Single Use Diaphragm Valve Body

1 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) comprising: a valve body ( 2 ); a diaphragm ( 12 ) which is sealed to the valve body ( 2 ) to define a flow passage ( 9 ) which extends between an inlet port ( 7 ) and an outlet port ( 8 ), both defined by the valve body ( 2 ); and an operating mechanism secured to the valve body ( 2 ) for moving the diaphragm ( 12 ) into sealing engagement with a valve seat ( 11 ) provided on the valve body ( 2 ) in order to close the flow passage ( 9 ) to fluid flow, characterised in that the valve body ( 2 ) and diaphragm ( 12 ) are integrally formed as a disposable assembly having a relatively less flexible region with a weir extending across the passage ( 9 ) which forms the valve seat ( 11 ) and a relatively more flexible region ( 12 ) which forms the diaphragm which may be forced into engagement with the valve seat ( 11 ) to close the flow passage ( 9 ) to fluid flow, and a housing ( 3 ) is provided for mechanically supporting the region of the valve body in which the seat area is defined.

2 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said housing ( 3 ) has a longitudinal through opening formed therein in which at least the region of the valve body in which the seat area is defined in mounted so as to support said region.

3 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said housing includes an aperture in the region of the diaphragm ( 12 ) in which said operating mechanism engages.

4 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said housing is formed by an upper support member ( 4 ) having a lower surface which engages an upper surface of said region of the valve body, and a lower support member ( 5 ) having an upper surface which engages a lower surface of said region of the valve body, said upper and lower surfaces of said support members ( 4 , 5 ) being of complementary shape to the respective upper and lower surfaces of the said region.

5 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein said support members ( 4 , 5 ) define between each other a through opening through which said valve body extends.

6 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the region of the valve body ( 2 ) in which the seating area is defined has an upper wall and a lower wall, the upper wall being flexible and forming the diaphragm ( 14 ), and the lower surface being rigid and its inner surface forming the valve seat ( 11 ).

7 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein said upper wall is thinner than said lower wall so as to be more flexible.

8 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein said upper wall is of a different shape to said lower wall such that said upper wall is more flexible than said lower wall.

9 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) claim 6 , wherein said lower wall includes reinforcing means which increases its stiffness.

10 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein said upper wall is formed of a more flexible material than said lower wall.

11 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further including a pair of wings ( 13 , 14 ) which extend laterally outwards from opposite sites of the valve body in the region of the valve seat.

12 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , where said wings ( 13 , 14 ) extend longitudinally along the valve body and taper laterally towards said valve body ( 2 ) towards each end thereof so as to have a maximum width in the region of the valve seat ( 12 ).

13 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm ( 12 ) is formed separately to and is sealingly welded to valve body ( 2 ), in particular by welding.

14 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm ( 12 ) is formed of a different material or different grade of material, in particular a different polymer or different grade of polymer, than at least the region of the valve body ( 2 ) which forms the valve seat ( 11 ).

15 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said housing ( 3 ) includes marking means which permanently marks the valve body upon mounting of the valve body therein so as to identify the valve body as having been used.

16 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 16 , wherein marking means damages said valve body so as to prevent its reuse.

17 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said operating means ( 32 ) is mechanically coupled to said diaphragm such that upon movement of the operating means ( 32 ) towards the valve seat the diaphragm ( 12 ) is pressed by the operating means ( 32 ) against said valve seat ( 11 ) and upon movement of the operating means ( 32 ) away from the valve

18 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 17 , wherein a coupling means, in particular a cup ( 40 ), is formed, in particular integrally formed, on said diaphragm ( 12 ), which couplingly engages, in particular is a snap fit, with complementary coupling means, in particular a button ( 42 ) carries on the operating means ( 32 ).

19 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 18 , wherein said diaphragm ( 12 ) is coupled to the operating means ( 32 ) in such a manner that the coupling means formed on the diaphragm is damaged upon uncoupling the diaphragm from the operating means ( 32 ), thereby prevent reuse of the valve body ( 2 ).

20 . A diaphragm valve ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body is profiled to include a flat invert surface ( 24 ) extending through the body from the inlet port ( 7 ) to the outlet port ( 8 ) such that the valve body is self draining.