Self-aerating valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465820-B2
Application number	US-201615573543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a self-aerating valve (1) comprising a valve body (2) with an aperture (3), and a valve flap (4) swivel-mounted to the valve body (2). The valve flap (4) is particularly configured to swivel between a closing position for closing the aperture (3), and an opening position for opening the aperture (3). Further, the self-aerating valve (1) comprises an air-supply port (5) connectable to an air-supply (12). The valve flap (4) is designed to release air supplied to the air-supply port (5) into the aperture (3) of the valve body (2) in the closing position. Preferably, the valve flap (4) is designed to release the air through its whole surface area (6), wherein the surface area (6) comprise a porous membrane (7) fluidly connected to the air-supply port (5). The self-aerating valve 1 may be used in an aerating system (11) of the present invention, which includes also an air-supply (12) fluidly connected to the air-supply port (5). The aerating system (11) may further comprise a drying unit (13) of the air-supply (12) adapted to dry and preferably also cool air supplied through the air-supply (12) to the air-supply port (5).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aerating system for a negatively pressurized chamber, the aerating system comprising:
a self-aerating valve comprising: a valve body with an aperture; a valve flap swivel-mounted to the valve body and configured to swivel between a closing position for closing the aperture and an opening position for opening the aperture; and an air-supply port; and the valve flap is designed to release air supplied to the air-supply port into the aperture of the valve body in the closing position, the valve flap comprises a porous membrane connected to the air-supply port for releasing the supplied air;
a first air-supply connected to the air-supply port of the self-aerating valve;
a vacuum chamber for collecting hygroscopic products; and
a discharging area for receiving the hygroscopic products, wherein the self-aerating valve is provided between the vacuum chamber and the discharging area, and the vacuum chamber and the discharging area are selectively connectable by the self-aerating valve.

2. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane is a plastic and/or ceramic filter comprising a plurality of pores having a pore size of 1-20 μm for releasing the air.

3. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body is designed to receive the valve flap at least partly in the closing position.

4. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein a seal is provided between the valve flap and the valve body in the closing position.

5. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises a conically extending portion providing a connection for a container.

6. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the self-aerating valve is configured for discharging the hygroscopic products from the negatively pressurized chamber.

7. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first air-supply comprises a drying unit adapted to dry the air supplied through the first air-supply to the air-supply port.

8. The aerating system according to claim 7 , wherein the drying unit is also adapted to cool the air supplied through the air-supply to the air-supply port.

9. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises at least one nozzle connectable to a second air supply.

10. The aerating system according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one nozzle is connected to the air-supply port.

11. The aerating system according to claim 9 , wherein the first air-supply and the second air-supply are the same air-supply.

12. The aerating system according to claim 9 , wherein the first air-supply and the second air-supply are different air-supplies.

13. The aerating system according to claim 1 , wherein the aerating system is configured to supply the air to the air-supply port at least before the valve flap of the self-aerating valve swivels from the closing position to the opening position.

14. The aerating system according to claim 13 , wherein the valve body comprises at least one nozzle connected to a second air-supply, and the aerating system is configured to supply the air to the at least one nozzle, at least while the valve flap swivels from the opening position to the closing position.

15. The aerating system according to claim 14 , wherein the first air-supply and the second air-supply are the same air-supply.

16. The aerating system according to claim 14 , wherein the first air-supply and the second air-supply are different air-supplies.

17. A method for discharging hygroscopic products from a negatively pressurized chamber, the method comprising:
providing a valve body with an aperture;
providing a valve flap swivel-mounted to the valve body and configured to swivel between a closing position for closing the aperture and an opening position for opening the aperture;
providing an air-supply port connectable to an air-supply;
providing air to the air-supply port; and
the valve flap releasing the air supplied to the air-supply port into the aperture of the valve body in the closing position, the valve flap comprises a porous membrane connected to the air-supply port for releasing the supplied air, at least before swiveling the valve flap from the closing position to the opening position.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa
• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Tchakam-Tchasso Theodore
• Kurnia Albert

Classifications

• F16K1/20 Primary

  with axis of rotation arranged externally of valve member · CPC title

• F16K1/205

  the sealing being arranged on the valve member · CPC title

• F16K39/028 Primary

  with pivoted closure members, e.g. butterfly valves · CPC title

• F16K1/307

  Additional means used in combination with the main valve · CPC title