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 provides better separation of air and materials
• Deflector to direct the flow of material and minimize material carryover
• Machined, full-bore orifices to ensure unobstructed material flow and maintain convey line pressures
• A double-acting air cylinder provides an instant response to actuation commands, ensuring accurate filling of hoppers
• The “scissoring” action reduces seal wear and minimizes material shearing
• Seals off the closed port(s) to ensure that the material is completely shut off
• Positive seal of materials/dust-tight seal across the closed line(s) and to the atmosphere
• No pinch points or exposed moving parts

Shimming system for in-line maintenance

The diverter's spread stack provides better separation of air and materials

Deflector to direct material flow and minimize material carryover

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

A double-acting air cylinder provides an instant response to actuation commands, ensuring accurate feeding into hoppers

“The ”scissoring” action reduces seal wear and minimizes material shearing

Seals off the closed port(s) to ensure the material is completely shut off

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

No pinch points or exposed moving parts

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

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

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

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

Natural rubber and/or silicone rubber

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

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

A standard tube-size diverter is modified to have pipe-size inlets and outlets. The -P10 modification is compatible with Schedule 10 pipe.

A standard tube-size diverter is modified to have pipe-size inlets and outlets. The -P40 modification would be compatible with Schedule 40 pipe.

The gate blade is electropolished. Polyethylene (PET or UHMW) pressure plate seals are used in place of nylon. *Additional modifications are available depending on the application.

Vortex Fill Pass Diverter vs. Alternatives

• Many alternative pneumatic diverters rely on soft rubber seals that are directly exposed to the material flow. These seals quickly erode or tear away during operation, allowing materials and dust to leak into the opposite line(s) and into the atmosphere. Seal damage can also lead to actuation problems and various other maintenance issues. The Vortex® Fill Pass Diverter™ addresses these issues by incorporating “live-loaded” hard polymer pressure plate seals. Hard polymer offers greater wear resistance and a longer service life than alternative sealing materials. The hard polymer seals are “live-loaded” with compressed rubber backing to ensure that, even as the polymer experiences frictional wear from repeated actuations over time, the rubber load seals continuously press 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, material- and dust-tight seal with minimal maintenance. • The Fill Pass Diverter is specifically designed to provide a positive, material- and dust-tight seal to prevent material leakage into hoppers below. Especially in applications where batch weights are critical, the Fill Pass Diverter ensures accurate material weighing. To further enhance fill accuracy, the Fill Pass Diverter can be quickly shifted on a flowing column of material—a process also known as “shifting on the fly.” Note: Please consult an application engineer before doing so. • Alternative pneumatic diverters can cause materials to pack and grind against the seals. This leads to seal wear, material degradation, and compromised product quality. Materials may also become wedged in the seals, causing the diverter to seize and bind. To address these issues, the Fill Pass Diverter’s “scissoring” action tapers off the material flow as it shifts between lines. By 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 batch weights. To address this issue, 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 the 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 to better separate air and materials as they enter the hopper(s) below. Below the inlet stack, a material deflector prevents 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 and beverage industries—most notably, bakeries and confectionery manufacturers. • The Fill Pass Diverter features flanged inlet and outlet stacks. This allows Fill Pass Divers to be stacked, enabling multiple conveyor lines (of uniform or varying sizes) to be connected to route various material types toward a common source via a compact and efficient process. This capability is especially beneficial in applications where multiple materials must be blended, mixed, or compounded in a single batch. • The Fill Pass Diverter’s double-acting air cylinder provides an instant response to actuation commands. This allows for highly accurate and repeatable scaling based on desired weights, fill levels, or time intervals.