Patent ID: 7814929

Claim:
A valve of a cleanable design capable of maintaining unfavourable conditions for microbial activity on the downstream side and/or outlet of the valve, said valve comprising: a smooth and contoured unitary valve body with an integral upstream connector extending from the body, a downstream connector extending from the body, and a smooth and contoured internal shape for providing a defined liquid flow path therebetween, wherein the downstream connector extends from the body for selectively supplying liquid and draining a portion of the liquid passing through the body; the internal shape having an upstream void in liquid communication with the upstream connector, the internal shape also having a downstream void in liquid communication with the downstream connector; wherein a sealing face separates the downstream void from the upstream void; a flexible sealing membrane cooperating with the sealing face, the sealing membrane being: i. selectively moveable into contact with the sealing face of said valve body to close said valve; ii. selectively moveable out of contact with the sealing face of said valve body to open and allow draining of said valve by allowing liquid communication through the internal shape; and iii. selectively operable to a range of positions relative to the sealing face to vary the flow rate of liquid through said valve; and an elongated heater mounted adjacent to the downstream connector and within said valve body in a location so as not to be in contact with the liquid or disrupt the smooth and contoured internal shape and, the valve body being contoured by removal of metal with a slotted cavity forming a thermal break to limit heat to the liquid in the upstream void, said heater being operative to locally heat the downstream void and the downstream connector portion of the valve body to a predetermined temperature.