초록 ▼

A valve device for connecting two conduits in a unit for conducting a product comprises a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member and a first leakage space between the first and the second shut-off members, a first connection for one of the two conduits on a side of the first shut-off mem

A valve device for connecting two conduits in a unit for conducting a product comprises a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member and a first leakage space between the first and the second shut-off members, a first connection for one of the two conduits on a side of the first shut-off member facing away from the leakage space, and a second connection for the other of the two conduits on the side of the second shut-off member facing away from the leakage space. A third shut-off member and a fourth shut-off member and a second leakage space are present between the third and the fourth shut-off members, wherein a central third leakage space is present between the second and the third shut-off members, and wherein the second connection for the other of the two conduits is arranged on a side of the fourth shut-off member facing away from the second leakage space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A unit for conducting a product, comprising: at least two conduits which are connected to one another via a valve device, said valve device comprising a first double seat valve having a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member, and a first leakage space between said first and said secon

1. A unit for conducting a product, comprising: at least two conduits which are connected to one another via a valve device, said valve device comprising a first double seat valve having a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member, and a first leakage space between said first and said second shut-off members,a first connection for one of said two conduits on a side of said first shut-off member facing away from said first leakage space,a second double seat valve having a third shut-off member and a fourth shut-off member, and a second leakage space between said third and fourth shut-off members,a second connection for the other of said two conduits on the side of said fourth shut-off member facing away from said second leakage space,said first double seat valve having a first longitudinal axis and said second double seat valve having a second longitudinal axis, said first double seat valve and said second double seat valve being arranged with the first and second longitudinal axes being in alignment with resect to one another, andan intermediate third leakage space arranged between said second shut-off member and said third shut-off member, which is sealed off from said first and second leakage spaces in the closed state of the second and third shut-off member. 2. The unit of claim 1, comprising a multiplicity of conduits, of which a first number of conduits are product-supplying and a second number of conduits are product-discharging, and further comprising a multiplicity of said valve devices, wherein each product-supplying conduit is connected to each product-discharging conduit by a respective one of said valve devices. 3. A method for operating a unit for conducting a product, said unit comprising at least two conduits which are connected to one another via a valve device, said valve device comprising a first double seat valve having a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member, and a first leakage space between said first and said second shut-off members,a first connection for one of said two conduits on a side of said first shut-off member facing away from said first leakage space,a second double seat valve having a third shut-off member and a fourth shut-off member, and a second leakage space between said third and fourth shut-off members,a second connection for the other of said two conduits on the side of said fourth shut-off member facing away from said second leakage space,said first double seat valve having a first longitudinal axis and said second double seat valve ham a second longitudinal axis, said first double seat valve and said second double seat valve being arranged with the first and second longitudinal axes being in alignment with respect to one another, andan intermediate third leakage space arranged between said second shut-off member and said third shut-off member, which is sealed off from said first and second leakage spaces in the closed state of the second and third shut-off member,the method comprising: opening said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members to transfer a product from the one of said two conduits through the first, second and third leakage spaces into the other of said two conduits. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least said first and said second leakage spaces each have a separate steam inlet in order for sterilizing steam to be provided to a respective one of said first and said second leakage spaces, wherein said respective steam inlet is respectively provided with a controllable steam inlet valve, the method comprising providing sterilizing steam to at least one of said steam inlets of said first, second and third leakage spaces while said respective steam inlet valve is closed. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least said first and said second leakage spaces each have a separate steam inlet in order for sterilizing steam to be providing to a respective one of said first and said second leakage spaces, the method further comprising, in order to interrupt transfer of product from the one of said two conduits into the other one of said two conduits, closing said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members, and opening at least one of said steam inlet valves to provide sterilizing steam to at least one of said first, second and third leakage spaces. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein a separate outlet leading away downward from said respective first and second leakage spaces is arranged in each case at least on said first and second leakage spaces, the method further comprising, in order to interrupt transfer of product from said one of said two conduits into the other of said two conduits for a longer time, closing said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members, and flooding at least one of said first, second and third leakage spaces with a sterile condensate through at least one of said outlet valves after having been opened. 7. The method of claim 3, further comprising closing said first and second shut-off members so that product flows through said one of said two conduits, opening said third and fourth shut-off members, conducting a cleaning medium through the other of said two conduits into said second and third leakage spaces, and providing sterilizing steam to said first leakage space. 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising closing said third and fourth shut-off members so that product flows through said other of said two conduits, opening said first and second shut-off members, conducting a cleaning medium through said one of said two conduits into said first and third leakage spaces, and providing sterilizing steam to said second leakage space. 9. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing sterilizing steam to at least one of said first, second and third leakage spaces when said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members are dosed. 10. The method of claim 3, wherein at least said first and second leakage spaces each have a separate steam inlet in order for sterilizing steam to be provided to a respective one of said first and said second leakage spaces, and wherein a separate outlet leading away downward from said respective first and second leakage spaces is arranged in each case at least on said first and second leakage spaces, the method comprising closing said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members so that product flows in one of said two conduits, opening at least one of said steam inlet valves and flooding at least one of said first, second and third leakage spaces with sterile condensate through at least one of said outlet valves after having been opened. 11. A valve device for connecting two conduits in a unit for conducting a product, comprising: a first double seat valve having a first shut-off member and a second shut-off member, and a first leakage space between said first and said second shut-off members,a first connection for one of said two conduits on a side of said first shut-off member facing away from said first leakage space,a second double seat valve having a third shut-off member and a fourth shut-off member, and a second leakage space between said third and fourth shut-off members,a second connection for the other of said two conduits on the side of said fourth shut-off member facing away from said second leakage space,said first double seat valve having a first longitudinal axis and said second double seat valve having a second longitudinal axis, said first double seat valve and said second double seat valve being arranged with the first and second longitudinal axes being in alignment with respect to one another, andan intermediate third leakage space arranged between said second shut-off member and said third shut-off member, which is sealed off from said first and second leakage spaces in the closed state of the second and third shut-off member. 12. The valve device of claim 11, wherein said first and second shut-off members can be opened and closed independently of said third and fourth shut-off members. 13. The valve device of claim 11, wherein said first, second, third and fourth shut-off members and said intermediate third leakage space are arranged in a common, single-piece housing. 14. The valve device of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first connection for said one conduit and said second connection for said other conduit leads tangentially on a bottom side into said housing. 15. The valve device of claim 11, wherein said first shut-off member has a first valve disk and a first valve seat, said second shut-off member has a second valve disk and a second valve seat, and said third shut-off member has a third valve disk and a third valve seat, and said fourth shut-off member has a fourth valve disk and a fourth valve seat. 16. The valve device of claim 15, wherein said first and second valve disks and said third and fourth valve disks are each actuable independently of one another. 17. The valve device of claim 11, wherein at least said first and said second leakage spaces each have a separate steam inlet in order for sterilizing steam to be provided to a respective one of said first and second leakage spaces. 18. The valve device of claim 17, wherein said steam inlets are at an angular offset relative to one another that is smaller than approximately 30°. 19. The valve device of claim 17, wherein said respective steam inlet is respectively provided with a controllable steam inlet valve. 20. The valve device of claim 11, wherein a separate outlet leading away downward from said respective first and second leakage spaces is arranged in each case at least on said first and second leakage spaces. 21. The valve device of claim 20, wherein said outlets are at an angular offset relative to one another that is smaller than approximately 30°. 22. The valve device of claim 20, wherein said respective outlet is respectively provided with an outlet valve.