Valve with leak detecting seal and diaphragm assembly

Claim 1

A readily cleanable valve for regulating milk or like liquid flow under conditions inhibiting contamination comprising a valve body equipped with at least two ports, one of said ports providing a valve seat, said valve body having an opening opposite said one port, a guide bearing clamped to said valve body and having an end wall remote from said valve body for closing said opening and being in alignment with said one port, said guide bearing having an actuator body coupled thereto on the side thereof remote from said valve body, a piston mounted in said actuator body and having rod means extending through an opening in said guide bearing end wall into said valve body, said rod means being equipped with a valve head for engagement with said seat, said actuator body being equipped with port means for applying fluid pressure to said piston, an O-ring seal interposed between said guide bearing end wall opening and said rod means, a circular apertured diaphragm connected about said aperture to said rod means at a point thereon between said head and the point of contact of said O-ring, the perimeter of said diaphragm being clamped between said valve body and said guide bearing to constitute a second seal whereby liquid in said valve body is isolated from fluid in said actuator body By seals arranged in series, a cup member mounted on said rod means adjacent the connection of said diaphragm to said rod means, said cup member having a cylindrical wall extending beyond the clamping of the diaphragm perimeter between said valve body and guide bearing whereby said cup member provides continuous support during folding and unfolding of said diaphragm, each of said valve body and guide bearing being equipped with an annular flange for confronting engagement and for clamping said diaphragm perimeter therebetween, said guide bearing being equipped with leak-detect port means communicating the interior of said guide bearing between said O-ring and diaphragm with the atmosphere, and quick disconnect clamp means perimetrically arranged about said flanges whereby disconnecting said clamp means permits quick removal of said valve body to expose for cleaning all portions of said valve contacted by liquid.