Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a division of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/986,502 filed Jan. 7, 2011, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/293,354 filed Jan. 8, 2010. Both of said applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In recent years, various pneumatic grain conveying systems have been employed for conveying grain to and from a grain storage bin or the like. These prior pneumatic grain conveying systems typically employed a positive displacement blower for forcing air into a closed duct or pipe system. Grain to be conveyed was introduced into the piping downstream of the blower by means of a so-called airlock grain inlet or other grain infeed device, which fed the grain into the pipe system in such a manner that the grain was entrained by the air flowing through the pipe system and in such a manner that the pressurized air was not lost thus maintaining the conveying capacity of the pneumatic conveying system. Downstream from the grain inlet the piping system may be directed upwardly, for example, along the sidewall of a grain bin, and along the sloped, conical grain bin roof to a center grain inlet opening in the roof, where a so-called deadhead deflector or a cyclone diffuser was positioned so as to allow the pressurized air to be vented to the atmosphere and to direct the grain into the grain inlet in the grain bin roof. Such pneumatic grain conveying systems have the advantage of moving the grain within a cushion of air that minimizes damage to the grain, as compared to mechanical grain auger conveyors or other types of mechanical grain conveying systems. 
     However, such pneumatic grain conveying systems, especially such pneumatic grain conveying systems having high capacity (e.g., 2,500 bushels/hour), require a powerful electric motor (e.g., up to 75 horsepower) for powering the positive displacement blower. Such motors are expensive. It is thus desirable to utilize the same motor and the same airlock grain infeed unit to convey grain to a plurality of grain storage bins. Heretofore, this has been accomplished by providing separate piping systems from the air lock to the various grain storage bins with a complex manifold/distributor, such as shown in  FIG. 2  of the instant drawings and as will be hereinafter described, so as to permit the pressurized air duct from the grain infeed airlock to be selectively connected in an air tight fashion to a desired or selected piping system for a selected one of the plurality of grain storage bins. Not only did this prior manner of connecting the pressurized air conveying system to the piping system for a selected grain storage bin require the complex manifold/distributor, but it also required separate piping runs from the grain inlet airlock to each of the grain storage bins with each of these piping runs having a horizontal run along the ground and a vertical run along the vertical sidewall and conical roof of each bin. In turn, this added to the expense and complexity of such prior pneumatic conveying systems. These multiple runs of piping along the ground often interfered with vehicles which require close access to the grain bins. Still further, it has been found that such manifold/distributor systems are sometimes difficult to operate and they often require that the blower and airlock infeed be shut down while making a change from conveying to one bin and then to another bin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A pneumatic conveying system is disclosed for conveying a dry flowable or granular product, such as grain, from a grain inlet device to a selected one of a plurality of grain bins or other storage vessels. The system includes a blower for forcing air under pressure into a conveyor piping system. A grain inlet device is located downstream from the blower. The piping system has a portion leading from the grain inlet to an inlet in a first one of the vessels. A discharge/bypass valve is connected to a portion of the piping system leading from the grain inlet so as to receive the granular product being conveyed therethrough with the valve having a discharge outlet for discharging the granular product into the vessel and a by-pass outlet for by-passing the first vessel and delivering the granular product to a second vessel. The valve is installed on the vessel such that the discharge outlet is in communication with the interior of the vessel. The valve further has an inlet coupling operatively connected to the piping system and an outlet coupling operatively connected to another portion of the piping system downstream of the valve leading to another of the vessels. The valve has a sleeve movable between a discharge position in which the inlet coupling is disconnected from the outlet coupling such that the granular product is discharged from the piping system into the valve and then is discharged into the vessel and a by-pass position in which the inlet and outlet couplings are operatively connected so that the granular product is conveyed through the valve and into the piping system downstream from the valve. The by-pass outlet comprises the outlet coupling. 
     In one embodiment, the housing for the valve can be provided with a hopper. The hopper opens into the valve housing below the valve to be in communication with the interior of the vessel. The hopper can receive granular product from an auger, which need not be permanently affixed to the hopper. In this manner, the granular product can be delivered to the vessel via an auger without having to remove the discharge/by-pass valve. 
     A method of selectively conveying this granular product to a selected one of the vessels is also disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a typical pneumatic grain conveying system having a positive displacement blower forcing pressurized air into a piping system with an airlock grain infeed downstream from the blower, with a piping system conveying the grain upwardly along the vertical sidewall and along the conical roof of a first grain storage bin (only half of which is illustrated) or other receiving vessel to a so-called grain discharge/by-pass valve of the present disclosure mounted on a center grain inlet in the roof of the first bin, with a reach of piping extending from the outlet of the discharge/by-pass valve to a deadhead deflector mounted on a center grain inlet of a second grain storage bin (again, only one half of the bin is illustrated) or other vessel so that with the discharge/by-pass valve on the first bin in its discharge position grain may be discharged into the first grain bin and so that with the discharge/by-pass valve in its by-pass position grain may by-pass the first bin to be discharged into the second bin; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art manifold/distributor assembly for connecting the pressurized air duct downstream from the airlock grain infeed to a selected one of a plurality of air conveying ducts or piping systems for conveying the grain to a selected one of a plurality of grain storage bins; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective side elevational view of a first embodiment of a discharge/bypass valve of the present disclosure with the valve in a discharge position to discharge grain into the bin on which the valve is mounted; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the valve shown in  FIG. 3  with the exterior housing of the valve removed to better illustrate the components within the housing with these components arranged in a by-pass position so that grain conveyed to the valve will not be discharged into the grain bin on which it is installed but rather will by-pass the grain through the valve into a piping run that will convey the grain to another grain storage bin, with the components of the valve including a rack and pinion linear drive for axially moving a sleeve between a by-pass position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) in which the grain is pneumatically conveyed through the valve and a discharge position, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , in which grain is discharged into the bin below the valve; 
         FIG. 5  is another view of the valve as shown in  FIG. 4  with its components arranged in their discharge position with a flapper diverter member disposed at the outlet end of the above-noted sleeve so as to direct grain conveyed through the sleeve downwardly into the bin on which the valve is mounted; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  in which the flapper diverter member is raised clear of the end of the sleeve so as to permit the sleeve to be moved axially to be coupled to the piping downstream of the valve when the sleeve is in its by-pass position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the valve; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the valve with portions of the outer housing removed to illustrate internal components, where the above-described flapper diverter member is replaced by curved grain diverter member selectably movable between a discharge position, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in which, with the sleeve in its above-described by-pass position, grain may flow through the valve to a grain bin downstream from the first bin; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  on a somewhat enlarged scale illustrating the axially movable sleeve in its retracted discharge position with the curved grain diverter member in its diverting position; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9 , on an enlarged scale and with a side wall of the curved grain diverter member removed to better illustrate the curved plate of the diverter member; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  with the curved diverter member moved clear of the sleeve and with the sleeve axially extended so as to form a fluid tight (or air-tight) connection between the inlet and outlet couplings so that grain may by-pass the discharge outlet of the bin on which the valve is installed to be delivered to another bin; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the valve provided with a hopper to enable a bin on which the valve is placed to alternatively be filled by means of a traditional transport auger; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the valve of  FIG. 12 , but taken from an opposite side of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the valve of  FIG. 12  with portions of the housing removed to show an internal wall of the valve; and 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are cross-sectional views taken along lines  15 - 15  and  16 - 16 , respectively of  FIG. 12 , but wherein the curved diverter plate of the valve of  FIG. 12  is replaced with an inclined diverter plate. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the claimed invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The claimed invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , a pneumatic grain conveying system, as indicated in its entirety at  1 , is shown to be installed on a plurality of grain storage bins or vessels  3  and  5 . Two grain bins  3  and  5  are shown, but those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that additional grain bins can be connected to one another in the manner that bin  3  is connected to bin  5 . As is typical, each of the grain bins has a vertical sidewall  7 , a sloped conical roof  9 , and a grain inlet  11  at the peak of the conical roof. 
     The pneumatic grain conveying system  1  includes a motor and blower assembly  13  (preferably a positive displacement blower), which forces pressurized air into a conveyor piping system  15 . The blower and motor are controlled by a control panel  17 . Downstream of the blower, a so-called airlock/grain infeed unit  19  is provided for introducing grain (or other granular, powdered or pulverulent flowable material capable of being pneumatically conveyed) to be introduced into the pressurized air stream moving through piping system  15 . Piping system  15  includes a horizontal run  21  leading to a horizontal-to-vertical elbow  23 , which in turn is connected to a vertical run  25  extending upwardly along the sidewall  7  of the first grain bin. The piping system further includes a sloped run  25  along the conical roof  9  of the first grain bin toward the inlet  11  of the first grain bin. 
     A discharge/by-pass valve  27  is installed in register with the grain inlet  11  of the first grain bin. The valve  27  has an inlet  29  coupled to the downstream end of the sloping run  25  and an outlet  31  coupled to pneumatic conveyor tube  33  extending from the valve  27  to a deadhead deflector  35  installed on the grain inlet  11  of the second grain bin  5 . This deadhead deflector  35  allows the pressurized air to escape to the atmosphere thus disrupting the flowing airstream in the conveyor piping run  33  and deflects the grain conveyed through piping run to be discharged into the second grain bin. While not illustrated, it will be understood that in place of the deadhead deflector  35  installed on the grain inlet  11  of the second grain bin, another valve  27  may be installed on the grain inlet of the second bin and another run of piping (not shown) may be connected to the outlet end  31  of this other valve  27 , where this other run of piping leads to the grain inlet  11  of another (i.e., a third) grain bin (not shown) so that grain conveyed to the second bin via the piping run  33  may be selectively discharged into the second bin or may be selective by-passed to the next grain bin. In this manner, the pneumatic conveying system  1  utilizing valves  27  may selectively convey grain to any one of a plurality of grain bins merely by operating the valves  27  installed on the grain inlets  11  of the grain bins upstream of the selected bin to be in their by-pass positions and by operating the valve  27  (or a deadhead valve  35 ) installed on the selected bin in its discharge position. As will become apparent, the discharge/by-pass valves  27  can be operated to selectively alter the bin or vessel in which the grain is to be deposited without the need to shut down the pneumatic conveying system. 
     In  FIG. 2 , a prior art distributor manifold/selector valve assembly is indicated in its entirety by reference character  201 . The distributor manifold/selector valve  201  includes a frame  203  having a base plate  205 , a head plate  207 , and elongate spacer members  209  extending between the base plate and the head plate. An inlet piping section  211  is adapted to be connected to the pneumatic piping system  15  downstream from airlock grain in feed unit  19 . Preferably, the distributor/manifold assembly  201  is installed adjacent the first grain bin. The head plate  207  has a plurality of manifold ports  213  (six such ports are shown) such that a selected piping run, as indicated at  215   a ,  215   b ,  215   c , may be operatively connected to the inlet piping section  211 . Each of these last-noted piping runs leads to a respective grain bin so that grain may be selectively conveyed to that grain bin. A selector pipe  217  coupled to the inlet pipe  211  may be selectively coupled to a selected one of the manifold ports  213 , and thus to a selected one of the piping runs  215   a ,  215   b  or  215   c  so as to convey grain to the grain bin corresponding to that piping run. 
     Referring now to the valve  27  installed on the first grain bin (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), a first embodiment of the valve is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , the valve  27  includes an exterior housing  37  having a top housing panel  39 , side panels  41 , an outlet end plate  43 , an inlet end plate  45 , a bottom plate (not shown in  FIGS. 3-6 ), and a bottom hopper discharge chute  47  defining a discharge outlet through which grain is discharged into the grain inlet  11  of the bin supporting the valve  27 . The inlet end plate  45  has an inlet coupling tube  51  adapted to be coupled to the sloped piping reach  25 , and the outlet end plate  43  has an outlet coupling tube  49  adapted to be coupled to piping run  33 . As will become apparent, the outlet coupling tube defines a by-pass outlet of the valve  27 . The inlet coupling tube  51  is rigidly and sealably secured to its inlet plate  45  and the outlet coupling  49  is rigidly and sealably secured to its outlet plate  43  with the inlet and outlet coupling tubes being substantially coaxial with respect to one another and with a space between their inner ends, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As indicated at  52   a  and  52   b , internal support plates support the inner ends of tubes  49  and  51 , respectively, within housing  37 . 
     A valve member, shown as a sleeve  53  in the drawings, is axially movable relative to the inlet and outlet coupling tubes  49  and  51  by means of an actuator (a linear actuator as will be hereinafter described), as generally indicated at  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The sleeve valve member  53  is movable in an axial direction with respect to the inlet and outlet coupling tubes between a first or by-pass position (more specifically, an extended coupling position as shown in  FIG. 4 ) in which grain conveyed to valve  27  will be conveyed through or by-passed through the valve to the next grain storage bin downstream from the bin on which the valve  27  is installed, and a second or discharge position (more specifically, a retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 ). With the sleeve  53  axially uncoupled from inlet coupling tube  51 , the pressurized air within the piping system  15  will be discharged into housing  37 , which is vented to the atmosphere and so that the grain entrained in the air stream flowing through the inlet coupling tube  51  will fall by gravity downwardly into the discharge chute  47 . The linear actuator  55  is also operable so as to axially move the sleeve  53  from its retracted discharge position (as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 ) to its extended by-pass position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) in which the sleeve is sealably coupled to the inlet tube  51 . With the sleeve in its by-pass position, the pressurized air stream and the grain entrained therein will be conveyed through the valve  27  and will be conveyed via piping run  33  to the next grain storage bin. Although the sleeve  53  is shown to be moved toward and away from the inlet coupling tube  51  by the actuator  55 , the valve sleeve could alternatively be positioned over the inlet coupling tube, so that the actuator  55  moves the sleeve  53  toward and away from the outlet coupling tube  49 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the linear actuator, as generally indicated at  55 , comprises a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack  57  attached to the bottom of sleeve  53  and a pinion  59  journalled on a shaft  61  supported by bearings  63  carried by the housing side walls  41 . The shaft  61  may be selectively rotated by means of a sheave  64 , wheel, or the like attached to one end of the shaft  61 . The sheave may be rotated by any suitable means, such as an electric motor (not shown), or by means of a chain or belt and pulley arrangement (also not shown) that may be manually operated from ground level. Alternatively, the linear actuator may be a fluid cylinder (not shown), such as an air or pneumatic cylinder, that may be remotely actuated so as to move the sleeve  53  between its extended by-pass position and its retracted discharge position. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that other well known linear actuators, such as a screw drive or the like, may be used. Such linear actuators thus constitute a means for selectively moving the sleeve  53  in an axial direction between its extended by-pass position and its retracted discharge position so that grain may be selectively discharged into the bin below the valve  27  or by-passed to the next bin downstream from the bin on which the valve  27  is installed. 
     A block  60  is mounted to the sleeve  53  and a post  62  extends forwardly from the block. The post  62  slides through an alignment hole in the support plate  52   b , to ensure axial alignment of the sleeve  53  with the inlet coupling tube  51  as the sleeve  53  is moved to its extended position in which the sleeve  53  is connected to the inlet coupling tube  51 . The exit end of the inlet coupling tube  51  is tapered to facilitate guiding of the sleeve  53  over the inlet coupling tube when the sleeve is moved to its extended position. The ends of the sleeve  53  can also be tapered. 
     The sleeve  53  has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the inlet coupling tube  51  and the outlet coupling tube  49 . The inlet and outlet coupling tubes  51  and  49  are of generally the same inner and outer diameter. The sleeve  53  can thus slide over both the inlet and outlet coupling tubes. The sleeve  53  is provided with internal O-rings  54  at both ends of the sleeve. The O-rings form an air-tight seal between the sleeve  53  and both the inlet and outlet coupling tubes  51  and  49  when the sleeve  53  is in the extended position. This substantially eliminates air (and thus air pressure) loss when the sleeve is in the extended position, to facilitate the transport of the product to the second bin. Although the O-rings are described as being internal O-rings on the sleeve  53 , the O-rings could be external O-rings on the inlet coupling tube and the outlet coupling tube. Any other desired means to form an air-tight seal between the sleeve  53  and the inlet and outlet coupling tubes may also be used. As can be appreciated, the valve  27  provides for an air-tight or pneumatically sealed connection when the sleeve  53  is in its extended position, and an unsealed, atmospheric connection when the sleeve  53  is retracted. 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , a diverter or deflector member  65 , illustratively shown as a flapper or plate, is mounted on a shaft  67  above the sleeve  53  for movement between a raised, retracted position (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) in which the diverter member is clear of the sleeve and a lowered, diverting position (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) in which the diverter member  65  is positioned in a discharge space between the retracted sleeve  53  and the outlet end of inlet coupling tube  51  so that grain conveyed through the inlet coupling tube  51  will impinge against the diverter member and be directed downwardly into discharge chute  47 . The diverter member  65  is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position by the axial movement of the sleeve  53 . That is, as the sleeve  53  is moved axially to its extended by-pass position, the sleeve  53  will engage the diverter member  65  and pivot the diverter member to the raised position. The diverter member  65  is gravity biased toward its lowered, diverting position by means of its own weight, but it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the movement of the diverter member could be mechanically coupled to the linear actuator to provide a positive engagement and retraction of the diverter. A counterweight  69  can be affixed to one end of the shaft  67  on the exterior of housing  37 . This counterweight also serves as a flag or visual indicator visible from the ground to indicate to an operator whether the sleeve  53  is in its discharge or by-pass position. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10 , a second embodiment of the discharge/bypass valve is indicated in its entirety by reference character  27 ′. The valve  27 ′ is similar to valve  27 , as described above, except the flapper diverter member  65  has been replaced by a curved diverter member  71 . The other components of the alternate discharge/bypass valve  27 ′ are similar to the corresponding components of the valve  27  and thus will not be again described. More specifically, the curved diverter member  71  has a curved deflector plate  73  within a diverter housing  75 , as perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The curved plate  73  could be replaced with a sloped or inclined plate  73 ′ as shown in  FIG. 15  or a flat plate. With sleeve  53  in its retracted position clear of the inlet coupling  51 , the diverter housing  75 , which is mounted on shaft  67  for selective rotatary movement about the shaft, is movable between a lowered discharge position (as shown in  8  and  9 ) and a raised position (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). In the lowered position, the curved plate  73  is positioned downstream from the inlet coupling tube  51  so that grain discharged from the inlet coupling tube impinges against the curved plate  73  and is directed downwardly into the discharge chute  47 . The diverter housing  75  is also rotatably movable from its above-described lowered discharge position to a raised retracted position (as shown in  FIG. 11 ) in which the sleeve  53  may be moved from its retracted discharge position to its extended by-pass position in which it is axially, sealably coupled to inlet coupling tube  51  so that grain may be conveyed through the valve  27 ′ and into piping run  33  to the next grain storage bin. As with the diverter member  65 , the diverter member  71  is pivoted from its lowered position to its raised position by the sleeve  53 . It will be understood that the diverter member  71  may be gravity biased toward its lowered discharge position in the same manner as flapper diverter member  65 , as above described, and likewise may be mechanically coupled to the linear actuator as previously described. Also, it will be understood that when sleeve  53  is axially moved from its retracted discharge position to its by-pass position in which it is in axial coupling engagement with inlet tube  51 , the housing  75  is moved to its retracted position clear of the end of the sleeve. The valve  27 ″ also includes the flag or indicator  69  which is rotationally fixed to the shaft  67  to indicate the position of the diverter member  71 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12-14 , a third embodiment of the discharge/bypass valve is indicated in its entirety by reference character  27 ″. The valve  27 ″ is substantially the same as the valve  27 ′. The difference between the valves  27 ″ and  27 ′ lies in the housing of the two valves. The housing  37 ″ of the valve  27 ″ is provided with an intermediate section  81  between the discharge chute  47 ″ and the couplings  49 ,  51  and the sleeve  53 . This intermediate section  81  is defined by front and back walls  83   a,b  and end walls  85 . At least one of the front and back walls, and preferably both of the front and back walls, are provided with an aperture  87  ( FIG. 14 ). With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the aperture of the front wall  83   a  is closed by a plate  89 , and the aperture of the back wall  83   b  is covered with a side hopper  91 . The hopper  91  opens into the housing  37 ″ below the elements of the valve (i.e., below the inlet and outlet couplings  51 ,  49  and the sleeve  53 ). The opening to the hopper  91  is closed by a cover plate  93 . The cover plate  93  can be removed to open the hopper  91 . With the hopper opened, the bin on which the valve  27 ″ is mounted can be filled by means of a traditional auger. In this instance, the outlet of the auger would be just above, or received within, the opening to the hopper  91 . The auger need not be permanently affixed to the hopper  91 . The cover plate  93  is shown to be secured to the hopper by means of bolts, which would need to be removed to open the hopper for use. The hopper cover  93  can be hinged to the frame of the hopper, such that the cover  93  can be opened and closed either from ground level. The provision of the aperture  87  on both the front and back walls  83   a,b  allows for the hopper to be mounted to either the front or the back wall. It also allows for the hopper to be moved from the front to the back wall, should that be desired. Additionally, if desired, a hopper  91  could be mounted to both the front and back walls. 
     With reference to  FIG. 14 , the intermediate section  81  is provided with a vertical internal plate  95 . The internal plate  95  is positioned to be generally flush with the inlet of the outlet coupling (and the end of the sleeve  53  when in the retracted position). In this way, the plate  95  will keep grain away from the linear actuator (i.e., the rack and pinion). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 14 , the sheave  64  is mounted to the shaft  61 ″ by means of a bolt  97  which passes through a passage in the shaft  61 ″. The opposite end of the shaft  61 ″ includes a corresponding passage. This allows for the sheave  64  to be positioned on either side of the valve housing  37 ″, or to be moved from one side to the other. Similarly, the counterweight  69 , which serves as an indicator flag, can be mounted on either side of the housing, or moved from one side of the housing to the other. 
     The diverter members  65  and  71  are described to be moved from their lowered positions to their raised positions by the sleeve  53  as the sleeve moves to its by-pass position. However, the diverter members could be connected, for example by way of linkages, to the linear actuator, such that the diverter member is directly moved by the linear actuator. 
     It will be recognized that regardless of the embodiment of the valve  27 ,  27 ′, or  27 ″ that is utilized, the valve may be operated by its linear actuator  55  from the ground level without the necessity of shutting down the blower  13 . This aids in switching the discharge of grain from one bin to another. 
     While the valves  27  and  27 ′ of the present disclosure have been described in the environment of conveying grain to grain storage bins, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the air conveying system  1  may be used to convey other particulate or granular, fluent materials, such as powered materials or plastic pellets or the like that are capable of being pneumatically conveyed. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the grain storage bins may be any desired vessel for receiving the particulate or powdered material. 
     Still further, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the slidable sleeve  53  type diverter valve may be replaced with other types of diverter valves. For example, a rotary diverter valve, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,910 may be used to divert the flow of grain within valve  27  between a discharge position and a by-pass position. Further, a flapper-type diverter valve, such as shown in FIGS. 7-8B of U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,544 may also be used to divert the flow of grain within valve  27  between a discharge position and a by-pass position. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,910 and 6,964,544 are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. But neither of the above referenced valves provides a pneumatically sealed connection in only one selectable position and an unsealed, atmospheric connection in another selectable position. For the valves of the two referenced patents to work according to the valves  27 ,  27 ′ or  27 ″, the valves would have to be modified such that in a first position, the path between the inlet and a first outlet is sealed (i.e., air tight), and such that in a second position, the valve inlet is open to the atmosphere. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the broad scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Category: b