Valve drive and method of cleaning a valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12516740-B2
Application number	US-202418650548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2024
Priority date	May 5, 2023
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

A valve drive is indicated, having a housing, a spindle for displacement between an open position and a closed position and is coupled at one end to a valve closing member, and a return spring which urges the spindle to the closed position or to the open position. The housing has an opening in an area through which the centerline of the spindle extends, and the valve drive includes a closure member to close the opening. The housing and the closure member are configured such that the closure member can be fastened to the housing in an operating position and in a cleaning position to cover the opening. The closure member has a recess on a face side that is on the inside in the operating position, allowing the spindle to move unhindered therein during operation of the valve, and has a fastening structure on the opposite, outside face side. In the cleaning position, the closure member is turned over as compared to the operating position, wherein the fastening structure in the cleaning position allows the spindle to be fastened to the closure member in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting. Furthermore, a method of cleaning a valve is indicated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A valve drive comprising a housing, a spindle which is mounted in the housing for displacement between an open position and a closed position and is coupled at one end to a valve closing member, and a return spring which urges the spindle to the closed position or to the open position, wherein the housing has an opening in an area through which the centerline of the spindle extends, and the valve drive includes a closure member which is adapted to be inserted into the opening and closes the opening, wherein the housing and the closure member are configured such that the closure member can be fastened to the housing in an operating position and in a cleaning position to cover the opening, and wherein the closure member has a recess on a face side that is on the inside in the operating position, allowing the spindle to move unhindered therein during operation of the valve, and has a fastening structure on the opposite, outside face side, wherein in the cleaning position, the closure member is turned over as compared to the operating position, so that the outside face side faces the interior of the housing, wherein the fastening structure in the cleaning position allows the spindle to be fastened to the closure member in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in order to hold the spindle in its open position.

2 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member can be fastened in a form-fitting and/or a force-fitting manner to the housing in an operating position and in a cleaning position to cover the opening.

3 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening structure is formed as an internal thread in the closure member and the spindle has a corresponding external thread at its end facing the closure member.

4 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member has an external thread axially on the outer circumference in the area of the recess and the housing has a corresponding internal thread.

5 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member is wider in a central portion spaced from the two face sides than in an area adjacent to the face sides, so that two axial, opposite contact surfaces spaced from the face sides are formed on the closure member.

6 . The valve drive according to claim 5 , wherein the outside face side is provided on a section starting from the associated contact surface and projecting into the interior of the housing in the cleaning position.

7 . The valve drive according to claim 5 , wherein each contact surface has a seal arranged thereon.

8 . The valve drive according to claim 7 , wherein the seal is a sealing ring for sealing the closure member against the housing in the operating position and in the cleaning position.

9 . The valve drive according to claim 5 , wherein the closure member is corrugated on the outer circumference in the axially central portion.

10 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent to the outside end face, the closure member is free of a thread.

11 . The valve drive according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member is transparent.

12 . A method of cleaning a valve having a valve drive comprising a housing, a spindle which is mounted in the housing for displacement between an open position and a closed position and is coupled at one end to a valve closing member, and a return spring which urges the spindle to the closed position or to the open position, wherein the housing has an opening in an area through which the centerline of the spindle extends, and the valve drive includes a closure member which is adapted to be inserted into the opening and closes the opening, wherein the housing and the closure member are configured such that the closure member can be fastened to the housing in an operating position and in a cleaning position to cover the opening, and wherein the closure member has a recess on a face side that is on the inside in the operating position, allowing the spindle to move unhindered therein during operation of the valve, and has a fastening structure on the opposite, outside face side, wherein in the cleaning position, the closure member is turned over as compared to the operating position, so that the outside face side faces the interior of the housing, wherein the fastening structure in the cleaning position allows the spindle to be fastened to the closure member in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in order to hold the spindle in its open position, the method comprising the steps of:
disconnecting the valve from a compressed air supply after an operation, the closure member being in the operating position; detaching the closure member from the housing and turning it; moving the spindle to the open position and fastening it to the closure member by means of the fastening structure; holding the spindle in the open position by the closure member being supported on the housing; and cleaning the valve while the spindle is held in the open position by the closure member.

Assignees

• Buerkert Werke Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Helei Axel

Classifications

• F16K1/487

  by a fixing element extending in the axial direction of the spindle, e.g. a screw · CPC title

• F16K31/1221 Primary

  one side of the piston being spring-loaded · CPC title

• F16K1/446 Primary

  with additional cleaning or venting means between the two seats · CPC title