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US 6,564,698 B2Granted
Valve assembly
AssigneeRelco Unisystems Corporation
InventorManley Douglas Rolland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A failsafe valve assembly for use in clean-in-place systems that arranges multiple product blocking valves with one bleed valve. The failsafe valve assembly having a junction providing fluid communication between the primary isolation valve, the one bleed valve and the multiple product valves. The failsafe valve assembly further providing continuous flow cleaning capabilities.
Claims6
A food processing system, comprising:
- (a) a vat for containing a mixture of food product;
- (b) a port located at a bottom region of said vat;
- and
- (c) a valve assembly in fluid communication with said port, the valve assembly including:
- (i) a first failsafe valve arrangement;
- and
- (ii) a second failsafe valve arrangement, said second failsafe valve arrangement having:
- 1. one isolating valve;
- 2. at least two product valves, including a first product valve and a second product valve;
- and
- 3. one bleed valve.
8 more elements
A cheese processing system, comprising:
- (a) a vat having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- (b) a vat port located in the lower portion of said vat for providing bottom filling of said vat;
- (c) an output line for transport of a cleaning fluid;
- (d) a first food product line for transport of a fluid milk product;
- (e) a second food product line for transport of a mixture of fluid milk product and cheese curds;
- (f) a valve assembly;
- (i) said valve assembly providing fluid communication between:
- (1) said vat and said first output line;
- (2) said first food product line and said vat;
- (3) said vat and said second food product line;
- (ii) said valve assembly including:
- (1) a clean-in-place valve arrangement, said clean-in-place valve arrangement including:
- (A) a first blocking valve in fluid communication with said vat port and the first output line;
- and
- (B) a clean-in-place bleed valve in fluid communication with said first blocking valve;
- (2) a product isolation valve arrangement, said product isolation valve arrangement including:
- (A) a second blocking valve in fluid communication with said vat port, said second blocking valve sized to accommodate transportation of the mixture of fluid milk product and cheese curds;
- (B) a third blocking valve in fluid communication with said second blocking valve and the first food product line;
- (C) a fourth blocking valve in fluid communication the said second blocking valve and the second food product line, said fourth blocking valve sized to accommodate transportation of the mixture of fluid milk product and cheese curds;
- (D) a product isolation bleed valve in fluid communication with said second blocking valve;
- and
- (iii) said valve assembly selectively operating to isolate first and second food products lines during clean-in-place operations.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.