Diverter valve

Abstract

A diverter valve for use in apparatus for the conveyance of a material, comprising: an inlet port capable of being placed in fluid communication with an inlet duct for conveying the material; more than one outlet port each of which is capable of being placed in fluid communication with an outlet duct for conveying the material; a diverter tube extending between the inlet and outlet ports and movable from a first position in which it is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with one of the outlet ports and a second position in which it is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with another one of the outlet ports; sealing means positioned between each of the inlet and outlet ports and the diverter tube; and a seal protection member positioned between the diverter tube and the sealing means of at least one of the outlet ports to protect the sealing means during movement of the diverter tube.

1 . A diverter valve for use in apparatus for the conveyance of a material, which valve comprises: 
 an inlet port capable of being placed in fluid communication with an inlet duct for conveying the material;    more than one outlet port each of which is capable of being placed in fluid communication with an outlet duct for conveying the material;    a diverter tube extending between the inlet and outlet ports and movable from a first position in which it is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with one of the outlet ports and a second position in which it is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with another one of the outlet ports;    sealing means positioned at each of the outlet ports for sealing the respective port with respect to the said sealing means comprising a seal member and the diverter tube; and    a seal protection member positioned between the diverter tube and the said seal member of at least one of the outlet ports to protect the respective seal member during movement of the diverter tube.    
     
     
         2 . A valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a seal protection member is provided between each of the outlet ports and the diverter tube.  
     
     
         3 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein the seal protection member or at least those parts of it in direct contact with the sealing means and additionally or alternatively the diverter tube is formed from or coated with a low friction material.  
     
     
         4 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein the seal protection member is an annular disc.  
     
     
         5 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein the diverter tube is pre-formed into an S-shape.  
     
     
         6 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein movement of the diverter tube is effected by a pivoting motion.  
     
     
         7 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein movement of the diverter tube is effected by movement of a movable member to which the diverter tube is attached.  
     
     
         8 . A valve according to  claim 7 , wherein the movable member is pivotally mounted.  
     
     
         9 . A valve according to  claim 7  wherein the movable member is a plate having an aperture for receiving the diverter tube and being shaped so as to be able to close off at least one of the outlet ports when that port is not in fluid communication with the diverter tube.  
     
     
         10 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein there is additionally provided drive means for driving the movement of the diverter tube from the first to the second position.  
     
     
         11 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing means are capable of maintaining a fluid tight seal within the valve irrespective of whether the port with which they are associated is or is not in fluid communication with the diverter tube.  
     
     
         12 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing means includes an inflatable seal.  
     
     
         13 . A valve according to  claim 1  wherein there is additionally provided a housing within which at least the diverter tube is accommodated, which housing is shaped or provided with openings or cut-outs through which the diverter tube may be placed in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports.  
     
     
         14 . A valve according to  claim 13  wherein the diverter tube is attached to a movable member which is movably mounted on the housing.  
     
     
         15 . A diverter valve for use in apparatus for the conveyance of a material, which valve comprises: 
 an inlet port capable of being placed in fluid communication with an inlet duct for conveying the material;    more than one outlet port each of which is capable of being placed in fluid communication with an outlet duct for conveying material;    a diverter tube extending between the inlet and outlet ports and rotatably mounted at one end coaxial with the inlet port and attached at its other end to a movable plate, which movable plate is provided with an aperture through which the diverter tube may be placed in fluid communication with one outlet port and which is shaped so as to close off at least one outlet port when that port is not in fluid communication with the diverter tube;    sealing means positioned between each of the inlet and outlet ports and the diverter tube, the sealing means between the diverter tube and at least one of the outlet ports being capable of acting against the movable plate when that port is not in fluid communication with the diverter tube; and    a half bearing in which the diverter tube is rotatably mounted coaxial with the inlet port, the arrangement being such that the diverter tube can be rotated from a first position in which it is in fluid communication with one of the outlet ports to a second position in which it is in fluid communication with another one of the outlet ports.    
     
     
         16 . A diverter valve for use in apparatus for the conveyance of a material, which valves comprises: 
 an inlet port capable of being placed in fluid communication with an inlet duct for conveying the material;    more than one outlet port each of which is capable of being placed in fluid communication with an outlet duct for conveying the material;    a diverter tube extending between the inlet and outlet ports, the diverter tube being movably mounted and secured by a single fixing within the valve so as to be movable from a first position in which it is in fluid communication with one of the outlet ports to a second position in which it is in fluid communication with another one of the outlet ports; and    sealing means positioned at each of the inlet and outlet ports and the diverter tube, which sealing means are capable of acting axially against the diverter tube, the arrangement being such that the diverter tube may be detached from the rest of the valve by release of the single fixing.    
     
     
         17 . A valve according to  claim 16  wherein the inlet port, diverter tube, outlet ports, sealing means, and seal protection member all have the same internal bore.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for the conveyance of a material which includes a valve according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A method of diverting material being conveyed from an inlet to a first outlet provided with sealing means by conveying that material to another or second outlet provided with sealing means, which method comprises conducting the material from the inlet into a diverter tube which may be moved from a position in which it is in fluid communication with the first outlet to a position in which it is in fluid communication with the second outlet, and moving the diverter tube from the first to the second position, which method additionally includes the step of protecting the sealing means of at least one of the outlets by providing a seal protection member located between the diverter tube and the sealing means of at least one of the outlets.  
     
     
         20 . A diverter valve of the type having a diverter tube the end of which are offset from one another and one of which can be engaged with different ports of the valve upon displacement about an axis defined by the other end of the diverter tube, in which the said other end is rotatably mounted to a fixed part of the valve by a bearing extending partially around the diverter tube, such bearing reacting forces applied thereto by the diverter tube in any orientation thereof determined by positioning of the said one end in engagement with a selected port.  
     
     
         21 . A method of diverting material being conveyed in a valve of the type having an inlet and at least two selectable outlets in which at least a first and a second of the said outlets are provided with respective sealing means, the said method comprising the steps of: 
 biasing at least the said first and second outlet sealing means towards respective seal engagement positions;    conducting the said material from the said inlet into a diverter tube, the said diverter tube being movable at least from a first position in which it is in fluid communication with the said first outlet to a second position in which it is in fluid communication with the said second outlet, and    moving the diverter tube from the said first to the said second position while the respective sealing means are biased towards their respective seal engagement positions.    
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the said sealing means comprise inflatable seals, and the step of biasing the said sealing means comprises the step of inflating the said seals.