US 7,607,364 B2 · Method and apparatus for simplified and hygienic access to a fluid chamber

Abstract

A hygienic insert connector assembly that prevents biological contamination under sanitary processing conditions. It comprises an insert adapted to pass through an opening into a fluid chamber, a support assembly to support the insert, a seal disposed around the insert to seal the opening into the fluid chamber, and a compression mechanism to compress the seal. When the seal is axially compressed, the seal radially expands and contacts the wall of the opening into the fluid chamber as well as compressing the seal against the insert to form fluid tight seals. This eliminates the potential for product entrapment within or around the sealed surfaces, allowing efficient in-place cleaning and sterilization procedures as well as minimizing product wastage on process startup and shutdown. The connector assembly is also designed such that positive pressure inside the fluid chamber enhances the seals that are formed, and can be used with (but is not limited to) small diameter or high surface curvature fluid chambers and without limitation on the orientation of the chamber. The simple design and sealing method enables the insert to be easily removed, examined and re-inserted in conformance with international design standards for sanitary equipment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hygienic insert connector assembly, comprising:

an insert adapted to project through an opening in the side wall of a fluid chamber such that a first portion of the insert lies within the fluid chamber;
a seal having first and second ends and an axial opening for said insert, said seal being disposed around the insert for sealing a space between the insert and the wall of the opening in the chamber, wherein the length of said seal is greater than the length of said opening such that said first end of the seal extends beyond the opening into the fluid chamber;
first and second cooperative compression members disposed on opposite ends of the seal for axially compressing and radially expanding the seal such that a generally hygienic fluid-tight seal without voids and crevices is formed between the wall of the opening and the insert;
wherein the first compression member is integrally formed with said insert and is movable along a movement axis with respect to the second compression member to compress the seal, and
a first seal contact surface on said first end of said seal, said seal contact surface being disposed perpendicular to said movement axis and engaged by said first seal compression member such that the compression forces generated by axial compression of the seal are perpendicular to the first seal contact surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for simplified and hygienic access to a fluid chamber

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for simplified and hygienic access to a fluid chamber

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20