closed to permit the passage of material therethrough.

Claims

1. A split valve assembly, comprising a first valve portion and second valve portion, having displacement means for displacing the valve portions when they are engaged between discrete configurations comprising a first configuration wherein the valve portions are secured to one another such that they do not separate and the valve is open such that material may pass therethrough, and a second configuration wherein the valve portions are secured to one another but displaced from the first configuration to form a space therebetween and the valve is closed, wherein the displacement means comprises a mating pair, each valve portion comprising one member of the pair, and wherein the mating pair permits movement of the valve portions between the first and second configuration whilst the first and second valve portions are secured to one another.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second valve portion each comprise at least one cam or at least one cam follower.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one cam follower is disposed on a first valve portion, the at least one cam is disposed on a second valve portion, the at least one cam comprises a cylindrical cam with a cam profile comprising a plurality of profiled grooves or slots.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cam profile further comprises: at least two sections, wherein a first section of the cam profile comprises an inclined ramp extending towards an apex; and, a second section comprises a declined ramp, extending away from the apex.

8. (canceled)

9. An assembly as claimed in in claim 7, wherein: the cam follower is displaced in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the cam as it moves along the profile, the cam follower is received by an alignment member to ensure that cam follower is in correct alignment prior to rotation of the cam and the displacement of the valve portions between configurations, and the groove or slot is open at one end, proximal the first section to permit the cam follower to be received.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a valve portion and an actuator to rotate the valve portion, wherein the cam is rotatably mounted on the valve portion such that it can rotate but remain connected to the main body of the valve portion.

14. (canceled)

15. An assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the valve portion further comprises one or more guides that are complementarily shaped to the cam follower and receive the cam follower when the valve portions are mated, and the one or more guides prevents the cam follower from moving along the groove or slot unless the valve portion is rotated.

16. (canceled)

17. A split butterfly valve comprising a first and a second valve portion, said first and second valve portions capable of being mated to permit the passage of material therethrough wherein one valve portion has an axially disposed cam, the other having a cam follower for engagement with and co-operation with the axial cam such that rotational movement of the axial cam or the cam follower causes displacement of the other valve portion.

18. A valve as claimed in claim 17, wherein the axial cam is formed via two discrete components secured together, the two discrete components comprising a first and second component when secured together provide a slot dimensioned to receive the cam follower and guide the cam follower on a path that will rise to displacement of the cam follower and the valve portion wo which it is attached.

19. (canceled)

20. A valve as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first valve portion comprises one or more cams.

21. (canceled)

22. A valve as claimed in claim 20 wherein the second valve portion comprises a correspondingly number of cam followers.

23. A valve as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cams are disposed about the circumference first valve portion and the cam followers on the second valve portion are correspondingly disposed.

24. A valve as claimed in claim 17 where in two valve portions are complementarily shaped such that the first can sealingly engage with and co-operate with the second to allow the movement of material therethrough, each valve portion comprising a housing, a valve seat and a valve closure member moveable between a first position in which the valve closure member is displaced from the valve seat and the valve is open, and a second position in which the valve closure member co-operates with the valve seat and the valve is closed, wherein the assembly has a first configuration in which the first and second valve portions engage with one another, the valve closure members being closed, and the valve closure members being disposed a distance apart defining, with the housing, a chamber therebetween, which is capable of being sealed from the surrounding environment, and a second configuration in which the valve closure members engage with one another and are movable from their first to their second position, and a third configuration in which the two valve portions are disengaged from one another wherein one or more of the valve portions comprises means for selectively displacing one of the valve portions towards or away from the other whilst in an engaged configuration.

25. A valve as claimed in claim 24 wherein: the means for displacing the valve portions comprises the cooperation between one or more cams disposed on one valve portion and one or more cam followers disposed on the other valve portion, and the means for selectively displacing the one or more valve portions comprises an upper and lower profiled surface between which one or more location pins are located, the one or more locations pins extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the valve portion and movement of material through.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A valve as claimed in claim 24 wherein the lower profiled surface comprises a first and second section that meet at an apex above which is a complimentarily shaped upper surface to accommodate a cam follower, and the valve portion with which it is associated, is displaced away from the other valve portion whilst in an engaged configuration, and the split valve assembly further comprises an inlet and an inlet through which a sterilizing medium may pass.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. A valve as claimed in claim 28 having a third configuration, the two valve portions are undocked, in the first configuration the two valve portions are engaged and the valve closure members separated and in the second configuration the two valve portions are completely docked such that the valve closure members may open or close to selectively open or close the valve.

32. (canceled)

33. A valve as claimed in claim 24, the valve further comprising a locking ring, the locking ring comprising a first and second valve portion having discrete configurations in which the position of each valve portion relative to one another may change, wherein the locking ring comprises a slot for receiving the locating pin of one valve portion communicating with a profiled guide slot in which the locating pin is received for displacing the locating pin and thus the associated valve portion between discrete configurations with respect to the other valve portion.

34. A method of moving a material from one vessel to another without exposing the material to the surrounding environment comprising the use of a valve assembly as described hereinabove, the method comprising the steps of: a) Engaging or securing the valve portions such that the assembly conforms to its first configuration; b) optionally cleaning the chamber; c) sterilizing the chamber; d) displacing the valve portions such that the assembly conforms to its second configuration; and e) opening the valve to allow the movement of material therethrough. f) displacing the valve portions such that the assembly conforms to its first configuration; g) optionally cleaning the chamber; h) optionally sterilizing chamber; and i) disengaging the valve portions.

35. (canceled)

36. A valve as claimed in claim 24 each of the first and second valve portions having a housing having a valve closure member and a valve seat, wherein the valve seat is retained between the housing and a releasably securable valve seat retaining member.

37. A valve as claimed in claim 36 wherein the valve seat retaining member comprises a cover plate releasably secured to the housing and between which is located the valve seat in use, wherein the cover plate comprises a planar circular body having a centrally disposed aperture sized to correspond to the diameter of the valve closure member such that the valve closure member may rotate to open the valve portion and be accommodated within the aperture of the cover plate.

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

Description

[0099] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, in which:

[0100] FIG. 1 shows an active valve portion in accordance with the present invention;

[0101] FIG. 2 shows a passive valve portion in accordance with the present invention;

[0102] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the active valve portion in accordance with the present invention;

[0103] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a displacement means or cam in accordance with the present invention;

[0104] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a valve portion in accordance with the present invention;

[0105] FIG. 6 shows the exploded view of FIG. 5 from below;

[0106] FIG. 7 shows an active valve portion in accordance with the present invention

[0107] There is shown a split butterfly valve having an active 10 (see FIG. 1) and passive 12 (see FIG. 2) valve portion that are complementarily shaped such that the passive 12 valve portion can be received by and mated with the active 12 valve portion. Each valve portion has a generally cylindrical valve body 14, 16 complementarily shaped with respect to one another such that the passive 12 valve portion may be received by the active 10 valve portion. Each valve portion has a valve closure member 18, 20 in the form of a circular planar disc rotatably mounted in the housing via means of one or more spindles, 22, 24 and 22′, 24′. The valve portions have a number of configurations whereby they can be partially engaged such that the valve portions may be separated to form a channel or chamber between valve closure members or fully engaged such that chamber or channel is closed such that the valve closure members are proximally disposed to one another and the valve may be opened or closed to permit the passage of material therethrough.

[0108] The active valve portion 10 has an actuator 30, operatively connected to a lever 32 and the valve closure members 18 and 20, that is capable of causing the valve closure members to rotate about their spindles to selectively open or close the valve when the valve portions are mated.

[0109] FIG. 1 shows an active valve portion 10 in accordance with the present invention having a generally cylindrical body open at one end 40 and selectively closable at the other end 42.

[0110] Rotatably mounted at the open end 40 is a circular locking ring 44 having two radially extending handles 46, 48 disposed diametrically opposite one another. The handles permit a user to manually rotate the locking ring. Alternatively, the locking ring could be driven by a motor (not shown).

[0111] There are four guide slots 50, 52, 54, 56 disposed around the internal circumference of the locking ring having a semi-circular side wall with a chamfered open end 58, each shaped to receive a complementarily shaped pin 60 extending radially from the valve portion body 16 and having a rounded free end 62.

[0112] FIG. 2 shows the passive valve portion 12 having a generally cylindrical valve body being selectively closable at one end 70 by valve closure member 20 and open at the other end 72. The open ends of the valve bodies are connectable to other processing equipment such as conduits for delivering or conveying away material to be transferred, for example.

[0113] The guide slots 52, 54, 56, 58 extend longitudinally with respect to the axial axis of the locking ring and each communicate with a profiled slot 82, 84, 86, 88 (FIG. 3) which extend around the internal circumference of the locking ring and which form part of a cam mechanism disposed within the locking ring 44. The cam mechanism comprises the co-operation between the pins 60, 62, 64, 66 (not shown) which form the cam follower and the cylindrical cam provided by the four profiled slots 82, 84, 86 and 88. Rotation of the locking ring around the longitudinal axis of the valve body gives rise to linear displacement of the cam follower and thus the passive valve portion to which it is connected in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the locking ring in which the cam is disposed. This mechanism provides for the displacement of the valve portions between their partially and fully engaged configurations.

[0114] The locking ring 110 is formed by an upper 112 and lower ring 114 member secured to one another. The locking ring has four profiled slots 82, 84, 86, 88 each associated with and communicating with a guide slot 52, 54, 56, 58 respectively. The guide slots are profiled and shaped to receive the pins, the chamfered opening facilitating easy location of the pins and thus the passive valve portion.

[0115] FIG. 4 shows the lower ring member 114 of the locking ring. Each guide slot has a lower and upper surface. The lower surface is profiled and has three sections: a first flat section 142 parallel to the plane of the base 140 of the locking ring; a ramp section 144; and a third declined section 146. The upper surface of the guide slot also has a complimentarily shaped profile to that of the lower surface such that between them they are dimensioned to accommodate and guide a locating pin which functions as the cam follower. The upper ring member has a cut out 148 that is in alignment with the apex of the ramp section and declined section of the lower ring member of the guide slot. When a locating pin is received by the guide slot it is able to follow the profile and be displaced according to the profile of the slot.

[0116] When the valve portions are mated, the locating pins 34-40 are received by the slots 112-118. The locking ring is rotated using the radially extending handles 160′, 160″ anti-clockwise to bring the second portion of the profiled lower surface of the locking ring to overlie the locating pins. The second section of the lower profiled surface of the guide slot urges the valve passive valve portion and thus the valve closure member of the passive away from the valve closure member of the active valve portion to separate them in the partially engaged configuration. A chamber is formed between the valve closure members. Sterilising medium may then pass through the chamber. The locking ring is then further rotated anti-clockwise to engage the third portion of the profiled lower surface of the locking ring guide slot which urges the locating pins and thus the valve closure members towards one another to enable the engaged configuration to be adopted. The valve may then be opened. The operation does not require the operator to force the valve portions apart when partially engaged nor does the mechanism rely on gravity but rather a controlled movement by rotating the locking ring.

[0117] In addition, since the locating and locking mechanism is performed by the co-operation of the locating pins on the passive valve portion and the slots and guide slots of the locking mechanism of the locking ring of the active valve portion, the mechanism is more discrete and there are no holes or recesses exposed once the valve portion are engaged improving the GMP of the valve. Furthermore, the volume of sterilising medium needed in each sterilising or cleaning cycle can be accurately controlled as the volume of the chamber between the valve closure members in the partially engaged configuration can be more easily calculated and relied upon. The guide track ensures that movement between each discrete configuration is accurately controlled.

[0118] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an active valve portion in accordance with the present invention. The active valve portion 200 has a locking ring 202, a generally cylindrical housing 204, an annular valve seat 206 and a valve seat cover 208.

[0119] FIG. 6 shows FIG. 5 from below and a recessed annular support 210 for receiving and engaging with a circumferential lip 212 extending around the valve seat 206.

[0120] Presently, valve seats are elastically deformable so as to enable replacement. However, they require significant deformation to insert and subsequently replace which requires less abrasion resistant materials to be used and furthermore requires significant down time when a valve seat requires replacement whilst an engineer attempts to correctly align and replace.

[0121] The present invention provides an end cover releasably securable to the housing of the active and/or passive valve portion that enables access to the valve seat receiving chamber. As a consequence, the valve seat requires little or no deformation to and therefore insert better suited materials to prolong valve seat life can be used for their manufacture.

[0122] In addition, when replacing worn valve seats, an operator can quickly and more reliably correctly align the valve seat in the apparatus, reducing down-time when the valve in unable to be used.

[0123] FIG. 7 shows an active valve portion 300 in accordance with the present invention. The valve portion has a generally cylindrical housing 302 having a valve closure member 304 in the form of a circular planar disc rotatably mounted in the housing via means of spindles 306 and 308 (not shown).

[0124] An actuator 310 associated with an active valve portion operatively connected to a lever and the valve closure member is capable of causing the valve closure member to rotate about the spindles to selectively open or close the valve when the valve portions are mated.

[0125] The passive and active valve portion of the present invention is much more compact than known passive valve portions and has fewer surfaces to clean, and maintain to GMP standards.

[0126] The active valve portion 300 having a port 402, 404 disposed diametrically opposite one another and extending radially from the housing body 302 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the valve portion member. The ports 402 and 404 communicate with the interior of the valve portion and the chamber is capable of being formed between active and passive in certain configurations via inlet and outlet 408, 410 (not shown).

[0127] The inlet and outlet are cylindrical through going bores in the housing 302 that are radially disposed with respect to the chamber and extend in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the housing body.