Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE IN\IENTION
The invention relates to a gravity-feed solids
diverter valve for diverting a flow of solids from an inlet to
a selected one of a plurality of outlets by providing a gravity
path between the inlet and the selected outlet. In the past
various types of diverter valves have been provided, however,
prior art diverter valves have usually encountered one or more
of the following problems: A tendency to jam as a result of
solids packing between parts rotatable with respect to each
; 10 other. A tendency to clog by solids accumulating and packing
in some portions of the gravity path having geometrical con-
figurations not conducive to smooth continuous flow. The
necessity of forming the component parts specially, rather than
being able to use standard, readily obtainable component parts
such as elbows, cylindrical pipes, and the like, thus making
the valve unnecessarily expensive and difficult to construct.
Jamming as a result of eccentric motion at some points of
rotation of relatively rotatable components. The need for
strengthening members at various portions of the diverter
structure. Typical prior art devices include standard flip-
flop type diverters, and structures such as shown in U.S.
Patents Nos. ~16,3919 850,762, and 3,199,537.
According to the present invention a gravity-feed
valve is provided that does not have the problems associated - ;
with many prior art valves. The valve according to the present
invention does not jam under normal usage, has no feed path
surfaces that would tend to cause clogging, is formed out of
conventional, readily obtainable, relatively inexpensive com-
ponent parts, can readily accommodate strengthening members,
and always is non-eccentrically rotatable.
According to the present invention a valve having a ~ .
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generally tubular main housing portion, a plurality of outlets,
and an inlet located vertically above the outlets is provided.
Means for diverting solids flowing through the inlet to a
selected one of the outlets includes a generally cylindrical
pipe member mounted For non-eccentric rotational movement about
a vertical axis of rotation in the main body portion of the
housing, and an elbow section mounted within and rigidly con-
nected to the cylindrical pipe member. An overlap is provided
between a s~irt portion of the inlet and the interior of the
cylindrical pipe member to minimize the amount of solids that
may be accidentally disposed therebetween. The elbow section
; has an open top in communication with the inlet, and an open
side portion thereof For communication with a selected one of
the plurality of outlets. A median line through the side
portion opening of the elbow forms an angle greater than 0 and
less than 90 with a median line through the open top portion
of the elbow section. Means are also provided for rotating the
cylindrical pipe member about its vertical axis of rotation.
It is the primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved gravity-Feed solids diverter valve. This
and other objects of the învention will become clear from an
inspection of the detailed description of the invention, and
from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side view partially in cross~section
and partially in elevation of an exemplary solids diverter
valve according to the present invention, and
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the valve shown in
FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An exemplary gravity-feed solids diverter valve for
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diverting solids to a selected one of a plurality of outlets is
shown generally at 10 in the drawings. The valve 10 is for
diverting solids without having a tendency to clog and without
leakage, and is formed of conventional easily obtainable and
relatively inexpensive components. The valve 10 is composed of
several main components including a valve housing having a
generally tubular main body portion 12, with an inlet 14 and a
plurality of outlets 16 (while only two outlets 16 are shown in
the drawings, more could be provided). The inlets and outlets
; 10 may be connected to feed and outlet pipes 18 and 19 respective-
ly. Mounted for rotation in -the tubular main body portion 12
and providing a means for diverting solids flowing from the
inlet 14 to a selected one of outlets 16, are a generally
cylindrical pipe member, shown generally at 20, rotatable about
a generally vertical axis of rotation A-A, and an elbow
section, shown generally at 22, mounted within the pipe member
' 20 for rotation therewith. Means 24 provide for rotation of ~ -
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the members 20, 22 to a selected one of a plurality of
positions.
The generally tubular main valve housing body portion
1 12 preferably generally consists of an elongated vertically
upstanding wall portion 30 having an open top 32 thereof
defined by a generally circular ring flange 34. Inlet 14 is
formed by flange 34 and downwardly extending skirt 36. The
skirt 36 and flange 34 are rigidly connected, such as by bolts
38. Formed along the periphery of a lower section of wall
portion 30 are a plurality of leg members 37 defining outlets
16. Each of the tubular leg members 37 is in open communi-
cation with the interior of the wall portion 30, and is rigidly
attached thereto, as by continuous weld 35. The bottom of wall
portion 30 is terminated by a circular bottom plate 40 or the
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like, attached to the portion 30 by any suitable means~ such as
continuous weld 39.
Mounted for rotation about a vertical axis A-A within
the valve housing main body portion 12 is a generally cylindri-
cal pipe member 20, having a main body section 41 thereof, topend section 42, and bottom end section 44. The top end section
42 thereof is disposed between the wall 30 and skirt 36, the
skirt 36 of inlet 14 overlapping section 42, and the bottom
section 44 is spaced from the bottom of portion 30 and overlaps
the outlets 16. Bottom section 44 is rigidly connected to
means 24 for rotating the member 20 about the axis A-A.
Disposed within and rigidly connected to the pipe ~ ~-
member 20 is the elbow section 22. The elbow section 22
comprises a generally continuously curved body portion 46
(for providing a gravity flow path) having an open top 48
thereof and an open side 50 thereof. The angle ~ formed
between a median line through the open top 48 and a median
line through the open side 50 corresponds to the angle formed
between a leg member 37 and the wall portion 30 of member 20,
and is grea~er than 0 and less than 90. The top section
51 of c~rved body portion 46 is connec~ed, as by weld 52,
with the portion 41 just below the skirt 36, and the bottom
section 53 of curved body portion 46 is connected, at point
54, with the bottom section 44 of portion 41. The portion
41 has a side opening formed therein corresponding in shape
and dimension to the opening 50 of member 22. It will be
seen that the relative arrangement between parts 30, 41, 36,
and 46 allows for non-eccentric positive rotation of the
diverter elbow section 46 without a chance for clogging at
the top or the side openings thereof, and there is no possi-
bility of jamming due to eccentric motion since there is no
eccentric motion. It will also be seen that standard elbow
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and pipe pieces may be used, and a rolled cylindrical housing,
and thus costs are kept to a minimum. Also3 strengthening of
the elbow section 46 may be readily effected without inter-
fering with motion of the members 20, 22. If some solids leak
between the section 46 and the housing wall portion 30, they do
not cause jamming of the valve 10. Rather, solids entering
there keep other solids from entering, and since the movement
of members 20, 22 is purely cylindrical rotation, the solids
would be rubbed against9 not packed.
Means 24 for rotating the members 20, 22 in purely
cylindrical rotation may include a shaft 60 journalled in plate
40 and rotatable about axis A-A and rigidly connected, as by
plate 62 or other suitable means, with the interior of
; cylindrical plpe member 20. The shaft 60 may be rotated manu-
ally or by suitable power means (not shown), and may be indexed
if desired.
While the invention has been herein shown and
described in what is presently conceived to be the most practi-
cal and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be
obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifi-
cations may be made thereof within the scope of the invention.
For instance, to keep any solids disposed between members 20
and 30 from causing excessive friction against the rotating
member 20, the member 20 could have longitudinal ribs 65 (in
dotted line in FIGURE 1) affixed to its outer surface, which
ribs would "plough" the accumulated solids. Other modifi-
cations are also possible, thus it i5 intended that the -
invention be acoorded the broadest scope of the appended claims
so as to encompass all equivalent structures and devices.
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