A membrane-based piston pump (1) for use in a homogenising apparatus(100), comprising:- a membrane means (2) separating a product side for a fluid product (P1) from a hydraulic side for a hydraulic 5 fluid (P2);- a reciprocating piston (3) operatively active on the hydraulic fluid (P2);- valve means (4) configured to establish a selective fluid communication between the hydraulic side and a tank (10) containing the hydraulicfluid (P2),wherein said valve means (4) comprise:- a first valve arrangement (5, 6) that, in a working condition of the piston pump (1), is configured to discharge the hydraulic fluid (P2) having apressure over a first predefined threshold from the hydraulic side towards the tank (10) and to draw the hydraulic fluid (P2) from the tank (10) to the hydraulic side in response to a pressure in the hydraulic side dropping below a second predefined threshold;- a second valve arrangement (7, 8) that, in at least one non-working condition of the piston pump (1), is configured to discharge thehydraulic fluid (P2) having a pressure over a third predefined threshold from the hydraulic side towards the tank (10).
A valve comprising: a housing (1); a valve body (2) having a fluid inlet (5) and a fluid outlet (6), the valve body (2) comprising a first valve element (3) and a second valve element (4) arranged in the housing (1); a gap (14) being formed between the valve elements (3, 4), the first valve element (3) being conformed as a sleeve (3) with an inner surface that tapers at least in sections towards the fluid outlet (6), the second valve element (4) being conformed as a cone (4) mounted in the sleeve (3), with the same inclination as the inner surface of the sleeve (3) so as to form the gap (14), an annular space (8) open to the fluid outlet (6) is formed between the sleeve (3) and the inner surface of the housing (1), the sleeve (3) has through holes (10) towards the annular space (8) and the cone (4) has through openings (9) towards the fluid inlet (5), the sleeve (3) and the cone (4) being axially adjustable relative to one another.
F16K 3/32 - Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow
F16K 47/08 - Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for decreasing pressure and having a throttling member separate from the closure member
F16K 47/16 - Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for decreasing pressure and having a throttling member separate from the closure member the throttling member being a cone
3.
DOUBLE MEMBRANE PUMP FOR USE IN A HOMOGENISING APPARATUS OF A FLUID PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING LEAKAGES IN SAID PUMP
A double membrane pump including a device for detecting leakages is provided. The device for detecting leakages comprises at least one first sensor configured to detect a physical magnitude representing a property of the fluid present in an intermediate chamber; and a control module configured to establish if the physical magnitude detected by the first sensor is associated with a first condition that is indicative of mixing of the service fluid with the fluid product, or if the physical magnitude detected is associated with a second condition that is indicative of the mixing of the service fluid with the hydraulic fluid, or if the physical magnitude detected is associated with a third condition that is indicative of the mixing of the service fluid both with the fluid product and the hydraulic fluid. Also provided are methods for detecting leakages of a service fluid housed within two membranes.
F04B 43/02 - Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms
F04B 53/00 - Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups or
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
High-pressure homogeniser (100) comprising: a volumetric piston pump (1) comprising a plurality of pumping pistons (10); a homogenising valve (20) arranged downstream of the volumetric piston pump (1); linear motion transmission means (5) of the electro-hydrostatic type, comprising an electric motor (6) and a pump (7) directly driven by the electric motor (6), the pump (7) being operatively active on the pistons (10); a control unit (40) configured to control the linear motion transmission means (5) such that a reciprocating motion is imposed to each piston (10) according to a law of motion which is pre-established and independent from the laws of motion of the other pistons (10).
F04B 9/02 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being mechanical
F04B 9/103 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid having only one pumping chamber
F04B 9/109 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid having plural pumping chambers
F04B 9/123 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being elastic, e.g. steam or air having only one pumping chamber
F04B 9/129 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being elastic, e.g. steam or air having plural pumping chambers
F04B 15/02 - Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous
F04B 17/03 - Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors driven by electric motors
5.
HOMOGENISING PROCESS AND APPARATUS WITH FLOW REVERSAL
A homogenizing apparatus (1) comprising: - an inlet (2) for receiving a pressurized fluid, possibly also containing solid particles; - a zone wherein homogenization of the fluid takes place; - an outlet (10) for the fluid at a lower pressure with respect to the inlet pressure, wherein, in the homogenization zone, the fluid passes from a zone having a larger diameter (or volume) to a zone having a smaller diameter (or volume), the homogenization zone comprising an interacting element (9) shared by a first stage (equipped with a first deflector plug (6)) and a second stage suitable for creating back pressure (equipped with a second deflector plug (12)), where the deflector plugs (6 and 12) operate with the interacting element (9) they share, generating an increase in the shear rate within the first stage. The invention also concerns a homogenization process.
A high-pressure homogenizer, comprising: a plurality of pumping pistons (2a, 2b), for feeding a liquid to be homogenized toward a manifold (6), each piston being associated with a respective oil hydraulic cylinder; a homogenizing valve positioned downstream of said pumping pistons (2a, 2b); and an electronic system (5) for controlling and regulating said pumping pistons (2a, 2b), which controls the law of motion of each individual piston (2a, 2b) independently. Said electronic regulation system (5) is connected to a transducer placed on the manifold (6) to regulate the delivery of oil to the individual cylinders (3a, 3b) according to the pressure, sensed in the manifold (6), of the liquid to be homogenized pumped by said pistons (2a, 2b) in order to maintain a stable flow rate and pressure.
F04B 9/10 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid
F04B 11/00 - Equalisation of pulses, e.g. by use of air vessels; Counteracting cavitation
7.
HIGH-PRESSURE HOMOGENIZER WITH AN EPICYCLIC REDUCTION GEAR UNIT
A high-pressure homogenizer comprising: - a fixed body (7) housing a rotating crankshaft (10); - a motor (3) for driving the crankshaft (10); - a reduction gear unit (4) interconnected between the crankshaft and transmission means {(5, 6), characterised in that the reduction gear unit (4) is an epicyclic reduction gear unit. Preferably there is provided a lubricant feed line (15) which passes through the fixed body and reaches the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4). Preferably the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4) is constructed integrally with the fixed body (4). Said solution enables reductions in overall dimensions, weights and costs and an improved load distribution.
A homogeniser (1) for the continuous treatment of fluids at very high pressure comprises at least one reciprocating plunger (5) in a compression chamber (6) and a guide chamber (11) from a fluid intake position to a delivery position. Said compression chamber (6) opens into a manifold (27), inside a block (26) from which a delivery pipe (32) and an intake pipe (31) branch off. A first seal unit (21) is housed in the guide chamber (11), a second seal unit (24) is located close to the intersection between the compression chamber (6) and the guide chamber (11) and a third seal unit (35) is positioned upstream and downstream of each valve (28, 29) and the intersection between the manifold (27) and the compression chamber (6).
patents
