Rock Products

MAR 2018

Rock Products is the aggregates industry's leading source for market analysis and technology solutions, delivering critical content focusing on aggregates-processing equipment; operational efficiencies; management best practices; comprehensive market

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68 • ROCK products • March 2018 www.rockproducts.com EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY MATERIAL HANDLING & CONVEYING When the need arises to divert dry bulk material during gravity flow situations, one normally considers a typical flap- per-style diverter for the application. In applications where the sealing of non-abrasive, fine material is involved, the flap- per is a perfect choice. There are applications and material handling situations, however, where a different style diverter might offer dis- tinct advantages over a flapper. The Vortex Pivoting Chute Diverter embodies those advantages. The Flapper Diverter As stated, there are many applications where a flapper diverter is the diverter of choice. There are circumstances where one might consider a different diverter style. When handling fine, abrasive material, the seal surrounding the flapper blade will be subject to extreme abrasion as the blade shifts and the seal grinds material between it and the interior diverter housing. Under this condition the material handled will create premature wear to the seal, eventually allowing material to escape into the outlet that is required to be closed. When handling larger-sized abrasive material, the blade and diverter interior must be designed to address abrasion and material impact. Often the portions of the diverter that experience material contact should additionally be lined with abrasive-resistant steel, chromium carbide, polymer or other material suited to the application. The flapper diverter is not designed to be shifted when mate- rial is passing through the diverter (shift "on the fly"). Fine material carried by the leading edge of the blade has a ten- dency to build up on either side of the interior housing. Once build up occurs the material seal is negated. Larger material at the blade's leading edge will become trapped between the leading edge of the blade and the interior hous- ing. This too negates the seal and additionally can create breakage of the blade, blade shaft, or actuation problems. In certain instances, the application calls for flowing mate- rial to be directed to two destinations at once (splitter diverter). In the case of a flapper diverter, the leading edge of the blade must be protected from abrasion and wear created by the blade being positioned in the middle of the material flow stream. This situation creates other considerations including posi- tioning and maintaining the integrity of the blade position (hard to accomplish using a pneumatic actuator) and addi- tional wear to either side of the blade shaft. The Pivoting Chute Diverter The Pivoting Chute Diverter was designed to offer unin- terrupted flow of larger-sized, abrasive materials such as aggregates and minerals. However, since the diverter has no interior seals to contend with, it also addresses applications handling smaller-sized, abrasive material such as sand and limestone that typically wears out the internal seals of a flap- per diverter. The material contact areas through the standard Vortex Piv- oting Chute Diverter (wetted parts) are designed to address abrasion and wear. The inlet chute, pivoting chute, and diverter outlets are constructed of abrasion-resistant steel (400 BHN). For applications requiring additional wear resistance, optional materials such as chromium carbide is available. Vortex Pivoting Chute Diverter Lets You 'Shift on the Fly' By Kevin R. Peterson

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