Clean-in-place air-blow valve

In combination with a material-transport facility having a material-transport conduit, an air-blow valve configured for clean-in-place capability, wherein the air-blow valve comprises:

• (A) a hollow valve body defining an internal chamber presenting an inner surface, an internal shoulder, an internal valve seat, and an internal fluid passageway;
• (B) valve components disposed within the valve body and including:
• (1) a piston disposed within the chamber, wherein the piston is adapted and dimensioned relative to the inner surface as to be slidably engageable in a fluid-tight manner between first and second positions therewithin;
• (2) a spring, captively retained within the valve body, wherein the spring abuttingly engages the piston and the shoulder, for urging the piston into the first position;
• and
• (3) a valve plug operatively connected to the piston, wherein the valve plug is configured
• (i) to engage the valve seat in a fluid-tight relationship when the piston is in the first position and
• (ii) to permit fluid to flow between the valve plug and the valve seat when the piston is in the second position;
• (C) a first conduit, in fluid communication with a pressurized-air source and operatively connected to the valve body, for providing pressurized air to the chamber for urging the piston into the second position;
• (D) a second conduit, in fluid communication with a sanitizing-fluid source and operatively connected to the valve body, for providing a sanitizing fluid into a portion of the valve body, for sanitizing the valve seat, the plug, and the internal fluid passageway;
• and
• (E) a third conduit, in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway and a second pressurized air source, for providing pressurized air to the fluid passageway to cause the valve plug to become spaced from the valve seat;
• wherein the air-blow valve is in fluid communication with the material-transport facility via the material-transport conduit.

In combination with a shuttle valve having a movable shuttle valve element, an air-blow valve configured for clean-in-place capability, wherein the air-blow valve comprises:

• (A) a hollow valve body defining an internal chamber presenting an inner surface, an internal shoulder, an internal valve seat, and an internal fluid passageway;
• (B) valve components disposed within the valve body and including:
• (1) a piston disposed within the chamber, wherein the piston is adapted and dimensioned relative to the inner surface as to be slidably engageable in a fluid-tight manner between first and second positions therewithin;
• (2) a spring, captively retained within the valve body, wherein the spring abuttingly engages the piston and the shoulder, for urging the piston into the first position;
• and
• (3) a valve plug operatively connected to the piston, wherein the valve plug is configured
• (i) to engage the valve seat in a fluid-tight relationship when the piston is in the first position and
• (ii) to permit fluid to flow between the valve plug and the valve seat when the piston is in the second position;
• (C) a first conduit, in fluid communication with a first pressurized-air source and operatively connected to the valve body, for providing pressurized air to the chamber for urging the piston into the second position;
• (D) a second conduit, in fluid communication with a sanitizing-fluid source and operatively connected to the valve body, for providing a sanitizing fluid into a portion of the valve body, for sanitizing the valve seat, the plug, and the internal fluid passageway;
• and
• (E) a third conduit, in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway and a second pressurized air source and operatively coupled to the shuttle valve, wherein the shuttle valve element is movable between first and second positions for providing pressurized air to the fluid passageway to cause the valve plug to become spaced from the valve seat.