Patent ID: 7048525
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: A22C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow divider for receiving fluent matter from at least one source and dividing the fluent matter substantially equally among a plurality of destinations, the flow divider comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first chamber in the housing, the first chamber being defined by a first radially inwardly facing surface and a first wall, the first chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with a source passage that is formed through the housing and is spaced from the chamber, and the source passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface in fluid communication with a first one of said plurality of destinations; (c) a first cylindrical hub rotatably mounted in the first chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface, a first radial slot extending through the first hub, and a second radial slot extending through the first hub transverse to the first slot; (d) a first vane slidably mounted in the first slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (e) a second vane slidably mounted in the second slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (f) a second chamber in the housing, the second chamber being defined by a second radially inwardly facing surface and a second wall that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, the second chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with the source passage and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the second chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a second one of said plurality of destinations; (g) a second cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the second wall and extending into the second chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the second radially inwardly facing surface and drivingly linked to the first hub, a third radial slot extending through the second hub, and a fourth radial slot extending through the second hub transverse to the third slot; (h) a third vane slidably mounted in the third slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends; and (i) a fourth vane slidably mounted in the fourth slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends.