Abstract
A device for controlling the flow direction of fluids, in particular flowable foods, includes a housing with at least three connections, wherein the connections are inlets and/or outlets for the fluids, wherein the first connection is arranged on a first axis, wherein the second connection is arranged on a second axis, and wherein the third connection is arranged on a third axis which runs at an angle to the first axis and the second axis. In order that the flow direction of the fluid inflowing into the device is changed, while avoiding certain disadvantages, a guide element is provided for dividing the flow inflowing into the housing into at least two partial flows. Also shown and described are the use of such a device for filling food and a system for filling food with such a device.
Claims
1. A device for controlling the flow direction of fluids, comprising: a housing having at least three connections, and a guide element for dividing the low inflowing into the housing into at least two partial flows, wherein the connections are inlets and/or outlets for the fluids, wherein the first connection is arranged on a first axis, wherein the second connection is arranged on a second axis, and wherein the third connection is arranged on a third axis, which runs at an angle to the first axis and the second axis, wherein the guide element is connected via at least one bridge to the housing and the bridge has a length of at least 3 mm so that a corresponding minimum distance between the guide element and the housing is maintained.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing and the guide element are designed such that a first partial flow is guided in the direction of one connection and that a second partial flow is guided in the direction of another connection than the first partial flow.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis run parallel, in particular collinear, to one another.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein underside of the housing opposite the third connection is designed to be straight between the first connection and the second connection.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the third axis is inclined at an angle of at least 45 with respect to the first axis and/or with respect to the second axis.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the third axis and the first axis and/or the second axis is between 80 and 100.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is formed integrally with the housing.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is designed as an insert which is connected to the housing.
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element divides the two partial flows in a ratio of at least 3:1.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing and/or the guide element are made of stainless steel.
13. The device according to claim 1 for filling food products.
14. A system for filling food products, comprising: at least one device for controlling the flow direction of fluids, comprising: a housing having at least three connections, and a guide element for dividing the flow inflowing into the housing into at least two partial flows, wherein the connections are inlets and/or outlets for the fluids, wherein the first connection is arranged on a first axis, wherein the second connection is arranged on a second axis, and wherein the third connection is arranged on a third axis, which runs at an angle to the first axis and the second axis, wherein the guide element is connected via at least one bridge to the housing and the bridge has a length of at least 3 mm so that a corresponding minimum distance between the guide element and the housing is maintained, at least one container for food products to be filled, wherein the container is connectable with the first connection of the device, at least one product tank connected to the third connection of the device, at least one valve arranged between the third connection of the device and the product tank, and a plurality of outlets connected to the product tank for filling packages with the food products.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the third connection of the device is located above the first connection and the second connection.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bridge has a length of at least 5 mm.
17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is connected via two bridges.
18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the third axis is inclined at an angle of at least 60 with respect to the first axis and/or with respect to the second axis.
19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element divides the two partial flows in a ratio of at least 4:1.
Description
[0030] The invention will subsequently be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment. The drawing shows:
[0031] FIG. 1: a device known from the prior art for controlling the flow direction of fluids in a side view,
[0032] FIG. 2: a device according to the invention for controlling the flow direction of fluids in a side view,
[0033] FIG. 3: the device from FIG. 2 in a longitudinal cross section,
[0034] FIG. 4: the device from FIG. 2 in cross section along the section plane IV-IV, and
[0035] FIG. 5: a system according to the invention for filling foods with a device from FIG. 2.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 known from the prior art for controlling the flow direction of fluids in a side view. The device 1 comprises a housing 2 with three connections 3A, 3B, 3C. The first connection 3A is arranged on a first axis A and the second connection 3B is arranged on a second axis B, wherein the axes A and B are mutually collinear. However, the first axis A and the second axis B extend partially outside the housing 2. The third connection 3C is arranged on a third axis C. The angle between the third axis C and the first axis A, as well as the angle between the first axis C and the second axis B is approximately 90. Due to this design, such a device is sometimes referred to as a T-piece.
[0037] For example, the device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used to direct fluids from a source (to be connected to the connection 3A) to two different destinations (to be connected to the connections 3B, 3C). For this purpose, the housing 2 has curved regions 4A, 4B, which change the flow direction of the fluid inflowing through the connection 3A in the direction of the second connection 3C. The change in flow direction is required to direct the inflowing fluid vertically upward against gravity. The fluid may be foods to be filled or, in the cleaning mode, a cleaning agent. However, the curved regions 4A, 4B conduct only a part of the fluid toward the connection 3C, while another part of the fluid is directed towards the connection 3B. The flow direction of the fluid is shown schematically by arrows. A disadvantage of this design is the fact that the two curved regions 4A, 4B constitute an obstacle, which results in that in the lower region of the housing 2 (in particular in the region in which run the first axis A and the second axis B outside of the housing 2) no straight connection between the two connections 3A and 3B exists. As a result, the device 1 cannot be used in a self-draining system in most of the positions, since the cleaning agent cannot drain off completely from the connection 3B to the connection 3A. Another disadvantage occurs when one of the connections is closed (e.g. when the device is used as an end piece). In the region of the closed connection (for example connection 3B), almost no flow then occurs, so that deposits of lumpy constituents of the fluid form in this area.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a device 1 according to the invention for controlling the flow direction of fluids. For those areas of the device 1 which have already been described in connection with FIG. 1, corresponding reference numerals are used in FIG. 2. The device 1 also comprises a housing 2 with three connections 3A, 3B, 3C. The first connection 3A is arranged on a first axis A and the second connection 3B is arranged on a second axis B, wherein the axes A and B are mutually collinear. The third connection 3C is arranged on a third axis C. The angle between the third axis C and the first axis A has the same degree as the angle between the first axis C and the second axis B of approximately 90.
[0039] In contrast to the device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the device 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a guide element 5. The guide element 5 serves to divide the flow inflowing into the housing 2 into two partial flows and at the same time to ensure a straight join between the two opposite connections. For this purpose, the guide element 5 has two curved surfaces 4A, 4B and a straight surface 4C. For example, a flow S inflowing through the first connection 3A can be divided by the guide element 5 into a first partial flow S1 and into a second partial flow S2, which are illustrated schematically by arrows in FIG. 2. The guide element 5 changes the flow direction of the first partial flow S1 in the direction of the third connection 3C, while the flow direction of the second partial flow S2 is not changed and continues to point in the direction of the second connection 3B. An advantage of dividing the flow S into two partial flows S1, S2 is that the fluid remains in motion in the area of a closed connection (e.g. connection 3B) due to the partial flow S2, so that deposits from particulate matter of the fluid are not a concern. The partial flow S2 thus also serves, inter alia, to continuously purge the area in front of a closed connection. The housing 2 and the guide element 5 are thus designed such that the first partial flow S1 is conducted in the direction of the connection 3C and that the second partial flow S2 is conducted in the direction of another connection than the first partial flow S1, namely in the direction of the connection 3B. A further advantage is that the area provided for the second partial flow S2 ensures that in the lower area of the housing 2 there is a straight join between the two connections 3A, 3B, which ensures that the device 1 does not constitute an obstacle and can be used in a self-draining system. This is advantageous, for example, after cleaning in order to allow run-off detergent to run through the device 1.
[0040] In the device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the guide element 5 is connected via two bridges 6 to the housing 2 (the rear of the two bridges is hidden in FIG. 2 by the guide element 5). The bridges 6 have for example a length in the range between 3 mm and 5 mm, so that a corresponding distance 7 between the guide element 5 and the housing 2 is maintained. On the one hand, the size of the gap 7 determines the size of the partial flow S2 and, on the other hand, has an influence on the maximum size of the particles which can pass through the guide element 5 with the partial flow S2. In the device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the ratio of the partial flow S1 to the partial flow S2 is approximately 4:1. Both the housing 2 and the guide element 5 are preferably made of stainless steel. The connections 3A, 3B, 3C of the housing 2 have, for example, a nominal diameter in the range between DN 25 (for pipe threads 1 inch) and DN 125 (for pipe threads 5 inches). The guide element 5 has a height Hi in the vertical direction and the housing 2 has an inner diameter Di (in particular in the region of the connections 3A, 3B, 3C). The height Hi of the guide element 5 is greater than the inner diameter Di of the housing 2, wherein a reliable change of the flow direction in the direction of the third outlet 3C is achieved, in particular for products with low viscosity or with a low proportion of particulates.
[0041] FIG. 3 shows the device 1 of FIG. 2 in a longitudinal cross section. Here, too, corresponding reference numerals are used for those areas of the device 1 which have already been described in connection with FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. In a longitudinal cross section, the guide element 5 and the regions inside the hollow housing 2 provided for the partial flows S1, S2 are particularly clearly visible.
[0042] In FIG. 4, the device of FIG. 2 is shown in cross section along the section plane IV-IV. Here, too, corresponding reference numerals are used for those areas of the device 1 which have already been described in connection with FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. In cross section, the position of the two bridges 6 of the guide element 5 is particularly clearly visible. Under the two bridges 6i.e. within the two bridges 6a channel is formed for the partial flow S2 and over the two bridges 6i.e. outside of the two bridges 6a channel is formed for the partial flow S1.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a system 8 according to the invention for filling foods with two devices 1 from FIG. 2. The system 8 initially comprises two of the previously described devices 1, which are designed identically. In addition, the system 8 comprises a container 9 for food to be filled, which is connected to the first connection 3A of the first device 1 (shown in FIG. 5 left). Furthermore, the system 8 comprises two product tanks 10, which are each connected to the third connection 3C of the two devices 1. In this way, the food from the two devices 1 can enter the product tanks 10. The system 8 also has two valves 11, which are also called product inlet valves and are each arranged between the connection 3C of the device 1 and the product tank 10 assigned thereto. The valves 11 are controlled by drives 12, which are connected to valve housings 13 of the valves 11. Finally, the system 8 comprises outlets 14A, 14B connected to the product tank 10 for filling the food in packaging 15.
[0044] The operation of the system 8 shown in FIG. 5 is described below: The foods to be filled are provided in the container 9. From the container 9, the foods are introduced into the first device 1 (shown on the left in FIG. 5). There, the flow is divided in the manner already described above into two partial flows S1, S2, of which the first partial flow S1 is directed vertically upward in the direction of the connection 3C and of which the second partial flow S2 is redirected approximately horizontal to the second device 1 (shown in FIG. 5 right). In the second device 1, the flow is also divided in the manner already described above into two partial flows S3, S4, of which the first partial flow S3 is directed vertically upward in the direction of the connection 3C. However, the second partial flow S4 is not redirected to a further device 1; instead, it flows to the outlet 3C of the second device 1, which is shut off by a closure 16. Instead of the closure 16, a return could also be provided to form a circuit (not shown in FIG. 5). The food leaves the two devices 1 vertically through the upper outlets 3C and flows through the valves 11 arranged there (as well as through the valve housings 13) into the product tanks 10. The product tanks 10 serve as reservoirs from which the food is filled into packaging 15 through outlets 14A, 14B connected to the product tanks 10.
[0045] In the first device 1 (shown in FIG. 5 left), the division of the flow into two partial flows S1, S2 serves the purpose of directing the first partial flow S1 vertically upwards to the first product tank 10 and to supply the second device 1 (shown in FIG. 5 right) (and possibly other devices) with the second partial flow S2. In the second device 1, however, the division of the flow into two partial flows S3, S4 serves a different purpose: although the first partial flow S3 is in turn directed vertically upwards to a product tank 10, however, the second partial flow S4 supplies no further devices, but serves to flush the area in front of the connection 3C closed off by the closure 16, to prevent the formation of deposits there.
[0046] From the construction of system 8 shown in FIG. 5, a further advantage, already mentioned above, becomes clear: due to the design of the guide elements 5, the system 8 is self-draining. For example, after the cleaning of the system 8, cleaning agent can completely flow out of the right-hand part of the system 8 through the second (right-hand) device 1 and then through the first (left-hand) device 1 and the system 8 can be evacuated in the region of container 9 (then to be removed). This is possible since the guide elements 5 in the devices 1 are designed in such a way thatunlike the device 1 shown in FIG. 1there is a straight connection between the two opposite connections 3A, 3B.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0047] 1, 1: Device
[0048] 2: Housing
[0049] 3A, 3B, 3C: Connection
[0050] 4A, 4B: Curved region
[0051] 4A, 4B: Curved surface
[0052] 4C: Straight surface
[0053] 5: Guide element
[0054] 6: Bridge
[0055] 7: Distance
[0056] 8: System
[0057] 9: Container
[0058] 10: Product tank
[0059] 11: Valve
[0060] 12: Drive
[0061] 13: Valve housing
[0062] 14A, 14B: Outlet
[0063] 15: Packaging
[0064] 16: Closure
[0065] A, B, C: Axis
[0066] S: Flow
[0067] S1, S2, S3, S4: Partial flow
[0068] , : Angles
[0069] H.sub.l: Height (of the guide element 5)
[0070] D.sub.i: Inner diameter (of the housing 2)
