Abstract:
The invention pertains to a hygienic three way valve for dispensing medicinal, pharmaceutical and food products or other fluid materials which require the processing of fill products without contamination while providing a positive control over the the fill product. The novel hygienic three way valve provides a positive control over fill products by utilizing a fluid activated piston having a positive shut off provided by a substantially cylindrical sealing head in combination with tapered sealing seats that receive the upper and lower sealing surfaces of the substantially cylindrical sealing head. A pneumatic or fluid means is provided for activating the piston and a leak detection port is disposed through the wall of the main valve body communicating with the piston. A first seal is disposed between the leak detection port and the product chamber and a second seal disposed between the leak detection port and the piston activation means to prevent the contamination of fill products with fluid activation means for activating the piston. The novel hygienic three way valve is preferably composed of at least three separable components which are preferably assembled together with flange clamps.

Description:
This application claims benefits of 60/168,678, filed Dec. 3, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to a three way valve having a positive shut off valve for mixing or diverting a flowable material. More particularly, the novel hygienic three way valve is provided for mixing or diverting flowable materials while avoiding contamination of the flowable material by employing a positive controlled valve having a tapered valve seat of a substantially frustro-conical configuration in combination with a substantially cylindrical piston sealing head actuated by a piston positively controlled by fluid activation. 
     The fluid activated piston of the novel hygienic three way valve preferably employs a pneumatically controlled piston having a pneumatic activation chamber at one end and a product chamber at the other end. The pneumatically activated piston is disposed through the valve body, which valve body includes a leak detection port disposed between the pneumatic activation chamber and the product chamber with a first sealing means disposed between the leak detection port and the pneumatic activation chamber and a second sealing means disposed between the product chamber and the leak detection port. 
     The leak detection port, in combination with the first and second sealing means not only provides early detection of seal failure but also identifies the location of the defective seal without allowing contamination of the fill material with contaminants in the pneumatic air or activation fluids in the chamber for activating the positive controlled piston. The combination of the air or fluid in the activation chamber with cups on the piston allows the piston to not only positively open and close the valves, but also to assume an infinite number of positions between the valves. 
     The novel hygienic three way valve not only prevents contamination of the flowable fill material with the fluids used to activate the positive controlled piston for opening and closing the positive control valve, but also provides for the mixing or diversion of fluids introduced to the three way valve by utilizing a second tapered valve seat having a substantially frustro-conical configuration disposed axially adjacent to the first tapered valve seat to utilize both an upper and lower portion of the substantially cylindrical piston sealing surfaces of the sealing head attached to the positively controlled piston. 
     The first and second tapered sealing seats are disposed in a mixing or diversion chamber disposed below an inlet chamber communicating with a product introduction port. A second port communicates with the mixing or diversion chamber intermediate the first and second sealing seats to provide a mixing or diversion chamber which also communicates with an outlet port. The novel hygienic three way valve is preferably segmented into a fluid cylinder or chamber for housing the positive controlled piston activation means, a main body, having a first or inlet product chamber and a second or product mixing or diversion chamber, and a port disposed intermediate the tapered ends of the mixing or diversion chamber and an outlet port in axial alignment with the mixing or diversion chamber. 
     The novel three way hygienic valve includes, in the preferred application, flanged connections between the fluid activation chamber, the main body of the three way valve, and the outlet port. In addition, flanges are provided for interconnections between the first inlet port leading to the first product chamber and the product port communicating with the second product chamber, as well as at both ends of the outlet port. Optionally, the main body can be further segmented and additional flange connections can be provided between the first product chamber and the second product chamber, as well as the provision of additional mixing chambers along the axial length of the sealing piston, as well as additional sealing heads of decreasing diameters disposed axially along the length of the novel hygienic valve. The combination of axial aligned sealing heads in such applications can provide a plurality of mixing and/or diversion zones in the novel valve, as well as providing a positive shut off of all of the mixing chambers from the outlet nozzle by the retraction of the positively controlled piston for controlling multiple valves. 
     The novel hygienic mixing or diversion valve of the invention may include a plurality first and second seals for providing a determination of seal failure and a plurality of leak detection ports between the various axially aligned mixing or diversion chambers. The novel hygienic three way valve is preferably constructed of a seamless material, such as stainless steel, glass or other material that can be easily cleaned and has a smooth, seamless surface that prevents the build-up of bacteria or other contaminants that would have a deleterious effect upon fill products requiring the highest hygienic handling consistent with food, medical and pharmaceutical preparations and processing. 
     2. Description of Related Prior Art 
     A wide variety of product mixing or diversion valves are known in the prior art. Some of these diversion valves are made of stainless steel, glass and other seamless materials, but these prior art diversion valves do not include a positive shutoff valve provided by a pneumatically activated piston having a sealing head of a substantially cylindrical configuration in combination with a pair of tapered sealing seats of a frusto conical configuration in combination with a leak detection port for providing a positive identification of seal failure before deterioration of the seal has resulted in contamination of a fill product with the fluid for activation of the piston. 
     In the prior art, seal failure has resulted in the contamination of the fill product with the fluids for activating the product valve piston. The fluids typically utilized in the food processing industry have been partially pneumatically controlled and partially spring controlled pistons and when such prior art pistons fail, the fill product is contaminated with pressurized air from an air pressure source and the contaminants generally found in pressurized air which typically include dust, bacteria, oil and other small particulate matter as well as lubricants employed with springs in the piston activation chamber. Typically, such seal failures have resulted in shutting down the production line and in some cases, recall of defectively packaged products. 
     None of the know prior three way mixing and diversion valves have provided a positive leak detection means for providing advanced warning of a seal failure or provided a failsafe seal that would prevent the contamination of the fill product with the pneumatic fluid pressure and spring combination for operating the product dispensing piston. Further, none of the known prior art utilizes a positive control valve in combination with the pneumatic piston, which provides a tapered seat for positively controlling the dispensation of a fill product without displaying some dripping or bleed through of product around the piston. Such problems are common in the food processing industry, where stainless steel pistons are typically utilized to exert pressures on compressible fluids utilized to dispense a flowable product which is obviated by the present invention in allowing the piston to free float and not compress the fluid when the piston is operated in applications where closure of one of the valves is not required. Further in the prior art stainless steel pistons have not utilized a rubber or an elastomeric sealing head in combination with tapered sealing seats disposed in the path of flow of the dispensed flowable product. 
     In a prior art search no patents were uncovered utilizing a novel three way valve similar to that of the present invention with a leak detection port. Instead prior art was uncovered pertaining to leak detection ports and devices and three way valves. The most relevant prior art pertinent to leak detection ports pertained to leak detection devices used in gas flow applications such as Matthews U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,932, Kurtz, et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,874 and Steeper et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,979. None of these prior art leak detection patents teach or suggest the utilization of a leak detection port in combination with a product mixing or diversion valve. 
     None of the known prior art leak detection port devices employs a double seal arrangement in combination with a mixing or diversion valve piston to prevent the contamination of a processed product. The closest known prior art is Steeper U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,979, which discloses a leak detection port across an O-ring flanged connection. The leak detection port provided in Steeper U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,979 pertains to a leak detection port for indicating leaks radially along the O-ring as opposed to axially along the length of the piston as is provided in accordance with the novel fill valve assembly of the invention. 
     The most relevant patent uncovered pertaining to diverter or three way valves in the prior art most pertinent to the present invention is Copas, et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,021 which pertains to a machine for filling containers which, like the present invention, provides for the flanged connections for the various components. Copas, et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,021 in col. 8, lines 6-19, describes the utilization and operation of the diverter valve but does not describe the diverter valve other than to describe it as manually operable. The other prior art patents uncovered pertinent to three way valves include Fujioka U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,923, Yonezawa U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,021, Spencer U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,586 and Anderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,821. These prior art patents include provisions for directing fluids from port to port without contamination, pressure activated piston valves and beverage pouring apparatus. However, each of the valve devices are patently distinct from the novel three way valve of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a novel three way valve, particularly suited for applications involving the mixing or diversion of flowable products requiring hygienic treatment, such as are encountered in the pharmaceutical, medicinal and food handling industries. More particularly, the novel three way valve provides positive control over mixing and diversion of fluid materials by employing a positive control pneumatically activated valve formed by a piston having a substantially cylindrical head in combination with one or more tapered seats for cooperating with the substantially cylindrical head to provide precise control over fluid products, such as medicine formulations, milk, yogurt and other dairy products and beverages. The novel three way valve is positively controlled by air pressure to open or close each valve but also can utilize differential pressures in the piston activation chamber to free float between the tapered valve seats when desired. The novel three way valve is preferably composed of stainless steel or other material that is substantially free from threads, seams, welds or other surface imperfections that would foster the growth of bacteria or other deleterious substances. 
     The novel three way valve utilizes a fluid activated piston for positively mating in at least one valve seat to form a valve provided by the combination of the substantially cylindrical sealing head of the piston, in combination with at least one tapered sealing seat in the novel three way valve. In the preferred application, a pair of tapered sealing seats in axial alignment are provided in the novel three way valve to provide a first and second valve by cooperating with a double sided sealing head of the piston by utilizing the bottom of the substantially cylindrical piston head and the top of the substantially cylindrical head in response to the pneumatic activation of the mixing valve piston. The mixing valve piston with the substantially cylindrical piston head, can be operated to maintain the substantially cylindrical piston head intermediate the axially aligned tapered sealing seats by utilizing differential air pressure in the piston activation chamber in relation to the density of the processed fluid product to provide a turbulence generating mechanism to assist in the mixing of fluid in the mixing valve embodiment of the novel product three way valve. 
     The novel product three way valve is preferably composed of a main valve body, a pneumatic chamber for activating the product valve piston and an outlet port having a tapered seat for providing one of the tapered seats for the novel three way valve. The main body includes, at one end, a flange for mating with a corresponding flange of a pneumatic chamber or cylinder for activating the pneumatically controlled piston and at the other end, a flange for accommodating the product outlet containing one of the tapered sealing seats for the pneumatically controlled piston. The novel product three way valve includes at least two product input ports for receiving products to be either mixed or diverted in the novel three way product valve. 
     The novel three way product valve is particularly adapted for hygienic filling and mixing operations and includes a leak detection port for identifying the precise position of a defective seal before products introduced into the novel three way valve can become contaminated in filling or product diversion operations. The leak detection port is provided in the novel three way valve in the main valve housing at a point intermediate the attachment of the piston valve actuating chamber and a first product chamber disposed in the novel three way valve body. A first seal is provided intermediate the first product chamber and the leak detection port and a second seal is provided intermediate the leak detection port and the pneumatic piston activation chamber. The leak detection port in combination with the seals provides a positive identification of the location of a defective seal as being either the first or the second seal and at the same time, prevents contamination of either the processed product or the pneumatic air chamber by utilizing the other seal as a failsafe system to prevent bypass of air or product to prevent contamination. 
     The novel three way valve main body includes a first product processing chamber in axial alignment with a second processing chamber and a first tapered sealing seat intermediate the first product chamber and the second product chamber. A first port communicates with the first product processing chamber and a second port communicates with the second product processing chamber. The product processing piston with the sealing head is designed to be positioned in at least two different positions in the second product processing chamber and provide closure of the first product processing chamber from the second processing chamber by seating in the first tapered sealing seat or to seal the second tapered sealing seat at the other end of the second product processing chamber. Alternatively, the product processing piston is also designed to operate to either free float or be positively controlled by air in piston activation chamber to assume positions intermediate the first and second tapered sealing seats in the second product processing chamber to assist in the mixing or diversion of fluids in the second product processing chamber. 
     The novel three way valve not only provides for diversion and mixing of fluids in the processing chamber, but also provides for the hygienic handling of fluid material, such as medicinal products, food products, beverages and other fluid materials by preventing the contamination of processed products with the fluid utilized to activate the pneumatic piston. Flanges connecting the components assist in cleaning and maintenance operations which, together with the composition of the stainless steel used for the construction of the valve, assists in cleaning operations. The positive identification of deterioration of the seal prevents the packaging and possible shipment of contaminated product, which would subsequently require expensive recall of defectively filled or contaminated packaged products. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in conjunction with the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the novel three way valve of the invention; 
     FIGS. 1A,  1 B and  1 C is an exploded view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the components of the novel three way valve of FIG.1 in greater detail; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the novel three way valve of FIGS. 1,  1 A,  1 B and  1 C, partly in section illustrating various sealing and mixing positions in accordance with the best mode of the invention for the sealing head of the product processing piston; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the sealing head of the product processing piston; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the main valve body with the ports in a different orientation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The novel three way valve provides positive control over the diversion and mixing of fluid materials and in particular, materials requiring the highest standards of hygienic handling, such as yogurt, milk, ice cream and other such flowable food products as well as medicines and pharmaceutical products. The novel three way valve further provides for preventing the contamination of products processed or handled in the novel three way valve with fluid or other pneumatic activation means utilized to activate the piston for providing positive control over the valves in the respective pneumatic and product processing chambers of the novel three way valve. In addition, the failsafe leak detection port not only provides positive identification of the location of seal failure, but also provides a back-up secondary seal that provides back-up protection against contamination of the fluid for activating the piston as well as the product processed in the novel three way valve. 
     The novel three way valve is preferably made of stainless steel or other material providing for the highest purity and hygienic standards for the sanitary dispensation of flowable materials. As such, the novel three way valve is typically made of high grade stainless steel that is noncorrosive and is without seams, threads, welds or other surface imperfections that would allow the accumulation or accretion of any particles that would have a deleterious effect upon handled products. Further, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the three major portions of the novel three way valve are held together with flanges to avoid the use of threads or seams that would otherwise provide surfaces or crevices for the growth of contaminants or other deleterious bacteria or substances that might otherwise contaminate a hygienically handled flowable product. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 the best mode of the novel three way valve  10  is illustrated which includes a main valve body  12 , a cylinder housing  14  and a valve seat port  16 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main valve body  12  includes a flange  18  for mating with a corresponding flange  20  on the cylinder housing  14 . A flange clamp  22  is utilized to maintain cylinder housing  14  in connection with main valve body  12 . Similarly, a flange  24  is provided on the other end of main cylinder body  12  for mating with a corresponding flange  26  disposed on valve seat port  16 . A flange clamp  28  is similarly provided for maintaining main valve body  12  in contact with valve seat port  16 . Flange clamp  22  and  28  are preferably triclover flange clamps as are manufactured by Triclover Inc. of Kenosha, Wis. The triclover clamps  22  and  28  are preferably pivoted at joint  30  and include an adjustable key nut  32  for firmly securing the flange clamp around flanges  24  and  26  and flange  18  and  20  to provide a novel three way valve with fluid tight seals. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  1 A and  2 , the main valve body  12  includes an air pressure port  34  for receiving a standard air pressure fitting (not shown). Air pressure port  34  is connected to pressure port  36  via channel  38  (FIG. 3) to provide activation of piston rod  40  in a manner that will be described hereinafter in greater detail. 
     Flange  18  of main valve body  12  includes an O-ring recess  42  for receiving an O-ring seal  44  for providing an air tight seal when clamp  22  is secured around flange  18  and  20 . Flange  18  further includes a support plate  46  and an opening  48  for receiving a bushing  50  to assist in the positioning of piston rod  40  in a passage  52  in which piston rod  40  is disposed between first chamber  54  of main valve body  12  and cylinder housing  14 . Bushing  50  is preferably composed of a plastic material providing close tolerance around piston rod  40  and is preferably composed of a half delrin and half Teflon composition to not only provide a slick surface for the movement of piston rod  40  in passage  52 , but also increase the service life of bushing  50 . 
     An O-ring  56  is provided in seat  60  for providing a seal between leak detection port  62  and cylinder housing  14 . A second O-ring  58  is provided in seat  64  disposed between leak detection port  62  and first chamber  54 . Two O-ring seals may be utilized either between the leak detection port and the cylinder housing  14  or the first chamber  54 . Preferably the double O-ring application utilizes the two O-ring seals between the leak detection port  62  and the first chamber  54 . O-ring seals  56  and  58  are preferably quad seal rings, as may be obtained from McMaster, Inc. of Norwalk, Calif. 
     First chamber  54  in main valve body  12  is connected to port  66 , which preferably terminates in a flange  68 , which may be connected to a product inlet corresponding flange (not shown) by means of a flange clamp similar to those previously described. Port  66  provides for the entrance or exit of a flowable product from first chamber  54 . First chamber  54  terminates in a tapered valve seat  70 , which separates first chamber  54  from second chamber  72 . Second chamber  72  is connected to port  74 , which preferably includes a flange  76  provided in valve seat port  16  which is connected to main valve body  12  by flange clamp  28 . Port  74  also includes a corresponding flange connected by a flange clamp to a reservoir (not shown) for introducing or providing for the diversion of a fluid from second chamber  72  to provide for mixing or diversion depending upon the position of sealing head  78  of piston rod  40  in a manner that will be described hereinafter in greater detail. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  1 B and  2 , the activation of piston rod  40  is provided by air pressure introduced into cylinder housing  14 . Cylinder housing  14  includes an air pressure inlet  80 , which provides for the threaded engagement for an air pressure fitting  82  for introducing air pressure into chamber  84  of cylinder housing  14 . A pad  86  is disposed in cylinder housing  14  through opening  88 , which may include threads to provide for the optional adjustment for positioning piston  40  in chambers  84  and  72 . 
     Air pressure introduced to air pressure inlet  80  exerts fluid pressure on pressure cup or piston  90 , which is threadably attached to piston rod  40  by screw  92 , through washer  94 , ring  96 , washer  98 , second ring  100 , pressure cup  102  and washer  104 . Threads  106  of screw  92  are received by corresponding threads  108  (FIG. 1A) of piston rod  40 . As a result, when air pressure is introduced into chamber  84  of cylinder housing  14 , piston rod  40  is pushed down into cylinder housing  14  to force sealing head  78  down into tapered valve seat  110  in valve seat port  16  (FIG.  2 ). Alternatively, when air pressure is introduced through air pressure fitting  34  and through passage  38  and out through pressure port  36 , pressure cup or piston  102  is pushed up into cylinder housing  14  causing sealing head  72  to seat in tapered valve seat  70 , as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG.  3 . Sealing head  78  includes a bottom sealing surface  112  and a top sealing surface  114  to provide a fluid tight seal in tapered valve seat  110  and tapered valve seat  70 , respectively. 
     As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, air pressure chamber  84  controls the position of sealing head  78  in second chamber  72 . This provides numerous advantages in not only providing for positive sealing in tapered valve seat  70  and tapered valve seat  110 , but also for maintaining sealing head  78  in any desired intermediate position. This is particularly advantageous where liquids of varying temperature, density, viscosity and compressibility are dispensed since the difference in air pressure introduced through pressure inlet  80  and/or pressure port  34  can be used to control the position of sealing head  78  in relation to the density, viscosity and compressibility of the processed fluid. This is particularly the case where foods, such as ice cream, are processed in the novel three way valve since temperature of the ice cream varies the density and viscosity of the processed product. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 1C, valve seat port  16  includes tapered valve seat  110  for accommodating bottom sealing surface  112  of sealing head  78 . Valve seat port  16  includes a flange  26  for mating with corresponding flange  24  of main valve body  12 . An O-ring gasket  116  is provided to maintain a fluid tight seal between main valve body  12  and valve seat port  16 . Valve seat port  16  also preferably includes a flange  118  for connecting to an outlet port or nozzle for dispensing a product mixed or processed in the novel three way valve. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a modified sealing head  120  is illustrated connected to piston rod  40  for operation in the novel three way valve  10 . Modified sealing head  120  may be made of an elastomeric material or be made of stainless steel with one or more rubber O-ring inserts  122  and  124  which are held in place by a grovoe  126  and  128  in modified piston head  120  to provide sealing in tapered valve seat  70  and  110 . The sealing head  78  provided on piston rod  40  can be modified in a number of ways in combination with the tapered sealing seats  70  and  110  to provide a fluid tight seal in a variety of ways known to those skilled in the art to provide a fluid tight seal to suit particular requirements. 
     The novel three way valve is preferably interconnected with flanges to assist in maintain a sanitary and hygienic connection between the various parts of the three way valves as well as the interconnection with the various ports leading into and out of the novel three way valve. All the connections in contact with flowable food or medicinal products are preferably smooth and devoid of cracks, seams, welds or other surface imperfections that would harbor bacteria, dirt or other deleterious substances to maintaining the highest purity standards for food, medical and pharmaceutical processing standards. Further the flanges provided in the various input and exit ports of the novel three way valve can be attached to a corresponding flange on a cleaning device to pump fluid in, around and through the novel hygienic three way valve. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, a novel three way valve  140  is illustrated with ports  142  and  144  oriented on main valve body  146  in a different radial arrangement than ports  66  and  74  or main valve body  12 . The operation of piston rod  40  as well as the tapered valve seats  70  and  110  operate in a similar manner as heretofore described. As will be recognized the orientation of ports  142  and  144  can be modified both radially and axially to suit particular requirements and the length of piston rod can be modified to accommodate particular requirements. 
     The novel hygienic three way valve in operation provides not only for the mixing of products in the second chamber by utilizing the sealing head  78  to provide a disturbance in the flow of the product, but also allows for use as a diversion valve, depending upon the application of the novel three way valve. As heretofore discussed, piston rod  40  can seal port  66  from port  74  by closing tapered valve seat  70  with top sealing surface  114  of sealing head  78 . Alternatively, sealing head  78  can close port  160  from port  66  and  74  by closing tapered valve seat  110  in valve sealing port  16  to provide diversion of product introduced into port  66  out through  74  where diversion of product rather than mixing is desired in the novel three way valve. 
     Alternatively, the novel three way valve can be utilized for mixing product introduced through port  66  and through port  74  in second chamber  72  by maintaining piston rod  40  and sealing head  78  in an intermediate position between tapered valve seat  70  and tapered seat  110 . The novel hygienic three way valve  10  can thereby be utilized either for mixing two different fluids in second chamber  72  and discharging the mixed product through port  160  or can be utilized for diversion of product between port  66  and port  74 . As heretofore discussed, the novel hygienic three way valve allows for easy cleaning operation by the pumping of fluid through port  160 , port  74  or port  66  to clean chambers  54  and  72 , as welt as sealing head  78  and the tapered valve seats  110  and  70 . 
     The novel hygienic three way valve provides numerous advantages over prior art valves by not only providing a positive control over the mixing and diversion of fluids introduced into the three way valve, but also provides for easy cleaning of the hygienic valve, as well as providing a leak detection port for preventing the contamination of fill product introduced into the novel three way valve with air pressure or fluids utilized to activate the novel hygienic three way valve. The novel hygienic three way valve further can be used in multiple types of mixing and diversion applications to achieve the advantages of the invention and the components of the novel three way valve can be changed or modified to suit particular requirements. 
     Numerous modifications may be made in the components of the three way valve as well as the activation of the piston and the materials utilized for the sealing head, as well as modifications in the sealing head itself. In addition, numerous modifications and changes may be made as to the precise location and disposition of the novel leak detection port for preventing contamination of food product with piston activation fluids as well as the location and disposition of the ports to suit particular arrangements and machine requirements. These and other modifications as are made by those skilled in the art are deemed to be included within the scope of the claims. 
     As used herein and in the following claims, the word ‘comprising’ or ‘comprises’ is used in its American technical sense to mean the enumerated elements include but do not exclude additional elements which may or may not be specifically included in the dependent claims. It will be understood such additions, whether or not included in the dependent claims, are modifications that both can be made within the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that these and other modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.