Patent ID: 7278449

Claim:
A diverter switch for branching off bulk-material flows, having a rotary plug ( 1 ) disposed in a stationary housing ( 2 ) having three connecting openings ( 4 , 5 , 6 ) said rotary plug and housing providing a first position connecting a first connecting-opening pair ( 4 , 5 ) a second position, connecting a second connecting-opening pair ( 4 , 6 ), and a gap ( 10 ) disposed between said rotary plug ( 1 ) and said housing wherein the improvement comprises a rotary plug ( 1 ) and/or housing ( 2 ) having at least one labyrinth seal arrangement ( 7 ), having at least one labyrinth seal groove ( 8 , 9 ), wherein the labyrinth seal groove ( 8 ) of the rotary plug ( 1 ) is arranged largely continuously around at least one opening of a through-channel ( 3 ) and is axially displaced from an end of said through-channel, and/or the labyrinth seal groove ( 9 ) of the housing ( 2 ) is arranged largely continuously around at least one of the connecting openings ( 4 , 5 , 6 ) and is axially or radially displaced from an end of a connecting opening of said housing and the gap ( 10 ) has a maximum width (W) smaller than or equal to five-tenths of a millimeter (W≦ 5/10 mm).