Specifications:

• Size: 8 in | 205 mm
• Three-way design.
• Round-to-square transition piece at the inlet.
• Square-to-round transition pieces at the outlet legs.
• Diverter body, blade & material contact areas constructed from carbon steel.
• Outlet legs offset 45° from vertical.
• Air cylinder is equipped with a magnetic piston for use with magnetic reed switches, to provide
  blade position indication.

• Programmed to a KPAN controller for push-button control at-the-valve.

Application: Divert three different seed types (sunflower seeds, millet & milo) during the process.

Results:

In 2003, this client sought to replace other pre-existing flapper diverters. Though this bird seed processor had been in business for many years, at the time of the project, they had recently picked up
a large customer that caused them to re-think their process. More specifically, the gain of customer not
only meant that the bird seed processor would need to expand their production line to accommodate
additional orders, but the gained customer also required that the bird seed processor supply them with
a cleaner product.

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When considering the necessary improvements for their operation, the client consulted a Vortex representative group to discuss the effectiveness of a new aspiration system. The representative advised such a system and, subsequently, designed and supplied the bird seed processor with an aspiration system which included two Vortex Seal Tite Diverters.

At the time of this project, the client was a new Vortex customer. Early on in the project, the client was pleased with the many features of the Vortex Seal Tite Diverter, compared to the issues faced with their other pre-existing flapper diverters. Primarily, the client was impressed by:

• Removable access door (Figure 1) allows inspection or maintenance to be
  performed while the diverter remains in-line. For this client, the removable
  access door allowed for frequent sanitation to ensure the cleanliness and
  quality of bird seed. Overall, the removable access door's design eliminates
  several maintenance challenges and reduces the overall time needed to
  perform inspection or maintenance.

• Unique blade seal design consists of a full rubber sheet sandwiched between two metal plates (Figure 2). This provides a more durable and reliable seal across the flapper blade. Other diverters offered by the industry typically utilize thin rubber strips adhered to the perimeter of the flapper blade. Over time, the thin rubber strips can tear away and allow material leakage to the closed port.
• The leading edge of the flapper blade actuates into a recessed area (Figure 3). This design protects the blade's leading edge from the material flow stream, in order to reduce blade and seal wear.
• Below the blade shaft, a shaft seal (Figure 4) protects the blade shaft and
  prevents material migration to the opposite leg. To compensate for wear,
  the shaft seal is constructed from hard polymer and is "live-loaded" with
  compressed rubber backing. As the polymer wears from many actuations
  over time, the compressed rubber backing continuously forces the shaft
  seal upward, so that it is kept in constant contact with the blade shaft.

• The Seal Tite Diverter also features replaceable wetted parts (Figure 5). If maintained and operated as recommended, these material contact areas should be the only wear parts. In several cases, this has allowed a Seal Tite Diverter to remain in service for many years - and sometimes, even decades.

Now 15 years later, this bird seed processor's Seal Tite Diverters are still in service, and the client is just as pleased with their performance.

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