Pipe switch with externally arranged drive unit

A pipe switch for pneumatically conveying a material such as bulk material, comprising:

• a housing having opposing side covers and defining a first port, a second port and a third port;
• an outer wall mounted to said housing at one of said side covers for defining an external compartment, with said outer wall being made in one piece with said one side cover;
• regulating means accommodated in said housing and movable between two positions for selectively controlling the flow of material from said first port to said second port via a first passageway and from said first port to said third port via a second passageway;
• engaging means fixedly secured to said regulating means and having a projecting part projecting beyond said one side cover into said compartment;
• and
• a drive unit operatively connected to the projecting part of said engaging means for actuating said regulating means, said drive unit being securely mounted to said one side cover such that movable parts of said engaging means and said drive unit are housed within said compartment and shielded from outside.

A pipe switch for pneumatically conveying a material such as bulk material, comprising:

• a housing having opposing side covers and defining a first port, a second port and a third port;
• an outer wall mounted to said housing at one of said side covers for defining an external compartment;
• regulating means including a cock with a journal and accommodated in said housing and movable between two positions for selectively controlling the flow of material from said first port to said second port via a first passageway and from said first port to said third port via a second passageway;
• engaging means fixedly secured to said regulating means and projecting beyond said one side cover into said compartment, said engaging means including a pivot pin receiving said journal and a driver plate connected in one piece with said pivot pin and sandwiched between said one side cover and a facing side of said cock, said driver plate including at least one pin engaging a complementary bore in said cock for attaining a force-locking connection of said driver plate and said cock;
• and
• a drive unit operatively connected to said engaging means for actuating said regulating means, said drive unit including a lever having one end fixedly secured to said engaging means and another end, a working cylinder connected to said one side cover and a piston rod reciprocating in said working cylinder and having one end articulated to said other end of said lever so as to move said lever and said regulating means being said two positions, with said one end of said piston rod and said lever being housed within said compartment.