JP2008303894A - Pipe joint with non-packing gasket for liquid food manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-packing gasket having excellent durability enough to be used in a pipe joint and enabling, without using packing, the complete wash-out of foreign matter at the connection part of a pipe with a normal packing by water flow in CIP washing. <P>SOLUTION: This circular ferrule-like non-packing gasket has a tapered part at which the angle α formed by the center axis X of the circular shape and the normal line on the surface of the non-packing gasket is 45±8°. The tapered parts of the non-packing gasket are processed to form a recessed part coming into contact with the connection portion of the pipe to prevent the adhesion of liquid food components to the connection part of the pipe. One of the tapered parts is recessed to the connection part of the pipe at the tapered end part of the gasket so that a liquid portion causes turbulent flow. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-packing gasket made of metal used for sealing (sealing) a joint portion of pipe joints for joining pipe ends to each other, particularly a liquid food or a low-viscosity fluid. To prevent contamination and adherence of foreign components of fluid food items to the connection part of the pipe that flows the water, and to relatively easily perform attachment and detachment of the joint for CIP cleaning, thereby facilitating maintenance such as in-pipe cleaning. The present invention relates to a joint that does not require packings in the connecting joint portion of the piping that can be made.

  In general, the joint area for piping that joins pipe ends to each other increases the contact area of the gasket by using the annular facing groove widely used for rubber packing as shown in Fig. 2 with the annular facing groove. It has been effective because it has a water stop effect, but it is economically superior.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gasket joint 3 and the tip of the gasket joint 3 are joined together by applying a joining force between the gasket flange parts. The rubber packing used for sealing the gasket flange can be replaced with a metal packing. As a means for imparting a joining force, a method of fixing with a joining band is common in addition to a method of fastening a nut through a plurality of bolts to an annular opposed groove band or both flange gaskets (see Patent Document 1).

In food companies, there is a need for a non-packing joint for safety management, without the use of packing made of rubber, Teflon (registered trademark), stainless steel, or the like, and without the intervention of packing as a seal on the pipe joint.
In order to solve such a problem, a technique for constructing a joint for piping without using packings has already been put into practical use.

In this technique, FIG. 1 shows a structure in which a taper 13 is provided at the end of one of the pipes to be joined, the taper is pressed against the annular opposed inlet corner edge, and the ends of both gasket flange pipes are pressed by an annular opposed fastening band or the like. By doing so, both are sealed by line contact between metals.

    With such a pipe joint structure, stainless steel is used instead of conventional rubbers, which achieves excellent sealing performance without the use of packing, and is characterized by extremely strong heat resistance and chemical resistance. There is a need for non-packing gasket joints. (See Patent Document 3)

  The inventor of the present invention has an angle α formed by an annular facing groove formed on one of the opposing surfaces of the core flange gasket in the joint portion and a normal line of the surface with the central axis X of the pipe by the annular projection opposed thereto. There has been proposed a pipe joint for water-stopping the joint part with a metal packing having a taper part of ± 8 °. (See Patent Document 6).

  Moreover, the device which raises airtightness by pressing with a screw is made | formed (refer patent document 4, 5). However, in any case, since the packing is interposed, deformation leakage due to aging cannot be avoided, and the mechanism is complicated.

WO2004 / 109174 Japanese Patent No. 3386750 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-225917 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-15897 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-230436 Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-142078

  In the joint, in order to prevent leakage of fluid from the inside and entry of foreign matter from the outside, it is necessary to provide means for ensuring sealing performance. In general, FIG. 2 is widely used as the simplest method as a method of sealing by inserting an elastic body such as rubber between both gasket flange portions.

  Although the rubber packing 4 plays an important role in the joint, it is a component that is weak in itself and easily deteriorates. In the food industry and other industrial fields where management of sanitary environments is particularly important, the deterioration and contamination of the rubber packing tends to cause serious troubles.

Troubles that foreign matter such as rubber or Teflon (registered trademark) mixes into the food from the deteriorated rubber packing part of the fitting, or trouble that the odor of the product adheres to the rubber packing and the odor is mixed into the next product, deterioration Troubles such as broken pieces of rubber packing mixed into food are likely to occur.

The food company consulted if it could solve the problem of foreign matter contamination from the rubber packing, and because it was able to develop metal packing, it was commercialized and the food company was very pleased. A stainless steel metal packing that can be used simply by replacing it with a place where a conventional rubber packing is used has been completed, and has gained great popularity in terms of hygiene management, quality control, and improved workability.

In liquid food production piping, food components adhere to the joints of the piping, causing problems in piping cleaning. In particular, liquids with high fluidity have foreign matters attached to food components in the gap between the piping and the packing, which makes it difficult to remove by cleaning. There is a demand for a gasket flange for connecting pipes in the manufacture of liquid foods to prevent the adhesion of foreign substances.

A non-packing gasket of a type that ensures sealing performance by line contact between metals is extremely advantageous in avoiding various troubles that have been a problem with conventional rubber packing.
In general, when the piping gasket joint is repeatedly attached and detached for cleaning or the like, it is easy to be damaged, and it enters the gap of the packing, and the food component adheres to make it difficult to clean.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the present invention improves the durability of a non-packing gasket of the type that secures the sealing performance by contact between the metal wires 18 and the surface 13, and adheres food foreign matter at the connecting portion of the pipe. The aim is to develop and provide a non-packing gasket that can prevent this.

  The present inventor combined a non-packing gasket 2 and a general-purpose gasket 3 without using a packing first, and at the time of CIP cleaning, a pipe joint system that causes a turbulent flow in the recess and completely cleans the inside of the pipe. It is intended to be completed.

  In piping for liquid food manufacturing equipment, in order to stop the joint portion of the pipe, an annular facing groove formed on one of the two connecting joint portions, and a tapered portion of the projection with an annular projection opposed thereto It is the shape which cuts an inclined surface and the entrance corner edge of the said groove | channel by pressure bonding.

This is a pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for liquid food production equipment. Liquid foods have a water content of 80% or more, and include soft drinks such as juice drinks, tea drinks, coffee drinks, and Kohler drinks, soups, beers, sakes, shochus, and whiskeys. Health drinks such as alcoholic beverages and green juice.

In order to prevent food components from adhering to the connecting joint of the pipe, only the tapered part of the non-packing gasket that hits the connecting joint of the pipe, and the central axis X And a taper portion having an angle of 45 ± 8 ° with the normal to the surface.

There was a problem that the liquid that entered the gap of 2 mm between the austenitic stainless steel non-packing gasket joints used for foods remained as dirt for a long time.

In order to solve the gap contamination problem of beverage joints, as a result of expanding the gap to a taper angle of 37 °, 45 °, 53 ° so that it can be cleaned during CIP cleaning, there is no leakage at any angle. Turbulence was generated and dirt was completely eliminated, but turbulence was most stable at 45 degrees.

  Joining a joint that removes the end of the non-packing gasket in the pipe connection joint and becomes a concave part at the pipe connection part, so that liquid food residue can be removed by the occurrence of turbulent flow in the concave part. It is in a state.

  The non-packing gasket is made of austenitic stainless steel and is a pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food production apparatus that can completely clean the inside of the pipe by a CIP cleaning method.

  As a result of detailed studies, the inventors have made use of one of the general purpose and sanitary fittings in the liquid food production equipment pipe, which is the above-mentioned purpose, and has a tapered portion of protrusions, which is formed in response to general use, and has an inclined surface. And the inlet corner edge of the groove are non-packing gasket pipe joints capable of water-stopping the joint part.

  A non-packing gasket made of metal used to seal the joints of pipe joints that join the ends of pipes, especially for pipes that flow liquid foods or fluids with low viscosity It is possible to prevent contamination and adhesion of foreign components of fluid foods to the connection part, and relatively easy to carry out attachment and detachment of the joints for CIP cleaning, facilitating maintenance such as pipe cleaning, Work efficiency has been further improved.

  The angle at the tip of the gasket that hits the pipe connection part is also processed to 45 ± 8 °, which is the same as the non-packing gasket, and a concave part is formed below the pipe connection part, resulting in a joint that can cause turbulence in the concave part. It is a non-packing gasket and piping joint for liquid food production equipment. In the CIP cleaning after completion of the operation, the liquid food remaining in the concave portion is caused to flow at a flow rate of 1.5 to 2 m per second, and can be completely cleaned.

  In the present invention, a non-packing joint is provided with a seal surface on one side of a pipe joint, and the angle α formed with the normal of the surface of the central axis X of the non-packing gasket is 37 to 53 ° (45 ± 8 °). The taper portion is a non-packing gasket pipe joint cut along a plane including the central axis X.

  According to the present invention, the tip of the taper in the present invention is removed, and the tip of the non-packing gasket in the pipe connection joint is removed so that it becomes a recess at the connection of the pipe. The joint is in a jointed state so that any residual material can be removed.

  The non-packing gasket is made of austenitic stainless steel and is a pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food production apparatus that can completely clean the inside of the pipe by a CIP cleaning method.

As a non-packing gasket material, sanitary austenitic stainless steel compatible with ISO and IDF, which are common in the liquid food industry, can be used, and piping without packing has been completed.

As a result, it is a metal non-packing gasket used for sealing (sealing) the joints of pipe joints that join the ends of pipes, especially liquid foods and fluids with low viscosity. Contamination and adhesion of foreign components of fluid food can be prevented at the connecting portion of the flowing pipe.

The joints can be attached and detached relatively frequently for CIP cleaning, facilitating maintenance such as pipe cleaning, and the efficiency of workability is further improved.

FIG. 1 is a general assembly diagram of a non-packing gasket. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the entire joint.

A taper portion 13 is cut and formed in the gasket 10 at a taper angle of 45 degrees, and the inlet corner edge 18 of the annular opposed groove is crimped by the taper portion 13 of the non-packing gasket 2 and the annular groove-shaped clamping band. The joint without is completed.

The normal line N in FIG. 5 is oriented in a direction that intersects the central axis X of the ring-shaped non-packing gasket 2 at an angle α. Here, α is represented by a value in the range of 0 to 90 ° among the angles formed by the central axis X and the normal line N.

In FIG. 5, taper portions 13 are formed on both surfaces of the non-packing gasket 2, and the case where the α on both surfaces is the same angle is illustrated. However, the angle α on both surfaces is an appropriate range described later. As long as they are within, they need not be identical.

  The pipes 1, 1 ′ and the non-packing gasket 2 are joined in a joining form in which a metal line is in contact with a surface, with the inlet corner edge 18 of the annular facing groove 12 abutting against the tapered portion 13. It is a means for applying the bonding force.

Instead of the joining band 5, means for joining the flanges of the tubes 1, 1 ′ with bolts and nuts may be employed. When a joining force is applied by these joining means, both the annular corner portion 12 and the tapered portion 13 are brought into close contact with each other on the circumference having the central axis X as a center, and a sealing property is secured.

  FIG. 1 shows a pipe joint for a liquid food production apparatus and a non-packing gasket. The non-packing gasket 2 is interposed between the gasket 10 and the gasket as shown in FIG.

The taper part is extended with the non-packing gasket 2 kept at 45 ± 8 °, and a recess 7 is created by machining 45 ± 8 ° at the tip of the gasket 3, and the turbulent flow in the recess 7 due to the flow rate of 1 m / s or more during CIP cleaning. By generating No. 6, the dirt can be completely washed away.

In order to stably secure the sealing performance due to the contact between the line 18 and the surface 13 with the joining force obtained using the joining band 5 used for fastening the conventional joint as shown in FIG. A range of ± 8 ° is preferable. If α is out of this range, it may be difficult to ensure sufficient reliability as an alternative to a joint that has conventionally used rubber packing.

The equipment at the tea factory's beverage factory is 100L per minute of tea beverage transport, 1,5 inch outer diameter 38,1mm, pipe inner diameter 35,7mm, pipe wall thickness 1,2mm, pipe length 50mm And the joint was crimped as shown in 5 by 3 and 5 shown in FIG.

An austenitic stainless non-packing gasket was used as the connection part, and a V-shaped recess was formed in the connection part using a taper angle of 45 degrees of the connection part. The apparatus having this non-packing gasket connection pipe was used for the tea production operation. The operation was continued for 36 hours at a flow rate of 100 L / min.

At the end of tea production, CIP cleaning was performed with turbulent flow at a rate of 2 m / s or more. In this case, there was no leakage of the cleaning solution, it was resistant to chemicals used in CIP, heat resistant, and there was no foreign matter due to missing rubber packing.

After cleaning, the piping part was disassembled, but the packing gasket near the connection part was completely free of foreign matter and dirt, and other kinds of beverages could be produced immediately.

Canned coffee production line Beverage plant equipment, coffee beverage transport rate 200L pipe, 2.5 inch outer diameter 63.5mm, pipe inner diameter 59.5mm, pipe wall thickness 1,2mm pipe The tube was welded and incorporated with a pipe length of 50 mm, and the joint was crimped like 5 with 3 and 5 shown in FIG.

An austenitic stainless non-packing gasket 2 was used as the connecting portion, and a V-shaped recess was formed in the connecting portion using a taper angle of 52 ° of the connecting portion. The apparatus having this non-packing gasket connection piping was used for coffee production operation.

The operation was continued for 72 hours at a flow rate of 200 L / min. At the end of the coffee manufacturing operation, the CIP cleaning was performed by generating a turbulent flow with a water amount of 2 m / s or more. In this case, there was no leakage of the cleaning solution, it was strong against chemicals used in CIP, heat resistant, and there was no foreign matter such as rubber packing or metal, so the work could be done with peace of mind.

After cleaning, the piping part was disassembled, but the packing gasket near the connection part was completely free of foreign matter and dirt, and other kinds of beverages could be produced immediately. Also, because it is made of stainless steel, it was easy to clean without the strong smell of coffee.

Orange fruit juice production line beverage factory equipment, orange juice drink transported 100L per minute, 1,5 inch outer diameter 38,1mm, inner diameter 35,7mm, pipe wall thickness 1,2mm pipe length It welded and integrated at 50 mm, and the joint was crimped | bonded like 5 by 3 and 5 shown in FIG.

An austenitic stainless non-packing gasket 2 was used as the connecting portion, and a V-shaped recess was formed in the connecting portion using a taper angle of 45 ° of the connecting portion.

The device having this non-packing gasket connection pipe was used for the orange juice manufacturing operation. The operation was continued for 72 hours at a flow rate of 100 L / min. At the end of the orange juice manufacturing operation, CIP cleaning was performed by generating turbulent flow with a water volume of 2 m / s or more.

In this case, there was no leakage of the cleaning solution, it was strong against chemicals used in CIP, strong against heat, and there was no foreign matter on the rubber packing, so we were able to work with peace of mind. After cleaning, the piping part was disassembled, but the packing gasket near the connection part was completely free of foreign matter and dirt, and other kinds of beverages could be produced immediately. It was also easy to clean.

A green juice juice drinker's equipment at the beverage factory of the green juice production line 150L of piping per minute, 1,5 inch outer diameter 38,1mm, inner diameter 35,7mm, piping wall thickness 1,2mm The tube was welded and incorporated with a pipe length of 50 mm, and the joint was crimped like 5 with 3 and 5 shown in FIG.

An austenitic stainless non-packing gasket 2 was used as the connecting portion, and a V-shaped recess was formed in the connecting portion using a taper angle of 45 ° of the connecting portion.

The apparatus having this non-packing gasket connection pipe was used for the production operation of green juice. The operation was continued for 24 hours at a flow rate of 150 L / min. At the end of tea production, CIP cleaning was performed with a water flow rate of 2 m / s or more so as to generate turbulent flow.

In this case, there was no leakage of the cleaning solution, it was resistant to chemicals used in CIP, heat resistant, and there was no foreign matter due to missing rubber packing. After cleaning, the piping part was disassembled, but the packing gasket near the connection part was completely free of foreign matter and dirt, and other kinds of beverages could be produced immediately.
"Comparative Example 1"

The equipment at the tea factory's beverage factory is 100L per minute of tea beverage transport, 1,5 inch outer diameter 38,1mm, pipe inner diameter 35,7mm, pipe wall thickness 1,2mm, pipe length 50mm And welded and assembled and crimped as shown in FIG.

A non-packing gasket was not used as a connection part, and a concave structure was not used in the connection part, and an apparatus having this normal packing gasket connection pipe was used for a tea production operation. The operation was continued for 36 hours at a flow rate of 100 L / min.

At the end of tea production, CIP cleaning was performed with turbulent flow at a rate of 2 m / s or more. After cleaning, the piping part was disassembled, but foreign matter and dirt were slightly attached to the packing gasket near the connection part.
"Comparative Example 2"

A green juice juice drinker's equipment at the beverage factory of the green juice production line 150L of piping per minute, 1,5 inch outer diameter 38,1mm, inner diameter 35,7mm, piping wall thickness 1,2mm And welded with a tube length of 50 mm and crimped as shown in FIG.

An austenitic stainless non-packing gasket 2 was used as the connection portion, and the connection portion was tapered at 30 degrees, and a slightly V-shaped recess was formed in the connection portion. The apparatus having this non-packing gasket connection pipe was used for the production operation of green juice.

The operation was continued for 24 hours at a flow rate of 150 L / min. At the end of tea production, CIP cleaning was performed with a water flow rate of 2 m / s or more so as to generate turbulent flow. In this case, there was leakage of the green juice and the cleaning liquid.

Diagram showing assembly of non-packing gasket joint The figure which illustrated typically the section structure of the pipe joint which used general rubber packing. The schematic diagram of the pipe joint which uses the non-packing gasket of this invention. The figure which showed generation | occurrence | production of the turbulent flow in the cross-section of a pipe joint using the non-packing gasket of this invention. The figure which showed the detailed shape of the non-packing gasket cross section cut | disconnected by the plane containing the central axis X. FIG. Annular groove clamp band Dirty spots of gaps in non-packing ferrules for food

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 'pipe 2 Non-packing gasket. Tube length 50mm
3 Gasket joint For general rubber packing 4 Rubber packing 5 Annular groove type clamping band (clamp band)
6 Location of turbulent flow 7 Recessed portion 8 Water flow direction
9 Dirty part of gap 10 Non-packing gasket for food 12 Annular opposed groove 13 Tapered part
16 Annular protrusion 18 Angular counter-entrance corner edge 19 Crimping location N Normal line X Central axis α Angle formed by the normal of the surface with central axis X

Claims (4)

  In piping for liquid food manufacturing equipment, in order to stop the joint portion of the pipe, an annular facing groove formed on one of the two connecting joint portions, and a tapered portion of the projection with an annular projection opposed thereto A pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food production apparatus, characterized in that the inclined surface and the inlet corner edge of the groove are cut by pressure bonding.   In order to prevent food components from adhering to the connecting joint of the pipe, only the tapered part of the non-packing gasket that hits the connecting joint of the pipe, and the central axis X A pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food production apparatus, characterized in that it is processed into a tapered portion having an angle of 45 ± 8 ° with the normal to the surface.   The liquid food residue can be removed by generating a turbulent flow in the concave portion by removing the tip of the non-packing gasket in the pipe connecting joint portion and forming a concave portion in the pipe connecting portion. A pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that the joint is in such a joined state. 2. A pipe joint with a non-packing gasket for a liquid food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-packing gasket is made of austenitic stainless steel, and the inside of the pipe can be completely cleaned by a CIP cleaning method.

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