Switches for conveyor tubes

Claim 1

A switching mechanism for a pneumatic conveying system having at least two positions; a housing; a first pneumatic conveying tube mounted to said housing, said first pneumatic conveying tube operable for pneumatically transporting material therein; a second pneumatic conveying tube operable for pneumatically transporting material therein; a member movably mounted to said housing and operable by a power cylinder, said member having at least two conveying attachment sections therein, one of said conveying attachment sections comprises a deflector, each of said conveying attachment sections having a sealing surface thereon; a first pressure controllable slidable sealing mechanism mounted on said first pneumatic conveying tube, said slidable sealing mechanism is pneumatically operated, said slidable sealing mechanism comprising an annular housing which coacts with said first pneumatic conveying tube to define a pair of annular plenum chambers, said slidable sealing mechanism having a first sealing position and a second release position, a sealing member located around said pneumatic conveying tube, said sealing member operable for being held in pressure contact between a sealing surface on said sealing member and said first slidable sealing mechanism by said first slidable sealing mechanism to thereby form an air tight seal between said sealing surface on said sealing member and said first pneumatic conveying tube; means for guiding and aligning said conveying attachment sections to said first pneumatic conveying tube and including a pair of guide rods having stops thereon, said means for guiding and aligning being pivotally mounted to said member; a second pressure controllable slidable sealing mechanism oppositely disposed from said first pressure controllable slidable sealing mechanism.