The invention relates to a diverter valve comprising a housing, wherein in the housing a diverter tube provides a transportation connection between a single port at a first end of the diverter tube and multiple ports at a second end of the diverter tube which is opposite to the first end, wherein at least the single port at the first end of the diverter tube is provided with a seal .

US2003/0024579 discloses such a diverter valve for the conveyance of a material, which valve comprises:

- an inlet port capable of being placed in fluid communi cation 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 divert er 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.

The invention has as an object to provide an improved diverter valve, wherein the change of connection of the diverter tube with each selected one of the multiple ports can be relia bly carried out and without known problems relating to wear and tear of the constituent parts of the diverter valve.

The diverter valve of the invention is provided with one or more features of the appended claims. In a first aspect of the invention the seal comprises an expendable bellow part and a rotatable adapter which connects to the diverter tube, wherein the expendable bellow part and the rotatable adapter have a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the bellow part and the adapter have mutually engaging faces providing a closed connection be tween the bellow part and the adapter, and wherein in the second position the said faces of the bellow part and the adapter are disengaged to enable rotation of the adapter and the diverter tube connected thereto, so as to provide that the diverter tube may be rotated to a position wherein the diverter tube is ready to be connected to a selected (other) one of the multiple ports at the second end of the diverter tube. With the construction of the invention leakage is prevented in a durable manner by avoid ing wear and tear of the contacting elements of the valve at all times, yet the change of connection to another one of the multi ple ports at the second end of the diverter tube is not im paired .

It is preferable that circumferentially the bellow part is provided with rings to limit lateral extension of the bellow part .

Advantageously the bellow part is mounted at and on the inside of the housing and is provided with at least one

strengthening bolt extending through the bellow part and con necting the housing and a support ring for the bellow part, with the bellow part in between. This strengthening bolt can absorb both lateral and shear forces acting on the diverter valve.

In another aspect of the invention each of the multiple ports at the second end of the diverter tube is provided with a movable bellow having a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the bellow is pressurized and has entered into one of the multiple ports to close off such port, and wherein in the second position the bellow is depressurized to open said port. With the aid of this bellow the ports that are not in use can be easily and reliably closed off.

It is further beneficial that the bellow has a scraping edge. This scraping edge can clean the port which is being closed off, which is helpful to prevent malfunctioning later on. The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with refer ence to a drawing of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the apparatus and its use in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing:

-figures 1A and IB shows a diverter valve of the inven tion in a cross-sectional side view and cross-sectional top view, respectively;

-figure 2 shows detail B of the diverter valve of the invention shown in figure 1;

-figure 3 and figure 4 show a movable bellow as used to close off or open one of the multiple ports of the diverter valve of the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Referring first to figure 1 a diverter valve 1 of the invention is shown, comprising a housing 2, wherein in the hous ing 2 a diverter tube 3 provides a transportation connection be tween a single port 4 at a first end 5 of the diverter tube 3, and multiple ports 6 at a second end 7 of the diverter tube 3 which is opposite to the first end 5.

Within the scope of the invention at least the single port 4 at the first end 5 of the diverter tube 3 is provided with a seal 8, which is more clearly shown in figure 2. The seal 8 comprises an expendable bellow part 9 and a rotatable adapter 10 which connects to the diverter tube 3. The expendable bellow part 9 and the rotatable adapter 10 have a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the bellow part 9 and the adapter 10 have mutually engaging faces 9', 10' provid ing a closed connection between the bellow part 9 and the adapt er 10. This is what is shown in figure 2.

In the second position the said faces 9', 10' of the bellow part 9 and the adapter 10 are disengaged by moving the expendable bellow part 9 in the direction of arrow A. This is further not shown in the figure but completely clear for the skilled person. This movement of the bellow part 9 in direction A can occur when conveyance of material through the diverter valve 1 is interrupted and the valve is depressurized. The disengagement of the faces 9' , 10' of the bellow part 9 and the adapter 10 enables rotation of the adapter 10 and the di verter tube 3 connected thereto, which provides that the divert er tube 3 may be rotated to a position wherein the diverter tube

3 is ready to be connected to another one of the multiple ports 6 at the second end 7 of the diverter tube 3.

Figure 2 further shows that circumferentially the bel low part 9 is provided with rings 11 to limit lateral extension of the bellow part 9. It also shows that the bellow part 9 is mounted at and on the inside of the housing 2 and is provided with at least one strengthening bolt 12 (preferably there are plural bolts) extending through the bellow part 9 and connecting the housing 2 and a support ring 13 for the bellow part 9, with the bellow part 9 in between.

Figures 3 and 4 show for clarity with reference to one of the multiple ports (but what is shown is applicable with each single one of the multiple ports) , that at the second end 7 of the diverter tube 3 a movable bellow 14 is provided having a first position as shown in figure 3, and a second position as shown in figure 4. In the first position shown in figure 3 the bellow is pressurized and has entered into the shown port 6 to close off such port, and in the second position shown in figure

4 the bellow 14 is depressurized to open said port 6. It is fur ther shown that the bellow 14 has a scraping edge 15 to clean the entrance portion of the port 6 when the bellow 14 moves into the port 6 to close off this port 6.

Although the invention has been discussed in the fore going with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the diverter valve of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be con strued in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be re solved using this exemplary embodiment.