Rotary valve and discharge system

Abstract

Rotary valve (1; 1') with a housing (2) having a material inlet (3), a material outlet (4) and an intermediate lock chamber (5), wherein a rotary valve (10) is provided in the lock chamber (5) and is rotatable about a rotary axis by means of a rotary valve drive (20), and wherein an extension unit movable relative to the lock chamber (5) in an extension direction (L) is provided, with which the rotary valve (10) is movable between an operating position in the lock chamber (5) and a maintenance position in which the rotary valve (10) is partially or completely extended out of the lock chamber (5), characterized in that at least one drive unit (26, 26') is provided for motor-driven movement of the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rotary valve according to the preamble of claim 1 and a discharge system according to the preamble of claim 25. Furthermore, an advantageous control system for operating a rotary valve and an advantageous method for operating such a rotary valve are disclosed.

[0002] DE 10 2007 010 907 A1 discloses a rotary valve comprising a housing, a rotor, a plurality of housing covers, and a pull-out device for a plurality of housing covers, which has a common guide mechanism for this purpose. The pull-out device extends beyond the housing on both sides and has two parallel guide rods. The pull-out device is operated manually by the operating personnel, e.g., when the rotary valve is to be moved out of the lock chamber and cleaned. The pull-out device is operated by partially untrained or inattentive operating personnel and is extended and retracted with great force, thus creating a risk of injury to the operating personnel and of damage to the rotary valve.Rotary valves are also usually components of large conveying and production systems, especially discharge systems, so that operating the rotary valves requires a great deal of effort and a lot of personnel.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a rotary valve and a discharge system which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and facilitate and simplify the operation, maintenance and / or cleaning of the rotary valve, if necessary also automate it, and reduce the risk of incorrect operation, injuries to the operating personnel and damage to the rotary valve.

[0004] The invention solves this problem with a rotary valve having the features of claim 1 and a discharge system having the features of claim 25. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a method for operating the rotary valve and a control system for operating the rotary valve according to claim 27. Preferred embodiments and advantageous further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0005] A rotary valve mentioned at the outset is characterized according to the invention in that at least one drive unit is provided for motor-driven movement of the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position.

[0006] Preferably, the drive unit can be arranged on the extension unit and move with it when the extension unit is moved. Alternatively, the drive unit can be arranged on the housing, and the extension unit can be movable relative to the housing. Furthermore, the cellular wheel can advantageously move together with the extension unit.

[0007] The extension direction can preferably run parallel to the rotational axis of the cellular wheel. Advantageously, the cellular wheel can have a cellular wheel shaft rotatable about the rotational axis. Furthermore, the cellular wheel shaft can advantageously be rotatably mounted in the direction of the rotational axis on a cellular wheel-side side of the lock chamber, from which the cellular wheel can be moved out of the lock chamber, in a cellular wheel-side bearing seat of a cellular wheel-side bearing plate. The cellular wheel-side bearing plate can be moved together with the cellular wheel between the operating position and the maintenance position by means of the extension unit.

[0008] Advantageously, the cellular wheel shaft can be rotatably mounted in the direction of the rotation axis on a drive-side side of the lock chamber, which is opposite the side from which the cellular wheel can be moved out of the lock chamber, in a drive-side bearing seat of a drive-side bearing plate. Preferably, the cellular wheel shaft can be detachably connected to a drive shaft of the cellular wheel drive by means of a coupling on the drive-side side of the lock chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, the extension unit can have one or more guide elements which are mounted on the housing in stationary guide bushings so that they can move in the extension direction.

[0010] Advantageously, the drive unit can have exactly one linear drive for moving the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position. Alternatively, the drive unit can have several, preferably two, linear drives for moving the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position. The linear drive can be operated hydraulically, pneumatically, and / or electrically, and in particular can comprise double-acting cylinders, threaded rod drives, rack and pinion drives, and / or electric linear drives.

[0011] Furthermore, the linear drive(s) can advantageously be connected to the extension unit with a connecting element having longitudinal play, vertical play, and / or transverse play. Preferably, the longitudinal play can extend in the direction of the extension direction, the vertical play can extend in a vertical height direction between the material inlet and material outlet, and / or the transverse play can extend in a transverse direction perpendicular to the extension direction and perpendicular to the height direction.

[0012] In an advantageous development, the connecting element can be an angle plate with a piston-side leg and a cellular wheel-side leg. Furthermore, at least one elongated hole extending in the extension direction of the rotation axis can advantageously be provided on the cellular wheel-side leg, into which elongated hole a connecting pin arranged on the extension unit engages. Preferably, at least one piston connection opening can be provided on the piston-side leg, through which a connection of the linear drive passes, wherein the outer contour of the connection is smaller than the piston connection opening in order to provide a transverse and / or vertical clearance of at least one millimeter, preferably of at least two millimeters, and particularly preferably of at least 3 millimeters.

[0013] Furthermore, a controller can advantageously be provided which controls the drive units for extending and / or retracting the extension unit. The controller can advantageously have an interface for integration into a higher-level system control system. In addition, the controller can have an operating unit with which the drive units for extending and / or retracting the extension unit can be controlled. One or more sensors can also be provided which detect whether the extension unit and / or the drive unit are in the operating position and / or the maintenance position. Preferably, a display can be provided which shows whether the extension unit and / or the drive unit are in the operating position and / or the maintenance position.

[0014] A discharge system for bulk materials, particularly powdered or granular bulk materials, as mentioned above, is characterized according to the invention in that the rotary valve is designed as described above and below and as specified in the claims. In this case, a control system of the discharge system can advantageously be connected to the rotary valve for control purposes and can control the rotary valve.

[0015] An advantageous method for operating a rotary valve as described above and below, in particular in a discharge system as described above and below and specified in the claims, is characterized by the following steps: a) controlling at least one drive unit to extend the extension unit into the maintenance position, b) controlling at least one drive unit to retract the extension unit into the operating position.

[0016] Preferably, the cellular wheel drive can be stopped before step a). Furthermore, the cellular wheel drive can advantageously be started up after step b). Preferably, in step a), the drive unit can be controlled to extend the extension unit until a sensor detects that the extension unit is in the maintenance position. Furthermore, in step b), the drive unit can be controlled to retract the extension unit until a sensor detects that the extension unit is in the operating position. Advantageously, different sensors or the same sensor can be used to detect the position of the extension unit in the maintenance position and the operating position.In step b), the drive unit can be driven at a reduced speed, preferably at half speed or less, before the drive-side cellular wheel shaft is coupled to the drive shaft to retract the extension unit into the operating position. Furthermore, a sensor can be provided that detects when the cellular wheel shaft is in a position shortly before contacting the drive shaft, in particular when a distance between a cellular wheel-side coupling element of the cellular wheel shaft and a drive-side counter-coupling element of the drive shaft is 10 cm, preferably 5 cm.

[0017] According to the invention, a control system for operating a rotary valve as described above and below, in particular in a discharge system as described above and below, is characterized in that the control system is set up to carry out the steps of the advantageous method described above and below.

[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional oblique view of a rotary valve according to the invention in operating position; Fig. 2 a front view of the rotary valve Fig. 1 of in Fig. 1 diagonally left; Fig. 3 a central sectional view of the rotary valve from Fig. 2 along the rotation axis of the cell wheel; Fig. 4 the three-dimensional oblique view from Fig. 1 with the rotary valve in an open maintenance position; Fig. 5 a three-dimensional oblique view of an alternative embodiment of a rotary valve according to the invention in an open maintenance position according to Fig. 4. Fig. 6 a detailed view of the front part of the rotary valve Fig. 4 in partially exploded view.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional oblique view of a rotary valve 1 according to the invention, which in the Fig. 1, for conveying, in particular, powdery bulk materials in a discharge system. The rotary valve 1 comprises a housing 2 with a material inlet 3 located at the top in a vertical direction H, which, when installed, is firmly connected to a material feed (not shown) of the discharge system. On the underside of the housing 2 opposite in the vertical direction H, a material outlet 4 is provided at the bottom, through which the material to be conveyed is discharged.

[0020] Between the material inlet 3 and the material outlet 4, a substantially cylindrical lock chamber 5 is provided, the axis of which runs in a longitudinal direction L. On the Fig. 1 to 3 right side, the lock chamber 5 is closed by a cell wheel side bearing plate 6 with a cell wheel side bearing seat 7 and on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction L by a drive side bearing plate 8 with a drive side bearing seat 9.

[0021] The longitudinal direction L preferably runs perpendicular to the height direction H and a transverse direction Q, which in turn preferably runs perpendicular to the height direction H.

[0022] In the lock chamber 5, a cellular wheel 10 is provided with a plurality of cellular wheel blades 11 extending in the longitudinal direction L, between which pockets are formed for the material to be conveyed. The cellular wheel 10 is mounted on a cellular wheel shaft 12, the axis of rotation of which runs parallel to the longitudinal direction L. If necessary, the cellular wheel 10 and the cellular wheel shaft 12 can also be manufactured from one piece. The cellular wheel shaft 12 has Fig. 1 to 3 in the longitudinal direction L right cell wheel side a bearing pin 13 projecting beyond the cell wheel 10 in the longitudinal direction L and rotatably mounted in the cell wheel side bearing seat 7 and on the drive side opposite in the longitudinal direction L a coupling pin 14 rotatably mounted in the drive wheel side bearing seat 9.

[0023] As particularly in Fig. 3, the coupling pin 14 projects with its end in the longitudinal direction L beyond the drive-side bearing seat 9 and has at its end a cellular wheel-side coupling element 15, which engages with a drive-side counter-coupling element 16 of a coupling 17. The coupling element 16, which is rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation as the cellular wheel 10, is connected to a drive shaft 18, which is connected via a gear 19 to a cellular wheel drive 20, in particular an electric motor. By means of the cellular wheel drive 20, the cellular wheel 10 can be rotated such that material entering through the material inlet 3 is transported by means of the pockets formed between the cellular wheel blades 11 to the material outlet 4, where it is then discharged by gravity. The side on the side of the cellular wheel drive 20, i.e. the left side in the drawings, is also referred to below as the "drive side" and the components etc. located there.also referred to as the “drive side”, while the side opposite in the longitudinal direction L, i.e. the right side in the drawings, is also referred to as the cell wheel side and components etc. located there are also referred to as the “cell wheel side”.

[0024] In order to be able to clean the lock chamber 5 and the cellular wheel 10, the cellular wheel 10, which is mounted in the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side, is arranged on the housing 2 so that it can be pulled out of the lock chamber 5 in the longitudinal direction L, together with the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side. Typically, the cellular wheel lock 1 is firmly connected to the material supply and / or discharge of the discharge system, which is also evident from the design of the material inlet 3 and material outlet 4 as connecting flanges with holes for connecting screws, as can be seen in the drawings. Cleaning from the side of the material inlet 3 and / or material outlet 4 is therefore generally not possible.

[0025] Cleaning the lock chamber 5 and the interior of the rotary valve 1 is necessary, among other things, when a new material is to be conveyed that must not be contaminated by residues from a previously conveyed material. However, even when conveying the same material, regular cleaning is necessary to remove baked-on material residues from the inside of the lock chamber 5 or the rotary valve 10, as well as from the sides of the bearing plates 6 and 8 facing the lock chamber 5.

[0026] For this purpose, the rotary valve 1 has, in a manner known per se, guide rods 21, 21', which are movably mounted in the longitudinal direction L in guide bushings 22, 22' attached to the side of the rotary valve housing 2. The rotary valve-side ends of the guide rods 21, 21' are mounted on the rotary valve-side bearing plate 6 via guide rod fastenings 23, 23'. At their opposite, drive-side ends, the guide rods 21, 21' have guide rod stops 24, 24', which prevent the guide rods 21, 21' from being pulled out of the guide bushings 23, 22' when the rotary valve-side bearing plate 6, together with the rotary valve 10 rotatably mounted thereon, is pulled out. The guide rods 21, 21', together with the bearing plate 8 on the cellular wheel side, form an extension unit within the meaning of the invention. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the extension direction of the extension unit.

[0027] For the manual movement of the cell wheel side bearing plate 6 with cell wheel 10 in the longitudinal direction L, handles 25, 25' are arranged on the cell wheel side bearing plate 6, by means of which the operating personnel can pull the cell wheel 10 out of the lock chamber 5 in the longitudinal direction L and push it back in again.

[0028] The structure of a rotary valve 1 described above is generally known to the person skilled in the art and therefore does not require any further detailed description.

[0029] Since such rotary valves 1 are often installed in large discharge systems, they are sometimes difficult to access and may be mounted at considerable heights, so appropriate ladders, platforms, or movable platforms, etc., must be provided to facilitate cleaning and / or maintenance. This also creates a certain risk potential for operating personnel and increases the effort required for cleaning and maintenance.

[0030] Manually moving the cellular wheel 10 also presents a potential risk, is laborious, and offers opportunities for incorrect operation. If, for example, the operating personnel does not move the cellular wheel 10 with both hands, as required by the two handles 25, 25', but instead uses only one hand, the other hand may become trapped when the cellular wheel 10 is pushed into the lock chamber 5. There is also a risk that, in the event of improper handling, e.g., when pushing the cellular wheel 10 into the lock chamber 5 with excessive force and / or speed, the coupling element 15 on the cellular wheel side will impact the counter-coupling element 16 on the drive side with great force, damaging the coupling 17 or at least causing it to wear out more quickly. Any repairs required in this case will then stop the conveying process and lead to production losses.

[0031] In order to avoid having to manually retract or withdraw the rotary valve 10 into the lock chamber 5, the invention provides for this to be accomplished by a motor drive. For this purpose, the rotary valve 10 has drive units 26, 26', which, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are particularly clearly visible on the guide bushings 22, 22'. However, the guide bushings can also be designed differently and arranged at a different location.

[0032] Since the drive units 26, 26' are largely identical in design and are arranged in a mirror image to the right and left of the housing 2, respectively, the invention will be described below primarily with reference to the front, left-hand drive unit 26 in the drawings. Corresponding embodiments also apply to the further drive unit 26' arranged on the opposite right side.

[0033] The drive unit 26 has a double-acting cylinder 27, at the drive end of which a cylinder drive 28 is provided. This cylinder drive 28 is connected to a power supply and / or control system (not shown) of the rotary valve 1 via a power and / or data cable. The control system can be a local control system directly on the rotary valve 1 and / or a complete and / or partial control system of the discharge system, into which the rotary valve 1 is integrated, among other things, in terms of control. The cylinder 27 can be driven hydraulically, pneumatically, and / or electrically.

[0034] At its end facing the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side, the cylinder 27 has a piston rod 29 which is arranged in the longitudinal direction L between the Fig. 1 shown fully retracted position in the operating position of the rotary valve 1 and the Fig. 4 shown almost fully extended maintenance position can be moved back and forth. As particularly shown in Fig. 4, the bearing plate 6 with the cell wheel 10 can be moved out a little further so that the coupling pin 14 is completely free and the cell wheel 10 can be replaced if necessary, for example for a general overhaul, in the event of damage or irreparable wear.

[0035] In order to transmit the movement of the piston rod 29 to the bearing plate 6, a connecting element designed as a 90° connecting angle 32 is provided, which is particularly well suited to Fig. 6 is recognizable.

[0036] The piston rod 29 is provided at its free end in the longitudinal direction L with a piston rod thread 30, which extends through a piston connection opening 34 provided in a piston-side leg 33 of the connecting angle 32 and is captively fastened to the piston rod thread 30 by means of a piston rod nut 31, preferably however with some play in the longitudinal direction L. If necessary, the piston rod nut 31 can also be fixed in a stationary position by a lock nut on the piston rod thread 30 in such a way that the play is permitted. Other types of fastening of the piston rod 29 to the connecting angle 32 with play in the longitudinal direction L are also conceivable.

[0037] If necessary, the connecting angle 32 can also be connected to the end of the piston rod 29 in the longitudinal direction L without play.

[0038] The other leg 35 of the connecting bracket 32, on the star wheel side, has two bearing plate connection openings arranged one above the other in the vertical direction H, which in this case are designed as elongated holes 36 running in the longitudinal direction L. A connecting pin 37, which projects laterally in the transverse direction Q from the guide rod fastenings 23 on the bearing plate 6 on the star wheel side, engages in the upper of the elongated holes 36. The connecting pin 37 is preferably long enough that it remains securely in the elongated hole 36 even when the piston rod 29 is fully extended, thus ensuring the retraction and extension of the bearing plate 6 on the star wheel side. If necessary, the connecting pin 37 can also be secured by means of a securing element so that it cannot escape from the elongated hole 36. For example, a bore for a cotter pin to be inserted through can be provided in the connecting pin 37.In this case, two overlapping elongated holes 36 are used to make the connection easier to adapt to rotary valves of different sizes. However, in principle, one elongated hole 36 is sufficient.

[0039] The slot 36 is designed so that when the piston rod 29 is fully retracted, the cellular wheel 10 is also fully retracted into the lock chamber 5 and the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side rests firmly against the housing 2. This also ensures Fig. 4 and encircling a lateral cellular wheel-side lock chamber opening 38, is pressed firmly against the side of the cellular wheel-side bearing plate 6 facing the lock chamber 5, in order to thus tightly close the lock chamber 5. Accordingly, on the opposite drive-side side of the lock chamber 5, a lateral drive-side lock chamber opening 39 with a circumferential lock chamber seal 40' is provided, wherein the drive-side bearing plate 8 is firmly and tightly attached to the housing 2.

[0040] In order to ensure that the cellular wheel 10 can be fully extended from the lock chamber 5, the elongated hole 36 is designed such that the connecting pin 37 rests against the drive-side end of the elongated hole 36 in the longitudinal direction L when the piston rod is fully extended.

[0041] In order to further improve the degree of cleaning, especially in areas with high hygiene requirements, i.e. discharge systems for pharmaceutical materials or food powder, etc., a cover 41 attached to the housing 2 at the top and sides and, if necessary, also at the bottom, is sufficient to cover the guide bushes 22 and the double-acting cylinder 27, as only in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In the Fig. In Figures 4 to 6, the covers 41, 41' have been omitted for clarity of the drive units 26, 26'. This prevents, for example, lubricant adhering to the piston rod 29 and metallic abrasion between the guide rods 21 and the guide bushings 22 from entering the area of ​​the material inlet opening 3, the material outlet opening 4, and / or the open lock chamber 5.

[0042] Furthermore, a control box 42 is arranged on the cover 41, which may optionally contain control electronics and / or an operating unit (display, switches, buttons, etc.). This can be particularly useful if the drive unit 26 is not connected to the system control system but is operated independently. This is because, in principle, the opening and closing of the lock chamber 5 by extending and retracting the rotary valve 10 is only required for maintenance or repair work. Therefore, it is generally sufficient for the operating personnel to extend and retract the rotary valve 10 directly at the rotary valve 1, for example, by pressing corresponding buttons, etc., on the control box 42.

[0043] But even with the fully automated extension and retraction of the cell wheel 10 via a higher-level system control, it is useful to still have the option of opening or closing the cell wheel 10 in the event of a system control failure.

[0044] The Fig. The embodiment of an alternative rotary valve 1' according to the invention shown in Figure 5 differs from that shown in Fig. 4 shown only in that only exactly one drive unit 26 is provided, and not two. This serves to avoid tension or asynchronous movement of the drive units 26, 26' when extending and retracting the cellular wheel 10. This is because the distances between the vanes 11 and the walls of the lock chamber 5 are very small, typically 0.3 mm and preferably between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, so that the material to be conveyed cannot fall unhindered laterally past the vanes 11 through the lock chamber 5 to the material outlet 4. If tension or force transverse to the longitudinal direction L were to arise during extension or extension due to asynchronous extension or retraction of the piston rods 29, 29', there is a risk that the vanes 11 would hit the walls of the lock chamber 5 during extension or retraction and loosen metal chips or become damaged themselves. This could then lead, among other things, to contamination of the material to be conveyed, for exampleIn foodstuffs it is absolutely undesirable for metallic residues to get into the powder.

[0045] In the Fig. 4, this is ensured by aligning the drive units 26, 26' as cleanly and parallel as possible in the longitudinal direction L. However, inaccuracies occurring during operation, for example due to temperature influences, can deteriorate this alignment. Age-related wear can also cause the guide rods 21, 21' or the piston rods 29, 29' to no longer run exactly straight. This is ensured by the Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is advantageously compensated for by the fact that the connecting angles 32, 32' allow a certain amount of play both in the longitudinal direction L through the elongated holes 36, 36' and in the height direction H or transverse direction Q.

[0046] For this purpose, it is particularly provided that the piston connection opening 34 is larger than the diameter of the piston rod thread 30, for example, a 2 mm larger diameter or minimum distance of the opening 34 from the piston rod thread 30. This allows small inaccuracies in the transverse direction Q or vertical direction H when extending the piston rod 30 to be compensated for and are then not transferred to the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side and the cellular wheel 10. The most precise linear guide possible can then be provided by the guide rod 21 and guide bushings 22, which can be manufactured with high guidance accuracy and with components that are as wear-resistant as possible.

[0047] The connection of the piston rod thread 30 to the piston-side leg 33 with clearance, as described above, also supports this. In principle, the elongated holes 36 can also be replaced with standard bores in this case.

[0048] The Fig. The solution shown in Figure 5, however, avoids an asynchronous movement of the piston rods 29, 29' in the longitudinal direction and the resulting travel inaccuracies and distortions of the bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side.

[0049] If necessary, in the case of only one drive unit 26, the bearing plate connection openings 36 may not be designed as elongated holes, but the connecting pin 37 may be firmly connected to the connecting angle 32, since compensation in the longitudinal direction L is not necessary here.

[0050] Instead of the drive units 26, 26' with double-acting cylinders 27, 27' described above and shown in the drawings, other linear drives can also be provided. For example, threaded rods with corresponding threaded rod drives or racks with corresponding rack drives can be used. Likewise, electromagnetic linear drives without any mechanical transmission components could be used to move the cellular wheel 10. This has the advantage that any abrasion between mechanical transmission elements caused by extending and retracting can be completely avoided. Furthermore, the effort and costs can be reduced by omitting the second drive unit.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, namely when the drive unit 26 and, if applicable, the drive unit 26' are connected to the system control system, to which the cellular wheel drive 20 is also connected, the extension and retraction can also be fully automated without manual intervention by the operating personnel. For this purpose, the system control system can first check whether or not material is still being fed into the material inlet 3. If not, the cellular wheel drive 20 can then be stopped. Subsequently, the drive unit 26 and, if applicable, 26' are controlled, thereby extending the cellular wheel-side bearing plate 6 with the cellular wheel 10 in the longitudinal direction L. If necessary, the coupling 17 is opened beforehand, depending on the type of coupling 17.

[0052] Preferably, one or more end position sensors for the rotary-wheel-side bearing plate 6, the rotary-wheel 10, the drive unit 26, the guide rods 21, 21' and / or the piston rod 29 and, if applicable, 29' can signal to the control system when the rotary-wheel 10 is fully extended. The operating personnel can then clean the interior of the rotary-wheel lock 1. The rotary-wheel 10 can then be retracted fully automatically into the lock chamber 5 by controlling the drive unit 26 via the control system. For this purpose, a corresponding sensor can, if necessary, detect a desired application of the rotary-wheel-side bearing plate 6 to the lock chamber opening 38. Alternatively or additionally, the retraction of the piston rod 29 and, if applicable, 29' into their retracted operating position can also signal to the control system that the rotary-wheel 10 is fully retracted into the lock chamber 5.The bearing plate 6 on the cellular wheel side can then be releasably secured to the housing 2, either manually or with an automatic locking mechanism. If necessary, the contact pressure can also be provided by the drive units 26, 26'. Likewise, the coupling 17 can be closed if necessary to securely connect the drive shaft 18 to the coupling pin 14 for driving the cellular wheel 10. If necessary, an end-position sensor can also be provided, which informs the control system that the cellular wheel 10 is fully retracted.

[0053] If necessary, the retraction speed can be reduced when retracting the rotary valve 10 at the end of the retraction process to protect the coupling 17 and its components and to allow the coupling elements 15 and 16 to engage carefully. This can be advantageous both in terms of reducing wear on the coupling 17 and preventing damage to the rotary valve 1 and its components.

[0054] If the control is not handled by the system control system, but rather by a local control system located independently in the control box or elsewhere on the rotary valve 1 or its surroundings, then the extension and retraction can also be carried out automatically as described above, with the exception of stopping the motor. However, both the extension and retraction can be carried out in the same way, with the sensors then being connected to the local control system and "speaking" to it. In this case, the local control system can advantageously have its own display, e.g. a screen, LEDs, etc., which show and / or signal the various operating points and positions as well as any errors. In some cases, however, a sensor can also detect that the motor is at a standstill or has been stopped, thereby enabling the rotary valve 1 to open. Reference symbol 1, 1' rotary valve 2 housings 3 Material inlet 4 Material outlet 5 Lock chamber 6 cell wheel side bearing shield 7 Bearing seat on the cell wheel side 8 drive-side bearing shield 9 drive-side bearing seat 10 Cell wheel 11 Cell wheel blades 12 Cell wheel shaft 13 bearing journals 14 coupling pins 15 Cell wheel side coupling element 16 drive-side counter-coupling element 17 Clutch 18 Drive shaft 19 gearboxes 20 Cell wheel drive 21, 21' guide rods 22, 22' guide bushings 23, 23' guide rod mounts 24, 24' guide rod stops 25, 25' handles 26, 26' drive units 27, 27' double-acting cylinder 28, 28' cylinder drive 29, 29' piston rods 30, 30' piston rod thread 31, 31' piston rod nut 32, 32' connecting element (connecting angle) 33, 33' piston-side leg 34, 34' piston connection opening 35, 35' cell wheel side leg 36, 36' bearing shield connection opening (slotted holes) 37, 37' connecting pin 38 cell wheel-side lock chamber opening 39 drive-side lock chamber opening 40, 40' lock chamber seals 41, 41' covers 42 Control box L Longitudinal direction, extension direction H Altitude direction Q transverse direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2007 010 907 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] A rotary valve (1; 1') comprising a housing (2) with a material inlet (3), a material outlet (4) and a lock chamber (5) located therebetween, wherein a rotary valve (10) which is motor-driven and rotatable about a rotation axis by means of a rotary valve drive (20) is provided in the lock chamber (5), and wherein an extension unit is provided which is movable relative to the lock chamber (5) in an extension direction (L), with which the rotary valve (10) can be moved between an operating position in the lock chamber (5) and a maintenance position in which the rotary valve (10) is partially or completely moved out of the lock chamber (5), characterized by that at least one drive unit (26, 26') is provided for motor-driven movement of the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position. [2] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized bythat the drive unit (26, 26') is arranged on the extension unit and moves with the extension unit when it is moved. [3] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized by that the drive unit (26, 26') is arranged on the housing (2) and moves the extension unit relative to the housing (2). [4] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cell wheel (10) moves together with the extension unit. [5] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the extension direction (L) runs parallel to the axis of rotation of the cellular wheel (10). [6] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cellular wheel (10) has a cellular wheel shaft (12) rotatable about the axis of rotation. [7] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 6, characterized bythat the cellular wheel shaft (12) is rotatably mounted in the direction of the axis of rotation on a cellular wheel-side side of the lock chamber (5), from which the cellular wheel (10) can be moved out of the lock chamber (5), in a cellular wheel-side bearing seat (7) of a cellular wheel-side bearing plate (6). [8] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 7, characterized by that the bearing plate (6) on the cell wheel side can be moved together with the cell wheel (10) between the operating position and the maintenance position by means of the extension unit. [9] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 6, characterized by that the cellular wheel shaft (12) is rotatably mounted in the direction of the axis of rotation on a drive-side side of the lock chamber (5), which is opposite the side from which the cellular wheel (10) can be moved out of the lock chamber (5), in a drive-side bearing seat (9) of a drive-side bearing plate (8). [10] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 9, characterized bythat the cellular wheel shaft (12) on the drive side of the lock chamber (5) can be detachably connected to a drive shaft (18) of the cellular wheel drive (20) by means of a coupling (17). [11] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the extension unit has one or more guide elements (21, 21') which are mounted on the housing (2) in stationary guide bushes (22, 22') so as to be movable in the extension direction (L). [12] Rotary valve (1') according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the drive unit (26, 26') has exactly one linear drive (27) for moving the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position. [13] Rotary valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the drive unit (26, 26') has several, preferably two linear drives (27, 27') for moving the extension unit between the operating position and the maintenance position. [14] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by that the linear drive is operated hydraulically, pneumatically and / or electrically, in particular comprises double-acting cylinders (27, 27'), threaded rod drives, rack and pinion drives and / or electric linear drives. [15] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized by that the linear drive(s) (27, 27') are each connected to the extension unit by a connecting element (32, 32') with longitudinal play, vertical play and / or transverse play. [16] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 15, characterized by that the longitudinal play runs in the direction of the extension direction (L), the height play runs in a vertical height direction (H) between the material inlet (3) and the material outlet (4), and / or the transverse play (Q) runs in a transverse direction (Q) running transversely to the extension direction (L) and transversely to the height direction (H). [17] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by that the connecting element is a connecting angle (32, 32') with a piston-side leg (33, 33') and a cellular wheel-side leg (35, 35'). [18] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 17, characterized by that at least one elongated hole (36, 36') extending in the extension direction (L) of the rotation axis is provided on the cellular wheel-side leg (35, 35'), into which elongated hole a connecting pin (37, 37') arranged on the extension unit engages. [19] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 17 or 18, characterized bythat at least one piston connection opening (34, 34') is provided on the piston-side leg (33, 33'), through which a connection (30, 30') of the linear drive (27, 27') passes, wherein the outer contour of the connection (30, 30') is smaller than the piston connection opening (34, 34') in order to provide a transverse and / or vertical play of at least one millimeter, preferably of at least two millimeters and particularly preferably of at least 3 millimeters. [20] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a control (31) is provided which controls the drive units (26, 26') for extending and / or retracting the extension unit. [21] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 20, characterized by that the control system has an interface for integration into a higher-level system control system. [22] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to claim 20 or 21, characterized bythat the control system has an operating unit with which the drive units can be controlled to extend and / or retract the extension unit. [23] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that one or more sensors are provided which detect whether the extension unit and / or the drive unit (26, 26') are in the operating position and / or the maintenance position. [24] Rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a display is provided which indicates whether the extension unit and / or the drive unit (26, 26') are in the operating position and / or the maintenance position. [25] Discharge system for bulk materials, in particular powdered or granular bulk materials with at least one rotary valve (1; 1'), characterized by that the rotary valve (1; 1') is designed according to one of the preceding claims. [26] Discharge system according to claim 25, characterized by that a plant control system is connected to the rotary valve (1; 1') and controls the rotary valve (1; 1'). [27] Control for operating a rotary valve (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 24, in particular in a discharge system according to claim 25, characterized by that the controller is set up to perform the following steps: a) controlling at least one drive unit (26, 26') to extend the extension unit into the maintenance position, b) controlling at least one drive unit (26, 26') to retract the extension unit into the operating position. [28] Control according to claim 27, characterized by that the cell wheel drive (20) is stopped before step a). [29] Control according to claim 27 or 28, characterized by that after step b) the cell wheel drive (20) is put into operation. [30] Control according to one of claims 27 to 29, characterized by that in step a) the drive unit (26, 26') is controlled to extend the extension unit until a sensor detects that the extension unit is in the maintenance position. [31] Control according to one of claims 27 to 29, characterized by that in step b) the drive unit (26, 26') is controlled to retract the extension unit until a sensor detects that the extension unit is in the operating position. [32] Control according to one of claims 30 or 31, characterized by that different sensors or the same sensor are used to detect the position of the extension unit in the maintenance position and the operating position. [33] Control according to one of claims 27 to 32, characterized bythat in step b) the drive unit (26, 26') is controlled at a reduced speed, preferably at half the speed or less, before the drive-side cellular wheel shaft (12) is coupled to the drive shaft (18) for retracting the extension unit into the operating position. [34] Control according to claim 33, characterized by that a sensor is provided which detects when the cellular wheel shaft (12) is in a position shortly before contacting the drive shaft (18), in particular when a distance between a cellular wheel-side coupling element (15) of the cellular wheel shaft (12) and a drive-side counter-coupling element (16) of the drive shaft (18) is 10 cm, preferably 5 cm.

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