APPARATUS FOR DIVERTING SOLID FOOD PIECES SUSPENDED IN A FLOWING LIQUID

摘要

A distributor valve for a hydrocutting system. The valve automatically diverts a flow of liquid and solid food products flowing from a source to one or both of two destinations. An entry conduit receives the suspended food products in liquid, and an angled plate deflects the food products downwardly. The food products and liquid enter a drum that is perpendicular to the entry conduit, causing rotational circulation in the drum. The food products and liquid flow into one or both of two longitudinally opposite outlets, depending on whether the path downstream of the outlets is flowing. Upon actuation of a valve on one side, or essentially complete blockage of one side, the fluid and products flow to the other side automatically. No moving parts are needed in the valve to change the flow path; the only change is to the flow downstream, which automatically affects the flow in the valve.

主权项

1. A distributor for guiding solid food pieces suspended in a working liquid to one or both of at least first and second destinations, the distributor comprising:
(a) an entry conduit having a first end and an opposite second end connected by a central longitudinal conduit axis; (b) a cylindrical drum to which the second end of the tapered entry conduit is mounted, the drum having opposing first and second longitudinal ends connected by a central longitudinal drum axis, the conduit axis being transverse to the drum axis; (c) a first outlet tube extending from the drum to the first destination; and (d) a second outlet tube extending from the drum to the second destination.