Background of the invention The object of the invention is a device for changing a flowpath as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention relates generally to material conveying pipes, most preferably to the conveying piping of pneumatic material conveying systems, such as of pneumatic waste material conveying systems.

In pneumatic material conveying systems, such as in connection with waste material conveying systems, a flap means has been used in changing the flowpath, which flap means can be turned around an axis that is transverse to the flowpath, in which case the flap can be turned between two positions. In this case the flowpath can be changed generally at one time from one inlet pipe into either one of two outlet pipes or in the opposite direction from either one of two inlet pipes into one outlet pipe. A flap solution is well suited to flow ducts that are rectangular in the transverse direction with respect to the flow direction. These are not, however, suited in connection with more conventional pipes that are of round cross-sectional shape. Additionally, a flap solution is poorly suited to embodiments in which the flowpath should be changed between more than two flowpaths. In pneumatic material conveying systems, more particularly at intersection points where one conveying pipe connects to another conveying pipe, an additional problem can be that the material to be conveyed adheres to the intersection point and forms a blockage there. In addition, the cross-sectional area of a duct momentarily changes at an intersection point, which, for its part, might affect the conveying speed of the material to be conveyed. A solution comprising a rotatable changer means with a spherically curving rim surface, in which changer means at least one duct is formed, is known from publication US 6247877 Bl .The changer means according to the publication is challenging in terms of manufacturing technology. Additionally, in the solution of the publication it is possible that material that will impair its operation will collect between the changer means and the body. An arrangement is known from publication GB 320003 wherein a rotatable curved vane is used as a changer means. The arrangement is, inter alia, problematic in terms of manufacturing technology. The aim of this invention is to avoid the drawbacks of prior art and to achieve a new type of device for changing a flowpath in a material conveying piping, by the aid of which device the drawbacks of prior art are avoided. Brief description of the invention

The device according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterization part of claim 1. The device according to the invention is also characterized by what is stated in claims 2 - 10.

The solution according to the invention has a number of important advantages. By arranging a device according to the invention at the intersection point of the pipes, the passage of material and the flow at the intersection point can be efficiently controlled. By means of the solution the occurrence of blockages at the intersection point can be effectively avoided. By forming the device to be rotationally symmetrical, such as to be cylindrical or conical, a very effective solution for a divider means, in terms of manufacturing technology, can be achieved. In principle the solution also enables the changing of more flowpaths than presented. In this case e.g. the sheath of the device can be formed to be larger so that more than one pipe can be connected to it. By arranging the actuator to control the operation of the divider means, the position of the divider means can be efficiently adjusted. It is also possible that a part of the walls of the divider means are formed of a material that is more resistant to wear. The apertures of the divider means of the device and/or the parts of the wall can be easily precision cut, e.g. laser cut, into different shapes and bent, typically in a two-dimensional coordinate system, in which case the bending is easy. The guide wall can e.g. be formed from an aperture formed in the wall of the divider means. The device according to the invention is very well suited for use in connection with pneumatic material conveying systems.

Brief description of the figures

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of an example of its embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 presents one embodiment of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 presents one device according to an embodiment of the invention, partially sectioned and in a first operating mode,

Fig. 3 presents one device according to an embodiment of the invention, partially sectioned and in a second operating mode, Fig. 4 presents a detail of an embodiment of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 5 presents a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 presents one embodiment of the device according to the invention. The body of the device is, e.g. a mainly cylindrical sheath 4, a first pipe 1 being connected to the flange 12 at the first end of the sheath 4 and at least two pipes 2, 3 leaving from the wall of said sheath 4, in Fig. 1 a second pipe 2 and a third pipe 3. The end of the second pipe 2 and the end of the third pipe 3 are arranged on the sheath 4 diametrically on its rim. A turnable or rotatable divider means 6 is arranged inside the sheath 4, which divider means connects the first pipe 1 to one of at least two pipes 2, 3, i.e. according to Fig. 1 either to the second pipe 2 or to the third pipe 3. Figs. 2 and 3 present the partially-sectioned device of Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the medium pathway is open from the pipe 1 via the divider means 6 into the third pipe 3. In Fig. 3 the medium pathway from the first pipe 1 via the divider means 6 into the third pipe 3 is closed and the medium pathway from the first pipe 1 via the divider means 6 into the second pipe 2 is open. According to Fig. 4 the divider means 6 is formed by a turnable or rotatable means, which comprises a medium pathway from the first aperture 9 to the second aperture 10. The first aperture 9 is fitted to open towards a first pipe 1 and the second aperture 10 is on the side wall 7 of the divider means 6, which side wall is inside the sheath 4 of the device facing towards the inside surface of the sheath 4. The divider means 6 is turned or rotated around at the axis 1 1 with a drive device 5. The divider means can be turned or rotated between at least two positions, between a first position, in which the pathway from the first pipe 1 into the second pipe 2 is open, and a second position, in which the pathway from the first pipe 1 into the third pipe 3 is open. Correspondingly in the first position the connection from the first pipe 1 into the third pipe 3 is closed and in the second position the connection from the first pipe 1 into the second pipe 2 is closed.

In the embodiments according to the invention the axis 1 1 is parallel with the axis of the first pipe 1 at least at the fixing end of the first pipe to the flange 12. The second pipe 2 and the third pipe 3 are arranged at an angle to the sheath 4 and also with respect to the axis of rotation of the divider means. In the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 the second pipe 2 and the third pipe 3 are formed to make a bend while in the embodiment of Fig. 5 the second pipe 2 and the third pipe 3 are formed to be straight.

It can also be conceived that more pipes than the second pipe 2 and the third pipe 3 can be arranged on the rim of the sheath 4. According to an embodiment of the invention the internal diameter of the first pipe and the internal diameters of the second pipe and also of the third pipe are essentially the same. In this case the flowpath of the divider means 6 between the first aperture 9 and the second aperture 10 is formed to be advantageous in its shape and/or in its cross-section in terms of its technical flow properties such that the flow rate of material in the medium pathway between the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 or the third pipe 3 remains constant.

At least one wall 8 guiding the flow is arranged in the divider means, which wall turns the flow between the first aperture 9 and the second aperture 10 of the divider means 6.

According to one embodiment the guide wall 8 of the divider means is shaped to correspond in its shape at least partly with the shape of the wall of the pipe. The invention thus relates to a device for changing a flowpath, to which device are connected one first pipeline 1 , at least two other pipelines 2, 3, such as a second pipeline 2 and a third pipeline 3, and also means for changing the medium pathway between one first pipeline and any of at least two other pipelines 2, 3. The means for changing the medium pathway comprise a divider means 6 as an extension of the first pipeline 1 , which divider means comprises a cylindrical sheath 7, which divider means comprises a flow duct between its first aperture 9 and its second aperture 10, the first aperture 9 of which flow duct is an extension of the flow aperture of the first pipeline 1 and the second aperture 10 opens radially with respect to the rotation axis 1 1 of the rotatable divider means, and that in at least one position of the divider means 6 the medium pathway is open between the first pipeline 1 and at least one second pipeline 2 and in the second position between the first pipeline 1 and one third pipeline 3.

According to one embodiment the divider means 6 comprises a sheath 7, which is mainly rotationally symmetrical, e.g. cylindrical. According to one embodiment a guide wall 8 is arranged in the divider means.

According to one embodiment the guide wall is a plate bent to be slightly curved.

According to one embodiment the guide wall 8 is fitted to turn the flow between the first aperture 9 and the second aperture 10 of the divider means 6.

According to one embodiment the guide wall 8 is shaped to correspond in its shape at least partly with the shape of the wall of the first pipe 1 and/or of the second pipe 2 or of the third pipe 3.

According to one embodiment the body of the device is, e.g. a mainly cylindrical sheath 4, a first pipe 1 being connected to the flange 12 at the first end of the sheath 4 and at least two pipes 2, 3 leaving from the wall of said sheath 4. According to one embodiment the first aperture 9 of the divider means 6 is fitted to open towards a first pipe 1 and the second aperture 10 is in the sheath 7 of the divider means 6.

According to one embodiment the device comprises a drive device 5, with which the divider means 6 is turned or rotated around at the axis 1 1.

According to yet another embodiment the flowpath of the divider means 6 of the device between the first aperture 9 and the second aperture 10 is formed to be advantageous in its shape and/or in its cross-section in terms of its technical flow properties such that the cross-sectional area of flow between the first pipe 1 and the second or third pipe remains constant. According to one embodiment the divider means 6 is formed from a pipe and the guide wall 8 is formed from a wall part that is cut out, more particularly laser cut, from the wall of the pipe for the purpose of forming an aperture 10.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can, if necessary, also be used separately to each other.