Fill Pass Diverter

The Vortex® Fill Pass Diverter™ provides a versatile and reliable solution for filling one or more in-line weigh hoppers when material is conveyed pneumatically through a closed loop system.

• Shimming system for in-line maintenance
• The diverter’s spread stack offers better separation of air and materials
• Material deflector to direct material flow and minimize material carryover
• Machined, full-bore orifices for unobstructed material flow and to maintain convey line pressures
• Double-acting air cylinder provides instant response to actuation commands, for accurate scaling into hoppers
• “Scissoring” action reduces seal wear and minimizes material shearing
• Seals off the closed port(s) for a positive material shut-off
• Positive seal of materials/dust-tight seal across the closed line(s) and to atmosphere
• No pinch points or exposed moving parts

Shimming system for in-line maintenance

The diverter’s spread stack offers better separation of air and materials

Material deflector to direct material flow and minimize material carryover

Machined, full-bore orifices for unobstructed material flow and to maintain convey line pressures

Double-acting air cylinder provides instant response to actuation commands, for accurate scaling into hoppers

“Scissoring” action reduces seal wear and minimizes material shearing

Seals off the closed port(s) for a positive material shut-off

Positive seal of materials/dust-tight seal across the closed line(s) and to atmosphere

No pinch points or exposed moving parts

Dilute phase pneumatic conveying applications. Can handle dierential pressures up to 15 psig | 1 barg | 0.1 MPa, depending on gate size. Can be used in pressure or vacuum systems.

Non-abrasive to moderately abrasive powders, pellets and granules. Modifications available for handling corrosive materials and/or for wash-down.

2 – 6 in | 50 – 150 mm ID & OD diameters are available. Schedule pipe sizes are also available.

180° F | 80° C for standard gate, with modifications that allow up to 400° F | 205° C

Natural rubber and/or silicone rubber

Magnetic reed or proximity switches, and/or clear bonnet cover for visual indication

ATEX Zone 20 (internal), ATEX Zone 21 (external), FDA

A standard tube size diverter is modified with pipe size inlets and outlets. The -P10 modification would match schedule 10 pipe.

A standard tube size diverter is modified with pipe size inlets and outlets. The -P40 modification would match schedule 40 pipe.

Gate blade is electropolished. Polyethylene (PET or UHMW) pressure plate seals are used to replace nylon. *Additional modifications available based on application.

Vortex Fill Pass Diverter vs. Alternatives

• Many alternative pneumatic diverters rely on soft rubber seals which are directly exposed to the material flow stream. These seals rapidly erode or tear away in service, which allows materials and dusts to leak into the opposite line(s) and to atmosphere. Seal damage can also cause actuation issues and several other maintenance concerns. The Vortex® Fill Pass Diverter™ addresses these issues by incorporating “live loaded” hard polymer pressure plate seals. Hard polymer provides greater wear resistance and longer service life than alternative sealing materials. The hard polymer seals are “live loaded” with compressed rubber backing to ensure even as the polymer experiences frictional wear from many actuations over time, the rubber load seals continuously force the polymer seals against the blade. The seals are also shielded from the material flow stream, to protect them from abrasion. This design maintains the diverter’s positive seal of materials/dust-tight seal with infrequent maintenance intervention. • The Fill Pass Diverter is specifically designed to provide a positive seal of materials/dust-tight seal, in order to prevent material leakage into hoppers below. Especially in applications where batchweights are critical, the Fill Pass Diverter ensures accurate scaling of materials. Also lending to fill accuracy, the Fill Pass Diverter canbe quickly shifted on a flowing column of materials – also known as, “shifting on the fly.” Note: Please consult an application engineer before doing so. • Alternative pneumatic diverters can pack and grind materials against the seals. This causes seal wear, material degradation and damaged product quality. Materials may also wedge in the seals, causing the diverter to seize and bind. To address these issues, the Fill Pass Diverter’s “scissoring” action tapers off material flow as it shifts between lines. In keeping the pressure plate seals clear of materials, their service life is also extended. • Many alternative pneumatic diverters used in closed loop systems are poorly designed to exhaust air pressure from inside the hopper(s) below. This causes inefficient filling and inaccurate batchweights. To address this concern, the Fill Pass Diverter is designed with a “stack” inlet and outlet. As materials are pneumatically conveyed into the hopper through the inlet stack, the spent air is immediately exhausted back out of the hopper through the outlet stack. This allows exhausted air pressure to continue downstream, away from the hopper(s). • The Fill Pass Diverter incorporates a spread stack concept. A cyclonic effect is created in the inlet stack for better separation of air and materials as they enter the hopper(s) below. Below the inlet stack, a material deflector intervenes to prevent material carryover. The spread stack concept ensures efficient material movement and reduced fill times. • The Fill Pass Diverter’s FDA-compliant materials of construction make it an ideal solution for the Food & Beverage industries – most notably, bakeries and confectionary manufacturers. • The Fill Pass Diverter features flanged inlet and outlet stacks. This makes Fill Pass Diverters stackable so that several convey lines (of uniform or diering sizes) can be connected to route several material types toward a common source via a compact and efficient process. This capability is especially beneficial in applications where several materials must be blended, mixed or compounded in a common batch. • The Fill Pass Diverter’s double-acting air cylinder provides instant response to actuation commands. This allows for highly accurate and repeatable scaling, based on desired weights, fill levels or time intervals.