Patent ID: 9255244
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: B01F,C12M,F16C

Claim Text:
1. A bioreactor ( 1 ) comprising: a flexible container ( 2 ) with a wall ( 7 ) and an interior ( 9 ), a shaft ( 5 ) extending through the wall ( 7 ), a stirrer ( 6 ) connected to the shaft ( 5 ) in the interior ( 9 ) of the container ( 2 ), a drive ( 4 ) arranged outside the container ( 2 ) and connectable to the shaft ( 5 ), a shaft housing ( 3 ) mounted to the wall ( 7 ), the shaft housing ( 3 ) having a floor ( 8 ) disposed in the interior ( 9 ) of the container ( 2 ), the floor ( 8 ) surrounding the shaft ( 5 ) and extending out from the shaft ( 5 ), a tubular outer wall ( 13 ) surrounding and spaced out from the shaft ( 5 ) and a flat collar ( 14 ) extending out from the outer wall ( 13 ) and connected to the wall ( 7 ) of the container ( 2 ), a first recess ( 21 ) formed in the shaft housing ( 3 ) adjacent the floor ( 8 ) and a second recess ( 22 ) adjacent the first recess ( 21 ), the second recess ( 22 ) being cross-sectionally larger than the first recess ( 21 ) to define a step therebetween, at least one ball bearing ( 23 ) disposed in at least one track supported on the step in the second recess ( 22 ) of the shaft housing ( 3 ) for permitting rotation of the shaft ( 5 ) relative to the shaft housing ( 3 ) and at least one seal ( 11 , 20 ) in first recess ( 21 ) of the housing ( 3 ) and supported on the floor ( 8 ) with all of the seal ( 11 , 20 ) being between the floor ( 8 ) and the ball bearing ( 23 ), the seal ( 11 , 20 ) being configured as a radial shaft seal ( 28 ) having an outer surface opposed to the outer wall ( 13 ) and an inner surface with first and second sealing lips ( 30 , 31 ) that are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the shaft ( 5 ), the sealing lips ( 30 , 31 ) sealingly engaging the shaft ( 5 ) with no lubricant therebetween, the seal ( 11 , 20 ) having a closed end face ( 29 ) at an end of the seal ( 11 , 20 ) toward the interior ( 9 ) of the container ( 2 ), the closed end face ( 29 ) merging in a radial direction into the first sealing lip ( 30 ), with the first sealing lip ( 30 ) being configured as a protective lip, the second sealing lip ( 31 ) being between the first sealing lip ( 30 ) and the ball bearing ( 23 ), and a spring ring ( 32 ) radially outward of the second sealing lip ( 32 ) and pressing in the second sealing lip ( 31 ) sealingly against the shaft ( 5 ), a circumferential collar ( 26 ) extending out from the shaft ( 5 ) and engaging an end of the at least one track of the ball bearing ( 23 ) opposite the at least one seal ( 11 , 20 ) and a spring ring or circlip ( 25 ) engaged in an annular groove in the shaft housing ( 3 ) and engaging the end of the at least one track of the ball bearing ( 23 ) opposite the at least one seal ( 11 , 20 ).