Patent ID: 7661437

Claim:
A food and beverage industry membrane valve structure comprising: a housing comprising a product chamber and an equipment chamber; said product chamber being configured and disposed to permit passage of a food or beverage product there through; a membrane being configured and disposed to separate said product chamber from said equipment chamber and to minimize entry of food or beverage product into said equipment chamber; said equipment chamber being configured and disposed to house equipment to move said membrane to control passage of a food or beverage product through said product chamber; said equipment comprising: a valve rod being axially movable to move said membrane; a drive device being configured and disposed to axially move said valve rod; a valve body being configured and disposed to be moved by said valve rod to move said membrane; said valve body comprising a plurality of radially extending projections configured and disposed to stabilize and support said membrane upon movement of said membrane; a guide structure being detachably mounted in said housing and comprising a plurality of projections; said plurality of projections being disposed about said valve rod to minimize radial movement of said valve rod and to axially guide said valve rod; and said plurality of projections of said valve body being configured and disposed to move and be guided in corresponding spaces between said plurality of projections of said guide structure upon movement of said valve rod.