Control valve

A control valve for dispensing a particulate stream comprising:

• a. a convex spherical surface with its upper and lower portions removed, comprising a longitudinal interior cylindrical passage, and further comprising a pair of longitudinal grooves on each side of said spherical surface;
• b. arcuate spherical opposing lids hinged to said spherical surface and said lids having leading surfaces, said lids comprising an interior concave surface of slightly larger radius than the radius of said spherical surface to provide a close tolerance, non-touching relationship with said spherical surface, at all times except when said lids clear the outer circumferential edge of said spherical surface, to provide a close tolerance, non-touching relationship with said spherical surface;
• c. a pair of female devises extending from said lids;
• d. a pair of male devises in communication with said female devises wherein said male devises travel substantially within said grooves when engaged by control arms from an external source to open and close said lids;
• e. a clevis pin to secure said female and male devises in position;
• and
• f. an overlapping band, of a spherical shape, comprising a slightly larger radius than the radius of the lids, located on one of said lids to create a recessed area for reception of said leading surface of the other said lid;
• whereby said lids when activated by external means, provide a barrier effect with said spherical surface to prevent the loss of said particulate at all times during the opening and closing of said lids and an intermittent seal at said leading surfaces of said lids when said lids are in the closed position.

In combination with an apparatus for filling containers and packages with metered amounts of a particulate material at a high rate of speed, the improvement comprising a stainless steel control valve, said control valve further comprising:

• a. a convex spherical surface with its upper and lower portions removed, and comprising an internal longitudinal cylindrical passage;
• b. opposing arcuate lids comprising an interior concave surface of slightly larger radius than the radius of said spherical surface and a leading surface and a trailing surface, said lids being hinged to said spherical surface to provide a close tolerance, non-touching relationship with said spherical surface during opening and closing of said lids;
• c. a pair of female clevises each integrally extending from said trailing surface of said lids;
• d. a pair of male devises in communication with said female devises;
• and
• e. a pair of clevis pins to secure said female and male devises in position and to allow said male devises to swivel when attached to control arms activated by external means;
• whereby said lids when activated by said external means, provide an intermittent seal at said leading surface of said lids upon closing and provide a barrier effect relative to said spherical surface to prevent the loss of said particulate at all times during the opening and closing of said lids.