Homogenizing apparatus and method

Claim 2

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid comprising valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least one of the valve members having an annular valve seat protruding axially therefrom and spaced from an adjacent valve member by rigid spacing means to provide a valve slit between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, the spacing means being positioned between the valve members radially from the valve seat, wherein: the valve members are clamped together with rigid spacing means therebetween by means of a rigid actuator operative from the exterior of said housing to exert a variable axial clamping force on an end valve member, which force is concentrated radially from rigid spacing means associated with said end valve member for flexing that valve member to adjust the gap of a valve slit formed by said end valve member.

Claim 3

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rigid spacing means is positioned along the outer periphery of the valve members and the clamping force is concentrated centrally of the valve members.

Claim 4

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of valve members stacked to form a plurality of valve slits therebetween.

Claim 5

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexed valve member comprises a hard, annular valve surface fixed to a relatively soft main body.

Claim 6

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve seats are axially directed knife edges and the spacing of the knife edge valve seats from adjacent valve members is less than about 0.003 inches.

Claim 7

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rigid actuator is a hydraulic valve actuator.

Claim 8

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular, knife edge valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced from adjacent valve members by rigid spacing means to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, wherein: the rigid spacing means are positioned between the valve members radially outward from the knife edge valve seats; and the valve members are clamped together with the rigid spacing means therebetween by means of a rigid actuator acting centrally against an end valve member to exert a variable axial clamping force on said end valve member, which force is concentrated against said end valve member radially from rigid spacing means associated with said end valve member for flexing at least said end valve member to adjust the gap of at least one of the valve slits.

Claim 9

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular, knife edge valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced from adjacent valve members by rigid spacing means to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, wherein: the rigid spacing means are positioned between the valve members radially outward from the knife edge valve seats; and the valve members are clamped together with the rigid spacing means therebetween by means of a rigid actuator acting centrally against an end valve member to exert a variable axial clamping force on said end valve member, which force is concentrated against said end valve member radially from rigid spacing means associated with said end valve member for flexing at least said end valve member to adjust the gap of at least one of the valve slits.

Claim 10

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said end valve member comprises a hard, annular valve surface formed on a relatively soft main body.

Claim 11

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said end valve member has a counterbore formed at the center thereof for retaining a valve actuating rod.

Claim 12

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said end valve member includes a hard annular valve surface and a center counterbore on each surface thereof for reversible use of said end member.

Claim 13

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spacing of the knife edge valve seats from adjacent valve members is less than about 0.003 inches.

Claim 14

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the valve members are biased away from each other by springs.

Claim 15

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least one of the valve members is a rigid ring having a peripheral chamber groove in one face thereof concentric with a central hole in the ring, the groove partly defining a peripheral chamber and the resultant ridge between the central hole and the chamber groove forming a valve seat.

Claim 16

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein valve members are spaced radially inward from said housing and the valve members are held in alignment by means of spring elements positioned in complementary spring grooves in adjacent valve members.

Claim 17

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the rigid actuator is a hydraulic valve actuator.

Claim 18

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular, knife edge valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced less than 0.003 inch from adjacent valve members to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, the valve assembly comprising: rigid spacing means positioned between the valve members radially outward from the knife edge valve seats; valve actuating means for releasably clamping the valve members together into a tight stack, with rigid spacing means therebetween, by means of a rigid actuator operative from the exterior of said housing to exert an axial clamping force on the stack of valve members, which force is concentrated centrally on an end valve member radially inward from rigid spacing means associated with said end valve member for flexing at least said end valve member to adjust the gap of at least one of the valve slits; and spring elements between the valve members for exerting axial spring forces on the valve members to separate the valve members when the members are released by the valve actuating means, the valve members being thus separated to allow for substantially larger slit gaps for cleaning the slits, a valve slit gap between each valve seat and adjacent valve member being determined by said rigid spacing means independent of the spring elements in homogenizing or mixing operation, the valve members and rigid spacing means being fully compressed into a tight stack with the spring elements compressed therebetween.

Claim 19

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular, knife edge valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced less than 0.003 inch from adjacent valve members to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, the valve assembly comprising: rigid spacing means positioned between the valve members radially outward from the knife edge valve seats; valve actuating means for releasably clamping the valve members together into a tight stack, with rigid spacing means therebetween, by means of a rigid actuator operative from the exterior of said housing to exert an axial clamping force on the stack of valve members, which force is concentrated centrally on an end valve member radially inward from rigid spacing means associated with said end valve member for flexing at least said end valve member to adjust the gap of at least one of the valve slits; and spring elements between the valve members for exerting axial spring forces on the valve members to separate the valve members when the members are released by the valve actuating means, the valve members being thus separated to allow for substantially larger slit gaps for cleaning the slits, a valve slit gap between each valve seat and adjacent valve member being determined by said rigid spacing means independent of the spring elements in homogenizing or mixing operation, the valve members and rigid spacing means being fully compressed into a tight stack with the spring elements compressed therebetween.

Claim 20

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said end valve member comprises a hard, annular valve surface formed on a relatively soft main body.

Claim 21

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the spring elements are annular springs positioned in complementary spring grooves in the faces of adjacent valve members and the spring elements further serve to align the valve members in the stack.

Claim 22

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one of the valve members is a rigid ring having a peripheral chamber groove in one face thereof concentric with a central hole in the ring, the groove partly defining a peripheral chamber and the resultant ridge between the central hole and the chamber groove forming a valve seat.

Claim 23

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said at least one of the valve members further comprises: a flat valve surface aligned with the valve seat on the opposite face of the ring; a peripheral rim having flat axially directed surfaces, one surface being coplanar with the flat valve surface, the other surface being near coplanar with the valve seat but spaced axially a predetermined amount to assure a gap between the valve seat and the flat valve surface of a like valve member; and a plurality of axial fluid passages through the ring from the chamber groove.

Claim 24

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a spring groove in each of said flat axially directed rim surfaces.

Claim 25

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein said axially directed surface spaced a predetermined amount from the valve seat is on a shim.

Claim 26

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein an end valve member is a rigid ring having a peripheral chamber groove in one face thereof concentric with a central hole in the ring, the groove partly defining a peripheral chamber and the resultant ridge between the central hole and the chamber groove forming a valve seat, the assembly having a fluid seal between the end valve member and the housing to prevent seepage of liquid behind the end valve member.

Claim 27

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid of the type comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced from adjacent valve members by rigid spacing means to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, the valve assembly comprising: valve actuating means operative from the exterior of said housing for releasably clamping the valve members together into a tight stack, with rigid spacing means therebetween, to provide slits of predetermined gaps determined by the spacing means and actuator; and spring elements between the valve members for exerting axial spring forces on the valve members to separate the valve members when they are released by the valve actuating means, the valve members being thus separated to provide for substantially larger slit gaps for cleaning of the slits, a valve slit gap between each valve seat and adjacent valve member being determined by said rigid spacing means independent of the spring elements in homogenizing or mixing operation, the valve members and rigid spacing means being fully compressed into a tight stack with the spring elements compressed therebetween.

Claim 28

A valve assembly for homogenizing or mixing a fluid of the type comprising a plurality of valve members stacked within a housing and defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber within the housing, at least some of the valve members having annular valve seats protruding axially therefrom and spaced from adjacent valve members by rigid spacing means to provide a plurality of valve slits between the central and peripheral chambers through which fluid is expressed, the valve assembly comprising: valve actuating means operative from the exterior of said housing for releasably clamping the valve members together into a tight stack, with rigid spacing means therebetween, to provide slits of predetermined gaps determined by the spacing means and actuator; and spring elements between the valve members for exerting axial spring forces on the valve members to separate the valve members when they are released by the valve actuating means, the valve members being thus separated to provide for substantially larger slit gaps for cleaning of the slits, a valve slit gap between each valve seat and adjacent valve member being determined by said rigid spacing means independent of the spring elements in homogenizing or mixing operation, the valve members and rigid spacing means being fully compressed into a tight stack with the spring elements compressed therebetween.

Claim 29

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein the valve seats are axially directed knife edges and the spacing of the knife edge valve seats from adjacent valve members is less than about 0.003 inches.

Claim 30

A valve assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein the spring elements are annular springs positioned in complementary spring grooves in the faces of adjacent valve members and the spring elements further serve to align the valve members in the stack.

Claim 31

A valve member suitable for a stacked configuration homogenizing valve assembly, the valve member comprising a rigid ring having a central hole and having opposite faces which provide a valve surface and a valve seat for respective valve slits, the rigid ring further comprising: a chamber groove in one face thereof concentric with the central hole in the ring; an annular knife-edge valve seat forming a ridge between the central hole and chamber groove; a flat valve surface aligned with the valve seat on the opposite face of the ring; a peripheral rim having flat axially directed surfaces, one surface being coplanar with the flat valve surface, the other surface being near coplanar with the valve seat but spaced axially a predetermined amount to form a rigid spacer which assures a gap between the valve seat and the flat valve surface of a like valve member; and a plurality of axial fluid passages through the ring from the chamber groove.

Claim 32

A valve member suitable for a stacked configuration homogenizing valve assembly, the valve member comprising a rigid ring having a central hole and having opposite faces which provide a valve surface and a valve seat for respective valve slits, the rigid ring further comprising: a chamber groove in one face thereof concentric with the central hole in the ring; an annular knife-edge valve seat forming a ridge between the central hole and chamber groove; a flat valve surface aligned with the valve seat on the opposite face of the ring; a peripheral rim having flat axially directed surfaces, one surface being coplanar with the flat valve surface, the other surface being near coplanar with the valve seat but spaced axially a predetermined amount to form a rigid spacer which assures a gap between the valve seat and the flat valve surface of a like valve member; and a plurality of axial fluid passages through the ring from the chamber groove.

Claim 33

A valve member as claimed in claim 27 wherein the main body of the valve and the peripheral rim are formed in a unitary body.

Claim 34

A valve member as claimed in claim 27 wherein the rim includes a shim which provides the rim surface spaced axially from the valve seat.

Claim 35

A valve members as claimed in claim 27 wherein the rim surface is spaced less than 0.003 inches axially from the valve seat.

Claim 36

A valve member as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a spring groove in at least one of said peripheral rim surfaces.

Claim 37

A valve member as claimed in claim 31 comprising a spring groove in each of said peripheral rim surfaces.

Claim 38

A valve member suitable for a stacked configuration homogenizing valve assembly, the valve member comprising a rigid ring having a central hole and having opposite faces which provide a valve surface and a valve seat for respective valve slits, the rigid ring further comprising: a chamber groove in a face thereof concentric with the central hole in the ring; an annular knife edge valve seat forming a ridge between the central hole and chamber groove; a flat valve surface aligned with the valve seat on the opposite face of the ring; a peripheral rim having flat axially directed surfaces, one surface being coplanar with the flat valve surface, the other surface being near coplanar with the valve seat but spaced axially a predetermined amount less than 0.003 inch to form a rigid spacer which assures a gap between the valve seat and the flat valve surface of a like valve member; a plurality of axial fluid passages through the ring from the chamber groove; and a spring groove in each of said peripheral rim surfaces.

Claim 39

A valve member suitable for a stacked configuration homogenizing valve assembly, the valve member comprising a rigid ring having a central hole and having opposite faces which provide a valve surface and a valve seat for respective valve slits, the rigid ring further comprising: a chamber groove in a face thereof concentric with the central hole in the ring; an annular knife edge valve seat forming a ridge between the central hole and chamber groove; a flat valve surface aligned with the valve seat on the opposite face of the ring; a peripheral rim having flat axially directed surfaces, one surface being coplanar with the flat valve surface, the other surface being near coplanar with the valve seat but spaced axially a predetermined amount less than 0.003 inch to form a rigid spacer which assures a gap between the valve seat and the flat valve surface of a like valve member; a plurality of axial fluid passages through the ring from the chamber groove; and a spring groove in each of said peripheral rim surfaces.

Claim 42

A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the valve seats are annular knife-edge valve seats spaced radially inward from the spacer means and an axial actuating force is applied at the center of a valve member.